Workshop Details

Community & Politics

Confronting Femmephobia and Building Femme Power

Time: 1.5-2 hours | Teaching Artists: Entire troupe Creating a space to  examine, confront, and shift fear of femininity to celebrations of all genders and representation of femmes in your community [entire troupe]

Artivists

Time: 1.5-2 hours | Teaching Artists: Entire troupe Artist/Activists use various strategies to shift power. Talk about what Heels on Wheels does — and what you can do! [Entire troupe]

Self-Confidence & Stage Presence

Femmepowerment! How to stand like you’re six feet tall, from the stage to the street.

Time: 1.5-2 hours | Teaching Artists: Heather Acs, Shomi Noise, Damien Luxe Our workshop we like to do with young people and folks our own age, that takes the tools of stage performance and applies them to how we see ourselves, our potential, and our important voices in everyday life. [Heather, Shomi, Damien + more]

Love for EveryBODY

Time: 1.5-2 hours | Teaching Artist: Bevin Branlandingham
In a fatphobic society it is a radical act for anyone to love their body. This interactive, humorous and tender workshop provides a safe space for people of all body types, sizes, sexualities, gender expressions and abilities to explore learning to love your body as it is. Body liberation activism, Health at Every Size, and using movement and fashion to improve self-esteem will be discussed. (Bevin)

Storytelling & Writing

Stories on the Fringe: LGBTQ Histories through Performance
Time: 1 hour | Teaching Artist: Heather Acs
This workshop begins with a brief introduction to the history of LGBTQ performance and storytelling exploration on the importance of documentation in marginalized communities. Then participants have a chance to express their own creative ideas through a specific series of techniques used by professional artists for devising performance that includes movement, writing, improvisation, presentation, and feedback. Participants will have a chance to work both individually and in groups. These techniques serve as reusable structures with the flexibility to incorporate content of any kind and are useful for both newer and experienced artists from all artistic backgrounds. Participants will leave this workshop with a critical analysis of LGBTQ performance and a practical set of tools and exercises that can be used in their own creative process and projects as they add to the future of LGBTQ performance. No experience necessary. This workshop is open to all levels.

Media & DIY Production

DIY New Media: Creating and Maintaining a Viable Internet Presence
Length: 1-1.5 hours | Teaching Artist: Damien Luxe
Tech Requirements: DV projector/screen + wifi

The goal of this presentation is to relay vital, “how-to” new media strategies for people with limited to moderate internet experience and zero to moderate capital. We will cover specifics on how to use the web to establish an internet presence for an existing cause or how to to create a project founded in new media, using web 1.0 HTML page building skills, and web 2.0 capabilities such as broadcasting and social networking to foster community and action. We will focus on utilizing shareware and freeware to ensure that access to programs is as economically obstacle-free as possible. All participants will leave the presentation with a knowledge bank and insight of how to utilize this medium to increase their visibility, as well as hands on skills and online resources.

In this presentation, we will inform participants on specific technologies such as site building, marketing, music production & podcasting, blogging, mailing lists, forums, and web2.0 social networking capacities in order to overview many modes of expression and distribution available. We will take it a step further, providing resources and a step-by-step practicum to engage in capacity building, networking, and information dissemination for individuals and organizations on a low and no-cost budget by demonstrating the creation of:
1) a simple web page with [20mins]
2) a blog linked to it and [15mins]
3) an embedded MP3. [10mins]

Target Audience:
Beginner to intermediate internet users. Participants should have a basic understanding of computers, the web, and email for this workshop.

Getting Your Voice Out There: No/Low-Cost Audio Recording & Sound Art for CD, Performance and Web
Length: 1-1.5 hours | Teaching Artist: Damien Luxe
Tech Requirements: DV projector/screen + wifi

This workshop teaches participants how to use free digital software and assets to record and manage audio files for CD, live performance and Web use by making a group track.

Overview:
•    Software: accessible audio recoding and mixing program, [Audacity];
•    Vocal recording – using various mics, technique;
•    Learn to gather digital sounds: live recordings, sourcing, and using loops and samples;
•    Practicing normalizing sounds and mixing levels and sounds;
•    Learning how to export a file for web use [mp3/m4a] vs. CD [AIFF/WAV] and
•    Having everyone in the workshop make a group audio track, and
•    time permitting, podcasting it.

Target Audience:
Beginner to advanced computer users with an interest in audio art. Participants should have a basic understanding of browser use, file management, downloading; basic facility in computer software

Theatre Arts

Creative Strategies for Resistance: Exploring Educational Theatre Techniques / Exploring Gender & Sexuality through Educational Theatre Techniques
Length: 1-2 hours | Teaching Artist: Heather Ács
Tech Requirements: Large, empty space with enough room for participants to move freely

This workshop offers participants a chance to experience the practice of Educational Theatre. Educational Theatre practitioners use theatre as a tool to explore issues, incite dialogue, and practice strategies in classrooms and communities of all kinds. Drawing from the performance and educational theatre practices of the SITI Company, Sojourn Theatre, Cornerstone Theatre Company, and Theatre of the Oppressed, participants will get on their feet as the facilitator guides them through a series of exercises that include movement, improvisation, writing, image theatre, newspaper theatre, and performance composition. These techniques serve as pedagogical structures with the flexibility to incorporate content of any kind. Educators, community organizers, artists, and students interested in leadership will all find relevant material in this workshop. Participants will walk away with a practical set of tools and techniques they can use in a variety of educational and creative settings.

Performance Composition
Length: 1-2 hours | Teaching Artist: Heather Ács
Tech Requirements: Large, empty space with enough room for participants to move freely

In this workshop, participants will get a chance to express their own creative ideas through performance. Through a specific series of techniques used by professional artists for devising performance that includes movement, writing, improvisation, presentation, and feedback, participants will have a chance to work both individually and in groups. These techniques serve as reusable structures with the flexibility to incorporate content of any kind and are useful for both newer and experienced artists from all artistic backgrounds. Participants will leave this workshop with a practical set of tools and exercises that can be used in their own creative process and projects. No experience necessary. This workshop is open to all levels.

Note: These workshops can be tailored to address any content/issues of relevance to the particular community or for specific celebrations, departments, classes and/or student groups.

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