For those seeking participation in ParaTheatrical ReSearch Labs
©2008 Antero Alli (updated 12/29/2012)
THE OVERALL AIMS OF THIS WORK
-- to expand access to the internal landscape towards its full-bodied expression.
-- to increase flexibility of the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies
-- to interact with others from a place of heightened autonomy and integrity
FEELING THE BODY DEEPLY
This work is physically demanding. Each session begins with a 30-minute rigorous physical warm-up cycle aimed at meeting the overall objective of feeling the body deeply. Jogging is also used in every session to raise physical energy and implement various internal techniques. If you have any internal or external physical injuries that inhibit jogging and vigorous movement, please be discouraged from participating until you heal (to get a better idea of the physical demands in this medium, watch the video clip below)
Click the above image to watch a 6-minute video clip of a group
demonstrating the 5-phase physical warm-up cycle plus the technique
of non-directional jogging (excerpted from "dreambody/earthbody)
- THIS PROCESS IS NONVERBAL
In the initial training process (the BASICS Labs), no text or verbal language is used. The techniques innate to this medium are learned and applied in silence or through specific nonverbal vocalizations (text and scripts are sometimes used when a given group prepares for public performance).
- NON-PERFORMANCE ORIENTED
There is no audience, no "show & tell". The pressure to perform is released and replaced by the self-created pressures of increasing one's commitment to whatever conditions, energies, and states are being accessed and expressed in the moment. This process occurs free from any recorded or live musical accompaniment.
- NOT SOCIAL BUT ASOCIAL
This work occurs in an asocial climate. Asocial doesn't mean "anti-social"; this is not a socially hostile environment. This work demands a certain relaxation of the social persona and a spirit of non-responsibility to others towards achieving greater access to creative states. This process nurtures and tests individual integrity and autonomy - core values in this medium.
- NOT GROUP THERAPY
This work is not group therapy. Though this process can be cathartic and offer genuine therapeutic relief, it would be a mistake to confuse it for psychotherapy, or psychodrama, or the director as a therapist. All participants are asked to take a vow of self-responsibility while working in this medium. This vow amounts to a conscious commitment to restore one's sense of safety and well being when equillibrium is upset. Those unwilling and/or unable to take this vow are discouraged from participating until they are ready to commit to making themselves safe.
- NOT IMPROVISATION
Paratheatre is not 'improvisation', as commonly defined by any dance or theatre conventions. Group interplay within this process does not depend on any external cues or the energy of others to sustain interaction. When asocial group interplay does occur it results from an organic ripening of internal commitment to the Body's sources and an outward blossoming of this presence through sound, movement, action, gesture, and interaction with others doing the same thing. How to interact while maintaining internal or vertical source relations?
- WHY DO THIS WORK?
There are many motives for doing this work. Some do it to get high, to engage ecstatic and rapturous states. This hedonic motive often disperses when development in this medium demands deeper motives than personal pleasure. Others do paratheatre as self-work, to expose and uproot unwanted behaviors and cultivate new patterns of response. Many do paratheatre to expand access to creative states for inspiring their artistic projects. Some approach paratheatre as a spiritual practice, or yoga. Others do it to learn new physical and internal techniques for their exisiting ritual practices and/or their professional work as singers, dancers, and actors. Some find value in the unique asocial nature of this group work as a novel way of relating with others and the world.
Reasons why not to do paratheatre:
romantic liaisons, looking for friends, seeking approval from others
or the director, fulfilling the need for family, friends, or community.
On the selection criteria for participation.
Preliminary prerequisites:
1) 24 years or older (some exceptions may apply)
2) physically fit and good overall health (no physical or internal organ injuries)
3) survival needs met (means of income, shelter, friends outside of Lab)
SELF-COMMITMENT, TALENT, and SKILL
Each person is interviewed on their own merits and experience. Professional portfolios, resumes, and websites are not as important as self-commitment, your capacity to be present with your experience. Without self-commitment, no work of any true value can result in this medium -- regardless of talent or skill. Talent conveys the depth and fluidity of access to creative states. Skill expresses the dexterity and precision demonstrated in articulating creative states. The overall purpose of this work is to nurture a dynamic balance of talent and skill in accessing and expressing the internal landscape.
ENTRY TO ALL LABS IS BY INVITATION &/OR INTERVIEW
If you have not been discouraged by what you have read
so far and wish to get involved in this paratheatre work,
interview appointments can be made by e-mailing me
at antero@paratheatrical.com or leaving a message at
510-464-4640. All interviews are in-person. No Skype,
telephone, or e-mail interviews. - Antero Alli
LAB FEES and ATTENDANCE
There are two to four Labs conducted each year. BASICS (newbie) Lab fees currently run $180-$200. for 7-8 weeks (meeting once a week for 3 hours each session). VETS Labs meet once or twice a week for 6-12 weeks. Since paratheatre vets require far less training, their Lab fees are considerably less than newbies' BASICS Labs (which demand on-site facilitation, monitoring, and feedback). In the event of withdrawal after the first session of any Lab, no refunds are offered. However, Lab fees can be applied as credit to future Labs.
Training and development in this medium requires a time-intensive process that demands consistent attendance. If you plan to miss more than one session per BASICS Lab, or more than two sessions per any Vets Lab, please do not apply until your schedule allows for consistent attendance.
CLICK THIS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE LAB SCHEDULES
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN ACCEPTED INTO A LAB
You can expect to work. Though this work is physically and emotionally demanding, it does not engage confrontation with others but Self-confrontation. You can expect to confront your own limitations, movement cliches, internal resistances and rigidities, prejudices, and obsolete behaviors, beliefs, and other habits that drain your power and inhibit your capacity for direct experience and spontaneous response. Everyone moves at their own pace and chooses when, and when not, to interact with others. Interaction with others in this work is never forced.
After acceptance into a Lab, please click this.
-- ANTERO ALLI, director/founder
ParaTheatrical ReSearch, Berkeley CA USA
relevant links
Julian Simeon in "dreambody/earthbody" (2012)
"Paratheatre: F.A.Q."
Infrequently Asked Questions
Impact Stories
Previous participants share their experiences
Paratheatre Video Clips
excerpts from four full-length video documents
Articles on Paratheatre
by Antero Alli and others