CLOWNS ON ACID Module 2:
Sexual Slapstick
*PROOF OF FULL VACCINATION REQUIRED*
email to register: clowns.on.acid.course@gmail.com
CLASS:
Saturday 2/18 from 6PM - 8PM
Sunday 2/19 from 11AM - 3PM
The workshop is for performers, comedians, clowns and artists of all genres who are interested in a cross between seduction and comedy. The workshop is open to all levels.
When a meeting between seduction, comedy and drooling happens, it creates a type of humor that does not belong to the mind, but belongs to the body.
I am not talking about vulgar humor. The base of which is failure of sexuality. Not to destroy sexuality in favor of humor and not to strip comedy of eroticism in favor of intellectual satisfaction.
The meeting of humor and sexuality is a meeting of two freedoms; a blend of two players: trickster and seductress. It’s about being on a perpetual edge of innovation—a very joyful place to be!
And there is nothing more valuable in the work of art as a pleasure of an artist making it.
ABOUT CLOWNS ON ACID MODULE 2: Sexual Slapstick
DAY ONE: SAT 02/18 FROM 6PM-8PM
A workshop at sunset on a mountain in Santa Monica. Where you will meet your inner animal. This work is not to be confused with some ecstatic dance nonsense — its fun, absurd, psychedelic BUT ALSO rigorous and systematic technique to open the parts of the psyche that are usually non active: primal, instinctual states; learning to trust your impulses — those parts of the brain that helps us to take more risk and to be more authentic.
DAY TWO: SUN 02/19 FROM 11PM - 3PM
We will meet at The Elysian theater where we will be exploring Western and Eastern traditions of physical theater training.
Specifically a blend of physical comedy, erotic dance and Butoh. Yes Butoh! Did you know that Tatsumi Hijikata, founder of Butoh, ran 5 strip clubs in Tokyo? A lot of Japanese physical theater is based on seduction—opening and closing energy on stage. To make it more appropriate it is often referred to as “animal work”. We will practice some of it and more!
FIVE MODULES
Clowns on Acid workshops are accumulative and consist of 5 modules. Every module is based on a unique blend of Western and Eastern methods of physical theater training. The aim of these five modules is to provide a well rounded, systematic education in physical theater and comedy. Each intensive builds on the previous one, however workshops can be also taken individually.
MODULE I: Jump Start the Year, Jan 21/22
MODULE II: Sexual Slapstick, Feb 18 6pm-8pm; Feb 19 11am-3pm
MODULE III: Are you tripping or are you in character?
Mar 25 6.30pm-8.30pm; Mar 26 12-4pm
MODULE IV: Infinite idea machine—fundaments of physical improv ONE
Apr 22 7pm-9pm; Apr 23 12-4pm
MODULE V: Infinite idea machine—fundaments of physical improv TWO
May 27 7pm-9pm; May 28 12-4pm
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Kira Nova is a world renowned artist, comedian and producer whose credits include the MoMa and the MET. Over the past 10 years she has created 5 solo shows and curated a number of variety theater productions. Among which was a show she created with Michael Portnoy and Reggie Watts — “Alligators! Experimental Comedy Lab”, presented in The Netherlands and Belgium.
Nova has presented her breed of one-woman shows at such venues as MoMa PS1, MET Breuer, The Kitchen in New York; Center Pompidou in Paris, Royal Academy Theater in London, Art Basel in Basel among many. While as a comedian Nova performed in many venues around NY, which include productions at The Box and House of Yes.
For the past 10 years, Nova has been leading workshops and teaching at many North American and European Art Academies, that include: Columbia University in New York (US), Banff Center for the Arts in Alberta (Canada), Paul Klee Center in Basel (Switzerland), Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam (The Netherlands), de Appel Curatorial Program in Amsterdam (The Netherlands), dOCUMENTA (13) in Kassel (Germany), Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam (The Netherlands). Since 2013 Nova works as a professor at Lunds University (Sweden).