States of Tension I found some websites with the 7 States of tension on, to try to find some different angles of looking at them. One of them, which was very useful, was this one: http://dramaresource.com/resources/features/285-seven-levels-of-tension, on great site called dramaresource.com.
In this resource, the two states of tension that we worked with today, the first and fourth, are described as follows:
1. Exhausted or catatonic. The Jellyfish. There is no tension in the body at all. Begin in a complete state of relaxation. If you have to move or speak, it is a real effort. See what happens when you try to speak.
4. Alert or Curious (farce). Look at things. Sit down. Stand up. Indecision. Think M. Hulot or Mr Bean.
At the start of the session one of the members spoke of a holiday in Ireland where there had been lots of jellyfish on the beach, and this inspired a game in which these two states of tension could be explored.
First the group walked around the room, stooped over and swaying, waving their arms and swaying their legs, as if they were jellyfish, being swept around in shallow sea currents, moving easily, but with as little tension as possible. Gradually the tide went out, and the jellyfish sank lower and lower, until they were completely on the floor, randomly sprawled or folded up, unable to move. The jellyfish thought longingly of the sea, and tried and tried to move their bodies, to find the water, but without skeleton or muscles, no real movement was possibly, just the odd little twitch or jerk, or judder.
Gradually the sea came back in, lifting the jellyfish off the floor, and as the jellyfish began to float, higher and higher, they were finally able to move, but randomly, swept this way and that by the ebb and flow of the waves.
Then the game began. In jellyfish mode (tension level 1), the group moved slowly around the room, with their eyes closed, randomly changing direction, sweeping their arms before them, and swaying on their legs. As soon as two jellyfish touched, they recieved an imaginary electric shock and "woke up", suddenly. They stood bolt upright, raising their arms, sometimes with a 'bzzzt!' noise, and stood, looking around, wide eyed, having suddenly gained consiousness, staring at the space they found themselves in in amazement, their bodies tense and movements jerky. Then, after a few seconds, they returned to being jellyfish.
The effect was very funny. especially when it was unexpected, when the change of tension level was very quick, or when someone added an unexpected detail.
This was a good way to practice feeling the difference between these two levels of tension, and a good warm up for the group.
The next exercise was designed to help warm up the narrator. We sat in a circle, and in turn, we said a very benign and meaningless sentence, such as "I am good at baking potatoes". The first person, said the sentence in a very flat, matter of fact way. The next said it with a bit more energy, and gradually the energy was increased, until the last person, who generally was off their seat, gesticulating wildly - although sometimes the energy was cleverly introverted. We did this with everyone taking it in turns being the 'starter', who thought of the sentence, and the 'finisher', who's task was to say the sentence with more energy than anyone else in the room.
This is a good game for lowering inhibitions, as it is funny and ridiculous, and encourages people to be imaginative about how they make their statements, as motivation can be changed drastically from one speaker to the next.
Finally we worked on The Thunder good. Up to a point the piece is coming together now, however, we need now to work on the Thunderstorm Dance, which will be the high point of this story. We discussed the need for some movement motifs. The use of breath, which helps to create a dynamic, staccato energy, as well as how we might stylise the movements to give a 'japanese' feel to the dance. I think some 'youtube' veiws may be in order here, to try to get some idea about the specifics of how we may do this.
What will definately help is the fact that we have a new, bigger room soon, and we will be able to have more space to practice in.
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