Spymonkey Clown Masterclass

with Aitor Basauri
August 27 - September 1, 2012

(Photocredits: Alexis Chabala (left), Garth Williams (center and right)

In Spymonkey rehearsals and productions we are always looking for what makes us laugh and different ways of being funny. For us, "clown" is a metaphor to describe the backbone of our work: the unique individual and their pleasure of being ridiculous in front of people. The performer who dares to stand before an audience, unafraid of making mistakes and open to finding pleasure in being wonderfully silly will reap fruitful rewards. We strongly believe that it is in this moment that the seed for the best performances can begin. Once up there in front of the audience, that pleasure will take you from one funny mistake to the next, always happy, always optimistic to be playing in front of the audience. By being joyful, playful, curious, mischievous and full of fantasy you will find funny opportunities.

In this workshop you will:

-Learn how to begin to trust your instinctive and spontaneous self.
-Make people laugh through status play-offs, parody, improvisation and many more games and exercises.
-Discover the unique ways in which you are funny.

The class is for professionals, non-professionals, actors, dancers, and for anyone interested in any way!

AITOR BASAURI, Spymonkey's joint artistic director, is one of the most sought after and leading teachers of clown and physical comedy in the world. He regularly runs Spymonkey masterclasses in London, Brighton and New York, is a staff tutor at Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas, and teaches at Ecole Phillipe Gaulier. Aitor studied at the Centro Andaluz de Teatro in Seville and at the Philippe Gaulier School in London. He performed in The Servant of Two Masters at Sheffield Crucible (1996), Axomate at the Seville Expo (1992), Eulenspiegel (1991) and in Karl’s Kuhne Gassenchau’s Grand Paradis and Stau in Zurich (1997 and 1998). He directed Little Prince for Donkey Productions (1997), Un Vento Impetuoso for La Canoppia (1996) and Meci Y Me Fui for Pez Enraya ( 1997). In 1999 he appeared in Circus Knie, the Swiss State Circus, and in 2000 formed his own company Punto Fijo, based in Bilbao. He also appeared in Cirque Images’ 2003 series Solstrom for Bravo Cable Network, performed in Zumanity – Another Side of Cirque du Soleil at the New York New York Hotel Casino, Las Vegas, 2003-05, and in Bertold Brecht’s Senor Carrera’s Rifles at the Young Vic, directed by Paul Hunter (2007). Read extended bio Visit Spymonkey website Read Student Reviews

TUITION: $475*

* Register by May 1st and receive a $50 discount. A 10% discount is also available to individuals registering for more than one workshop or for group registrations from the same immediate family or performing ensemble. See the registration form for details.

REGISTER!

Arrival: between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday
Departure: before 10 a.m. on Sunday

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