FORSYTHE BASED IMPROVISATION INTENSIVES

June 10, 2007 – 12-4pm
June 11 - 13, 2007 – 10am-1pm
$260

June 15 - 17, 2006
2 - 5pm
$135

October 10th - 14th, 2005
M - F 2pm - 5pm
$225
Click here for pdf format brochure.

August 8 - 12, 2005
2-5pm
$200

This seminar, grounded in confronting and opening boundaries of creativity, draws
from the infinite possibilities of the body. Using William Forsythe’s Improvisation
Modalities as the framework, this workshop relies on mixed-disciplines in which
participants bring their chosen focus into the room and meld it with physical
alphabets and movement modalities to produce an integration of brain and body. This
particular improvisational technique enables each person to access yet unknown
creativity by visualizing and interpreting their body in space – a different version
of space! It boosts other art forms into enhanced realms of thought and physicality
that affects opinion and frees the imagination to flow. This work allows students to
discover and access the inspiration that the body has to offer. The whole room works
synergistically because the participants create and speak the same physical
language. Action slides easily into the space. It is a class that the students manifest
themselves. This new language is easy to learn and later refer to because it is
rooted in technique. It is a gratifying challenge that will help any person glide into
the flow of energy that coordinates mind and body. This method will not only enhance
your vision of space – ponder more dimensions! – but also will open your art to
another level entirely.

ABOUT HELEN Helen Pickett studied at the San Francisco Ballet School for six
years. While in school, she danced with San Francisco Ballet Company under the
direction of Michael Smuin and Lew Christensen, and later, Helgi Tomasson. For over
a decade, she performed, as a dancer and actor, with Ballett Frankfurt, dir., William
Forsythe, becoming a principal in 1991. Helen currently performs staged works with
The Wooster Group, dir. Elizabeth Le Compte, and Deep Ellum Ensemble, dir. Matthew
Earnest. During the past five years, she has collaborated, as an actress and
choreographer, with installation video artists and filmmakers. She played the Queen
in 89 Seconds at Alcazar, dir., Eve Sussman, which was shown at the 2004 Whitney
Biennial, and now is in the permanent collection at Museum of Modern Art in New
York. In June 2005 she completed work in Greece on Eve Sussman’s new film,
Raptus. She also played Sally Rand in Toni Dove’s video installation and feature film,
Spectropia. Helen choreographs and teaches in Europe and the United States. She has
taught Movement Generation, The Expansive Artist and ballet for The Alvin Ailey
American Dance Theater, NY; Carte Blanche Company, Norway; Fordham University,
NY; New York University, ETW, NY; Manhattan Marymount College, NY; California
Institute of the Arts, CA; Pasadena School of Design, The Actor’s Studio Drama
School, NY; The Ailey School, NY; The Mark Morris School, NY; The Wooster Group,
NY (movement coach for Poor Theater), and The Cyber Arts Festival at MIT. In
December 2005, she will perform in Impressing the Czar, William Forsythe, with the
Royal Ballet of Flanders.

Click here for pdf format brochure.