The Vision
Mare Nostrum Elements is committed to offering a safe environment in which performers can re-discover their bodies, get in touch with their emotional impulses and create new physicalities through knowledge and new discoveries.
How it works
The Wave Within is a step-by-step performance-oriented method of working that guides the body through the explorations of forms to fully realized, intricate physicalities. The method uses a balanced mix of concepts inspired by Meisner and Grotowski acting techniques, Anna Sokolow Dance Theater and contact improvisation techniques.
The Class
The Wave Within classes unfold in a collaborative fashion, often featuring guest artists leading the laboratory section of class. Each class encourages participants to experience a wide range of sensations within the body by awakening the mind, body, voice, and emotions. Channeling their innate responses to given tasks and exercises, participants journey into sensitivity and awareness, creating more mental and physical openness for his or her creative work.
Classes are conducted in 4 folds
Preparation: a combination of Pilates, yoga, Gyrokinesis, voice coaching, and corporeal mime that awakens the body, mind, voice and emotions.
Laboratory: explorations and experimentations based off of theatre improvisation games and movement improvisation techniques -- we challenge participants to express emotional impulses without thinking, letting the body do the work, and strengthening the ability to deepen the meaning of the movement without falling into cleverness.
Review: a very personal time during which each student rehearses and performs a physical sequence using the material from one or more exercises. During this section participants are asked to find creative ways to connect selected movements and share the results with the class.
Discussion: a time for feedback, peer-to-peer learning, and self-reflection.
Testimonials
During his workshop, Iervasi was able to create a positive energy and a trustful relationship between himself/director and the actors/performer. In a very quiet environment and without feeling judged by the others, the participants were able to abandon all pre-contstructed mas, habits and images of themselves in order to reinvent, perceive and express new emotions. Only with a series of similar moments is possible to build a show as a set structure in which the actor feels protected (like in labratory) so he can take his mask off and reveal himself with more confidence in front of the audience; and the audience to project on the actor his own thoughts, images, and emotions.
Ivana Badolato
Active, immediate, practical, useful, fun. Anonymous
Helpful to express emotions and create solid statements.
Ozden Cetin, Dancer
Previous experiences = dance training = technique. The Wave Within! experience = first flight.
Marianthi Vrettou, Dancer
I appreciated Kevin and Nicola’s kindness in leading the workshop that made a safe and non-judgmental environment. I felt free to experiment, not worrying about what’s right and wrong. This freedom gave me confidence to deeper explore my emotions. Interestingly, while developing those personal feelings, my body would draw from Graham technique, so I was able to re-explore the movements and find a new personal connection to them. As an Ensemble member, I am now using “The Wave Within!” tools to develop my own imagery when I embody any character from the Graham repertory.
Delia Ahouandjinou, former member of the Martha Graham EnsembleGentle, charismatic, energy, without judgment, choreographic justice.
Sarah Kellett, ActressTo work with Mare Nostrum you have to be somewhat humble, but when you are…some extraordinary things happen.
Laura Shallcross, Dancer
To work with Mare Nostrum you have to be somewhat humble, but when you are…some extraordinary things happen.
Laura Shallcross, DancerCalm but invigorating, it set me free! I have taken lots of different workshops but none so tailored towards the emotions, I started to listen to myself, the person/dancer within.
Nina Atkinson-Evans, Dancer/ChoreographerMare Nostrum Elements intensive was very helpful to deal with my timidity. Sometimes I was fighting with myself, but that was the interesting aspect. I highly recommend all dance students to try “The Wave Within!” method; it would nurture them, while they are pushing themselves beyond their limits.
Pauline Legras, DancerMost classes spend hours on end digging into one thing or just with one main focus. This class moved and touched many elements.
LaShonna Holloway, Dancer/ Choreographer – Teacher