Thursday 25 October 2012

25 October, 2012

INDIA GATE; 5:30pm
Performers: Pali, Amu, Rudy, Mallika, Kriti, Niranjani, Bopana, Shena
Observers: Laurent, Aditi
Documenter (Photos & Video): Niranjani
Audience No.: 40 - 100
FREEZES, 'COPY CAT', a 'SLOW MO' RACE - and a 'GIANT THEATRE WORKSHOP'!




We began in a park near India Gate, in an open space where there were not too many people. A crowd of over a hundred people gathered fairly quickly, as we did sets of freezes like those we had done in Sarojini Nagar (coming together freeze; breaking apart freeze, in couples - taking different partners each time). We kept it contained - only expanding and getting more dramatic towards the last few freezes, when the crowd was at its peak.
We started on an empty-ish, grassless patch, very close to the Gate itself. We started with no audience
 The audience was appreciative and mindful. They collected in such a manner as to allow us space and room to perform. A smattering of spontaneous applause was our indication to stop, and to bow! We dispersed, and then stayed in the space - moving into the crowd. People were not only curious about what we had done, but wanted to understand and to learn. There was a group of school girls from Kaithal in rural Haryana, on a school trip with their teacher, all in uniform and with ribbons in their hair. As we moved into their group, we found that we were able best to explain what we were doing by demonstrating with a small Mirror Exercise and then inviting them to try it for themselves. Which some of them did. The teacher kept repeating "See, THIS is true learning! See, THIS is what you must realise is an opportunity for true learning. See, THIS is what all can happen when you move out for a 'yatra.'"


Rudy & Bopana
The space developed into a spontaneous giant Workshop of sorts - with various people coming forward to try things, and with performers blending with the crowd as they demonstrated different exercises, explained what they were doing, and helping people experience through action. Besides simple mirror exercises, we also did a 'Push and Pull' through energy contact demonstration - which elicited questions of "hypnosis hai kya?"and  prompted one young man to attempt it as well, shy and tentative - but brave and inspired.

We then moved into the space directly around the monument. Our plan was to attempt a lateral, dynamic mirror 'walk'. Luckily, plans change. We quickly adapted our 'follow the unknown leader' idea into following what people around us were doing. It became a joyous 'Copy Cat' extravaganza. 'Joyous' because of the whole-hearted, good-natured willing participation of the various people we chose to interact with.

Some of our audience was very curious as to how Rudy and Bops were responding to each other... without any physical contact... how did they know when and how to move? So one of them decided to try it out.
Beginning with a sassy bracelet seller who, once she realised that we were copycatting her, beckoned us to follow her and made us realise that people would easily understand the intent with which we were playing and would not be intimidated or upset (which was a concern/assumption some of us had). This opened up the playing field as it were, and we moved from vendor to vendor and then to general members of the crowd - each time with the humbling and wondrous experience of watching the person we went up to assimilate and then give back to us with generosity and genuine playfulness. A gentleman eating bhelpuri exaggerated his movements in true comic style, a 'chai-coffee' vendor used his kettle as a prop to interact with us, a man selling novelties gave us a whole choreographed pattern to follow, a hair-brush seller took it all in his stride while the lady who was buying laughed out loud once she realised we were copying her giggling.

One vendor seemed to realise that this was an opportunity to make us do just about anything - and had us rolling on the ground, putting our legs up in the air and so on. It was tough to gauge whether he was laughing with us or at us - and there was a comment of 'chootiyapani karaa rahaa hai'. We are aware that a large number of our group are women - and that we are opening ourselves to misinterpretation and even abuse. However, in general till now the crowd has been supportive, there is no doubt about that.

We wound down with our Slow Mo Race - which people immediately identify with and appreciate. Again, there was a smattering of applause and we ended the evening by fading into the night...

Of course, so much rich material and such strong experiences have brought up many thoughts, concerns, questions and ideas on how to proceed. For instance, this time around some of us felt the need to extend the connection with people - at least by handing out this blog address. While earlier we thought an observer would be necessary to guage the mood of the audience, this time we decided to guage it from within the performers circle itself.

To address all these concerns, and to assess the work we are doing, the group meets on the 6th of November. We welcome any points that readers may want to raise for discussion - please do leave comments. tx.

(more pics and video to be added)

Thursday 11 October 2012

11 October, 2012

Sarojini Nagar Market
at various locations throughout fashion street and main market; 6:00pm
Performers: Amu, Rudy, Mallika, Kriti, Niranjani, Bopana, Shena
Observers: Aditi
Documenter (Photos & Video): Yash
Audience No.: 20 - about 80 at a time, maybe more...
FREEZES and 'SLOW MO' RACES!


We met in a park near the venue to decide on what to do, and to practice. We decided on a sequence of Freezes - in which the theme was 'coming together' and then 'breaking apart'. We worked in couples, trying to make sure to 'freeze' with each person in the group, in rotation. The person left out in each case would then say "typewriter" as cue to find new partners. (er.. yes... typewriter) We thought that a high energy 'coming together' contrasted with a slow (and possibly painful!) 'breaking apart' would work well - and that's the idea that we entered fashion street with. We had also practiced a 'slow mo' race in which Niranjani was to be the Winner - and the rest of us were to scramble, claw and push each other out of the way to try to win. All in slow motion.

practice in the park
So, from the serene surrounds of the practice park, the posse with the Idea ambled confidently into the bustle and noise of the Street.

Which had many cops.

Posse stopped. And reconsidered.

"Maybe we should... keep moving.. you know.. not create a crowd or anything..."

practice in the park in b&w!
So we decided that in the high energy happy 'coming together' we'd move along the street, so as not to create a static crowd, and then proceed with the freezes at intervals of about four or five shops' distance. The idea was to do about seven rotations.

But from the very first moment, all the high energy and scattered energy and moving energy - created a high energy MOVING crowd, that appeared to want to move with us! Noise levels reached a mild roar every time we moved - so that even though we quickly adapted our 'act' to be a little less...er.. enthusiastic... the crowd that we tried to avoid creating nevertheless created itself anyway, and we decided to wrap this sequence up after about 3 or 4 rotations. It's not that there was aggression anywhere, or that the crowd was ugly in any way at all - it was just that the energy was moving into possibly uncontrollable realms and we were not sure where it might lead.

Next, we tried the Slo Mo Race a few times - to interested responses. Yash and his camera meant that comments of "shooting ho rahi hai?" were inevitable. As was, it seems, "paagal ho gaye hai"!

Rudy and Bopana frozen in a Break Up moment

We ended with another attempt at the Freezes - this time done slowly and with contained energy. This worked very well, and a very absorbed audience gathered around - with some members of the audience telling others to give us room to perform and to applaud at the end! Mallika made it a point to speak with people after the performance - and was told to 'carry on' with such work and that our group would 'move ahead' with fame and fortune! A lot of this was said directly to Yash's camera (hmm...)
(video to be added here soon)

learnings:
1. Very Imp : MUST MUST have an Observer/Guide for every intervention. Only a person outside the group of performers can gauge the energy/mood of the audience and would be able to take a call on how long a performance can be stretched - or not.
2. MUST MUST stay in the general area after a performance, in order to talk to people - else it's more like a hit-and-run accident than a complete sharing exchange.





Wednesday 3 October 2012

3 October, 2012

Defence Colony Market
at middle crossing, and near the vege shop 6:30pm
Performers: Shibani, Bopana, Shena
Observers: Shena + Shibani
Audience No.: Passersby, fluctuating 3 to 15 at a time
MIRROR EXERCISES




Two sets of mirror exercises - one in the centre lane between the two parks (performers: Bopana & Shibani), and one opposite the vege shop, near the Chemist & Baskin Robins (performers: Shena & Bopana).

The first one got a lot of passersby interest - with people doing double takes, drivers of cars (and rickshaws) craning their necks around to see what was going on, and walkers slowing down their pace to get a good look. There was also a small crowd of fixed viewers - a few drivers, the Bhel Puri and the cigarette (and sheesha!) vendors, and a couple of parking attendants. These people were warm and encouraging in their feedback. MCD Parking Attendant, Amit Mishra, was particularly encouraging, and when his colleague began to ask us to move in order to get cars parked in that area, Mishraji managed to organise things so that we didn't have to move - and told us to "continue playing"! He later told us that he figured that we were "practicing" - but what we were practicing, he couldn't tell! In fact, that is what he told other people who asked him what we were doing ("practice kar rahein hai jee"). One of the drivers thought perhaps we were doing 'asanas' - i.e. yoga.


What was special about this small group of people was the instant warmth and non-judgemental stance that they took to the whole affair. At one point afterwards, when observer Shena was commenting that Shibani and Bopana were so focused that neither of them noticed when a huge rat scuttled under their feet while they were performing (kid you not) - the Bhel Puri vendor came running over from his stand to us and exclaimed "ya! the rat wanted to join in too!" A camaraderie built up, as a result of the shared experience.


Amit Mishra; protector of performance!

The second exercise went a little differently. Shena and Bopana were on a pavement, under bright light, almost like a stage - albeit with a display of medicines and potions as the scenic background! There was a larger, more fixed crowd of onlookers. But, as in Khan Market, most people preferred to watch from a distance, and were not keen to come over and chat with us later. We did ask one security guard and the young staff person at Baskin Robins what they thought of the whole thing - both were too shy to give an answer, though the word 'ajeeb' did come up!
(pics to follow)


nb: The CAMERA - even if just a phone camera - is very intrusive. Shibani suggests something with a zoom lens, with the recordist far away (but then how can we interact and record comments... hmmm... then we will need an Observer AND a Photographer/Videographer... solutions, anyone?)