Clowndance Syllabus
Game: The Conversation
This is a duet game. Two performers will enter the space to a piece of music, and we will applaud their entrance. They will then dance a conversation between each other, for the duration of the music. This can involve stillness and listening as well as movement. The performers should acknowledge the audience and at find moments to include the audience in the conversation, or comment on what is happening onstage. This could be non-verbal or verbal.
Then…
After each dance the audience will say what we enjoyed and what we wanted more of. The next pair will use whatever it was we wanted more of as a prompt for their conversation duet. We will also collectively decide what style or feel of music we want to hear next.
Reflection
What did we enjoy?
What did we want more of?
Did we anticipate where the dances might go, or were there surprises?
Then…
After each dance the audience will say what we enjoyed and what we wanted more of. The next pair will use whatever it was we wanted more of as a prompt for their conversation duet. We will also collectively decide what style or feel of music we want to hear next.
Reflection
What did we enjoy?
What did we want more of?
Did we anticipate where the dances might go, or were there surprises?
Adapted from an improvisation task by Lynne Anne Blom and L. Tarin Chaplin, from their book The Intimate Act of Choreography (1982).