Illusion

Sculpting and manipulating

imaginary objects

             

 

      This is the most common style of mime and the one everyone associates with.  The famous "wall" or "stuck in a box" routine.  Commonly used as an introduction to mime and involving students who are experiencing mime or even drama itself for the first time. 

It is important that the student realize and discover their own personal rhythm and therefore their own unique performing style. Mime is perpetually stuck inside the stereotypical white-face guy stuck in a box. It is a common misconception that mime is solely the techniques. 

All classes begin with a physical and vocal warm-up. It is important to dispel the myth of silence in mime so we use our voices from the start. The physical warm-ups emphasize relaxation, focus and flexibility. We then work with isolations and break down the act of picking something up or touching something.  Illusions are created through isolations.  The workshop deals with fixed point, concentration skills, walking, stairs, etc..

A single workshop will give the students a "taste" of all of these techniques.  They can be broken up over two or three workshops and worked with in more detail.

In a week long session involving five classes I like to combine the illusion style with the Graphics style culminating in a piece which the students perform for each other on the last day.

 

Walk Lesson 01 The feet.

 

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