I see this often with young performers.
In the Speech and Debate (forensics) world we call this going on "autopilot."
They seem over rehearsed and it is like they are just "saying words."
I often ask them to evaluate the words and make sure they are connecting to the words they are saying. (Think Stanislavski....)
I tell them even in a sad moment there can still be energy in what is being said.
The teacher before me who I learned a great deal from, had an interesting take...
They could work on a piece all year long....before a big competition like State or a National qualifying
she would have them CHANGE one or two things. It kept things fresh. It kept them a little nervous, because they
had to REMEMBER the change.
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Erika Trahan
Kaplan High School
LA
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-29-2023 08:18
From: Analiese Hamm
Subject: Where's the Energy?!!!!!
"Energy" is my trigger word right now. So, I've built a pretty successful program in my small town public school. We have a great time. We've won numerous region competitions, but by the time state competition comes around....it's gone. The ENERGY of the show has been sucked out. "Energy" is always our recurring judges critique. It doesn't help that our state for some reason sets up our OAP season to run 4-5 weeks long, this year we ran for 6 long weeks!!! We usually perform 3-4 times for the community and then the two competition pieces. I try to spread out the community performances to help keep the competition shows tight (the comm performances are about the best 'rehearsals' I can get due to my students being spread thin with other obligations). But that causes lots of lags in between shows.
Bottom line: How do you maintain...or even build energy with your students?? I know it when I see it, and I agree with the critiques, but for the life of me, I cannot figure out how to "coach" it!
And the toughest part, is finding my own "energy" to even try model it! Please HELP me fix a 13 year deficiency in my directing!!
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Analiese Hamm
ECS Performing Arts Director
Echols County High School
Statenville GA
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