Graduate Movement IV: Dynamics of Composition/Presence, Character, and Embodied Research

3 Units

This course continues an in depth inquiry into the essential dynamics of space, time and presence, asking "How can the actor galvanize these elements to wholeheartedly serve composition, story, and presence?" Actors will expand their range, capacity, and depth as they cultivate physical experience and ability to respond to impulse, image, action, emotion, and text. They will develop their ability to create within an ensemble and to respond to the moment. This course asks the actor to consider, "How are you playing with: the experiencer, the observer, and the judge; being and doing; container and release? How does your body speak?" We study this in forms of self, partner, ensemble, and actor-audience relationships. Experiential practices explored this semester include: Grotowski (Corporal Movement, The Cat, Plastiques), Clown Presence, and Composition including Animal Embodiment, Historical Dance, and Ensemble Practice. Prereq: THTR 401 and THTR 402 and THTR 403 .