How Theatre Education Taps the Spiritual While Activating the Critical Tracks : High School , Research / Scholarship Presenters : Jo Beth Gonzalez & Martin Rodriguez Location : Bianco - 318 ( 3 rd Floor ) – Swissotel Chicago
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE | 7
This workshop is grounded on the idea that teens ’ spiritual growth is linked to budding critical consciousness . These aspects of human development are more necessary than ever for today ’ s teens who are coming of age in a turbulent world of legislative animosities and agendas of conservative-leaning political leaders , climate change and impact on our future , negative influences related to technology , and news about strife-stricken countries in our increasingly globalized world . A spiritually-conscious pedagogy fosters critically conscious perspectives , just as actions that aim to balance inequities taps the spirit . Among others , Failure , Vulnerability , Justice , Fairness , Betrayal , Grief , Hurt , Healing and Hope are qualities of the human heart that reciprocally characterize spirituality and critical consciousness . Claravall and Evans-Amalu state that Self-Regulation , Empathy and Compassion comprise a critical triad of life skills that also “ increase the likelihood or incorporating an anti-racist worldview ” ( 47 ). Empathy , asserts Paulo Friere , is the first step towards love , and that love is the incentive for acting towards social justice . Theatre work can challenge students to step beyond , in Friere ’ s words , their “ circles of certainty ,” toward understanding privilege as a “ trigger ” for their participation in fighting inequality , social injustice , and the systems of oppression that are maintained by power and privilege ( Barrara et al , 30 ). Mindfulness and Social-emotional Learning are popular practices today that help students center , calm and focus themselves . This workshop guides teachers toward developing a deeper understanding of how students ’ agency to act as full human beings on behalf of underserved populations is influenced by activities that simultaneously develop their inner cores . Exploring strategies that bring form and shape to strengthening the inner core while developing critical consciousness is the purpose of this workshop . Participants will consider how a secondary theatre program can mutually develop individual moral strength and growth in personal efficacy for social change . Claravall and Evans-Amulu ( 2020 ). “ Self-Regulation , Empathy , and Compassion : A Critical Triad to Develop Anti-Racist Digital Citizenship in the Time of Pandemic .” Journal of International Social Studies , v . 10 , n . 2 , 2020 , pp . 44-59 . https :// www . researchgate . net / publication / 343635341 _ Self-RegulationBarrara et al ( 2017 ). “ Assessing the Development of an Emerging Critical Consciousness through Service Learning ”. Journal of Critical Thought and Praxis . Vol . 6 , No . 3 , 17-35 . https :// www . researchgate . net / publication / 326962657 _ Assessing _ the _ Development _ of _ an _ Emerging _ Critical _ Consciousness _ through _ Service _ Learning
Make a New Choice : Creative Storytelling in Moments of Intimacy Tracks : College / University , High School , Professional Theatre Presenter : Jamie Macpherson Location : Geneva ( Concourse ) – Swissotel Chicago
The stage directions say “ They Kiss ” but your actors have said no kiss . By now , most of us as directors and educators are familiar with consent-based practices and boundary work . We have already committed to honoring collaborators ’ boundaries , and making the rehearsal room a space where everyone is heard and supported . But what about the story we ’ re telling ? What about the artistry ? Can we still create moments of intimacy that sparkle onstage ? Intimacy work can be more than helping maintain the safety of actors - there is so much playfulness to be had ! In this workshop , participants will engage in a variety of techniques designed to help stage compelling intimate relationships between characters without actors ever having to lock lips . This on-your-feet workshop looks to take the next step beyond establishing boundaries with actors , to begin staging scenes with intimacy . Leave with tools for having conversations with actors , points of entry for creating choreography , and lots of options for intimacy beyond kissing !
Updated 7.17.24