Transformational Drama, Dance and Voice

It is the use of drama and related techniques through workshops and courses to heal and transform body, mind, emotions and spirit. The techniques for training an actor, singer or dancer are used in a therapeutic way; not as in the case of actors who must develop tools for performance, but rather walking in the Way of the Actor as a path to profound self-development and personal power. Here, actor is used in the broadest context to include singer and dancer, and both sexes.

An Actor's training lasts from 1 to 3 years is rigorous, intense, involving not only the physical, mental and emotional sides but also the inner, psychic and spiritual resources. Even if as artist is lucky enough to make a living, this work on the self ever stops. It involves physical work, re-aligning the body through various forms of training in movement, dance, sometimes fencing to develop control, strength, co-ordination and flexibility.

Secondly, actors and singers must learn techniques for developing a rich, vibrant voice, using knowledge of sound, clarity and diction, and at the basis of life itself breathing. Thirdly; they must become skilled in using the imagination. At the centre of everything is the actor's need to delve deep into personal emotions, no holds barred, pulling up from deep within that which is needed to put life into a character. They are expected to use their most private, often upsetting experiences to develop challenging roles.

In preparing for a role, they may recall and release traumatic experiences, but unlike standard therapy, which often just talks about them, focusing on the negative, actors are usually given the space to express their experiences in the work of creating a character. However the difference between actors training and Drama Therapy is that we are not necessarily, requiring people to become actors, singers and dancers.

Benefits

What makes Drama therapy so different?

• It is exciting, fun and less introspective than more psychology based therapies.
  
• One of the most effective ways of resolving emotional upsets in a more creative way is combining conscious connected breathing (rebirthing) with certain exercises in drama.
  
• Human beings often have strong feelings locked in the body (for example, hatred and anger) and Dance as Therapy offers the opportunity to express those feelings in a much safer way.
  
• Dance is a wonderful form of self -expression, whilst developing strength, flexibility and co-ordination.
  
• Using Sound in Voice work has a similar effect of healing fears of expressing ourselves, and developing communication skills.
  
• It is fantastic for releasing untold stress and tension, which, if not dealt with, will eventually cause pain and disease.
  

We are all magnificent and powerful with a unique purpose to fulfil, but mostly we live quite limited lives within a narrow perspective, based on family and societal conditioning, holding back on our full creativity. We become set in the traditional roles of father, wife, teacher, banker, librarian and so on, and there are parts of ourselves that we have denied expression, sometimes called sub-personalities. We have had to grow up, and it appears there is not enough time for just us. Often, our imagination has been stifled, which causes a big block to our creativity.

It is great fun, and less threatening to play out these unexpressed roles in a safe environment, just once removed from actual reality. A re-connection with the child within us. Children play out characters and imaginary situations all the time. I believe they do this to make sense of and understand their world and the people in it, even seeing other dimensions. We can regain our sense of play, imagination, spontaneity, a belief in magic, and develop greater self-expression.

This exciting work following the Way of the Actor helps bring personal darkness into the light!

Please see Workshops and Trainings for more information: