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Dance line MSP
Dance – making room for people Right now all the dancers of Performers House would wish that a day had at least thirty hours. We are all working like crazy, so hopefully we can perform some enjoyable dance performances on April 5th, 6th and 7th for everyone who comes to see. We got started a week later than expected, and now there is a lot of pressure on all, not least the dance teacher, Alyssa, who probably wishes she had seven arms and could be in more places at the same time, as she is working 24/7 to make it all come together. The dancers as well are stressed in order to make all the ideas to come together as a whole. But as things like these usually progress, in the end, just before you get on stage, everything falls in to place and all your hard work, blood, sweat and tears pay of – so they say. Preparations Having dance as our main project, before we could really get started, we had to prepare ourselves by trying some different things out, which in the end would help us create our performances. This time, for our main project, we have focused on the communication aspect of performing arts, and for this we have done some research. Our former work preparations were based on figuring out how to embrace and embody our movements, so it was based on a more internal admission. What we did was that we went out in the public to try out some experiments, Alyssa had in mind. As we were walking we were to observe the people around us and take in the information we were getting from them, both in the sense of their body language but also what was behind their physical appearance. After this we tried to embody their movements and interact with each other, just to see what interesting things would come out of it. As our ‘theme’ is ‘making room for people’ we also deal with the communication between people, so one of the other exercises was to keep eye contact with passers-by for as long as possible. We all realized how hard it actually was, but that made it even more interesting, so maybe some did something extra to get their attention etc. Interactions with spectators All our hard efforts ended up in even harder effort, as the dance line now is fully busy with our performance. The dancers have formed smaller groups, each working with different tasks. One group is working with the idea of home, another is working with how it feels to be a stranger in a new place, a third is working with ‘tenacity towards gain’ and ‘isolation towards loss’, and the last group is working with the idea of ‘making room for people’ as the overall theme. Before the smaller performances takes place on stage, the dancers will be seen around the kettle building, intending to make interactions with the audience, who will come and go as they please. For this PH student Mikala has made some very beautiful masks which will supplement the different tasks and characters each group has got. Written by Jelena IDABASSIDABASSIDABASS
'Funky zeit' in the theatre of Performers House Normaly when you go to a concert of a band you see a singer, who maybe also plays the guitar or piano, there are some other guitarplayers, a bassplayer and a drummer. In the case of Bassida you will see that this is a band with a different formation. The main character of the band is bassplayer and singer Ida. (Bass + Ida = Bassida!) They play a mix of old school funk, hiphop and ear catching soul. With a lot of bass in it of course! It's not often the bassplayer is the leading person of a band, most of the time they stand somewhere at the back of the stage, playing funky and focussed on their instrument. But Ida chooses the spotlights and shows her skills: her technique is virtuos and strong, her raps are cool and fast with a nice feminine touch. The other bandmembers were also inspired by the words coolness and funk: A scratching DJ, a guitarist, a drummer and a tall woman that plays the synthesizer, sings the backvocals and makes funny sounds in the microphone. They all made sure that Bassida sounded fresh and full of energy.
It was a pity that the PH-students were the majority of the audience that night. Only twelve people from outside the school came to attend the concert. No matter wat the reason was, it was too bad that not more people of Silkeborg could enjoy this great performance. Despite of that, everybody who was there had a great evening: when we dared to put our feet on the dancefloor,it was time for some funky dancemoves. We even got so enthusiastic that when the band announced the last song, we were begging for more! So after a swinging extra, we went back to the school, happy and sweaty, still feeling the slamming beats of Bassida. Written by Marijke, foto by Sofie PR class at PH
Students in PR-specialist’s clothing
Let’s face the truth: no artist can be successful without efficient PR, one has to be able to manage reaching the public before going on stage ... or the artist can ask for a little help. Creating posters, writing a press release, inviting the right people to the show are all included in the work of a PR-group, and these are the things we were experimenting with at PH during our PR-classes held by Kaare. Our group consists of 9 devoted pupils, and we all have had the chance to experiment with, what it takes to reach out to the public and get your message through: I am going to perform, come and see me! Theatre Line WorkshopThrough the child's eye The idea of Rose Gaihede's seminar was for us to rediscover the point of view of a child. This we would do through the motions and the daily actions of a child, finding out how the result of this research could influence or could be used in the creative process of the performer. The basic theory concerns the importance of memory in the evolution of creative processes. Memories have the capacity to stir up feelings and develop strong images from our life, and these experiences contribute to shape us as adults, our thoughts and meanings.
Therefore, to be in possession of our memories, according to this theory, can stimulate our creativity, and our ability to communicate, in this case with an audience. As Rose said: - One of the main motivations behind the project is to work with empathy as a medium of communication in contrast to the media communication that can often be alienating and overwhelming. On the last day of the seminar, we did a strange exercise that involved rope and sticks put it in a certain order in the space. A spectator was invited into the theatre room to experience and comment on our primitive installation. Rose Gaihede made a recording of all the experiments we had invented. In May we will work with her again, and all the material we have produced will be put together for an installation performance. Written by Elisa Read more and see the pictures at Rose Gaihedes homepage: http://rosegaihede.com/absorption/part2/workshop-at-performers-house-in-silkeborg-denmark My log book: ”The Rubber Sole” After four weeks of ordinary program, Rose Gaihede came with her ‘absorption laboratory’ and for a week she was our guest teacher. The aim was to make us experience the point of view of a child, and to create an installation, which we will finish in May. In the first day of laboratory we were asked to observe in a short movie, how a little boy from Ghana (about one year old) was playing with a rubber shoe. His mother gave him the rubber shoe in his hand just to take it back again. Working in three groups some of us were asked to study the movements of the boy, the second group should analyse his reactions in relation to the shoe and the third was to observe the atmosphere, the environment and the sound-landscape. I chose to consider the object, the shoe. Before we started working in the group, Rose gave us a series of pictures of the child holding a mobile phone and newspaper. Then for two days we would write down all the possible associations and ideas that the picture were suggesting to us: 1) The mobile phone: holding something that could be used with the fingers, a fragile entity, something concentrated; pleasure given by the passage of the weight between a hand to another one; holding on, grasp, open it like a box. Reflecting light, pushing buttons; pushing something that provoque a consequence; putting it in the mouth; licking it. 2) The newspaper: to have knowledge, aerodinamicity, to indicate; old man, not really interested - he doesn’t know what do with it, point of distractions; making it fly, dividing it; extend it in the space; to suffocate, noise, dress, smell of adult, smell of wood; make it fall and see what happens; emanations of wood particles; shake with the hand with power. All these associations have been the consequence of a cold and rational analysis. Then we passed on to the practical part. We were supposed to “play” with some objects that we found in the school. There were different types of shoes, some clothes, a newspaper and a mobile phone. While each of my companions were examining his own object, I started too with a shoe that has a rubber sole. At first I didn't know what to do with it. I’ve been holding it with both hands and torn it away in the space, but later on I got bored. I didn’t know what to invent to make it come alive. Then I had the instinct of turning it and smelling the sole, and slowly something started to raise me. I began remembering: the small bed lamp with the shape of a half moon that my mum used to put next to my bed, when I was going to sleep. That half moon stayed lit the whole night through. The lamp in question is in rubber and it has almost the same colour as the sole. I was no longer at the school, only my body was there, but not my senses, not my mind. Our next task was to invent a kind of living game experiment in order to make the other groups experience our discoveries. We decided to blindfold their eyes, and then pass a long row of different objects on to each of them. The passing of the object through the hands of the students was very important because it determinates a change of his state of mind and provokes new associations all the time. Theatre line - ready?
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And that's also the big difference compared to 'Idea into Action' where you only have one week to create something. Crossover gives you more time to dig deeper into your material and think about the choices you make for a performance.
We used lights and costumes so that the transformation into the performances was more clear to ourselves and the audience. Therefore showing these small performances is a good way of getting used to perform for an audience in a more serious way.
Next week there will be another performance, where the second half of the groups of students will show what the have created.
Written by Marijke, Photos Kaare
Ensemble
- What’s going on at ’Ensemble’
12. March 09/ At the ensemble-line we are in the process of linking material together for a performance on March 20th. We will be performing in different places such as schools, the city hall and here at Performers House reunion party.
During week 9 and 10 we worked two by two creating some material to work on. The task was to find a speech, to have a ‘master’ and a ‘subordinate’ and to use certain materials for a short showing of five to ten minutes. The speeches were taken from historic person, a governor and a general and from a sermon by St. Francis of Assisi.
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The aim is to produce an outdoor performance. Each one should have a character build for oneself. Four performers are playing drums, four trumpets. Everyone has made their one poems, songs and texts, which will be used – more or less – in the performance.
Written by Sara - fotos by Zanda
Dance performance
Manual for Friday's dance performance
,, So you are under the water but you are the water at the same time and … try to use your quality as well … does that make sense?! Kinda’, sorta’? ’’
The dance line is performing for the first time on Friday 13th. The reason for staying offstage is that so far we have been concentrating on foundation and basic technique – therefore our upcoming performances would be much more for us - and the audience as well - than simply ‘eye candy’.
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In the recent weeks we have been working with different tasks, for example creating a smaller sequence in pairs. As a next step each of us were given a different quality (for example ‘clarity’, ‘innocence’, ‘power’, ‘grief’) that we had to apply to our own pieces. Because of this the sequences inevitably changed and got their individual nature. At the same time we have been working with the idea of creating music with our bodies and experimenting with the effect of music on the qualities themselves.
And there’s more to it
In addition we had the chance to work in water as Wednesday’s class was held in a real swimming hall. The point was to feel the surroundings and become aware of the space. In the beginning of the performance the result can be seen as we pretend to be underwater and explore the secrets of the depth.
So with the clear directions of Alyssa Stith (quoted above) we put up a little ‘something something’ that can be seen at the café night. As the date is a little sinister, we all hope for the best ;)
Written by Szofi and Jelena - foto by Marijke
Big Big Band
Big Big Band
Oldschool jazz meets Newschool fusion at PH
23. February 09/ A one-hour long journey around the world of Big Band Jazz from Kluvers Big Band was given as a present for the students of Silkeborg Hojskole and Performers House.
The band (existing for 32 years now) introduced us with it's very heart and soul to various fragments of the universe of Big Band Jazz: along the way we heard pieces composed in the 50's, 60's or 70's but the band also performed pieces that were created by the band members themselves.
What makes the Kluvers Big Bang unique in Denmark is that it is the only Big Band that is financially supported by the ministry of culture and the city of Arhus, who mostly supports classical orchestras.
Blew the audience
From the moment they started playing, Kluvers Big Band blew the audience away with very energetic, high standard music.
If you thought of taking a nap during this concert, they made sure it was absolutely impossible.
It would be a pity anyway, because these talented musicians showed that Big Band music is not just some old fashioned genre but gets inspiration from other kinds of music like rock, world music and blues.
Every piece had one or two virtuous soloists, so before the end of the matinee we got to know all the characteristic members of the band. These little portraits showed not only quality but also a great devotion towards the band and the shared love for this music.
It was a bit sad that there were no extras, as it looked as if the audience wanted some more of that swinging jazz!
Zsofia and Marijke – photo by Zanda
Yoga with Jimena
,, Go for it!’’
Yoga with Jimena, a Workshop at Performers House
2. March 09/ On a regular basis, from one time in the evening to five times a week Jimena, our dancer from Mexico holds a yoga class. It is not the regular relaxation and breathing exercises but a combination of yoga, pilates and dance elements as well as gymnastic and aerobic exercises. Jimena is teaching “vinyasa yoga” that creates a flow between the more static, traditional yoga postures and links the movement to the breath. So for one and a half hours we connect to our minds and our bodies.
How it started …
Jimena herself met yoga at the age of 12 on TV. She tried it but, but it didn’t have a big effect. She only found physical training without deeper meaning. The second encounter, which took place in June 2008, was more of a success story: after she had finished her ballet classes at the dance school she attended in Mexico, a friend of her invited Jimena to join the yoga classes. Jimena got to like the sessions immediately and continued attending them every day. This was the time as well when Jimena realized, that in the future she wouldn’t be a dancer in that particular school anymore. So yoga became important to her in building her routine in dancing, and it gave her energy as well.
The side effects
These aren’t the only benefits of yoga. To those who exercise it regularly it provides mind discipline, guidance of how to connect with your own body, improves the focus on what you want and how you can get it - and most importantly: happiness and energy. Furthermore it might have an effect on your lifestyle as well as it happened in the case of Jimena: on an impulse given by yoga she became a vegetarian (that was also surprising after her bad experiences at the age of 14 when she tried it out as well without success).
Jimena’s own experiences confirmed that the principles work and have a practical effect as well:
- If your mind is calm and peaceful you can react to external impulses effectively, she says.
No space between it …
Yoga is for everybody, musicians attend classes just as well as student of the dance or theater line – creating an interdisciplinary environment, a small island of peace in the struggle of everyday life:
- There is no right or wrong in yoga. It is about your own rhythm and routine - that is sometimes not so easy to find.
- But go for it!
Namasté
Jimena emphasizes that she herself is not a master in yoga; actually this is her first time teaching it. But the result is clear: a bunch of happy students, willing to attend her sessions from time to time. Let us dedicate this article to Jimena and finish it with the word: Namasté (as we finish every class). It means “thank you for your effort and time”.
You may not be a master but you definitely are the guru of yoga of Performers House!
Written by: Zanda and Zsófi, photo by Zanda
Viva variety!
Preparations on the main subject project: Theatre line
6. March 09/ Although it may seem like something not to worry about yet, the main subject project is getting closer and closer.
Not all of the lines has started preparing their piece for the performances but during week 9 the theatre line had their first week of investigation and trying out ideas.
The idea is to show some kind of 'varietyshow' which actually means that within the performance almost every kind of act is possible: singing, dancing, monologues or dialogues, clowning, magician acts etc.
Last week (9) we started on an observation on popstars. In groups or alone we work towards some acts where we are Liza Minnelli, The Spice Girls, Eminem and the Backstreet Boys. And although it maybe seems like an easy act to prepare, it's quite a lot of work to be as precise as possible. Everything is important: the way they sing, their facial expressions, their clothes, their dance moves, it all needs to be observed and rehearsed.
This week (10) we try to find monologues and dialogues from different kinds of theatre plays. A few of us like to do some classical texts from Shakespeare or some absurd text from Beckett. Others use stories from comedians or found a single monologue on the internet.
To have an opportunity to work on different things and try out different styles within theatre is an interesting way of working towards a performance because we can experiment a lot and work on thing we, the students, really want to show.
And hopefully, after these investigation weeks and the important rehearsals we can show a very various variety!
We will keep you up to date during the process.
Written by Marijke, foto by Zanda
Café evening
5 pairs of legs – 5 black chairs
Café evening - playing with sound and action
The big room divider goes up and five girls are facing the audience in total silence.
After a few seconds one of the girls starts to move, her hands are grabbing something in the air. Suddenly there is the sound of pouring in tea, but she is not holding a teapot or a cup. There is nothing but the girls and the sounds. Sounds of a newspaper, ticking nails, a fly and finally when the girl smashes the fly with the newspaper, she says: Ha, gotcha! Or actually, she only mimes these words – the voice comes from a different direction.
For the next ten minutes the rest of the girls come to life, are drinking invisible coffee, writing invisible letters, talking on the invisible phone, eating invisible lunch and clicking their invisible pens.
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For all these typical office actions there is a sound that is been produced behind the two curtains sideward’s of the podium, so the audience is unable to see the people who are responsible for the sounds.
As all the girls has had their solo in the office, the other girls from behind the curtains drag their tables and props to the podium and show how once again, with the office girls, how the sounds have been made synchronized with the actions.
The illusion has been broken and the performance is over. But the audience is surprised and enthusiastic.
Theatre Line students gets stage practice
The student’s café night is organized every second week. Students who would like to give a performance can sign up some days in advance. The Theatre Line will prepare small performances for every café night, mainly to entertain the other students but also to practice and get to feel more comfortable on stage.
The presentation contains a specific theatre aspect, so the theatre students will be able to practise their technical skills and learn more about various genres within theatre. For this evening the class worked on ‘Invisible Objects’, an examination of how to mime your daily actions as precisely as possible without props.
Marijke – photos by Zanda
Lazy Band
”Lazy band” in concert at Rampelyset
“Lazy band” is Ulrich, Chico, James, Anne and Ida from Performers House. Februar 26th the band performed at “Rampelyset” in Silkeborg.
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Written by Sara, images by Zanda
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