Heartfire Centre for Speech and Drama announces Gesture will be the theme of both remaining workshops this year.
About Heartfire Centre
For those of you who are new to the Heartfire Centre for Speech and Drama, we are a recent initiative based in Samford Valley Queensland. We have developed and will continue to develop, a speech and drama methodology thoroughly grounded in the impulse of Anthroposophy. Its aim is to serve the needs of teachers in Steiner schools, actors and storytellers, speakers for eurythmy and those who, for their own development, are searching for an embodied way to experience Anthroposophy.
This particular approach has evolved out of the work of Dawn Langman who, over 50 years of teaching and performing, has been one of several pioneers who have sought to integrate the three streams of Anthroposophical artistic work: speech formation (also called creative or transformative speech), eurythmy and the acting technique of the great Russian actor and teacher, Michael Chekhov, whose work was also grounded in Anthroposophy.
Gesture workshops
In Gesture: Part 1, applying the ‘psycho-physical’ processes Michael Chekhov has developed, we will explore the intimate relationship between our soul and body. This will enable us to inhabit our bodies more authentically and to explore Steiner’s insights into the very origin and nature of gesture. On this foundation we can then explore his insights into the relationship of gesture and speech.
In Gesture: Part 2, we will deepen the work undertaken in Gesture part 1 and explore its application in storytelling, speaking poetry and the development of character in dramatic text.
Although Gesture Part 1 will form a foundation for Gesture Part 2, it will also be possible to participate in Part 2 without attending Part 1.
Artistic presentations
As has become our custom, on Friday evening after the first workshop session, there will be a short artistic presentation by the Heartfire college of teachers. This will be followed by a longer one on Saturday evening, after the evening meal.
In both Saturday night presentations, Dawn will continue her part-commentary/part- performance, exploration of Shakespeare’s mission and the spiritual impulse at work through the trajectory of his plays. In the August workshop, she will continue to examine the early plays, focusing on Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet and, in the November workshop, the tragedies. As always, if you are in the vicinity, it is possible to book a meal and performance or just the performance.
For more information
Read more about Heart’s Fire Centre’s approach.
Book for Gesture: Part 1 or Gesture Part 2 or contact Mercedes Logan
Feature image: courtesy of Heart Fire Centre