06.06.2023 - Masterclass with Julia Varley
In pairs we developed scores using a stick (3 push and 3 pull). After establishing the actions, the stick was removed. In the same pair we had to reenact the score while maintaining the core engagement present when working with the stick. Finally, we worked individually on the same score. We switched partners, everybody performed their individual score in relation to the new partner. The score had to be a dialogue between the two performers, responding to each other. The score could vary in speed and size if necessary.
Individually we created a small sequence telling the story of a woman learning to dance from her mother and after she arrived home, she taught the dance to her daughter. I did this using my hands and fingers. Afterwards both sequences were overlayed with each other to the participant’s liking.
We explored walking around the room: the old grandma dancing, the young girl learning, a spider, a mouse. The steps were later integrated into the score. We performed it first with the person we originally developed the score with and later we moved around the room changing partners and performed it in relation to them.
Towards the end of this section the score was performed individually. Here Varley was giving us different scenarios and characters to apply to our scores. This gave my score different qualities without adjusting the sequence.
In the afternoon we worked on voice. Walking around the room we were told to say a piece of text. At first walking normally, then we moved into running, jumping, and slowly going to the ground. These indications were meant to distract the mind from its automatism of rationalizing the text and let the text flow according to the action performed by the body. Jumping was a burst in volume, running was saying the text fast, and going slowly to the ground was reciting the text very slowly.
We then came into a circle and were asked to sing. Overall there were 4 songs that were introduced by the participants of the masterclass. We were asked to sing at the same time, without knowing the lyrics, to memorize the song. It allowed us to connect as a group and to focus on the person that brought the song forward.
We were asked by Julia to use our voices as the thick smog in London, the snow falling on top of a mountain, caressing a cat with our voices, a dog serenading a cat, rain falling on tin roofs, a fisherman selling their catch in Napoli, a hippo dancing. Then we applied these qualities to us singing following the sequence of the songs.