October Workshop Changes

Saturday's voice production workshop was full on fun, creativity and discovery.  I intended to take things easy as I've had a sore throat now for weeks and the discomfort was creeping down the throat to the larynx and chest.  Drinking lots of water helped.

It was great to have a core of women who have attended the previous workshops.  We were joined by two women who'd travelled down from Devon.  Seven of us were led by Pip from warm ups to connecting up, and ending up creating solo performance pieces.  As an audience at times I was moved to cry with laughter or be utterly surprised and fascinated.

I am convinced that when an ensemble have a known repertoire of  improvisational devices and are given more opportunity to play, learn, flow, increase flexibility and responsiveness that fascinating solos, duets and ensemble pieces can be created and used as compositional material and narrative.

The palette of movement, stillness, silence and sound meant we had plenty of choice.  The vocal exploration helped us to make connections between what we felt physically and emotionally when we moved and paid attention to our inner interests and impulses and the effect all that had on the sounds we made or released.

I was struck by what a diverse group of bodies, people and backgrounds we were and how wonderful it was seeing all our older women selves at play and creation.  I believe that audiences deserve to have the opportunity to see and enjoy the particular qualities that older women bring to performance.

Future POWOW Workshops

15th October is Cancelled

Some people will be away performing abroad or unable to attend due to work or rehearsal commitments and so, because of budget constraints, we will be unable to hold a workshop on 15th October.

22nd October - To Be Led by Kim

I've written a workshop plan which I've already referred to in this blog.  What I'm excited about is that I think all the women are ready to extend the play into voice and singing.  This is where we will all find out what we can create, how it feels, how pleasing is the result.  I'll be taking part as well as leading, and I'll photograph and video the whole.  We'll see how it goes.  If the women enjoy it and feel they'd like to do more, maybe I could follow on with a workshop where we create a short piece for performance in December.

Body Out


I'll write about my observations and thinking re this body out idea after the next workshop!