This workshop has been designed and will be conducted by Sean Henderson begins with a question: “How can our bodies encounter, listen to and work with an environment to create a lateral hierarchy of creation between ourselves and the seemingly inanimate?”
Summary:
The two-day workshop will consist of exploring and understanding the environment as a partner and
collaborator towards site-specific theatre and performance.
The following principles will be introduced:
- Basic warm-up and physical preparation techniques
- Physical impulse as a starting point for generating movement structures
- Environment as a dynamic partner
- Integration and adaptation of self-generated material into non-traditional performance spaces
- Obstacle as an Opportunity/ The Advantage of Hindrance
Description:
The workshop will last 2 days, 3 hours each day for a total of 6 hours. Each day will be split into a morning module and an afternoon module with a snack break (30 minutes) in between and will culminate in a small showing of the principles explored and the work created. A short presentation will focus on demonstrating how performers and environmental architecture can work together to create material-specific performances unique to the site for which they were created. At the end of each day, there will also be a period of open reflection and discussion for questions and experiences to be
shared.
No previous dance experience is necessary.
About Sean Henderson:
Sean Henderson, based in Cavigliano, Switzerland, is a distinguished performer and educator in the realm of theatre arts. His journey in the performing arts began at the Virginia Repertory Theatre in the United States, where he served as a touring company member from 2013 to 2015. This experience provided him with a substantial foundation in theatrical performance.
In 2015, Sean showcased his versatility and commitment to physically demanding roles as an Actor Combatant in "Unto These Hills" at the Cherokee Reservation. This role marked a significant step in his career, demonstrating his proficiency in combat and stage presence.
Sean's passion for the performing arts took him to Europe, where he became a prominent member of Theatre Continuo in the Czech Republic, starting in 2019. His role in this company is a testament to his adaptability and skill in international theatre. Additionally, since 2020, Sean has been a co-director and collaborator with Von B Bis Z in Germany, and an actor and performer with tYhle in the Czech Republic and Matiere Mobile in France since 2022.
Apart from his performance career, Sean is also an esteemed educator. He conducted a 2-week workshop at DAMU in the Czech Republic (2019-2020), teaching movement and dramaturgy to first-year bachelor students in alternative and puppet theatre. His teaching extended to Rose Bruford College in the United Kingdom (2019-2021), where he led an 8-week workshop for second-year bachelor students in European Theatre Studies.
Sean's educational background includes a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Catawba College, North Carolina (2009-2013), and an M.F.A. in Physical Theatre from Accademia Dell’Arte, Arezzo, Italy (2015-2018). He is also a certified Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors, having earned distinctions in unarmed combat, rapier, and broadsword. This diverse educational and professional experience highlights Sean's dedication to and expertise in the field of performing arts.