BARDOS LAB
Houghton Hall Arts Center
New York, NY
Monday 7-9 pm
March 4, 11, 18 & May 20, 27
LAB FEE: $150
This LAB will explore the theme of BARDOS... liminal or transition states - beginnings, middles, and endings of all kinds. Using paratheatrical methods, we will seek to shed preconceived notions and deepen our direct experience of bardos as they currently exist in our lives and psyches. If successful, we will walk away with some collective gnosis of the transcendent nature of the bardos themselves.
We will use basic and advanced paratheatrical techniques presented in “Towards an Archaeology of the Soul", "State of Emergence", and "Sacred Rites" by Antero Alli. The methods are inspired by Jerzy Grotowski's period of exploring the 'ritual function' of theatre and has been developed by Antero Alli over the last 45 years, in Berkeley, CA and Portland, OR.
Watch THIS VIDEO to get an very quick idea of some basic paratheatre techniques.
"This work is a kind of archeology of the soul. The physical body is posited as the embodiment of the subconscious mind, and paratheatre methods are applied in a process of making the unconscious conscious, using a visceral embodiment of what Carl Jung calls "active imagination". - Antero Alli
Results for actors tend to be…
- Expanded authenticity, spontaneity, and power in voice/movement
- Increased unification of body, spirit, emotion, and imagination
- Activation of the energy body and amplified presence
- Increased receptivity to archetypal forces and dream imagery
- Experiences of revelation, self-discovery, and transpersonal gnosis
More About Paratheatre:
http://paratheatrical.com/intro.html
http://www.paratheatrical.com/faq.html
https://www.paratheatrical.com/artaud.html
to enroll or ask questions: james@jameslouiswagner.com
THE FACILITATOR:
James Wagner a professional actor with an MFA from the American Conservatory Theatre. He completed a PhD in transformative studies on 'Supernormal Functioning in Professional Actors’ at the California Institute of Integral Studies, with the support of a grant from the Esalen Institute. He participated in Antero Alli's paratheatrical research groups in Berkeley, California for five years and has now facilitated several labs of his own.
"James Wagner's group paratheatre training with me over the past five years has shown the necessary development of technique, skill, and talent to qualify him as a facilitator of entry level group paratheatre lab work. Wagner's unique contribution to this paratheatre medium is his instinctive grasp of the stage actor's craft and his enthusiasm for guiding theatre artists towards, and into, the deep creativity of the internal landscape." - Antero Alli
to enroll or ask questions: james@jameslouiswagner.com
TESTIMONIALS:
Paratheatre with James is as profoundly spiritual for the actor as it is practical. Not only does it offer simple tools to make you grounded, present and at home in your body before you step on stage, but through increased work these rituals can help you find the artifacts, images and companions that animate yourself and your creativity, like sampling ice-cores from the unconscious. This work is endlessly nourishing for all psychophysical practitioners. - John Murphy
Paratheatre with James is as profoundly spiritual for the actor as it is practical. Not only does it offer simple tools to make you grounded, present and at home in your body before you step on stage, but through increased work these rituals can help you find the artifacts, images and companions that animate yourself and your creativity, like sampling ice-cores from the unconscious. This work is endlessly nourishing for all psychophysical practitioners. - John Murphy
Paratheatre is a profound kind of mind-body-soul integration, and James is an incredible guide! He creates sacred, gentle space for exploration. I have experienced some deep confrontations within the work that have led to new awareness and growing freedom in my life. - Jessamine Kelly
Paratheatre is a space where I can recommit to my acting process and creative center: I engage my entire body, voice, and spirit in a way that I don’t very often get to in post-conservatory training life. I leave feeling free, grounded, inspired, powerful, and ready for whatever comes next. - Lea DiMarchi
As an actor who often finds myself “stuck in my head”, I found this workshop to be an incredibly approachable way to engage my physical instrument. James’ experience and gentle guidance combined with the asocial element of the technique gave me a freedom to engage the process without judgement. I found the two hour sessions felt like 10 minutes. Highly recommend. - Christina Germaine
PAST LABS
Totems Lab - NYC - Fall 2023
Intro Lab - NYC - Summer 2023
Intro Lab - NYC - Spring 2023
Intro Lab - Ojai, CA - Spring 2023
Intro Lab - Los Angeles - Fall 2011
Gods of Acting - San Francisco - Fall 2010
PAST LAB NOTES:
Muse Return Lab
Precision Lab
NYC Labs*
LA Labs*
PARATHEATRE IN PRODUCTION NOTES:
What We're Up Against*
*coming soon
Totems Lab - NYC - Fall 2023
Intro Lab - NYC - Summer 2023
Intro Lab - NYC - Spring 2023
Intro Lab - Ojai, CA - Spring 2023
Intro Lab - Los Angeles - Fall 2011
Gods of Acting - San Francisco - Fall 2010
PAST LAB NOTES:
Muse Return Lab
Precision Lab
NYC Labs*
LA Labs*
PARATHEATRE IN PRODUCTION NOTES:
What We're Up Against*
*coming soon