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There is much happening in the land of Jim these days. Today's post is the first in a series of big updates! Enjoy! Jim January 29, 2009
To Whom It May Concern,
This is a letter of reference for guest artist, educator and general “joy monger”, Jim Dalling.
Jim conducted a week-long workshop with the junior level drama students of Lincoln M. Alexander S.S. in November of 2008. His focus was on Physical Theatre and the discovery and creation of character through mask.
Jim brings a unique and uninhibited energy to the class that allows the students to feel comfortable opening up and being goofy. His self-deprecating humour is a good example from which the students can learn – it gives them a living model of how we should poke fun at ourselves, rather than at others. Jim’s humour allows the students to be funnier and much more humane, both in their comedy performances, and their daily lives.
The process of Jim’s workshop is one of discovery and experimentation. He allows the students to move at their own pace into role, using both mask and costume as a jumping off point. The masks Jim brings with him are handmade, and stunning. As a result, the students are immediately engaged, and begin authentically creating characters that are meaningful to them. Using mask allows the students to develop freedom of expression, and to feel less inhibited on our stage, as their ‘true self’ can literally be covered from head to toe if they so choose. The masks were so effective in allowing our students to take risks, we ended up purchasing a class set from Jim. The masks were made to order, detailed and beautiful. The students are now able to build their performer confidence in mask, throughout the entire school year.
Jim’s time with us allowed the students to gain a better understanding of creating character not only through voice, but also through the body. He led the students through numerous acting exercises that opened them up to the idea of physical expression, and how this can add dimension and layers to the characters they create. Jim simultaneously respected how far each student wanted to go in the workshop experience, and pushed the students to their limits, challenging them to go beyond what they thought was possible. The end result was a marked success.
With Jim, the students ultimately created a masked parade of characters that traveled and played through the school on the final day of the workshop. When he first arrived and told the class that this would be our ultimate goal for the workshop, the students were very reluctant. They did not want to expose themselves, make themselves vulnerable to their peers, or take such a risk. However, throughout the workshop, the students came to understand the purpose of the walk. By the end of the workshop, all of the students came to a point where they wanted to accept Jim’s challenge. They worked from cues and signals from Jim as they made their way through the halls of Lincoln, visited several classrooms, and even surprised the office. The purpose of the silly masked character walk was to create a sense of joy and laughter for others, to understand the boundaries of others through your own impulses, and to maintain the power and mystery of character even when tested by your audience. The students were very proud of achieving all of the above.
We would have no reservations in recommending Jim Dalling’s workshop to any educator, with the added assurance that those students would undoubtedly benefit from his excellent leadership and creativity, as our students so clearly have.
Sincerely, the Drama teachers of Lincoln M. Alexander S.S.,
Kristen Rashotte Terry Slater Laura Inglis
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