Teaching | Jessica Wallenfels

Outreach and Residency - Under Construction

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:09:32 -0800

Testimonials

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:01:40 -0700

What participants get out of Create Your Own Performance:

"Learning to trust and believe in myself- that is is possible to create work. I no longer have the excuse that I don't know how or can't do it." - Zachary Koval, actor

"OK I gained a sense of artistic possibilities before me, a "yes, i can do this." believing in myself as a performer a little more than i did before the weekend - knowing that there is still a great need (but also room) for growth and learning, but that i have made a first step in creating my own work: a starting point that i can build on." - Jo Koppe, dancer

"[Jessica] has a gift for facilitating the creation of a safe space for beginning students to try new things. She stays focused on helping students understand what it is THEY are trying to create. Jessica is not a teacher with a hidden (or stated) aesthetic agenda. She treats each participant as an individual with her/his/their own tastes and talents to discover and pursue." - Sarah Scott Dyrhaug, theatermaker

"Particularly, the sense of having nothing but bits and pieces on Sunday at 1:00, and by an hour or so later, having confidence that there was enough there to justify putting it on its feet." - Bobby Z, actor/writer/voicetalent

CV

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:38:25 -0700

Create Your Own Performance Intensives

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:53:53 -0700

Receptionists, exhibitionists, absolute beginners, accomplished thespians and interested parties come together in an laboratory that favors trial and applauds error. Derring-do, narrow inroads, embarrassing outpourings, astonishing fake tapdances and Pat Benetar impressions are accepted here. This not an acting class per se, but a beginning class in creating live art from scratch.

Artists of other disciplines or people with no performative experience are welcome to take a whack at the generation, arrangement and presentation of performative material. 18 years and older please.

Pricing

Weekend Intensives in Solo Performance

Sliding scale: $90-110

$90 for early registration. $110 after that.

Payment

Charge it on the registration page, or arrange payment by cash or check via email (details on registration page). Price includes presentation materials (see below under What Else?).

How We Do It

We start by utilizing exercises of writing and imagery. Movement and sound trials are introduced singly and in groups. Then, information from these exercises will begin to grow together and get corralled toward ideas about how to tell a story, as well as explorations of form. We'll then employ props and costumes in service of this budding idea, and start test runs of an under 5 minute piece. Through a refining process we boil it down to its strongest parts and perform it in an informal showing.

Informal Showing?

We we will show all the pieces to a small audience of whomever the students want to invite.

What Else?

With registration and participation you will receive a still (or not so) photograph of your performance, as well as a video of your piece, on DVD. This is helpful in the further development of the work you start in the intensive, as well as in presentation and documentation you may need to receive grant funding or arts partners, should you choose to perform the work later. Or, you can just join the Facebook group for Create Your Own Performance and share with friends.

Preparation

You don't need to do any research or bring any writing - the purpose is to co-create in the room. Please wear clothes you can move in. Bring water and things to write with and on. You won’t need any props or costumes for the first day - but you’ll probably have a list of things to bring for Day 2 by the time we get there.

Registration

Are you in? Then register already.

Pictured: Betsy Cross, Jenstar, J Pearl Waldorf, Jo Koppe, Paul Susi, Sarah Dyrhaug