A burgeoning area of academic research, Performance Studies, radically expands the idea of performance beyond standard notions of what is seen onstage or onscreen.
"Everyday Life Performance" refers to a body of performance theory that states that life itself is a performance. For example, you may "perform" very differently at a party than you might with a good friend or partner in the privacy of your own home. Social norms and regulations provide guidelines that we tend to follow without thinking about them much.
On a deeper level, identity itself may be thought of as an unconscious performance. The way we move, laugh, gesture and raise our eyebrows reflect what we’ve learned is appropriate in society. We must perform in a suitable manner. Even when rebelling against these norms, people tend to stay within the box; it’s quite a task to do something completely different, and to also change on the inside.
Performance, on both the stage and in everyday life, is not just an external act. It’s how we think and the emotions we feel. While we may feel like our thoughts and feelings are private and separate from others, these too are patterns that we have learned. Sometimes these serve us well in our lives; at other times, they stand in the way of living joyfully and freely.
Performance Training - for performers, and for everyday life
Performance training techniques, for actors, dancers, and others, transform the performer by waking up her or his awareness to habitual patterns of movement, thinking, and feeling. For example, a good actor needs to have a wide variety of emotions available in order to be fully alive on stage. This training also affects performers positively in their lives: they learn to be physically present, mentally alert, and emotionally available.
The philosophy of WholeSpeak is that performance training can benefit everyone in the everyday performance of their lives. WholeSpeak makes these tried and tested tools available to all as means for transformation. To learn more, read about Acting into Awareness, Speaking and Vocal Work, and Workshops for Performers.
Public Speaking & Corporate Training
When we encounter a situation where we have to "perform ourselves" - such as when giving a speech - our regular everyday performance can suddenly become stilted. It's easy to feel nervous and not act like your natural self. Hands may suddenly feel like large, awkward objects and we somehow forget how to express ourselves skillfully.
This generally happens because of the tendency to focus too much on the audience, rather than on one's own experience. Though individual coaching, as well as through classes and seminars for businesses, participants not only learn an abundance of skills, but also discover comfort (and, even joy!) in the act of speaking in front of others. By combining these skills with ensemble-building theater techniques, organizations can receive fun, engaging and effective team-building - and increase sales, as well as cultivate leadership ability and presence.