PUSH Physical Theatre powerpoint PDF

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Summary

Presentation on the PUSH Theatre Company...

Description

PUSH Physical Theatre Beliefs and Mission:   

The founding belief of PUSH is that the life experiences of each performer are unique to them and allow the group to develop new ideas and create new works. PUSH was created to utilize and develop movements that speak to the audience and create narratives. The Mission Statement of PUSH is “PUSH creates and performs physical stories that inspire change. PUSH teaches lessons for life by empowering learners of all ages to use physical theatre to tell their own stories.”

Why PUSH?   

Darren and Heather Stevenson established PUSH as a way to push their art by pushing the limits of the human body and the limits on storytelling. The company was named “PUSH” because the Stevensons’ used the word “PUSH” several times in the founding principles. PUSH uses a hybrid art form that combines technical skills with the skills of its performers into a cohesive whole.

Inspiration for New Works:  

Sometimes the performers will develop student exercises into full works or mismatch ideas to see what happens as a result Darren Stevenson says: “The stories of our lives are locked inside our muscles. Movement sets free.”

Creation Process: 

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Performer will improvise or free play with an idea in mind until they develop images or movements that convey the core meaning of the work. They build movement and choreography surrounding that core image. PUSH will often “soft-debut” a work in the last stages of rehearsals to get feedback from the audience. Since PUSH allows performers to express new connections in rehearsals, performers can find new ways to improve works, so no show is ever the same.

Company Class: 

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PUSH has a program similar to a company class each morning, during which the company will involve: o Enhancing or reinforcing techniques to maintain and improve core skills o A company workout o Discretionary time of improving technique, continued rehearsals, creating new works, or coffee breaks and sprawling YouTube sessions PUSH uses this company class because “Creativity is often spurred by the mental breaks or new ideas.

PUSH-specific techniques

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PUSH combines a compact set of technical skills with a variety of supplemental skills. PUSH uses old techniques created during its production history. PUSH emphasizes the use of variety and unpredictability as intentional. Using these techniques, PUSH allows core skills to grow. Core skills include: corporeal mime, illusionary mime, slow-motion illusions, Hawkins-style modern dance, and non-traditional partnering. Supplementary skills are developed only as needed in the company. Reasons for supplementary skills are to build a new skill set, reinforce old performance skills, develop a new performer, and physical development. These supplementary skills include: acrobatics, circus hand-to-hand balancing, clowning, juggling, cyr wheel, flash theatre, acting, parkour, hand balancing, yoga, contact improv. As new works are developed, PUSH will create new techniques around those works.

What is the art of PUSH? 

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PUSH describes itself, simply, as physical theatre, which they define as “storytelling using only our bodies.” In depth, however, PUSH considers itself a “hybrid art form combing multiple disciplines” with the intention to use the best movements for expressing a meaning or narrative. PUSH was founded to intentionally defy categorization. PUSH uses the term “physical theatre” rather than “visual” because they believe in emphasizing the potentials and abilities of the human body.

Why is PUSH unique? 

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PUSH is different from other physical theatre companies because they are always growing and searching for new techniques. PUSH also emphasizes a conscious effort to prevent activities from turning into habit. PUSH is Audience-Centric, meaning it creates works that make sense to the audience since the performance is completed in the imagination of the audience. Since PUSH is an ensemble group, the personality and style of each member is incorporated into the group. The personality of the group as a whole changes as each member comes and goes. PUSH is always searching to innovate by continuing to explore new connections and determining what is possible.

VIDEOS: 

IT PAYS THE BILLS o 0:20 – 1:23 o 1:43- End...