THIS IS A SOLO




Guide for the Ultimate Solo

The Guide for the Ultimate Solo came out of the desire to take further the experiment of the 3rd semester research project that proposed a collaborative engagement with the audience.
I started an investigation on regulation of attention through hypnosis and meditation techniques accompanied by the question 'Where does the ultimate solo performance takes place?'.
This question came out of the process of realising that what I was about to propose with this work was a particular way of understanding solo work as an assemblage of multiple relations.
The ongoing reflection upon the conditions of performance making became the axis for the development of the text, which proposes a set of questions that guide the audience through their own imagination and questioning about performance making.
The process was divided in three moments: first the investigation on hypnosis and meditation techniques through readings and personal engagement in exercises.
The second involved a practice of writing and rewriting according to the theme and finally the third moment involved the testing out of the proposition with different constellations of joint-creators in order to understand the tone, spaces and timings between speech and silence before the final recording session.

 
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One of the specificities of this solo, resides in the fact that it can also be experienced outside of the theatrical apparatus, here the audiofile:
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Best with headfones
http://www.4shared.com/mp3/_kEjVGF8/UltimateSolo_final_1.html?refurl=d1url

One of the drafts from the working progress for The Guide for the Ultimate Solo


Welcome

Over the next few minutes this voice will guide you through the ultimate solo

You are now invited to close your eyes....

Please readjust your sitting position until you feel most comfortable....

Take a few moments to feel the weight of your body on the chair..... feel your feet being supported by the floor....your head standing loose on the top of your neck...

Inhale and exhale at your own pace....


Now.... beguin to envision the space where the ultimate solo will take place....


Is the space you are envisioning.... indoors or is it outdoors?

Is the space large or is it small?

Where is the entrance?

Where is the audience in the ultimate solo? Sitting, standing, walking?

How does the ultimate solo beguin?

Is there any sound in the ultimate solo?

Is the sound live or is it recorded?

Is any song playing during the ultimate solo?

Are copy right issues taken into account?

Where does the sound come from?

How is the ultimate solo being lightened?

Is there natural light? Are light projectors being used?

Which light colours? White? Blue? Yellow? Magenta?

Is the audience in the dark?

Are there any fire-hazardous activities like: candles, cigarettes or other?

Is there any video projection?

Is video used as background or it is at the center of the ultimate solo?

Are technicians operating sound and light?

How many and where are they?

Are human performing in the ultimate solo?

Are animals, plants or rocks being used?

Is the ultimate solo performer a child, women, man, of ambiguos gender?

Is the ultimate solo performer dressed?

Is he or she wearing make up? A wig?

How many performers does the ultimate solo has?

Are the performers: local, from the european union or aliens?

Is the ultimate solo performer talking?

Which languages are being used: english, german, other?

Is speech narrative? self referential? absurd? Poétic?

Is movement in the ultimate solo pedestrian? Virtuosic?

Which movement qualities are being used?

Sustained? Percursive? Vibratory? Suspended? Other?

Is movement improvised?

Is it functional?

What shape does movement take in the ultimate solo?

How much are the performers being payed?

Do the performers have an academic degree?

What is the quality of presence of the ultimate solo performer?

Expressionist? Low profile? Other?

Are the performers playing themselves?

How is the set of the ultimate solo?

Is it designed on purpose? Is it made of found objects?

Are props being manipulated?

In which frame is the ultimate solo being curated?

Which institutions are supporting the ultimate solo?

Is the ultimate solo going on tour? In europe? Overseas?

Are there any smells used in the ultimate solo?

Is the audience invited to participate?

Is the ultimate solo being documented? For which purpose?

Is the ultimate solo using a forth wall?

How does the ultimate solo makes you feel?

How long is the ultimate solo?

What happens when there's silence?

Now, breathe deeply and take a few moments to enjoy the last minute of the ultimate solo

How is your body feeling?

When you are ready... you can slowly start to open your eyes.....

Thank you and have a pleasent evenning.