January 5
January 10
January 12
January 17*
January 19*
January 24
January 26 - Class Cancelled
January 31
January SUMMARY
February 2*
February 7
February 9
February 14 - Reading Break
February 16 - Reading Break
February 21
February 23
February 28*
February SUMMARY
March 2*
March 7*
March 9
March 14
March 16
March 21
March 23
March 27 - Extra night
March 28
March 30
March SUMMARY
April 4
April 6
April SUMMARY
My Working Text
Thursday January 5, 2006 was our first day of class. I had been warned by a friend that we'd have to take off our shoes and socks, and we'd be doing crazy weird things, but who knew I'd be so unprepared!? I guess I assumed I wouldn't be expected to take off my socks on the very first day. And why is this an important thing to talk about? It isn't really, I just have a terrible habit of writing (and talking) forever. And it's also important because I'm slightly self-concious about my feet. I remember when we sat in the dark with our eyes closed thinking that it wasn't the smartest thing to do because it's freakin' 8:30 in the MORNING! But it turned out OK. I think it's basically like Yoga that we've done. These things all seem like things we might do with PJ (Pastor Jonathon. He was the associate pastor in Estevan, and I also spent a lot of time learning from him. He also led a group of us on a mission's trip to the Philippines in April 2003). PJ likes to make you feel completely uncomfortable so that you have to trust the others around you and you can't just stay in your comfort zone. When you're not in your comfort zone you have to be brave and you get real with yourself. I miss his wacky games. Overall I think the class was fun and I'm ready to grow through university in general, and if drama class helps that process, then all the better! Bring it on!
This was our second day of classes. The first day was completely foreign and strange, running around to become more aware of the room, the space. There was space that our bodies occupied and space that was available to be occupied. I definately learned that I need to be more aware. Today we did some casual walking instead of running, and then we got into partners and did this trust game. I don't think it actually has a name, so I just call it the trust game. It felt like a workout in disguise. You keep your body straight (you can only bend your ankles) and fall backwards where your partner stands ready to push you back up to a standing position. Then we did it falling forwards too. Forwards was more scary, but I'm not exactly sure why. We then went from pairs to groups of three, and then to big groups of seven. Seven was by far the funnest. You just lean whichever way and people push you to go another way. There's a wonderful sense of freesom in being confined in the safety (or at least you believe it to be safe) of the circle and falling without care. I suppose if you felt you couldn't trust them, then if might not be as fun. But I'm ready for excitement and I'm not scared to get hurt. Maybe next time I'll try falling off a cliff or a bridge (aka bungee jumping or parachuting or hang-gliding) I think hang-gliding would be the funnest (how about doing a class field trip to go hang-gliding? Wouldn't that be fun? Our lesson could be... uh learning to trust our environment. Trust the wind, and being courageous enough to step out into open air. It's slightly extreme, but I'm thinking we could do it. hehe) Originally I was writing in a journal, and I was wondering if you'd just flip through or read them all, or just look for interesting things. Now I suppose you'll 'flip' through my journal in a different way. Till next time, remember, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
It's about time for me to journal about drama class now. As I was walking to this comfy couch for the purpose of writing I thought about what I would actually write about. I think I'm missing the point of this whole assignment. Simply writing what happened seems silly, but I don't know what it was supposed to teach me, so I have nothing important to write. So basically my urge is to just journal what comes to mind. I'll write out my thoughts and feelings of the day if it relates back to drama class in any way (and trust me, I can make almost anything connect.) So, we'll see how it goes for today. We spent all class outside, running throught the snow, playing games, and doing these weird things. Maybe the previous drama experience I have just makes all of this seem extremely odd, who knows? I'm really not a morning person, but after all that excersise I get fully awake and giggly for about 3 minutes, and then I'm drained, tired, and whiney for the rest of the day. I really dislike being cranky. So much more happens in a day that starts at 7am. Of course, I usually get out of bed a little after 7, which gives me not much time to jump on my bus at 7:40, but it's just so hard to force myself out of bed. I feel like I'm doing a continual monologue, maybe I can figure out a way to allow comments on here... not that it would necessarily do much, but it's something to distract me I guess. Ok, back to drama class thoughts. While we were outside there were a few thoughts that ran through my head, including: "I am freezing out here!" and "how would he know if my eyes are focused or open?" and "I hope I don't stink all day" and "I think I recognize that face from somewhere" and even, "this prof is crazy." Now, I'm sure that there really isn't any mental deprivity, but the thought did cross my mind. And, may I add a random comment completely unrelated to drama class? Of course you can, it's your journal, you have control, you make the decisions, type away. Guys must be the strangest phenomenon ever encountered. There are other random things on my mind too, but that one just couldn't stay in. This drama journal could really have a theme of the 'drama of my life' with the things that happen. My life drama doesn't relate to "finding your center" or "focus-your-eyes-and-push-the-horizon excersizes" but ultimately dramas/plays are based on life, or emotions that you experience in life, because you can't seperate life from anything. Life just is. Kind of like God just is. The drama of my life (like many others I'm sure) would deal with guys (shoot, they're confusing), religion (also slightly confusing, and yet a very big part of my life), and normal everyday problems and issues (like not having any more money for rent). In conclusion, although I see absolutely no point in what we've been doing (except to maybe keep us physically fit, which is always a good idea anyway), I seem to be enjoying the freedom and the expressiveness of it so far. It makes me want to spend an hour every day running around with friends and open sky. And, you'd never know it (lie) but I'm not used to being so active. I do enjoy it though, and it was a goal for a long time. I guess we'll just see where things lead. Maybe we'll get more direction on this journal thing, I never know who I'm writing to. If I'm writing to Prof Raymon, then I'll probably say things differently than if I'm just writing to have something to remind myself of what drama class was like. So ar I guess I'm gonna take the freedom option and be creative! Life's funnr that way, and who wants to be dull? I want color, excitement, new experiences, comforting friends and memories, love notes and romance, dramatic family situations (maybe I don't really want dramatic family experiences, but I'm gonna get them anyway, so I might as well pretend I want them), and a great big field with a big, beautiful, clear sky above in which to run, spin, jump, laugh, scream, play, fall, and dream in. I'd also like to have a relaxing and intriguing girl chat with my friend Jennifer now, hello weekend, here I come.
I didn't get to drama class today. There was freezing rain so we didn't drive back from Estevan till this late afternoon. I did get to talk to my drama teacher while I was there though. I miss grade 12 drama so much. We did a lot of Improv and I think that it teaches you so much to actually get up and act in an environment where you can make mistakes and learn as you go. Plus it's extremely fun! We also worked with scripts too, which showed up how to be serious and learn lines and such. She was a great teacher, and she really fueled my love of drama. ~I miss you Mrs. Brown~
Well I've been having a string of terrible luck. Last night I suddenly got sick. I won't go into details, but let's just say it got to the point of me crying in bed, on the phone with my mommy, shivering under four blankets with heat radiating from my head (yes I know four blankets and a fever was not the best, but I've never been sick without my mommy, and I don't remember being that sick in a long time)(and I'm still feeling ill, so that explains my baby-like whininess). I'm still nauseous and I have a terrible headache, but I won't go into those details either, they're yucky. I feel terrible for missing two classes in a row (not to mention missing university classes in general that I now have to catch up on and I'm so behind). I hope my marks won't drop, this was supposed to be my good semester.
Wow, this was my first drama class in a week. Apparently last Tuesday and Thursday I did miss some things; I won't die, but I don't plan on missing any more classes ever. Today we spent an hour lying on the ground, and then half an hour talking about what we did. It sounds like nothing written like that (which is why I wrote it like that) but it was really adventurous. In our imaginations we were going places, and then we were in a box, and we got to paint the box one color ("there's a pool of color by your hand") and I picked Orange. In my imagination it was a pearly shiny orange. Then we got many colors and got to paint whatever we wanted on the box. The first thing I did was paint sky on the roof above me, cuz I don't want to be stuck in a coffin-like box. Then I painted a fluffy pillow, and comfy blankets beneath me, because I was sooooo uncomfortable. It didn't really help to be honest. Then I painted pictures of the important people in my life along the sides, and a picture of my future house (which I doubt I'll actually live in, but it's gorgeous), and my future husband, and a lil boy, and then on the wall by my head I had swirls of purple and then a swirly field of typical Saskatchewan. Then we had to get out of our box and it sunk in the sand, and I was really disappointed. Then we had to imagine a little something in our hands. Mine was an elephant. And the way it was made allowed you to see through it, because it was carved out, and inside you could see his little heart. Then when our boxes came back up we put our little things somewhere in the box. I put mine in the corner, in some blankets, by my pillow. Then I squished all the sides of my box so that I could hang my box on my neck. I'm gonna make my box from popsicle sticks and then paint it like I imagined. I'll take pictures of it, or hand it in or something. I hope it turns out well. I miss painting. Every year of high school I had one class of drama and one class of art, but now in University I have only drama, and no art classes, I feel slightly deprived. I'm glad to have this new little project to put my brushes to work again. And anything is better than reading another textbook! Another thing we're supposed to do is daydream some other time today. I had absolutely no problem with that. I'm the hugest daydreamer to begin with. Sometimes my daydreams don't make sense, I'll start in one place and then it seems like the story takes on a mind of its own and goes where ever it wants. Sometimes I wish I could write novels or novelettes about the adventures I take in my mind, but that seems slightly crazy. Sigh, I was sorta dreading drama this term, but so far it's been alright. I guess I'll just keep truckin...
Thursday January 26 - Class Cancelled
No class today! Thanks for the sleep-in! I loved every minute of it!! And at 8:30 in the morning I didn't even feel guilty about not using the extra time to study! Stress deserves sleep :)
After this entry I need to re-read all my entries and write a summary for January. But today was spent using our voice to create vibrations. I found it really uncomfortable lying on the floor today so it was really hard to concentrate. My lower back got really sore, and my shoulder blades too. My right arm started to go slightly numb, so I would sometimes forget to concentrate on my breathing. Other than that it was pretty relaxful at first. At night when I can't fall asleep I put my hands on my belly and feel my breath go in and out. My mind just races with things to do and problems that need fixed if I don't purposely keep my thoughts from going there. When we were taking the deep breaths I realized that my normal breaths are extremely short and that I couldn't make my deep breaths go as long as everyone else seemed to be able to do it. I've been trying to expand my lung capacity for singin, but I was sick over Christmas and I can tell that my breaths aren't as strong or long anymore. So, I'm working on being a better singer, I want to be a better artist, I'd love to be a better actress, when is there time to be a better student? Well, anyway, time for January's summary.
As I re-read January's entries I see that I'm quite the babbler, but when I try not to babble needlessly I end up barely writing anything. Unfortunately I also missed two classes in January, so that cuts out some potentially interesting entries. My favorite entry so far has to be January 12th's. It's so free, and confusing, and it jumps from point to point, which is totally me! Another fun tidbit is that as much as I miss Improv from grade 12 I have found some people to randomly get together with and do some Improv. On the 24th I printed out my entry and made it all colorful, and I love that too! Now to reflect on what I've learned. One thing I've learned since the beginning of this term is that I've been more stressed that I had realized. The excersize has been good for that, because it releases endorphins and endorphins make you happy! Of course, when I spend time after classes doing excersize it also makes my homework level stay high, so it's not always good. The freedom of this class has allowed my mind to open up and show me who I am again. I've been reminded of those things that I love to do, those quirks about me that are OK (no matter how many people look at me strange), and I've been allowed to dream again. I've realized that, yes I'm a student, and a good one (usually), who studies and reads and does assignments, but I can't just put my passions on hold while I go through university. I can't stop being me. It's OK to spend some time painting and skating and running around playing "kid-games" under my uniquely Saskatchewan sky. I may have to be responsible and get things done, but I don't have to grow-up. Ever. Not if it means that my heart would get thrown away in a corner somewhere and kept hidden. Since I moved out in September there have been many new experiences and there's a first for everything. Even in the past month I've experienced more of my firsts. I've had my first experience of being terribly ill without my mommy. I've missed my first day of university (and unfortunately I learned that I won't die if I miss one day). I've also experienced new friendships, and some breaking up of friendships (*sad face*). My Christian walk has had its ups and downs, but that's not exactly a first, nor is it a new experience. I wouldn't say that drama class is the only thing growing me, but I'm sure it'll be one of those memories that'll stick with me for awhile. I know that what we're doing in class relates to drama somehow, but I often have difficulties seeing why exactly. Of course, just because I don't understand something doesn't mean I would just not do it, but I do get awfully curious sometimes. Anyway, next thing you know and it'll be February! (tomorrow actually) Hopefully it'll jump in with a dazzling sun (vitamin D, anyone?) and less ice! Au Revoir!
Last night I had this wonderfully inspiring conversation with my roommate about doing something grand this summer. We're both feeling the stress of university and I do believe that real life is not this stressful. In real life, (which implies that this is pretend life, and it does feel that way most times) you are working. You go to work, and then you go home and don't worry about work anymore. Most people get jobs they like, if not love. It's easy to make friends with co-workers too. At university you take classes that you don't necessarily need, but they want you to have a good rounded base of knowledge, and they want your money. With 100 different people in 5 different classes, and everyone 'comfortably' clique-y, no one bothers to get to know anyone else. Then they make you do essays and take exams that are completely irrelevant to what you want to do with your life. Maybe you really just learn how to make up a whole bunch of crap, but who didn't learn that in high school? Plus they charge you so much that not only are you stressed throughout school days about getting homework done and such, but then all your breaks are spent stressing about money, and you can't get away from it, because you need to work to pay for stressful school. It's like the never-ending cycle of doom!! Eventually people get out of this cycle and into real life, and then they tell university students not to waste time: "When you get 3 months off for the summer, do something big, because when you get a job you can't take that much time off." Well, excuse me, but I will be working in those summer months so that I can pay to go to school, so that one day I'll be making money at a real job that won't allow me to spend the money that I will finally have. So I guess the cycle really doesn't end, you just jump into another one. What does this have to do with drama class? Well I missed class again. And I'm way too stressed to think about the consequences of failing. I'm really not looking forward to being a failure. And I tend to rant and rave when I'm stressed, so here it is. I did eventually try to get a comment thing in here, but apparently it, too, is impossible. Here's a song I dedicate to sleeping: You're the Right Kind of Wrong, by LeAnn Rimes. A couple lines that really fit: "I can't help it if I'm helpless everytime that I'm where you are," "Loving you isn't really something I should do / Shouldn't wanna spend my time with you," "I should try to be strong / But baby you're the right kind of wrong," "what you're giving I am happy to be taking," and finally, "every time I run you're the one I run to."
Today we did our normal routine "centering" stretch type thing. Then we curled down and eventually were lying on our backs. We looked at our hands as a baby would, with new eyes, wonderment, curiousity, and interest. We had to decide which hand would be female, which hand looks stronger, which hand would be darker, which hand would be more dominant, which hand would be submissive? Then we used one hand(i picked my left) to explore our face and that hand then had to tell the other hand what it saw. It was weird because in my mind I already have a sense of what my face feels like and would never think of exploring it with my hand (and it was weird to pretend the hand wasn't me; the hand didn't know, if it did it wouldn't need to explore), and then to tell my other hand was odd, because I'm also concious of what my left hand just felt and what my right hand is feeling, and of my previous conception of what my face looks/feels like. It was like I had to first give my hands personalities of their own, and then try to explore, or tell, or listen. Then the hands went to 'sleep' (they rested on the floor again). Then we listened to this short blurp of music and one hand sleepily danced to the music (my left again, because I had decided it was the weaker one, and also the more playful one), and then 'woke up' completely and tried to explain to the other hand (my right hand, my dominating, stronger, overbearing hand) what it had heard. My right hand wasn't interested, and lefty gave up and went back to sleep. Then the music was played again and again and again. We were sitting by this time and we were making a play with our hands as the actors to the 'script' of the music. I thought the music sounded like a cheesy spy movie; nighttime, outdoor cafe, older style, western-ish with a mexican/spanish flair, a simple string of white lights lit the area (and the moon of course). Lefty was the female and she had a spicy red salsa dress on. Righter was the male. He was stiff, cool, 'government agent-like.' The music started and Lefty floats down from the center, slwoly fluttering and twirling, to land on the lone table on stage. She dances around the table and struts her stuff. Then Righter's cue occurs and he stiffly edges out (the hand is just straight vertical and moves with twists like a plastic soldier would, like the ones in Toy Story do). Lefty's been continuing her dance, but in a frnzied fashion as she tries to get closer to Righter. Eventually the cue for connection occurs and this starts Lefty and Righter's dance together. They alternate between dancing their own way together, dancing like Righter (stiff twists), dancing like Lefty (wiggly, fluttery, rotationally), and then back to their own style. The dance shows them go back and forth as Lefty chases Righter, and then Righter is chasing Lefty, and then Lefty goes back to chasing Righter. With the music change their dance breaks apart, and they spin and twirl in a frenzy to end up on opposite sides of the stage facing straight forward, dramatically apart. When I presented my play to my random partner she told me she saw an octopus first (Lefty), and then another octopus came out (Righter) and they liked each other and chased each other and then ended up apart. (so close eh? minus the ocean theme) I think she inserted the ocean theme because she did her play for me first and I saw a musical. Her first character was practicing the dance, and then the second character came in and copied the first. Then with the music change it became the performance, and they were costumed in Ocean animal themes (the movements seemed ocean-like). Afterwards she told me that I had it right, only not the ocean part. So I think after telling her that and having her then watch mine she was thinking ocean. But it was fun! While we were "rehearsing" our plays I was thinking that this would be something you'd see in a mental hospital or something, but I had fun anyways. So apparently later on we're gonna have to memorize something 3 minutes long... that's all I know. Class again in 2 days... woot.
Today we spent the class discussing the play Cosi that everyone had to go to. I really enjoyed that play. I love Australian accents, so even though they weren't real accents I was enthralled with listening to them. I also like the script, it was well written with good themes and excellent character development. While watching the play I forgot that we were going to discuss things afterwards, so I wasn't specifically looking for things to comment on, I was just watching this little blurp of life that was presented in front of me. I went with my Aunty and my Grandma, and they both agreed that it was really good and really well done, but there were a lot of swears and quite a few sexual references. My Grandma mentioned that they should have put a rating on it, so that we were prepared. My Aunty and I have gone to all 3 of the greystone productions this year, and this one was both of our favorites. Only one more to go!
And then Raymon assigned a research paper.. ick... but university is university. It's not too long (between 800-1000 words) and it's not super difficult. We need to research an actor and write about their background and such. It doesn't really have a due date either, so I am not too worried about (not yet at least), I have enough papers and midterms to worry about. Happy Spring Break!!!
Tuesday February 14 - Reading Week
It's spring break! It's really called Reading Week, but only because it doens't sound nice calling it suicide week. I find it odd that they give us a break because there is the highest rate of suicides during this time, then call it Reading week and imply that you should spend your "break" studying. As if, I don't think many people did much at all... no surprise I'm sure.
Thursday February 16 - Reading Week
It's still Break time... I'm having a wonderful time and tomorrow I get to go to Arlington Beach for Soul Summit, which is a retreat that my home church (Estevan Church of God) has every February. It's amazing every year, and I expect this year to be amazing as well. Can't wait to be smilng and ready come this Tuesday!
Well, I'm not exactly smiling and ready. I injured myself at camp... great fun otherwise though. It was really difficult just sitting back... I kept asking myself if I should even be at class... We started off with our centering excercises, then did some balance experimentation. We spent the rest of the class working with a bed-sheet with a group. We dragged someone, lifted someone, and wrapped someone like a mummy and things like that. After the person was wrapped like a mummy we had to unwrap them without them feeling anything. And if they felt anything they screamed!! It scared me so many times but it made me laugh a lot too! Then we did some improv kind of stuff on the sheet. Finally we made up a folding of the sheet ritual. Anyway, the question for today is "what is the difference between 'ritual' and 'drama'?" My first impulse would be to say that ritual is some creepy worship, or it's what people who are crazy need to do to keep relatively sane. Drama is fun, it's entertaining, and it has a purpose. Ritual can have a purpose too, but it depends on what you are doing. Most rituals have to be done over and over again, but drama can be a one time thing. Drama can also be improvised and made up on the spot. They're similar in the way that they get watched by an audience most times, but some people do rituals on their own for themselves, and unless you're just practicing drama for the performance later on you will always have an audience. SO, basically my conclusion is that drama and ritual are not the same at all. Clouds and watermelons are both 75% water, but they'd never be considered the same either.
Still injured. I thought I'd be good enough today to join in, maybe a little bit slower than others, but at least be participating. We did the centering excercise and worked on some balance things, while rotating limbs and such. I couldn't do things like the cat and other things on our knees.. i felt so awkward just sitting there watching people. But I wanted to see if I'd learn something from at least watching. At the end people got on all fours and in pairs pushed the top of their heads together while vibrating. I didn't do this one either. Raymon said the top of your head should be warm afterwards from the energy and vibration, but I think that's probably not the reason your head is warm. But it was interesting to see the way things look instead of always being just focused on myself and what I'm doing.
Today was an on the spot midterm! Our text was used and I know that I need to work on mine a lot more. I wasn't actually there to do this stuff, but I know what happened. People were asked to tell their text, I think that if you did it then you got the marks.
February went by so fast! I missed some classes and couldn't participate in some classes because of Feb Break's injury. With the discussion between ritual and drama I have realized that it may explain why I don't enjoy this class as much as my other drama classes. There seems to be way too many rituals in this class, and not enough real drama. But uncomfortable and unfamiliar situations force you to grow, so that's ok. I guess I wanted to learn those dramatic secrets, things like: when you punch someone use a flat hand to push their stomach because it won't hurt them. I don't think I know any other cool tricks, because I haven't learned any. I wanted to go home and have all this knowledge that could help with our dramas, or help a friend in some way. But all I know is how to breathe, how to stay up really late and write an essay, how to be so busy walking through the hallways that you never have to face actually talking to anyone. These are not things I wanted to learn. I wanted to learn how to cook, but I have too much homework. I wanted to learn how to be me, by myself, in the real world, but this doesn't feel like a real world, and I get so stressed out that I just hide in my shell sometimes. I force myself to be an outgoing person because I know others are shy and won't say hi first and such, but it takes a lot of effort. I guess I'm seeing the year come to a close and I'm wondering what I have to show for being away from home for so long besides a stiff neck from reading so many textbooks and a ruined shirt because I did my laundry wrong, and then there's the bank account. I know I'm coming back next year, because I'm not a quitter, but sometimes it's really tempting to just throw it all to the wind and enjoy myself like so many of my friends. It's a good thing my family is behind me supporting me through everything.
List of things done today: Centering excercise, cat position, floor vibrations, push down with hands and ankles with full vibration, exploring different vibration tones / pitch. Word sounds: bah, pah, ve, fff, mah, tah, duh, zzz, sss, kuh, guh. Bah and pah lip sounds; mah, tah, and duh are tongue sounds. Equal and opposite sounds were alternated and each sound was associated with some mental image. Fff has some association with the swear word, and zzz is easily associated with a saw. I tried out these noises after I found out from someone what we did, and although people did give me some funny looks (haha to them), I think it was pretty fun. I felt like a four year old.
Our text was used a lot today after the centering excercise. First read text to yourself, then out loud, then with a partner back to back, and face to face, and then one at a time. Partners then swapped texts and read it to themselves, then out loud one at a time. Lead and repeat excercises with the text and partners. Recite text in different positions and then a race with the text. I worked with my text out loud afterwards.
I was really excited today, because after Drama class is Psychology class, and after that I drove home to visit my best friend who just got back from Africa!! I missed her tons! Ok, focus on drama class... today we worked with some candles. Before we even did our centering ritual we all got candles and spaced them out among the room then did our rituals. In the darkness you could see the flickering that was caused by us running around and such. We followed paths that the candle crossed. We pretended we were wearing down a dirt path. We used our voice towards "partner" trying to send as much energy as possible. Then we blew out the flames, and used our pyramid position to try and relight it with our voice. No one actually did, but Raymon relighted a few with a lighter. I think that hypothetically it should be possible, but technically it's impossible. I gave it all I had though, so I'm pretty proud of myself, I think I am learning and growing.
Yesterday I talked with Raymon and I feel a lot better knowing that I can finish this class and pass! It felt so much better knowing my effort wasn't wasted. We worked with voice and vibration again today. More 'ritual' I suppose. We tried three poses: against the wall, on the floor, and standing. I am amazed at the difference it makes in me when I can easily get up and go to class, give my full effort in class, and then continue in the day knowing that I've done what I can do.
St. Pat's tomorrow. Tonight is CCC's 'Pamper Your Soul' night, so I have been super busy, and am extremely tired today. We did the basic excercises and such that we usually do, only we tried more repetition and added emotion. We did the three basic poses and figured out that one was more strong than the other two. It's different for everyone, but mine was on the floor. On all fours I am uncomfortable enough to stay awake, but comfortable enough to really let the vibrations out. We worked with text more too, and I will need to be signing up for Monday night or something to work with my text more because I really haven't given that my full effort. We used the text in different ways, whispering, giggling, squeezing it out: all of them put a new emotion that wasn't really in the text into the way we said it. It was interesting to feel my emotion change when I pretended to do that emotion.
Today we used our text with emotions again, and also different voices. Accents are really fun to play with, and we heard someone speak their text and then had to copy them. Emotions are still being used to give more energy to the text, but I think fun can be an emotion too. We tried other people's power positions and then returned to our own. Mine is on all fours and works well for full voice, ability to move, opportunity for emotion and fun, and it's got that 'power' for lack of a better word. Raymon discussed that we've done learning, imagination, physical work, text work with vibration, and all sorts of explorations. We've worked with different kinds of voice, used imagination with voice, worked against a force, used text, and had fun.
We found out today that for the last week we are supposed to come at 8am instead of 8:30... i'm a little exasperated, but I want to do whatever I can. We also signed up for our final presentation (i guess that's what you would call it). After we signed our names he told us what we were doing. We've worked with vibration and voice and emotion and movement and imagination and our text and the evening extra classes will help us with this stuff. During class we used our text again, and got to listen to some other people's text, and then we did group work. First someone got in their power position, and then we all did what they asked us to (or what Raymon said) and we moved with them. We were animals, people, a wall, things like that. It was pretty fun too. And my knee is getting better so I got to actually move around today! It isn't perfect yet, but when it doesn't put me in pain that causes me to stop everything, then it's a good day. I just have to be careful not to push it too hard. I can't believe this class is almost over (as with all my classes, since there's only 2 weeks left!!!) and I can't believe all that's happened. It's been absolutely crazy. I love the text I'm working with, but it brings memories, and we've making up songs, or singing random songs, and going into imagination, and I love going into memories. One of the songs I sang was this tune my great grandma used to sing to me as I sat on her lap and played with the hanging flabby skin on her upper arm. She was a saggy lady, but she was also pretty old. We used to pull on the skin on our hands and have a race to see whose skin would go back to normal first. Mine would never even stay (duh, i was like 7, and 7 year old skin is pretty healthy and soft). She used to rock me back and forth singing "ahh naahh ninka, unso Ashlee stinka" and it means something about how I'm a little stinker (in that loveable cute kid way) and then she'd tell me a story about how bad I was. Only I was never really bad, so the stories were short and repeated. I miss her so much.
Monday March 27 - Extra night
Tonight I went to the extra session. I was not exactly looking forward to spending my evening at school, but I need to go some night, so why not now, and Jennifer drove, which was great too. Four of us showed up. First we recited our texts to him. I am not at the automatic state quite yet. When a it jumps to a new paragraph I forget which paragraph I'm going to. I'm used to writing it out, and I can easily glance up and see where I left off. I need to work on it. And I'm actually looking forward to doing so. After that, we did our warm up excercises in the dark. We did some funny walking/shoulder blade stretches, and did open vibration in the open stance, and everyone seemed a little timid. Some more stretching and vibrations and such, and then we went to our working spot. Mine is by the wall by the doors that almost no one uses. And we got into our power positions; mine is on my hands and knees. We did open vibration for a little bit, and then everyone just sorta stopped... I was taking a breath when I noticed that the room was quiet so I thought maybe Raymon had said enough or done or something. Apparently he hadn't, but we moved on anyways. The first girl who was asked to do her work had obviously worked on it before (well, maybe she hadn't, but I'm pretty sure she had). It was really enjoyable to listen to her. Then Jenn did hers. Hers was not as far along as the first girl's was, but it was still really interesting to watch and listen to. Then we did some more vibration as a group and then the guy was asked to do his text. I think he had worked on his before too. His text and voice and action creat such a character that it was really fun to watch, I had this unstoppable smile on my face as I watched this 'professional performance' that was just his work in progress. Then we did some group open vibration, and then it was time for me to do my text. He suggested that I kneel, and not go on all fours, so I tried that. And then the quality of my voice was down to a minimal no pushing voice, and then he asked me to add in my text. I stopped after like 2 words and said it felt like I was singing. He said that was good, and so I kept going. I sang my text for a little bit, and then he asked the others to come really close and curl up around me. I felt like I was singing them a lullaby to go to sleep. Then, after they're all 'sleeping' I start quietly just speaking the text. Tonight I started kneeling and slowly moved to cross-legged, but I think I'll try going from cross-legged to kneeling, because after speaking I sing really really high, and it's much easier to do when I'm kneeling. And then, something happens and I die or croak or something... that part isn't really figured out quite yet. It was really cool feeling comfortable enough to sing my text, but there was only 3 students, my teacher, and myself... I am already nervous about being in front of the whole class, but I like the practice. I want to try out for Canadian Idol next year, but it's really only a silly fun thing to do. I don't sing in front of people, so I need to work on that (and my voice in general). I don't suppose the yelling helps. Overall tonight was pretty fun. It was fun observing the others and it was fun to try my own. I don't hate drama after all. :)
We started class off today talking about the exam and the textbook. "Invisible Actor" is actually an okay book to read, but I will have to carefully read it to answer the questions properly. Then we did the centering excerise and Raymon explained the proper way to do it again. Then we did the cat and he explained that it was to work the spine. They are both types of relaxation techniques, and also partially ritual. Then he continued to explain things to us. It was less of a hands-on class, but it was ok for a change. I can't remember word for word what he said. But i know that I need to really carefully read the book, go over my journals, study by doing what we've been doing in class, ask myself why i did it (if it was pointless, then i really didn't get a lot out of it), and i need to get my essay in a few days before the exam in order to find out my mark going into the exam. I practiced my 'work' today for my roommate to hear, and i was nervous singing in fron of her too. Lots more practice is needed.
After warm-ups we did vibration work and humming and then we all worked on our 'work' at the same time. I think mine is coming along nicely, but I can't wait for school to be over and class to be done. We listened to a few individual 'works' and then class was over. It went by very quickly and I can understand why we need the extra half hour for tues and thurs next week. I'm not looking forward to being up that early though. My work isn't very long or extreme. Quiet, almost monotone, singing; then quiet whispering; then quiet high singing, and then a croaky choppy death.
March sure has been full of ups and downs and lots of action. I got to visit my friend, we had a spa night, I talked with Raymon about this class, we worked with sounds, text, candles, emotion, an extra class, and really got a feel for our work that we've been doing. It's been very emotional and has brought out memories. Without this class my days would be very different. I'm still growing, and always will be, but at least I can now see some results. The only problem with liking drama class again is that now I'll have to try and take another class next year haha. Only 2 more days left, and then a final summary, and a final exam, and it's SUMMER!!! The sun sure does make me happy :)
Class started at 8am today. It wasn't quite as hard getting up that early as I thought it would be, but it's still pretty early. I was surprised to see so many people on the bus so early. I was also expecting a lot less people to show up half an hour early. After the warm ups we started doing our presentations. Some were really good, some seemed less than intriguing, but they were all pieces of the performer coming alive or bein exposed. I hope my singing wasn't too bad, I get a little self-conscious about it, but I'm sure that no one is dreading thursday because of me. lol I want to make mine better, but I'm not entirely sure how. I'll write about it on Thursday. Until next time, keep practicing that memorization!
Some presentations I remember by who did them, and some by what ws done. Here are the presentation titles and the order:
1. Ben - women’s strike - started against the wall with a crowd of people moving closer and closer, then he was on the ground, then he got stronger and stronger as the crowd moved away, and then he was pushed to the ground by 2-3 people.
2. Greg - modern man - moved around like a caged animal. The first day and second differed a little bit because on the second day Raymon actaully grabbed his leg at one point, but he got free. He makes the group move around a lot to chase him and keep him boxed in
3. Christina - she didn’t have time - the words of this text really caught my attention, it's a nice poem or story or something. The group moves with her on this one too.
4. Caryn - misery (Africa) - I think this is the one that starts "angels and ministers among us" and then it goes into the Cremation of Sam McGee. She was in my extra session night, so I was more aware of her pausing where the book paused, if I hadn't been there when Raymon told her to avoid it I probably wouldn't have noticed as much
5. Kevin - offering - This one started with arms stretched out in a loud booming voice... i can't really remember much after that.
6. Shantelle - steambath - She started bent right over so that she was practically on all fours, but not kneeling. She moved like a cat or something. I think my head would have gotten a blood rush but she seemed to be alright with it
7. Brock - mangan’s sister - This one moved back and forth in a line sort of. And at the end it looked like he was about to be eaten by some huge man-eating plant or something.
8. Mitch - to love & to be loved - there was a lot of hand movements in this one, and it wasn't very active, but the words were clear
9. Kelsea - oyster - This was fun to watch, she had a lot of different voices and it seemed like her character would switch and the one I remember the most was a character that was drunk-like. This one might have been my favorite.
10. Eric - frankenstein’s creature - This one would be my other favorite. It was fun to watch because he walked and moved and changed voices and pitch and tempo and everything was always active and interesting. He was in my extra night too, so I heard his more than the others.
11. Michelle - 1968 - She moved like something was stuck to her arm and then her leg and she was trying to get away, and then she was reaching up and stretching. She moved around, but in the same spot. And her text started off in this terrible wheezing breathless voice.
12. Danielle - shall I compare thee - This was done against the wall and she worked against obstacle very well
13. Kaylee - hamlet & cremation - OHH I think this one is Sam McGee... I should learn people's names. This was another neat one to watch I thought.
14. Karen - new beat attitude - this one had noises in it as well as words, and she would stomp and yell (i guess that's where the "beat" part comes in)
15. Ashlee - james song (that's me) - i hope mine was interesting and good..
16. Mandy - - dunno
17. Janelle - freddie the frog - This one was interesting, but I didn't particularly enjoy it. It seemed too crazy and bi-polar. It was good though, just wasn't a comfortable feeling, although that can be useful in the theatre too.
18. Jenn - special - I liked the text of this one, very encouraging. She started on her knees, stood up and proclaimed her text, then went back down. She was also in my extra night so I got to watch her learn how to do it.
19. Michelle D. - Christmas night - This was said leaning against the wall in a pushing position and almost a whisper.
20. Kirby - men - This was the moustache one. Everyone giggled at this one. She would cry out "moustache, moustache, if you've only got a moustache" and it was about how guys should have a moustache if they wanted girls. She was standing and loudly speaking it with some tone changes as far as I remember.
21. Jasmine - - dunno
22. Jeanne (sick/cleared)
23. Suurya - the race - i don't remember this one
24. Cassandra - vultures & whales - i don't remember this one either (how terrible is this?)
25. Allison - love - nope.. not this one either
26. Desiree - goodbye my lover - This one was on the ground, she sand a litle bit and 'cried' a little bit, it went well with her text.
27. Chandra - my number - not entirely sure about this one either
So, there you have it. The entire year, for this presentation (but not an end to our journey).
Overall I think the year was a success. I'm finished my first year of university, and I learned a lot that wasn't entirely related to classes. Things like: don't assume a puddle is innocently shallow, set two alarm clocks when you need to, pick good roommates who can cook (a+), when your truck sounds like it might not be working properly you should get it checked out just in case, and other great things like that. So, that's the sum of my term here. I learned a lot, it was fun while it lasted (for the most part), and I'm super glad it's over. :)
James 1 NIV
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord, he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift if from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. Me dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do wat it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.