The Interview Process and What To Expect
©2008 Antero Alli (updated 6/8/2010)
"Paratheatre: F.A.Q."
Infrequently Asked Questions
What this paratheatre work is and what it is not...
The overall aim of this work is to open a greater access to creative states and their embodied expression through stillness, movement, action, sound, and gesture. This work is physically demanding. Each session begins with a 30-minute rigorous physical warm-up cycle (see Lab Participation Prerequisites) aimed at meeting the objective of feeling the body deeply. Jogging is also used to implement various internal techniques for sourcing energies in the body. If you have physical injuries that might inhibit these processes, you will be discouraged from doing this work.
This process aims to increase the flexibility of the emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies. Since we work in an asocial climate, no social rewards are offered here; it's no place to look for mates, friends, or a social group to belong to. Asocial doesn't mean "anti-social". This is not a hostile environment. Asocial interaction is not driven by wanting anything from anyone else -- typcial of both social and theatrical models of relating -- but from an offering of presence accumulated by the persistent self-work of internal sourcing. Group unity develops over time as each individual deepens their commitment to their own internal sources as a basis for interacting with others from a higher level of individual integrity and autonomy.
This work is not group therapy. Though this process can be cathartic and can offer genuine therapeutic benefit, it would be a mistake to confuse it for group psychotherapy, or psychodrama, or the director, as a therapist. To minimize this psychotherapy trap, all participants are asked to take a pledge of responsibility for their own safety and well being before working in this medium. Those unwilling and/or unable to do so are discouraged from participating.
There are many motives for doing this paratheatre work. Many do it to get high, to engage ecstatic and rapturous states. However, this hedonic motive often disperses after four or five sessions as development in this medium demands deeper motives than personal pleasure. Some approach paratheatre as a vehicle for self-work to expose and uproot unwanted behavior and to cultivate new patterns of response. Others do paratheatre to gain deeper access to creative states for their artistic projects. Some turn to paratheatre as a spiritual practice, or yoga. Others do this work to learn new physical and ritual techniques for their public performances as singers, dancers, and actors. Some find value in the asocial quality of paratheatrical group interaction as a new way of relating with others and the world.
Reasons why not to do paratheatre include:
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)
Each person interviewed is met on their own merits and experience. I am more impressed with your honesty and presence, than with your resume, website, or professional portfolio. I look for self-commitment -- commitment to your own direct experience expresses a core value in this work. I also look for talent and skill. Talent amounts to depth of access to creative states. Skill expresses the dexterity and precision demonstrated in articulating creative states. Most individuals tend to be more emphasized in either talent or skill. Though skill and talent are important, they are not as important as a high level of commitment. You don't have to be a professional dancer or singer or actor to benefit from this work.
There are three to four ritual labs conducted each year in early Spring, the Summer and Autumn. Spring and Autumn labs usually allow newcomers to enter the basic training process. Summer labs are reserved for those with prior Lab experience and focus on technique and skill. Development in this time-intensive medium depends on consistent attendance. Labs typically meet twice a week for six to twelve weeks; if you know that you'll miss more than two sessions in any given Lab schedule, you are encouraged not to apply.
Also read Lab Participation Prerequisites
Once accepted into a Lab, what can be expected?
You can expect to work. This process can be physically and emotionally demanding and why our emotional and social needs ought to be met outside of the lab setting. Everyone moves at their own pace and chooses when, and when not, to interact with others. Interaction in this work is never forced. This work also does not engage confrontation with others but with Self-confrontation. You can expect to confront your own limitations, physical 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. You can also expect to celebrate your autonomy and integrity as it's earned through persistent application to the tasks at hand.
Paratheatre is not 'improvisation', as the term is commonly used in theatre. Deeply process-oriented, this work aims to amplify awareness of the existing conditions and the very forces and archetypes governing our existence. The ritual techniques presented in the training process aim to allow safe and creative access to these forces and then, the opportunity to express them through ourselves in stillness, movement, sound, gesture, and characterization. Though we do not always achieve this ideal, this is the aim, the process, and the goal. If you resonate with the values and principles outlined here, you may be already doing this work without knowing it and/or you may be ready to raise the quality of your work to the next level.
-- ANTERO ALLI, director
ParaTheatrical ReSearch
ENTRY TO ALL LABS BY INVITATION &/OR INTERVIEW
If you have never worked in this medium with Antero before,
you can request an in-person interview appointment at:
noform@paratheatrical.com and/or 510-464-4640
All inquiries welcome.
CLICK THIS FOR RITUAL LAB SCHEDULES
paratheatre links
Paratheatre (and related) articles
"State of Emergence"
a paratheatre manifesto by Antero Alli