Friday, April 27, 2007

The Body as Memory Research Project

Dear Friends and colleagues,

Para Active invite you to share in the results of their 10 day long research into the significant relationship between the Body and Memory. Our questions concern ourselves with the bodymemory that various training systems from various practioners i.e Stanislavski to Grotowski seek to unlock. We will be working with Fran Barbe (Theatre Training Initiative on Butoh) Dr. Giuliano Campo (British Grotowski Project on vibratory song and action) and Professor J. Rothwell based at the Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London.

We wish to investigate a dynamic interchange between body and memory that can be useful to an actors process. Where, if anywher are memories stored? Can we use the body movements to bring alive previously dormant memories and in so doing discover where they are held? Do different memories have different weights and produce different movement qualities? Do memories become more accessible when the spine is open and fluid due to the routes of the nervous system? What happens to the body when neurophysiological impulses are provoked?

This research has been led by Jonathan Grieve.

Chaired by Dr Dick McCaw the sharing will be held at Chisenhale Dance Space on Sat 28th April at 7.00.

Please RSVP to nwando@para-active.com

We look forward to seeing you there.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Onion Bar - The Film

A short film featuring scenes from Onion Bar can now be viewed on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU8tktkxZ7o

Monday, April 23, 2007

The Urban Performance Project

The Urban Performance Project is a physical training programme that draws on dance, theatre, acrobatics and martial arts. This is an exciting opportunity to create movement art that is vivid and provocative. Part improvisation, part happening, part workshop and part encounter, this will be a challenging and unique experience in physical performance and experimental theatre.
Capturing the intrinsic values of physical activity, the Urban Performance Project invites creative thinking and spontaneity as well as technical ability. A certain level of physical commitment is expected.

Price for term: £38 / Free to concessions, those on benefit, students etc
Venue: Stratford Circus, Theatre Square, Stratford, London E15 1BX
Dates: Every tuesday from 1st May - 10th July
Times: 6-9pm

For more information contact Course Administrator Nwando Ebizie on nwando@para-active.com / 07916278949
To enrol on the course contact Safia Ali on 0208-279-1084

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

THE HIDDEN VOICE

Tuesdays 3-5.
From 1st May 2007
Venue: Stratford Circus

A unique opportunity to work with PARA ACTIVE theatre on voice. This course is open to all regardless of experience. We will work towards the empowerment of the voice and revealing the full range and potential of your creativity and expression.

One of our most important means of expression is the voice; not only as a tool for communication but also as a way of expanding the living articulation of the personality. Exploring the voice releases blocks that can lead to a stronger performance presence but also develops a stronger connection to the body and the self.

The voice is a complex way of exploring ourselves as inhabited by our histories, our past and our present and this journey can reveal many powerful sounds and we will work in transforming these sounds into song and spoken texts. We will work towards revolutionizing the voice through group and solo work using improvisation and exercises developed by the Director of PARA ACTIVE theatre.This journey will be both engaging and exciting with some challenges and surprises along the way. The course is open to anybody regardless of previous experience but we ask people to be sure that they can commit to the full length of the course as it is structured as a ten week process.
For more information please contact Nwando Ebizie on nwando@para-active.com or call 07916278949