Teaching & Consulting
Karen draws from her extensive background in performance, including classical, contemporary, devised movement-based theatre, and dance to teach physical theatre skills, support flow and play, and help performers bring their artistic visions and instincts into being.
Neutral Movement
Mask
Devised Theatre Creation
Mime
Red Nose Theatre Clown
Improvisation
Body-based approach to text and language
Voice and Breath
Upcoming Workshop!!!
From “Different” by Theater Grottesco, 2019. Pictured L to R: Susie Perkins, Danielle Louise Reddick, Susan Skeele, Karen Anne Light, Myriah Duda, Robin Duda. Direction: John Flax. Photo by Paul Trachtman.
Foundations in Devised Theatre: The Neutral Body As A Canvas
offered through Flying Carpet Theatre
(Click here to sign up on FCT's workshop page! )
Imagine a theatre which invites every kind of body, every kind of artist…
The word ‘Neutrality’ does not seem to convey the profound experience of neutrality. Neutrality is the moment of infinite possibility . . . the potent, pregnant, seeing stillness which births a play and its myths, tales, and characters. Neutrality places the actor in a state of limitless expanse, from which they may become aware that every possible character, human, creature, and experience already exists within them, and can be called into the physical space to be seen and to play!
How can ‘Neutrality’ help actors to create characters and to be stronger artists?
Clown, bouffon, drama, comedy, mask, creatures, and personas – all theatrical forms and ideas – emerge from a foundation in Neutrality: the Neutral Body, Neutral State, and Neutral Movement. Contact with and embodiment of Neutrality is a taste of freedom, and a source of power which can imbue any performer with an unnameable and unmistakable “something else”.
If you wish to learn the art of devised, movement-based work, created with a wonderful muse (your body!), then this workshop is an invitation to begin! You will discover in yourself a source of endless, fresh inspiration, from which your own archetypal theatre forms will eventually emerge.
You will develop an accessible, somatic understanding of core elements of theatre and all performance – ensemble creation, musicality and rhythm, and the power of your body and movement to create states, images, themes; to draw from and create poetic space.
You will leave with the groundwork for impactful stage technique, performance creation, and a flow of inspiration for the development of characters and stories which have the power to connect with audiences of all kinds.
This workshop is a crucial first step in the cultivation and training necessary to create a physical theatre practice. While spontaneous moments of theatre will emerge abundantly through learning activities and improvisation, this workshop is an initial experience intended for a long period of training, and will not culminate in public performance creation at the end of our weekend together.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
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Neutral Body and the Neutral State
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Poetic Space
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Relationship between the body and the space
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Ensemble Dynamics
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Animal Forms & Mimodynamic Movement
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Rhythm and Musicality of movement
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The beginnings of devising from improvisation
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Connection and Flow
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A non-hierarchical approach to theatre making, placing actors on even footing as theatre makers, alongside playwrights, directors, producers, and designers
This class is for performers at any level of experience.
Seasoned professionals and beginners will receive an initiation into the artistic and pedagogic theatre traditions of internationally celebrated artists and teachers:
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the NeoClassical Mime Theatre of James Donlon
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Lecoq Physical Theatre as taught by Giovanni Fusetti & Elizabeth Baron of Helikos Scuola Internazionale and John Flax of Theater Grottesco
Non-performing theatre professionals, dancers and movers, artists of other mediums, bodyworkers, and anyone who wishes to apply principles of physical theatre in non-artistic capacities, are also welcome.
Saturday, May 13th – Sunday, May 14th
12:00 p.m. – 7 p.m. (includes a one hour break)
at New Georges’ “The Room”!
ART/New York’s Spaces at 520
520 Eighth Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10018
Cost: $300 due via PayPal by May 13th.
This workshop is intended for 10-20 students.
$75 deposit by May 1st confirms your spot in the workshop!
*$50 discount to those who pay full tuition by March 31st.
*Reduced rate available to individuals of marginalized/global majority populations. If this applies to you, please request the reduced rate in your Google Form (see below). It’s a trust-based system–no questions asked.
To enroll, please pay the $75 deposit via PayPal (button below) by May 1st and fill out this Google Form
COVID PRECAUTION:
The workshop venue requires that everyone wear masks in common areas such as hallways, bathrooms, and anywhere else outside the studio.
Additionally, participants will be asked to present a negative Covid test result (obtained within the past 24 hours before our start time) when they arrive on the first day.
Testimonials
"I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Karen, whose unique approach to teaching allowed me to finally feel the deeper connection with my body I had been seeking in my performance work.
Her work with me involved a gradual and subtle form of bodywork that enabled me to connect to deeper levels of emotion, while remaining completely safe and embodied. She also integrated LeCoq
technique and devised character work in a way that felt responsive and tailored to my needs.
In addition to working with me on general movement practice, Karen has also helped me develop characters for two separate projects, one on film (Carma With a C) and the other live performance (The Lulo Style Group Shark Attack ). In both processes, Karen's eye for the natural needs of the scene, and comedic truth of the character, helped take the work to the next level. I cannot recommend her more strongly as a teacher, coach, and all-around clown-whisperer!"
poet, writer, comedian and actor
"Working with Karen was very special for me. She created an atmosphere right from the start that invited me to let go of all my holdings. She led me with care and curiosity. It was a unique experience of releasing everything I had brought from day and then once I was a puddle we found a playful dynamic together and we began to play and create from there. It was transformative." ~Christopher Tramantana
actor, educator, creator
"I am a musician and I struggle with stage fright. Just by exploring improvisational theatrical mask / form work with Karen in a few sessions, I've been able to connect to a sense of flow again, which has greatly helped me as an artist. "
musician, visual artist
"You have great insight and your prompts were spot on! I found working with you to be a true joy. You're communicative and straightforward, and your insights were useful and aided in the completion of our piece (The Lulo Style Group Shark Attack). You are a theater doula and a process goddess! "
artist, performer, comedian, dancer