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Course Description

The Creative Performer 101 introduces contemporary performance and yogic practices as a celebration of both individual and group development. It is an active investigation into the process of creativity from the performer’s point of view. Its goal, besides having fun(!), is to develop your skills as a reflective performer – that is, someone aware of what she/he brings to the creative process and of how her/his performance reads to others.

Focusing on distinct communication with self and audience, the exercises create an opportunity to identify moments of effective performing. Locating how and when intention is aligned with expression, enables discernment between ‘showing’ the performance and ‘being’ the performance. This cultivation of awareness and distinction becomes part of your personal skill set, available to you anywhere.

As an empowered, reflective performer you are then able to work with the signifying elements of performance – body, space, time, visual material, and language – in a grounded, intentional way, fully present in the context of your event.

Course Structure

Each session begins with warm-ups to integrate the body, voice and mind…followed by individual and ensemble physical theatre exercises. Weekly writing and performance assignments will be given to augment this process and will build cumulatively.

The first four weeks concentrate on developing your personal awareness of you as a performer through practices in movement, sound, imagination and inquiry. The latter half of the course utilizes this shared vocabulary with compositional strategies and personal performance material. The second half brings you, the performer, into the context of the other signifying elements of the theatre – lighting, space, time, and politic. The course concludes with a final performance presentation as a ‘work-in-progress’ for an invited audience.

There will be a small amount of required reading (which will be provided as handouts), and numerous works will be recommended. A bibliography can be found on this web site and will be handed out on the first day of the course.

What to expect from a course with Shelley Lynn:
– An ongoing process characterized by commitment, enthusiasm, and intuitive expression.
– A non-judgmental, observational approach geared towards supporting your goals.
– Innovative direction devised to challenge you imaginatively, physically and intellectually.
– Appropriate time management.
– Availability for new experiences and a readiness to learn as much as you through the process.

What I expect from you as a student:
I expect you to maximize your investment to yourself!! This means that I expect you to:

Dedicate time and attention to your progress between classes –
– Do the assignments - honor yourself by creating time and space to explore and reflect upon these.
– Pay attention to the information that arises and document this in any way you like.
– Give yourself permission to have fun, to be playful, to let your imagination soar!
Prepare for each class -
– Note what the assignments bring up for you and be prepared to share this mindfully and succinctly. Be thinking about how this leads you forward.
– Set an intention before each class, take a moment to be clear about what you want to give and receive from that day. Take a moment before entering to focus your attention.
Be committed to the process -
– Stick with it – you’re here for a reason. You may be surprised by the numerous and varying responses to the experience you may have.
– Be flexible – when things are not what you expect – let the universe surprise you.
– Be gentle with yourself and prepared to acknowledge both your needs and your achievements.
Communicate with integrity -
– Speak honestly and be clear about what you experience.
– Listen generously.
– Give and take constructive, non-judgmental, feedback.
– Honor the group by not disclosing information that has been shared in good faith.
– Refrain from ‘critiquing’ each other’s work outside the construct of the assignments.
Be prepared to work independently and with others -
– Much of the work will be done in small groups and with editorial partners, some of which might take place outside the parameters of class time (if that is acceptable to both parties).
– Meet each person where they are creatively without imposing your opinions.

Shelley Lynn – Bio

Shelley is an international theatre practitioner, producer, and director.
She has written, performed in or directed over 50 plays both in the UK and US. She earned her BA in Performing Arts from DeMontfort University, Leicester, UK in 1997 and her MA in Performance Studies in 2005 at Queen Mary University of London, London UK.
As a dual national, she is continuously engaged in cultural exchange while having the benefit of more than one perspective. Throughout the last two decades she has studied numerous theatre, dance and performance practices including Grotowski’s physical theatre, Comedia Del’Arte’s mask work, View Points, Laban movement, Linklater & Rosenburg vocal technique and Rasa Boxes psycho-physical acting.
Though she is trained in classical theatre, her preferred medium is experimental and contemporary mixed media. Working with composers, photographers, choreographers and designer’s Shelley’s interests are as much about spatial composition as they are about the psychology of acting.
Over the years she has professionally coached many prestigious performers, theatre and dance companies, including Forced Entertainment, UK’s leading contemporary theater company and Obie award winning playwright, Robbie McCauley. For over a decade she has collaborated with choreographer Katherine Hooper creating original dance and theatre under their Colorado based company Performance Works and most recently BoSoma, Boston Somatic Dance Company.
She has extensive experience across various disciplines including higher education, project and event management with a proven track record of successful leadership. She is committed to sustainable development practices and utilizes these methodologies for long term thinking in each role she partakes.
As a certified Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga teacher and professional performance coach Shelley integrates ancient forms with modern performance methodologies for a holistic approach to personal development. She is currently living in Las Vegas and working with Clarity International as a professional life and performance coach.
Her main objective is to provide creative consultation for the health and development of individuals, small business, and non-profit organizations.