International Theatre Project 2003
The 2003 International Theatre Project investigated the use of
the three elements - space, body and text - within a theatrical
context. Preeti Vasudevan, classical Indian dance expert and
cultural scholar, led the workshop, which incorporated fundamental
training from Indian theatre and classical dance (Bharatanatyam)
with the Viewpoints technique of blocking and staging, which was
taught by Barbara Dilley, performance artist currently teaching at
Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. (Flash Video)
During the workshop, students engaged in a variety of exercises,
including:
- A daily warm-up using training techniques from Bharatanatyam
(Indian classical dance), Yoga and other body conditioning
approaches.
- A movement class, focusing on Indian classical dance vocabulary
including gestures of the hands and eyes, exploration of space
involving the use of music to explore the new structures of body
movement.
- The exploration of voice and text in space.
- The creation of a performance piece for public presentation
based on techniques explored in the workshop.