Sick days

My picture of the week: Taylor quickly figures out a way to be supported in our movement class. Good picture. Thank you Katie for uploading all of these pictures from movement class so I could add them to my blog!!First of all, let me apologize for slacking on the blog. I am trying to get back on track. I had a headache from last Monday until last Friday. The doctor thought it was a compacted disc in my neck vertebrae but on Saturday I woke up with fever, the chills, sore throat, runny nose, and achy muscles. A virus has been going around and has hit most of the undergraduate theatre students... yuck. I'm still sick today but hoping to get back into the swing of things tomorrow. This blog will include everything the highlights since my last blog through last Wednesday the 7th.

After warm up in Movement we ran through the room leaping and hopping. Then Claudia said that when she clapped her hands we would either support someone or be supported. It started in two's then three's then half and half, then the entire group. We decided to call these lift portraits. Once we arrived in our portraits we would come out of them in slow motion and go back into them in slow motion. This really helped us find our balance and how to pose without momentum. We did this again on the next Wednesday. Here are some pictures of our second run through this:

Courtney, Bob, Ben, and I making a quick portrait:


Louise, Caroline, and me; this one was not so easy to reverse without momentum:

I accidentally clocked Bob in the chin with my knee during this pose... sorry Bob!:

All of us in our first poses:

Louise and Mer Mer:

Louise, me, and Taylor:

We started working on Downward Dog walking in pairs (one on the other) then rolling over in pairs. Next we went back to one of us being the bench the other now doing a handstand on their back only using the upper arms. We tried walking as a group blocking different areas of our bodies one at a time starting with sternum, pelvis, knees, feet, neck, shoulder blades, then teeth. It was very interesting to understand what blocking these parts will do to the way you walk and feel on the inside. We also explored intrograde and retrograde (doing a movement and reversing it). We did improv contact dance. Making our partners aware of their lines, joints, where they place their weight, and give the partner suggestions and then let them move on their own while you observe. We did some more partner lifts using the sacrum scoop and working towards rolling over the back.

The biggest highlight of voice class (something new that we weren't revisting) was the 4 emotions wheel. We had four different points in a circle and you had a different emotion you sand in at each point. The transition was most important. We worked in partners 'kneeding bread' on their backs into a full person lift using a person at each limb. We did some rolls across the floor (REMEMBER YOU HAVE TWO LEGS). We did some rhythm work 4/4 on top of 3/4 call and response. Then we did one of my favorite exercises: Gargoyles. This brings something out from the inside that is unexplainable and sometimes a little scary, but it is extremely interesting all the same.

In Music we worked on ritual. We improved a ritual with objects in a sacred space. Then we made up our own rituals or create what ritual is to us to present in the next class. Taylor came up with a great one for us to do together. He's working out in the fields while I'm washing clothes by the watering hole. Then he comes in from the fields to get water and begins pickin' and singin' a Robert Johnson tune. I begin humming and making a rhythym with my laundry bin. It was fun!!

The long and winding road

We went on a hike in the Pratomagno on Sunday with Scott and friends. Here are some notable pics (above is my favorite pic from this trip - Ben Sota on top of the Pratomagno):

William, Meredith, and I are about to start hiking:

Meredith and I take a water break.... seriously straight up:

YIKES!!!!

Even Persey is tired and she has four feet:

Ben and William make it to the top:

Lunch spot!

I'm tired:

My feet and legs take a rest during lunch:

Taylor and Jesse enjoying the view from the top:

Persey enjoys staring at her Daddy's sandwich:

Jesse being silly on top of the mountain:

Classic picture of Scott:

Jesse and I at lunch:

Meredith, Me, and Caroline on top of Pratomagno:

Jesse and I on top of Pratomagno:

A close-up on Ben on top of the cross:

The cross that Ben climbed (he's at the top):

Louise, Jesse Dunn, and Me:

Meredith and I coming down the serious hill:

We practiced the Greek Chorus on top of the Teatrino after the hike:Well, we have been busy again this week. If we have a week full of Acting, I won't be able to blog during those days and do homework, so I have to choose the homework because it is the priority, obviously and catch up on my blog when I can.

We started with Voice this week doing a warm-up that consisted of a self rub down, dry shower, and vertical shaking into jumps letting out sound. Then we worked on some tongue exercises. These are very good for me because I have a control issue with my tongue and it's connection to my jaw. I have a problem releasing both or using one and releasing the other. We went into some panting work with the nose, which is very good to build control in the lower stomach. Moving into stretching our lips then leaving them while humming. We worked with the difference between holding one nostril and humming then holding one and half closing the other while humming. We learned two new songs: Water Boy, a negro convict song, I knew this one cause Daddy used to sing it; Yo E Ma Mo, an african song, we used this as call and response.

In Acting this week we worked on the 4 ages on man: baby, 20, middle-aged, old. We added to the Boatman: fluid with repetition, Object in three different sizes - huge, small, toothpick - and improvising with a problem of some sort. For the Greek Chorus we added a second entry option, entering where the hero was before, telling a story, singing, and simultaneous movement. The simultaneous is harder, figuring out how to lead the group with your intention. You cannot waffle! 7 levels of tension - all released and no energy, sleepy walk, neutral, bubble inside, suspicious, angry tense guy, complete tension then release to the floor. We worked on the improvisations this time in threes... very interesting... now we are adding climate and characters. The newest thing we started was mannequins. Two and two for instance. You decide who these people are and what is there relationship. Then using as few movements as possible in the most efficiant way, you sculpt your partners. The point is to put two mannequins in a scene so there is some realistic qualities but there is always something just a little off. We decided to do this in Cabaret last night. Our mannequins were Meredith, Bob, and William who we made stand outside until we asked the audience for the scene. Courtney, Brian, Caroline, and I were the ones forming them. We asked our audience who Meredith is... they said Foxy Feline... Courtney took that to be a stripper named Foxy Feline. Then we asked, where are they... a shed... fantastic. Then we asked what is Bob and William's relationship to Foxy Feline... they are her cousins... wow. So we called our victims back in and made a pretty beautiful scene of Bob and William holding eachother scared - but William kind of wanted to look - while Meredith grabs her boob (poor Meredith - she was blushing hard) and looks are stripperesque. It turned out very nice I have to say.

In Movement today we started with three different speeds to music. First we gradually sped up as a warm-up, then we moved in slow motion exploring the a-semetric world, finally we had a free for all which was very nice and I found myself drawn to the wall for some reason. I really don't know why. We worked on rolling next. First as salmon rolls alternating front and back - difficult but interesting because you cannot use your hands or legs against the floor to move you - second sitting then a backwards roll - easier on my right rather than my left - third kneeling rolling backwards into another kneeling position then reversing the movement- fourth walking backwards then rolling backward and then continuing to walk back on the way up - we used a partner for this one as motivation and eye contact, the partner walks towards you as you walk backwards, it was very helpful in the dismount of the roll to keep walking backwards. We reviewed the bowling positions we used for handstand but modified it for cartwheels. Then we started doing cartwheels, first how we are used to doing it and then using the bowling position as our launch. I like cartwheels and have always been able to do them on my right side, but I have trouble on my left for sure. We presented our homework in pairs and started working on kinestetic response. Meredith and I will be working on ours together which will be really fun!

Days three and four!

Last night we had a MFA dinner at Scott's house. Here are some notable pictures:

Me and Jesse


William, Kimberlee, and Kevin


Action shot of Courtney, Katrin, Kevin, and Claudia


Caroline and Meredith

Ben, Brian, William, and Bob getting some wine and food.

Kevin, Scott, and Ben with Taylor and Jesse in the background.




Scott gives a toast!

Taylor cooking it up!


Me, Katie, Meredith, and Courtney


Katie and Claudia


Louise, Caroline, and Bob


The men hanging out: Taylor, Phil, and Jesse



Yesterday we got more in depth with acrobatics in Movement with Claudia. We learned how to roll on the ground and started learning how to roll over each other. We worked more on the handstand; with the image of rolling a bowling ball on the floor.

Our second day with Marcello was much more physical. Our warm-ups consisted of isolations, shoulder contrasts, swingy hand thing (that is what I call it) as counter isolations. We learned the robot man in 5 parts, the puppet breakdown and build up (in ten parts). Then we started the Balloon Guy. This is a very hard exercise. You start by standing with your arms outstretched. Next, as if you were filled with air and someone took a pin and poked you in the center of your body, you begin to deflate. You deflate to the floor... but there is one catch, all parts of your body must move at the same time and stop at the same time. It is not as easy as it sounds.

After this we did walking exercises. The catch being that the whole group has to start at the same time. Then once we have started we had to pick a partner without making it obvious. The next time we had to pick a partner and then a place to meet without making it obvious. No talking... just eye contact. This exercise is fantastic for group building. It starts us out listening to each other without words. Then into breath exercises. First, you sit on the ground cross-legged, take in a big breath while turning your head to the left, blow out the air while head twists back to the right. The point is to finish the movement and the air at the same time. The next step is to do the same thing but this time draw a water scene: first the waves, then the ship, then blow the ship away. Finally, we laid down and isolated the breath coming in and out of our chest and stomach. Then we started improvs... you'd have to be there.

Today we had voice work with Kevin. We started with breathing and releasing exercises on the ground. Same concept of isolation, but starting with the chest, to the ribs, to the stomach, to the pelvis. We did this solo, in pairs, and in trios. Next we worked with elbow rounds. Laying down putting our elbows across our chest, moving them in a circular motion, vertical, and horizontal. We let the air out on an 's' then moved into sound. Now, by ourselves, we performed the clavical and ribcage press with air.

We started what William calls 'Wiggle-O's' and started working with text and sound. Imagine it, all of these people standing in a circle, vibrating their body and trying to read an E.E. Cummings poem (this is what my facebook status comes from)... pretty hilarious. We continued working with this text by leading our partner around the room while they were trying to read the piece of paper, the telling it as a story to our partner, then experimenting with text and sound and dance.

In acting today we started with the same warm-ups and then worked with partners on walking away from the imaginary wall but not moving our hands and ducking under a table without moving our hands. Our partner would put their finger tips on either side of your cheek bones and you would move around it without moving your head... as if your head was stuck inbetween some bars. We worked on mirroring and leading the robot guy with sound and Puppet Guy with your partner counting. Next we worked in small groups on the sailor wheel and the 14 step pick-up sticks.

Using this last exercise we found different objects besides sticks. Keeping the same 14 step technique, just modifying it to your imagination. We did these improvs in front of the group. Mine was this: I was hot, so I saw a magazine and picked it up, while fanning myself I see an actual electric fan; I go to the fan and throw the magazine behind me as I plug in the oscilating fan and follow it back and forth; Then I take my fan when I see my refrigerator and throw it away as I open the freezer door; After I have stuck my head in the freezer, I see there is gelato (ice cream) so I grab the gelato and kick the fridge over; while eating gelato and singing I see a slip-n-slide, I go to the slip-n-slide and throw the gelato behind me; I set up the slip-n-slide and run into a belly slide across it (I actually did this, I think I really am insane). Finally we worked on more improvs. One element was added, only one person and move or talk at a time. Everyone else must keep their focus on that one person until the focus is returned to them. Very fun and interesting.