SUMMER DANCE BOOT CAMP WITH DARLENE ZOLLER

JAZZ DANCE BOOT CAMP
An intensive program geared towards getting you back in shape for your fall dance programs with special emphasis on conditioning and technique. Space is limited to 15 dancers per week and will be filled on a first- come first-served basis.

Appropriate for students with at least some jazz or tap experience, ages 12 and up (no beginners).
(more info)

 

 

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IMPROV CLASSES WITH CLAIRE ZICK

ADVANCED IMPROVISATION
This class will hone the skills of the more advanced improviser. The class will explore narrative and address individual strengths as well as areas that need improvement. Students will learn to sustain a more complex narrative using all of the skills learned in previous classes. Focus will be on long-form improv including Harold. This class will culminate in a performances as part of the Improvaganza spring improv show at Playhouse on Park. Prerequisite - Intermediate Improvisation or permission of instructor.

Maximum 16 students
Mondays, 7:00-10:00 pm, April 25 - May 30, 2011
Class show: June 3 and 4, 2011
Cost of semester: $150

CLAIRE ZICK moved to West Hartford from Seattle where she was an ensemble member at Unexpected Productions, Seattle's first and most reputable improv theater company. She performed weekly in Seattle Theatresports™ and long-form shows such as Harold, Spoken, Blank Slate, Fakespeare, The Melanie Game, Campfire, A(n) Improvised Christmas Carol, Black Eyed Blonde, Impressionistic Horror, and improvised versions of movie genres. She was also the Assistant Artistic Director and only female member of Sisters of Sal, a long-form improvisational comedy troupe that won Seattle CageMatch and performed with Ryan Stiles. She has studied improv at Unexpected Productions, Magnet Theater, and UCB Theatre. Her instructors have included Randy Dixon, Matt Smith, Jill Farris, Armando Diaz, Christian Capozzoli, Keith Johnstone and Mick Napier. Locally she has been seen in Vanities, Isn't it Romantic, Arsenic and Old Lace and Lend Me a Tenor as well as other scripted and improv productions in theaters around the state.

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SUMMER 2011 THEATRE PROGRAMS

Elementary and Middle School | High School | Conservatory Program for 18+

[Registration Form] [Instructor Bio page]

Kindergarten through Grade 2
Children will be introduced to theatre through creative play.  Exercises and games will focus on acting, story telling, puppetry, music, and basic movement / dance.  By the end of the class, students should feel comfortable working as a group, and they should be using their bodies and voices to start to create characters.  Though the emphasis of the class will on developing skills and not on a final performance, family and friends are invited to the last class to see students present scenes based on well-known fairy tales.

Time: 9 - 11 a.m.    Instructor: Dawn Loveland [bio]

Entering Grade 3 through Grade 5
Students will participate in games, exercises, and scenes to allow them to gain comfort and technique in portraying a character onstage.  Topics will include basic scene work, story telling, puppetry, music, and movement / dance.  Though the emphasis of the class will be on developing skills and not on a final performance, family and friends are invited to the last class to see students present monologues and scenes based on poetry by Shel Silverstein.

Time: 1 – 3 p.m.    Instructor: Dawn Loveland [bio]

Entering Grade 6 through Grade 8
Students will focus on developing their acting technique through using their voices and bodies to portray characters onstage.  This class will include acting and storytelling games, improvisation exercises, monologue and scene work, movement / dance for actors, and voice for actors.  Though the emphases of the class will be on developing skills and not on a final performance, family and friends are invited to the last class to see students present scenes.   

Time: 3 – 5 p.m.     Instructor: Dawn Loveland [bio]

For all of the above classes:
Session 1 Dates: Weekdays June 27 – July 8
No class Monday, July 4
Session 2 Dates: Weekdays July 11 – July 22
Session 3 Dates: Weekdays July 25 – August 5

Fee: $200 per session (Session 1 is $180)
Students are welcome to sign up for more than one session.  
Each session will include similar topics but different activities.

Location: Wolcott Elementary School, West Hartford

[Registration Form]

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High School College Preparatory Acting Program

Entering Grade 9 – Grade 12
This is an intensive training program for high school actors.  The purpose of the program is for high school students to practice skills they will need to succeed in auditions for college programs, as well as in their high school theatre activities.  This class will include monologue and scene study where each actor will work on at least one scene and three monologues: one contemporary comedic, one contemporary dramatic, and one classical.  Students will also participate in exercises focused on improving vocal technique, and movement for actors.  Though the emphasis of this class will be on developing acting skills and not on a final performance, family and friends will be invited to the last class to see students present scenes and / or monologues.

Dates: Weekdays July 25 – August 5      Time: 12 – 5 p.m.     Instructor: Sean Harris

Fee: $350.  Interview Required.  Prospective students must submit a resume,  
and select applicants will be invited to interview.

Location: Hall High School, West Hartford

Resume Deadline: Please submit resumes ASAP: resumes will be reviewed and students admitted until the class is full.

[Registration Form]

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Conservatory: Professional Training Program

Young Adult (18+)
The conservatory program is for a select group of college students, recent college graduates, or other young adults who are seriously pursuing careers as actors. 
Regular Classes: The program will consist of scene study, monologue work, and Shakespeare intensive study.  By the end of the program, actors will have prepared a classical and a contemporary monologue. 
Master Classes: There will be frequent master classes taught by guest artists in topics such as Linklater technique (Bob Davis), divisive theatre (Tom Ridgely), Suzuki and martial arts fusion (Michael Billingsley), Alexander technique, Masks (David Watson), business for actors (Ioanna Alfonso), audition technique (Carey Anderson).
Headshots: A photographer from New York will visit for a day and take professional headshot photos.
New York Showcase: Students will participate in a New York showcase of contemporary scenes at the conclusion of classes.  Industry professionals will be invited to the showcase.

Dates: Weekdays June 27 – July 22
No class Monday, July 4

Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.      Instructor: Sean Harris and guest artists

Fee: $1100 
Interview / Audition Required.  Prospective students must submit a resume, and
select applicants will be invited to interview and audition.

Location: Hall High School, West Hartford

Resume Deadline: Please submit resumes ASAP: resumes will be reviewed and students admitted until the class is full.

Housing is not provided, but there are many local options.  For roommate and  apartment listings, Craig’s List is a great resource.

Devised Theatre (Instructor: Tom Ridgely [bio])
It's a cliche that theatre is the most collaborative art form, and like all cliches it's grounded in truth. Devising merely carries that truth one step further back, to earliest stage of the play-making process. Rather than a single writer creating a primary work that is then interpreted and realized by a team of secondary artists, in devised theatre actors, writers, directors, designers, composers and musicians all work together to build the piece from the ground up. This class will draw from Meyerhold, Grotowski, LeCoq and Bogart to introduce basic devising skills, and culminate in the presentation of short pieces that you will make in small groups. It will also point toward ways of becoming a more fully empowered artist within traditional rehearsal processes and how to create performance and career opportunities outside the prevailing casting system.

Linklater Voice (Instructor: Robert H. Davis [bio])
This master class introduces the basic elements of voice training as developed by Kristin Linklater, author of the renowned book, Freeing the Natural Voice. Starting with physical awareness, relaxation, breath and resonance, the work provides a pathway for reconnecting the voice to the deep impulses of human communication.

Techniques of Character Exploration and Development Through the Use of Half-Mask
(Instructor: David Watson [bio])
In this full participation workshop, student will learn the principles of character development through vocal and physical adjustments. Students will select a mask and experience first hand the application of these principles in support of the mask image. Through a “layering” process the students will bring the masks to life. A broader realization is that this technique of character development can be applied to any style of acting – masked or unmasked.

[Registration Form]

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