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Dedicated to theatrical creation and research, Pandrata Center proposes intensive formations to the great traditions of theatre play and dance. The aims are to offer to western actors the possibility to work for one month with indian Masters, thus to confront themselves with the fondamental traditions of the acting art, and this way learn the technics leading to the autonomy of the interpret.
The workshops take place in Gokarna, costal village in the Karnataka state of South India. Located in between the main beach and the village, the residence and practice place are surrounded by a peaceful little forest.
Teachings
Meyerholdian Biomecanics
Meyerholdian Biomecanics consists of a set of exercices which enables the actor to know its body as a material and gives him technics to impose on it rigorous forms and to fight against estheticism and blurred gesture.
Biomecanics’ practice establishes the principles of a precise and fast analytical execution of diverse actions, and gives a movement decomposition method in three steps : will, action, reaction.
Kathakali
Kathakali (katha, history and kali, play in malayalâm) is a form of classical dance and theater coming from the state of Kerala in south India.
It is a spectacular union of drama, dance, music and ritual. The characters, who wear elaborate colorful make-up and refined costumes, perform episods from the stories of Mahâbhârata and of Râmâyana.
The acting work is physically very demanding. It can be mastered by using the same technics of concentration and energy as the ones used in the practice of Kalaripayat, the antic martial art from Kerala. Facial expressions, looks, hand positions or Hasta play a great part in the actors’ performance.
Bharata Natyam
Bharata Natyam is a solist dance, long and difficult to learn. Originally mainly taught to young girls, this dance seduces boys more and more.
Six ordered pictures are given from an ancestral tradition, which compose the choreography. The body, the face and the eyes are used in a coded manner. The choreography expresses emotions : that of the body, following the Nritta rules, and that of the face, according to the Nritya rules.
The stage also is designed : musicians and singers on the left side, a statue of Shiva as Nataraja (dance god) on the right side. Carnatic music accompanies the dances.
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