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FATE (Florida Association for Theatre
Education)à Some additions to the outline for those who took Glenys McQueen’s
workshop(s) [©2008]
Each of the two
workshops that we did included a vigorous warm-up, but I did not provide a list
or break-down of the progression in the handout. Here, below, is that progression:
WARM-UPà TEMPER TANTRUM!
·
Objectiveà to connect voice/ body/ emotions
[Meyerhold’s “outside-in” approach]
PROGRESSIONà this warm-up was done with participants
walking in a circle—large enough to permit people to maintain a safe distance
between them. [note: it can also be done standing/walking ‘on the spot’, or
sitting down (see Chair Warm-Up, in Workshop #2)].
·
PASSIVE
NEGATIVEà Start with short steps, stomping feet and ‘flopping’
arms; find a dialogue [e.g. “NO, I WON’T! or “I DON’T WANT TO…”, etc.]
·
ACTIVE
NEGATIVEà Steps lengthen [to lunge length]; punching opposite arm/fist forward; find
voice/dialogue such as “GOTCHA”, “BEAT IT”, “I SAID NOOOO”…
·
PETULANT
(nasty, ‘snarky’, brat-ish)à chin in air; light steps, twisting hips;
voice/dialogue such as ‘Maybe I will and maybe I won’t!, or “I will when I’m
ready” or “Oh yeah, just you wait”…
·
PETULANT
TRIUMPHANTà light, bouncy steps; fists punch straight up into the air; voice/dialogue
such as ‘YES”, “OOOH YES”, “AHAAAA”, “BEAT THAT!”…
·
CELBRATORY
‘THROWING DUVET IN AIR’à while continuing to walk throughout, bend down as if to lift
a folded duvet from floor and turn arms/get body underneath ‘as if to put it on
a high shelf’…but instead of shelf, throw it joyfully into the air, yelling
“WOW” or “YEEEEESSSSS”, or “FINAAAALLYY” or “I’M FREEEEEEE”!!
·
WHOPEE JUMPSà end the session on a “high positive”, by
leaping (if possible) in a kind of “riding bicycle step” into the air, with
arms making huge simultaneous backward circles, while yelling “WHOOOOPPPPEEEE”
or “YAAAAHHOOOOO” or “AAAAHHHHHAAAAAA”
WORKSHOP #2:
“CLEANING UP YOUR ACT”
WARM-UPà CHAIR WARM-UP (included a partial Temper
Tantrum!)
·
Objectiveà to connect voice/ body/ emotions
[Meyerhold’s “outside-in” approach] + “work out of the boxà when is a chair not ‘just a chair’?”
PROGRESSIONà in the workshop, participants sat on
chairs in a large circle, with enough space between them to work safely; chairs
can also be in rows, even with desks in front of them (if necessary).
·
POLISHING
back of chair, then seat of chair by wiggling
·
POUNDING
feet on floor (lifting knees to chest), slapping thighs; releasing voice to say
“’aaaahhhhaaaa” (voice is same “size” as stomping/ slapping)
·
SLO MO-STAGE
WHISPERà redo above in slow motion, with stage whisper voices [you’ll note
it is harder, more control required, more of a workout!…and more fun!]
·
THROWING
STONES! Pretend you’re fighting the people opposite you in the circle (and
they’re far away from you); throw stones and yell at them, while maintaining
stomping feet…
·
GREETING
LONG-LOST FRIENDS! Imagine the people
opposite you in the circle are dear friends, but they’re a couple of blocks
awayà stomp, wave both arms frenetically, shout to get their attention…
·
SLO MO-STAGE
WHISPERà redo “stones” and “greetings” above in slow motion/ stage
whispers.
·
DANCESà Ukranian dancing [kick one leg in
air-yell “HAAAHHH”; clap hands-stomp feet; kick other leg in air-yell
“HAAAHHH”]: Chorus line [sit on edge of
chair, open arms and legs and shout “DAA…DAAHHHH”; clap hands-stomp feet; fling
open arms and legs and shout again, etc…]
·
OLYMPICSà sit back on chair so that feet are off
floor [those who are tall—cheat!] and ‘run’, trying to touch heels to underseat
of chair, as fast as you can; pump arms back and forth, with elbows bent, in
time with feet]
·
INSECTSà lift feet off floor; slide over on seat
of chair, and lean body over to one side, to see the insects on the floor at
that side…then see there are more on other side, and sit back up, shift weight
to be able to lower head to other side to see insects on that side…
·
AROUND THE
WORLDà keeping feet off floor, manoeuvre with hands to lift feet and
twirl [slowly] feet up and around the backs of the chair till you end up back
in normal sitting position; repeat other way
·
End off
progression with “shaking out” [wiggle everything].