14–15 June – The wish to sing – Natalka POLOVYNKA (Ukraine)
THE WISH TO SING
A workshop based on Ukrainian folk songs
with Natalka Polovynka
Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15, 2008
In the lecturer's words:
The wish to sing frees the voice. It is a decision to take a step towards the gift of the voice, it is our personal response to the fact that this gift is available to us. Singing is an encounter. The Ancient Greek word "Irmos" means both "singing" and "connection". These encounters occur at a place and a time or between ourselves and another person. We can also meet who we really are because usually, when we say: "I want to sing," we mean: "I want to be", "I want to experience myself".
The workshop will focus on the basic principles of work with folk songs. Apart from the songs of their own choice (see below), the participants will learn 2 to 3 Ukrainian folk songs. The purpose of the workshop is to find and walk one's own path to the song which is an approach the lecturer sees as opposite to the superficial "tourist singing," which doesn't seek the substance.
Natalka Polovynka is a singer, actress and a teacher. She devotes herself, among other subjects, to old spiritual music and folk songs. She has co-authored numerous theater and musical projects. More information about the lecturer and mp3's of her music can be found in the LECTURERS section.
Program of the workshop
Day 1
- exercise, ritual: establishment of harmony with oneself, entering the space
- work with a song: the sound of the song in a space, the body and sound, rhythm, the form of the song
- evaluation of the day's work, discussion
Day 2
- exercise, ritual: establishment of harmony with oneself and the time, work with silence
- work with a song: words, pauses, expression, image of the song
- final performance: a performance as a mosaic of individual and group singing, final discussion about the happenings and possible impulses for the future
Conditions:
Prepare 3 songs, at least on of them in your native language.
Prepare answers to the following questions:
- what is my experience with individual and shared work with songs?
- try to think about and formulate your answer to "what is singing?".
The workshop will take place on Saturday and Sunday June 14th and 15th from 10am to 5:30pm in Prague, the exact location is to be given. The workshop will be taught in Russian and translated to Czech.
The price is 1800Kč. Students, seniors and persons on parental leave: 1650Kč. The registration form can be found in the REGISTRATION FORMS section.