Home / Event / EVERYTHING SPEAKS – Clowns and the World of Objects – A 3-Day Course at Mettabee Farm, Hillsdale, NY

EVERYTHING SPEAKS – Clowns and the World of Objects – A 3-Day Course at Mettabee Farm, Hillsdale, NY

“To feel abandoned is to deny the intimacy of your surroundings…
Surely, even you, at times, have felt the grand array;
the swelling presence, and the chorus, crowding out your solo voice.
You must note the way the soap dish enables you,
or the window latch grants you freedom.
Alertness is the hidden discipline of familiarity.
The stairs are your mentor of things to come,
the doors have always been there to frighten you and invite you,
and the tiny speaker in the phone is your dream-ladder to divinity.”

– David Whyte, Everything is Waiting For You

September 20-22, 2024
Friday and Saturday, 10:00am-5:30pm
Sunday 10:00am-4:30pm
Sunday afternoon community sharing – 3:00-4:30 pm

Course description:
Clowns are shapeshifters, able to transform themselves through playfully interpreting the word around them. They can help us to shift our perspectives and awaken empathy by bringing the world alive.

In this unique course, we will guide you through practical exercises and simple improvisational structures to help you cultivate your skills and deepen your understanding of the art of clowning. 

Identification with objects teaches important clowning principles such as:

  • commitment to physicality and embodiment,
  • use of voice for emotional expression,
  • relationship with partners and audience,
  • personal freedom
  • breaking the rules of theatrical convention
  • exploring roles and breaking free from roles 

Come play and let your clown discover the world as new and full of opportunity, absurdity, laughter and poignancy. 

This weekend is open to all levels – whether you’re experienced or new to clowning. 

The group is limited to 12 people. 

Location: Mettabee Farm, 551 Harlemville, Hillsdale, New York

FEE: 450USD

For enquiries or information on local accommodations please email Laura: laura@nosetonose.info

Click here to book this course or enquire

Note: On some IPADS or IPHONES you may need to “long press” the link above and open new tab.

To book a course follow the link Click here to book… above. You will see on the form whether there are available places.  Submit the form with your details and we will let you know how to proceed with payment. Your fee is REFUNDABLE  MORE than 2 months before the start of the course. There is a $20 admin fee for refunds.  If the course is canceled your fee will be refunded in full.

Fees are paid  online.

For more information about our way of teaching clowning and our style of work you can read the website articles.

Facilitators:

Laura Geilen

Laura Geilen studied dance at the Boston Conservatory of Music and has a degree in Human Development from Leslie University. She completed the Curative Education and Social Therapy training while living in a Camphill community. She has training certificates in childbirth education, Spacial Dynamics, CircusYoga and Nose to Nose Clowning. She has taught movement education and circus arts in Waldorf schools and therapeutic movement in Camphill for over 20 years. 

She has collaborated with the acclaimed Walking the Dog Theater (www.wtdtheater.org), with Kevin and Erin Maile O’Keefe of CircusYoga (www.circusyoga.com), and with Berkcirque (www.berkcirque.com).

Laura runs a number of summer circus arts programs and leads clowning workshops in many settings as a member of the team of Nose to Nose of North America. In all her work she enjoys bringing people of all ages and abilities a renewed experience of their creativity, authenticity and aliveness through the transformative power of play. 

To read her article on clowning and special needs click here: http://naclownworkshops.blogspot.com/2012/02/clowning-special-needs-and-clowning-as.html

Vivian Gladwell

Vivian is the founder and director of Nose to Nose and has given hundreds of workshops around the world. He lives both in the UK and France where he started clowning in 1978. He speaks French and English fluently.

Vivian began teaching in 1988 as part of the Lifeways Festival at Emerson College – UK. He trained as a facilitator with the Bataclown in 1990 and joined their team in 1991 also working as a modern day Court Jester (Clownanalyst).

He created Nose to Nose UK in 1990, Nose to Nose of North America in 2006, Nose to Nose Germany in 2008, NTN Italy in 2016 and Fool View, the Social Clowning group and has trained facilitators in the UK, the USA, Germany and Italy – view history.
He continues his role as ambassador for the work by researching the applications of clowning in the context of teacher training, medicine, conflict management, ecology and intercultural work in many countries (South Africa, USA, Senegal, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Italy, Germany, Norway…)

He holds clowning as a social playground for exploring our humanity.

MORE INFO CONCERNING COURSE FEE…

Q: Can I talk to someone? A: Yes, just send an email with your phone number to Laura Geilen at laura@nosetonose.info and we’ll call you as soon as we are free to do so.

Q: Are there still spaces available on the course? A: Just click on the link Click here to book… above. You will see on the form whether there are available places.

Q: Can you put me on the waiting list? A: Sure, just click on the link Click here to enquire and fill the form. We will put you on our waiting list and let you know when a place becomes available.

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