Dancing Fools
A 5 Rhythms Movement & Art of Clown Intensive
with Andrew Holmes & Sharon Usher
We’re good at gathering experience. We like to figure it all out, so we can get things covered, perfecting our grand theory of life..
Trouble is.. stuff just keeps surprising us. And actually we’re most alive when we haven’t got a clue what’s coming next.
What if we were to stop trying to make sense of things, and welcome the unexpected ~ make our practice stepping into the unknown, with curiosity and a sense of humour? And play with our usual nonsense, when it comes, so instead of weighing us down, it opens us up..
Because after we step, and before we land, that’s where we find..
well, everything.
The 5 Rhythms are a simple, profound form that invites us to find the unique dance of our own energy. The art and practice of clown is improvised theatre that comes from inside. This week we’ll use them both to jump over the edge of our certainties, and re-discover ourselves in the flailing and the flapping and the flying of our spontaneous humanity. Once we get a taste for it, we may decide to hang out there more often..
Our time together will include both dancing and clowning. We will dance to drop out of our thinking and into our bodies, to open the more instinctive, spontaneous side of ourselves, and to deepen our connection with creative source. We will bring that spontaneity and creativity to live, improvised clown performances that come from the truth of the moment, individually and with others. Five days will allow plenty of time ‘on stage’ for everyone, and even space for the clowns to begin to talk to each other.
This intensive offers a chance to shift deliciously and forever the way you see yourself and the world around you. Why not come and play?
Wed 16th Jan 1pm - 6.30pm. Thu 17th 10am - 5pm. Fri 18th 1 - 7pm.
Sat 19th 10am - 5pm. Sun 20th 10am - 5pm
Headington Parish Hall, Dunstan Road, Oxford OX3 9BY
Cost: £345 (£325 if booked with deposit by 31st October).
£150 non-returnable deposit to secure a place. Full fee due by 15th December.
Enquiries and application form: Sharon Usher (07732) 749573 or usher.sharon@gmail.com
Group limited to 14. No previous experience necessary.
Sharon has been facilitating clowning workshops for 18 years, and dancing the 5 Rhythms for longer. Her clowning teachers include Didier Danthois, Jonathan Kay and Vivian Gladwell.
"The most wonderful workshop, utterly astonishing. A great combination"
"What a unique, sublime, and fun time you gave us"
“A triumph. The dancing really helps the clown come out”
"An amazing journey. I am still growing from it"