Inspired Performance Workshop with Jef Johnson in CT

[AKyer]

"Break it Down!" Inspired Performance Workshop with Jef Johnson

June 1: 6-10pm
June 2: 10-6pm
June 3: 10-6pm

Cost: $200 (partial participation possible - please inquire)
Discount: 25% for those who have previously attended a workshop with Jef Johnson
Discount: 25% for those who mention discount code: HURRICANE CLOWN 23
To register contact Aryn Kyer at [e-mail]
Location: Middletown, CT - please inquire about transportation & accomodation options for non-locals.

Workshop:

The paralyzing fear of "getting it wrong" or "failing to impress" others is a common symptom of living in a world where "success" is measured by competition, material possession and privilege. Overcoming the mind's preoccupation with failing to satisfy what is expected of us is key to reclaiming the creative potential and sense of joy that comes with play and community.

Jef Johnson returns to Middletown to address this topic with a new and exciting performance based workshop. In this workshop Jef will introduce the ideas of "creative disassemblage" and "reverse timeline." Through a series of individual and group games, exercises and challenges, participants will discover a fun and creative approach to problem solving, public performance and personal expression.

"Through creative association, we learn to build up our world with possibility of what is, what can be and what might be. We learn to open our minds and our hearts to see more than what we might otherwise expect to see. Through creative disassemblage, we discover how seemingly finite and definable objects and circumstances contain within them the same range of creative possibilities." - Jef Johnson

This workshop is also designed to bring people together from a range of interests and disciplines, to share and build community in Middletown. A portion of the workshop will focus on strategies for creating public events, outreach projects and performances. This workshop is for artists, performers, writers, photographers, teachers, planners, musicians, engineers, policy makers, sales people, business owners, public speakers, and anyone interested in the question of "performance."

**Recommended for groups also, faculty or organizations. Please inquire about group discounts.

ABOUT JEF:
Jef Johnson is a leader in the field of performance theory. His research focuses on naive experience, consciousness, play, patterned behavior and social identity. He is a principle artist in the Broadway and International touring company of Slava's Snowshow. He has also worked with Cirque du Soleil as clown, special artistic consultant and workshop director. He has been investigating personal perception, performance and play for the last 25 years and has more than 20 years of experience working in live performance. He has given Master Classes, Conferences and Workshops to many organizations, theaters and universities including Cirque du Soleil, Slava's Snowshow, Circo Sentido, Circo de Mente, Camp Broadway, University of Houston, University of Pennsylvania, Colombia University, University of Minnesota, CUNY, SUNY, NYU, UNAM, UDEM, UQROO, and CENART. He is director of Mascara/Clown and is on the faculty of the Nouveau Clown Institute in Barcelona, Spain. Currently he is in Mexico, conducting research into the nature of human consciousness, creative association and social performance. Drawing from Clown, Mask and Butoh, his work has initiated deeper investigation into the primary essence of human experience, character and performance.

"It is hard to find the words that exactly convey the transformations and levels I have reached as a performer simply from working with Jef. Part of Jef's beauty as a teacher is that he reaches artists of every discipline. Over the years I have witnessed workshop participants from all kinds of backgrounds walk away from his classes utterly transformed: artistically, spiritually and personally." -Jennifer Jonassen, Los Angeles

"Jef is a unique and special master, in all the possible ways. I have learned so much in his workshops, he can express profound truth with such beautiful words, and has an infallible yet soft way to choose and introduce just the right exercise or game to transform those who participate. But I have learned even more from him as a person, because he is so consequent, that every one of his teachings is recognizable in his daily actions. He has taught me to see the beauty and poetry contained in every single thing, to find my own path towards truth and discovery; he doesn't impose his point of view, on the contrary, he becomes a wonderful companion and guide, on the individual path of every one of those who learn with him. What his presence provides, goes much too far that a simple "scene technique", it's a whole philosophy, holistic, magical, that reaches all the corners of life, making it gain a spiritual meaning it didn't have before. I think any person would be fortunate to meet him, as a friend, master, colleague or playmate." - Citlalmina Morales, Theatre Artist, Mexico