VTA 2024: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Dare to Devise' introduces participants to devised theatre, focusing on ensemble-based projects and productions. The workshop guides participants from a single creative impulse, interest, topic, or text to the development of a cohesive narrative shaped from multiple perspectives.

Through physical, vocal, and improvisational exercises, participants engage in artistic exploration that emphasizes constructive dialogue, cultural enrichment, and methods for change or conflict resolution. Whether aimed at community impact or ensemble building, this workshop fosters collaboration and collective storytelling.

The workshop is two-fold: explorative and pedagogical.

Participants will learn through lecture and conversation about ways to create beautiful works of theatre art with a limited or nonexistent budget. This workshop will offer ideas for lowering costs without sacrificing art or safety, provide local resources, and participants will learn that in stretching a budget, sometimes better art is created. They will also learn how to pull together volunteers and use resources to have a collaborative and DIY nature to their theatre practice.

Through creative collaboration, participants will immerse themselves in theatrical and visual art explorations. Creating an original performance work based on a photograph, painting, sculptured piece, or visual medium, that speaks to current events, social justice, or community needs. Devised theatre stimulates new material or adaptations with the practice of dramaturgy and staging in a physical, non-verbal, suspended reality, and/or a visually dynamic way. Involving soundscapes, live music, projections or video footage, text, playwriting structure with the use of improvisation, acting methods by Augusto Boal and Theatre of the Oppressed, as well as scene structure to aid actors through the creative process of going from canvas, to page, to stage.

Vectorworks is a powerful CAD Modeling tool that can accommodate everything from rendering to creating files to 3D print you models. In this workshop, we will explore creating a workflow from initial ideas to finished model under lights. Participants are encouraged to bring your computer with VW installed.

Have a question on how to best advocate for a need at your school or for your theatre program? Would you like to be part of our efforts to advocate for Theatre Education in Virginia and beyond? Join VTA members and arts administrators Linda Gallant, Dr. Tara Taylor, and Dr. Annamarie Bollino as they answer questions and share perspectives on how to advocate both within and outside of your school building to advance your theatre program. We will also brainstorm and collaborate as a community on how we might better mobilize to advance theatre education in Virginia. Whether you are a seasoned advocate or just beginning your journey, there is something in this session for everyone!

Dive into the vibrant world of hip hop dance in our energetic workshop, "Groove & Flow." Perfect for all skill levels, you'll learn foundational moves, explore rhythm, and unleash your creativity in a supportive environment. Join us for a fun-filled session that will have you dancing with confidence!
What to Wear: Dress comfortably in athletic wear—think breathable t-shirts, joggers, or shorts. Don’t forget to bring your favorite sneakers with good grip to keep you moving smoothly on the dance floor!

How do we give each of our characters a different physical life?  One way is through the Effort Shapes of Rudolf Laban.  Explore "Floating," "Flicking," "Slashing," "Gliding," and more to explore creating distinct physicalities that are still "You."

Students should be prepared to MOVE and make some noise!

Auditions are about showing as much of your skill as possible, but you only have 60 seconds!  This workshop will introduce tools you can use to get the most bang for your buck in any monologue (or song!) in that short span of time.  If you can dare to be a terrible actor (in order to be a better one), then this workshop is for you!  Students should be prepared to be loud (and quiet) and huge (and tiny)!  Having a printed monologue and pen/pencil will be very helpful.