July 25 - 30, 2007
Bovec, Slovenia

INTERNATIONAL
PERFORMING ARTS LABORATORY

under the direction of
Sergey Ostrenko 

Sergey Ostrenko is a Russian director and teacher working in professional theatre over twenty-five years. His creative way has passed through the Cold War of the 1980s, collapse of the USSR in the 1990s, creative ordeals in the period of the interethnic tension in the Baltic and joining the New Europe. His creative work is the synthesis of the Russian Theatre School and the newest experiments in various performing arts.

Where to get new practical devices?

How to find something new and interesting in creative work with specific group in specific circumstances and terms?

The International Laboratory is open to directors, actors of dramatic, physical, musical and dance theatres, dancers, choreographers, teachers of theatre methods, script writers, playwrights looking for change, transformation and the new creative turning-points in professional work.

For many years, Sergey Ostrenko has been exploring world theatre traditions and working with multicultural groups of performing artists. His approach is known internationally as the effective method of growing cohesion and creation of live performances within limited time. Theatre workers from Russia, Europe, America, Asia and Australia who trained with Ostrenko have been using his method in their own creative practice.

Participants will become acquainted with the creative method developed by Ostrenko during the long-term research together with the members of IUGTE Creative Laboratory – the team of professional directors, actors, dancers, choreographers and psychologists with specialization in performing arts. The system formed under the influence of various exercises and techniques of traditional and contemporary theatre training.

The atmosphere of Ostrenko group training is conducive to exploration, demands alert involvement and personal investment in the process. It is a nurturing and challenging environment and a safe place within which to take creative risks!

The program includes intensive practical training, lectures and discussion club

Structure of the day

Practical training. Part One
Training by method of improvisation

Potential body possibilities.
Relaxation and awareness of the body through movement.
Practical investigation of spontaneity.
Awareness and spontaneity in movement. Psychological gesture.
Transition from individual improvisation to spontaneous collective interaction.

Practical training. Part Two
From exercises to performance

Methods impelling the group to spontaneous collective creative process.
Possibilities of nonverbal communication on the stage.
Emotional content and will in action.
Space and time.
Voice and movement.
Composition in the space.
Building the structure.
Structural improvisation.

Theoretical Part: Lectures & Discussion Club

Montage and Metaphor in Performance


Each day will begin from the morning warm-up based on the ancient Chinese system of breathing exercises. The warm-up combines breathing, movement and imagination. It will help to waken and prepare the organism for the intensive practical work during the day.

The Laboratory provides a wonderful opportunity to establish news contacts with colleagues from other parts of the world, to share experiences, challenges and successes in the atmosphere of group creative process out of everyday formal professional roles, and to discover new ideas and inspiration for future creative projects!

PARTICIPANTS

Ágota Siménfalvy (Hungary)
Andreja Kopac (Slovenia)
Bence Vagi (Hungary)
Berta Hiriart (Mexico)
Chrisjohn Hancock (Australia)
David Chambers (New Zealand)
Hilde Broeckhove (Belgium)
Jeanne Chinn (USA)
Mary Vastaki (Greece)
Matthias Brunner (Germany)
Nynke van den Bergh (Netherlands)
Ulf Wahlström (Sweden)

PHOTO GALLERY

During the Lab IUGTE provide
participants with accommodation and meals.

CONTACT