ACTING THROUGH DANCE
WORKSHOP ARcHIVE
Welcome to the 'Acting Through Dance' digital archive. Here you will find videos and short descriptions that coincide with the guidebook. The archived footage features the mini workshop in London and the full-scale workshop in Seattle, USA. For privacy, I have not included the full names of the participants. Each participant, however, has given their written consent for all photos, video, and audio recordings to be used for academic and archival purposes. In order to gain the most out of this material, please refer to the guidebook on instruction of the exercises and the videos as an enhanced reference of support or inspiration.
From the guidebook introduction:
There has been plenty of feedback that I have collected and research I have conducted on the importance and relevance of this subject area. Actors are often taught movement for the stage, posture, and how to hold themselves differently based on a character. Dancers are often taught acting through the form of character development or text-based analysis. In both of those circumstances there is a lack of attention for acting through dance or movement. It is possible to act through movement, embodying a character or emotion and performing with such conviction and truth that an audience can clearly understand and interpret its intention. The exercises, both foundational and developmental, help guide this process.
Many of the exercises are quite rudimentary and plain on their own. It is through the research and teaching that I have done that I am able to add to and take away elements of these exercises that are relevant (or not) for dancers or actors. Many of the exercises and developmental activities are to be facilitated within a group, rather than alone. That being said, one can find value watching and reflecting upon the topics discussed and the participant and instructor feedback.
Below you can access full recordings to a sample contemporary warm-up, foundational exercises: Gifts, Emotive Eyes, Medicine Ball, Gesture Permutations, Rhythm Portrait, and Take a Walk in Your Own World, and a developmental activity: Rasa Boxes.
Disclaimer
These videos feature raw emotion and physicalizations from artists of many different backgrounds and movement trainings. These videos should not be downloaded, copied, or reproduced for any reason without consent.
From the guidebook introduction:
There has been plenty of feedback that I have collected and research I have conducted on the importance and relevance of this subject area. Actors are often taught movement for the stage, posture, and how to hold themselves differently based on a character. Dancers are often taught acting through the form of character development or text-based analysis. In both of those circumstances there is a lack of attention for acting through dance or movement. It is possible to act through movement, embodying a character or emotion and performing with such conviction and truth that an audience can clearly understand and interpret its intention. The exercises, both foundational and developmental, help guide this process.
Many of the exercises are quite rudimentary and plain on their own. It is through the research and teaching that I have done that I am able to add to and take away elements of these exercises that are relevant (or not) for dancers or actors. Many of the exercises and developmental activities are to be facilitated within a group, rather than alone. That being said, one can find value watching and reflecting upon the topics discussed and the participant and instructor feedback.
Below you can access full recordings to a sample contemporary warm-up, foundational exercises: Gifts, Emotive Eyes, Medicine Ball, Gesture Permutations, Rhythm Portrait, and Take a Walk in Your Own World, and a developmental activity: Rasa Boxes.
Disclaimer
These videos feature raw emotion and physicalizations from artists of many different backgrounds and movement trainings. These videos should not be downloaded, copied, or reproduced for any reason without consent.
CONTEMPORArY WARM-Up
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Contemporary Warm-Up
This session was filmed on 14th April 2022, featuring Lukas Poischbeg teaching and Annalisa B., Jess G., Melodie G., and Nelia M. dancing. The purpose of the contemporary warm-up is to centre the mind and body into the space before working through the exercises. |
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Foundational exercises
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Gifts
This session was filmed on 12th April 2022, featuring Lukas Poischbeg teaching and Annalisa B., Sam R., and Carly H. participating. 'We are gifting ourselves, but also our energy to our partner.' |
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Emotive Eyes
This session was filmed on 12th April 2022, featuring Lukas Poischbeg teaching and Annalisa B., Sam R., and Carly H. participating. 'Warm-up the face. Stretching it as big as it can get, and as small and compact as it can get. As big as if you’re eating an apple, as small as if you ate a lemon. Big, then small.' |
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Medicine Ball
This session was filmed on 13th March 2022, featuring Lukas Poischbeg teaching and Michelle M., Lewis A., and Emily O. participating. 'Take a soft focus into the space and begin with some soft humming. Pressing your lips together, humming on any pitch.' |
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Gesture Permutations
This session was filmed on 11th April 2022, featuring Lukas Poischbeg teaching and Alex R. and Nelia M. participating. "Now, talk about what you really think about the city you’re living in. Once you’ve exchanged in conversation for a few minutes, continue your discussion but make no sound. Communicate only with gestures." |
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Rhythm Portrait
This session was filmed on 14th April 2022, featuring Lukas Poischbeg teaching and Annalisa B., Jess G., Melodie G. and Nelia M. participating. "Prowl around each other, observing everyone covertly, but never let anyone catch you looking at them." 'Perhaps if you are working in a studio with mirrors, use them to your advantage. You are looking for the person in the group who interests you the most, positively, or negatively.' |
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Take a Walk in Your Own World
This session was filmed on 11th April 2022, featuring Lukas Poischbeg teaching and Alex R. and Nelia M. participating. "Look out from the walking in your own world to the others walking in their own world, observing as many as you can. But be certain that you lose nothing of the quality and the action of your walk in your own world." |
Developmental activities
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Rasa Boxes
This session was filmed on 13th April 2022, featuring Lukas Poischbeg teaching and Annalisa B., Jess G., Melodie G. and Nelia M. participating. "The standard Rasas grid is a three-by-threegrid which you can make with blue tape on your floor. Use student aides to measure this out if you’ve got them. Make the squares large enough to sit or stand in." |
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TESTIMONIALS
This workshop provided a range exercises that enabled me to break down mental barriers and connect with my spontaneous and instinctive thoughts on character-driven movement.
There were some exercises similar to ones that I had participated in before and some completely new. Even the ones that were similar had slightly different elements or thought processes behind them which kept me engaged.