Mask Workshops & Lecture Demonstrations

Residencies available

Lead by James J. Peck

"Carnival of the Animals" Lecture Demonstrations
Ages 6 to 106, 1 Hour, Large groups

This workshop is a great companion to our show: "Carnival of the Animals" 

Why are masks such a powerful tool to spark the imagination?  Why have humans been playing with and using them for 20,000 years?  Why are they so weird and fun?  The Masks Lecture-Demonstration takes a playful shot at answering these questions.  It presents a brief history of masks and a look at the creative process of making our mask-dance show Carnival of the Animals.  Using masks from the show I explain: how the masks were made, how we came up with the choreography, (highlighting the incorporation of animal movements to bring the masks to life in a dance), what writing the poems was like, and how the mask dances can deepen and enrich the music.  The length and depth of the discussion is adjusted to fit the age and interests of the students.

Masks & Movement
Classes & Workshops

• 1 & 2 Hour, Limit 30 students
• Beginner and Advanced levels available
• Full term course available

How do masks work?  What can they help me learn about body language or creating a character or how movement expresses emotions?  In the Masks & Movement Classes or Workshops I use masks and acting exercises to play with these questions.  We start with an exploration of a centered and balanced body posture as a "neutral" place to start.  We then explore how isolating and changing body parts can create different characters and effect what we express.  I then introduce masks, (from my own set of fifty) and how they can be used in this creative process.  The goal is an understanding of the conscious and unconscious choices we make in expressing our selves.  I use an approach that starts from the theater and its' skills and progresses to its connections to everyday life.  This workshop is very active and requires a willingness to get up and try this stuff out to see what you discover.?