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PUSH - Physical Theatre
"An echelon of expression in this genre that I have never experienced!"
-Stephen Wynne, Marah Dance Theatre
Gravity defying PUSH Physical Theatre has been called a cross between fine art sculpture and the hit movie “The Matrix.” You have NEVER seen anything like this before...it’s cool, it’s athletic, it’s entertaining, it’s impossible to resist... This theatre of the body features performers who appear to manipulate time and space in a live environment.
It’s all about the stories. The narratives of our lives played out with hope, strength and optimism. Once you’ve experienced PUSH, you will know the strength of the human soul expressed by the power of the human body.
PUSH’s unique form has transformed it into a national company that has performed all over England, across the United States and Mexico and appeared on PBS and NPR
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Optional School Program:
Selected work from PUSH's repertoire is chosen to enhance your core
curriculum in almost any subject and can be changed to fit your specific needs.
The content of the choreography typically deals with universal issues such as
diversity, conflict resolution and the use of science in movement, and helps
students to interpret the work on a level that is relevant to them. The performers
guide the audience throughout the program and the treatment of the work presented is age specific.
Here are just some of the goals that can be emphasized to support your curriculum:
- To develop students’ understanding of the way in which the human body communicates.
- To engage the imagination in a format that allows a deeper interpretation of the work.
- To tap into students’ natural curiosity and feed their creativity for future projects.
- To draw attention, not only to a story, but also to the way in which the character responds to the created environment.
- To give a sense of historical perspective in understanding movement arts.
- To provide tools that help students be creative problem solvers.
- To encourage the development of students’ self-awareness and confidence.
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School Programs, Workshops, and Residencies:
PUSH 21
21st Century Learning Skills presented by PUSH’s team of talented ‘human sculptures’ using acrobatic strength, stunning physicality and emotional depth. Core subjects such as physical science, literacy and the arts are explored within the context of health, creativity, innovation, communication and collaboration. Relationships are examined between classroom learning and career & life skills such as social awareness, responsibility, adaptability and flexibility. Performers carefully guide audiences throughout the program. Individual pieces are given context that is grade level appropriate to help students interpret the work on a level that is relevant to them. Program can include Q&A.
(Grades K-12) (21st Century Skills/Health/Nutrition/Physical Activity)
THE NATURAL WORLD
What does it look like to literally, ‘give someone a hand?’ Physical illusions and gravity-defying, acrobatic high jinks by PUSH’s group of talented performers show us how. Audiences are guided through each step of the action as the ramifications of kindness, respect, bullying, conflict resolution, friendship, and more, are discovered by a community of fantastical creatures created from the performer’s bodies. Meet ‘The Two Headed Bug’, ‘The Scorpion’ and the playful ‘Squat Frogs’. The performance is given context that is grade level appropriate to help students interpret the work on a level that is relevant to them. Program can include Q&A.
(Grades K-12) (Cultural Awareness/Diversity/Character Development/Social & Emotional Well-being)
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Workshops:
Animals of the Antarctic
Students observe, discuss, and demonstrate characteristics of Antarctic animals and their habitat. As they analyze the movement of polar bears, penguins, and seals, children discover how each creature is designed for its own environment…recreation, hunting habits, and quick escape.
(Grades PreK-1) (Science/Physical Activity)
Weather
Classical music guides eager imaginations during participatory exercises relating to the changing of seasons and the effects they have on our everyday lives (i.e. growing spring flowers, grumbling summer thunderstorms, falling autumn leaves, drifting winter snowflakes). Students become aware of their personal responsibility for maintaining their health throughout the year as they act out dressing up for an afternoon at the beach or an anticipated snow day! It is a scientific fact that no two snowflakes are alike! Each is beautiful in its own unique way. Likewise, each one of us is unique and has something special to share with those around us.
Grades (PreK-2) (Science/Physical Activity)
Healthy Hero’s
3-2-1-0 Be a Healthy Hero! This workshop has continuous physical activities that support the Be A Healthy Hero campaign for our community’s kids! Kids run for the healthiest snack choices in our relay race, get tips on learning to love exercise through physical theatre and end the class with a bit of something just as important…rest. (This workshop includes a coloring book for each child to take home.)
Grades (K-4) (Health/Nutrition/Physical Activity)
Simple Machines
This workshop facilitates a deeper internal understanding of the Physical Sciences as students both analyze and synthesize topics such as simple machines, transfer of weight, magnetism, and energy through physical movement and discussion. Science exercises focusing on the concept of teamwork, balance, and trust are used to encourage the development of friendship skills and guide students to thought-provoking ‘ah-ha!’ moments.
(Grades K-6) (Science/21st Century Learning)
Metamorphosis
From egg to adult, the 4 stages of the life cycle of a butterfly are physically created by students in individual and group exercises. Students get to become the process of metamorphosis through movement. Students physically demonstrate their growing understanding of each stage and make connections to their own physical and social lives.
Grades (2-4) (Science/21st Century Skills)
Light
A study of the Properties of Light, Systems, Optical Illusions, Reflection, Refraction or any other vocabulary the classroom teacher would like to explore from the Light Unit! Concepts of light are transferred into partner and group creative movement exercises. Classroom discussion is generated throughout the residency as curriculum connections are made through the improvisation of the students. Many discoveries and ah-ha moments!
Grades (4-6) (Science)
Partnering
Non verbal communication, personal boundaries, appropriate touch, confidence and intuition are just some of the topics addressed as students grapple (sometimes literally) with the creative skill-set that PUSH performers use everyday as they “share weight” to build impossible looking physical sculptures. This grade appropriate workshop/residency allows students to question and deal with high-pressure situations in a humorous environment that is safe and non-threatening.
Grades (7-12) (Character Development/Social & Emotional Well-being/21st Century Skills/Physical Activity)
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Residencies:
Emotionscapes
Students read and explore the problems and solutions different characters face in well-known books, stories, or even newspaper articles and photographs (source material can be provided by PUSH or selected by the classroom teacher) and uncover the idea that, despite many external differences, all characters experience basic human emotions. Working collaboratively, students create “Emotionscapes” – choreographed movement sequences that represent the emotional journey of the character(s) in the story. A celebration of their new understanding of the shared humanity of emotions culminates in a group performance.
(Grades 3-12) (Character Development/Social-Emotional Well-Being/21st Century Skills)
Art & the Brain
Students are asked to evaluate the hypothesis of noted neurologist V.S. Ramachandran in his research into the “science of art”. Dr. Ramachandran’s “10 laws of art” are, as yet, unproven which allows children the excitement of investigating, questioning and responding to cutting edge science in process. Students combine visual and movement art as they answer key questions such as “Can we observe the laws in well known paintings?” “Do the laws transfer to movement?” “Can art be created by purposely breaking the laws?” Far from being a purely academic discussion, students will create physical theatre experiments to test the limits of the laws of science used by artists.
Grades (4-12) (Science/21st Century Skills/Cultural Awareness)
Human Pop-Up Books
Students have the opportunity to view an art form that uses no words and leaves then with the challenge of transposing movement language into written or spoken language. By creating their own “Human Pop-Up Book” they will be faced with the challenge of analyzing a literary work and identifying key vocabulary vital to the storyline and then translating and synthesizing those words into a series of movements that reflect the story as it was in its original written/illustrated form. Students work in teams and collaboratively put their thoughts and ideas together.
(Grades K-12) (Language Arts/21st Century Skills)
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