A performer, interpret, exponent is an individual who gives form and sense to an idea, who has the capacity to observe him/herself and to listen and see the others. Un Intérprete es un individuo que da forma y sentido a una idea, que tiene la capacidad de observarse a sí mismo y escuchar a los demás. Interpreter, Exponent – Enciclopedia Británica.
About the relationship between the following applied concepts: body / context / language / discourse
In El Intérprete_The Performer practice, theory and its uses cross constantly, enabling the development of broadened and more precise ways of acting, moving and relating, thus generating a greater capacity to, literally, put the body in action, to manifest, to do and to say.
The programme proposes a working context and dialogue between individual and collective instances, empowering singularities and amplifying the possibilities to resolve and execute actions on stage, in public exposition and communication in general. It understands singularity as a continuous belonging to the collective practice.
El Intérprete_The Performer enables a collaboration between artists, academics, researchers and students, in a wide spectrum of disciplines. It conceives research as a constant state which feeds itself on artistic processes, on discursive development, on the documentation of practices and on critical positioning.
The programme is the result of more than 10 years of pedagogical, performative, theoretical and practical research, sustained through dialogue with other professionals on a national and international level which allows each edition and format to be suited to the needs of its context.
El Intérprete_The Performer has been declared of cultural interest by the Ministry of Culture of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, Impulsa Cultura – Mecenazgo 2016 and 2019, and by the Secretary of Culture of the Province of Salta 2019.
It counts with the support of LEM non-profit organization, CILEM research centre, Kodachrome Theater Zurich, Fingersix artists’ network and the venue PLANTA transversal creation & investigation.
During the practice, the intérpretes_performers develop performing and communicational skills while at the same time exercising its uses in an experimental context. The objective is to learn tools so to be able to expose oneself and share what we do/say, to find the links between thoughts and feelings, to make use of the body, discover what this can provoke, position oneself, and take decisions while being inside the action.
El Intérprete_The Performer proposes an intensive experience directed to all those who are interested in inquiring and developing their uniqueness and craft, in the presence of the body in relation to collective work and in its affective capacity (to affect and to be affected).
The participants are performing arts, live arts workers, practitioners, groups and researchers in the field of the arts or academia, as well as people who work with public exhibition. El Intérprete_The Performer becomes a transverse cut through the current practice of each participant, seeking to incorporate and make use of the tools which enhance what each participant does and how they do it. It aims to integrate itself into the personal project of each person, and to deploy a context of dialogue.
The heart of the programme, and its fundamental element, is to put into practice the concepts and philosophy behind Release*. “Release is a body/mind integrative technique through which engagement with imagery enhances and inspires imaginative responses and bodily movement. Images for consideration in Release are initially anatomical, and/or created from physics principles applied to dance, dreams, desires, memories, future projections, social protests and strong reactions. Any source that inspires the individual to a coherent and identifiable response, and that may be presented as metaphor for consideration may be useful as inspiration within a Release practice. It may be used as a source for correction of alignment in movement. The Release process inspires movement vocabulary, and indicates constructs of thought that may be used in movement creation and compositional decision making” (Mary O’Donnell)
The Release experience can be identified as physical, metaphysical and meditative process, referring to all three at once. It creates an immediate construction of an essential alertness within a vocabulary of movement and stillness.
Release is an active formulation of paradigms which increase the awareness of its practitioners. The intérprete_performer becomes more conscious of him/herself as a flexible construction of thought and action, and through this consciousness is capable of directing, guiding and abandoning control according to what is necessary in each context. In addition, it enables a scenario for the unveiling of a human being with results that include a more comprehensive vision of psycho/physical development, and the reflection of this in life and work. Fundamentally, The intérprete_performer can find him/herself more integrated as a person, as much as an artist/teacher/maker.
*Release: to let go, to free, to allow to move, to let fall, to detach.
In theoretical terms, the programme follows on from Seldes’ Masters dissertation, titled “The resonance of the performer’s body in the spectator’s body”, for which she was awarded a scholarship and obtained the title of MA in Physical theatre at the University of London Royal Holloway in 2007.
The availability and use of the body. Movement principles and exploration. Studying the structural organisation of the body, its possibilities, the interaction with other bodies and context. Observing what we do, how we do it.
Understanding: impulses, breath, gravity, the axis of the body, the mechanics of the joints, the use of the voice and the awareness of the body in the space.
Performing tool and communication skills
Feel at ease with oneself and the body.
The relationship between what you feel and what is happening. The simultaneity of seeing and being seen, listening and saying, perceiving and witnessing yourself in the act of perceiving. To affect and to be affected.
The implications and possibilities of language in the body. The gaze of the Other and its effect. Why and for whom we perform.
To develop a coherent line of thought in relation to the physical action. Having a criteria and an integral vision which allows the intérprete_performer to be connected to his/her desire and relationship with others.
Aspects of improvisation and compositional logics, beyond choreography.
Writing and reflection on the practice.
Writing not as a simple accumulation or breakdown of information, but as the physical act in itself and the record of its traces.
Critical exchange. Ideological positioning of one’s own actions, and reflections on the performance practice and the praxis of the body.
Various programme formats are organized during the year, within Argentina and international; organized independently or within institutions, universities, conservatoires, performance or research groups. Each programme is developed and updated according to the participants needs and its context. The potential, strengths and possibilities of each context are strongly attended to. If necessary, classes are taught in Spanish and English.
The extended format happens in annual editions. The program goes through virtual and face-to-face activities.
One feature which makes the Programme grow is the connection of all those who have attended the programme through a network, interacting and sharing their projects: El Performer Community.
The extended format requires an application process, in which each applicant should share personal materials (CV, portfolio, website, etc.), and write a brief letter of intent in which they express their interests and concerns regarding the contents of the programme and the topics which concern them.
Intensive: 3/4/5 Consecutive days, an average of 18 to 35 hours.
Cuatrimestral: 1/2 days per week semanales, 3 hs per encounter.
Annual: 1 day per week 5 hs / 1 day per month 5hs.
Master class: Introduction to fundamentals of the programme, 3 hs.
El Intérprete_the Performer programme is developed and updated continuously, based on more than 10 years of research and teaching practice by its director Melina Seldes. In addition to offering support to its participants, the realization of the programme has been supported by organizations such as the Ministry of Culture (AR), National Fund for the Arts (AR), National Theatre Institute (AR), Ministries/Secretariats of Culture from different regions of Argentina, Ministry of Education of Switzerland, Ministry of Culture of Chile, Arts Council England, Ministry of Culture of Canada, and Municipality of La Paz- Bolivia.
The interpreter_the Performer has reached more than 300 people in various European and South American cities, and more than 500 in Buenos Aires City and different provinces of Argentina. Hosted by: the Patagonian Arts University Institute, San Juan Bicentennial Theatre, Salta Museum of Fine Arts, National University of Jujuy; Espacio Ramona Córdoba Capital; Theater Im Bahnhof, Austria; Aktina School of Athens; Northern School of Contemporary Dance, England; Tanzhaus Zürich; Tanzfabrik Berlin; Master SODA-University HZT Berlin; Gessnerallee Theater, Switzerland; National Theater of Scotland; RSAMD Conservatory Scotland; Isadora Duncan Athens Dance Center; Kampnagel K3 Hamburg; Summer School Dance House Glasgow Scotland; Carmen Senra Madrid dance school; Summer School PARTS Brussels; LEM space, research plant & transversal creation, among others.
Between 2007-2017 the program was known as Lab of Performing tools “The Art of the Intentions”, and for 10 editions under the name LEM’s Training Program for Performers, achieving recognition in local and international artistic and academic fields, and hosting participants from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Canada, England, USA, Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, Poland, Lithuania, Mozambique, Holland, Greece, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Bolivia among other countries.
Línea en movimiento
Buenos Aires Ciudad
Mecenazgo