A FESTIVAL taking place this weekend hopes to “spread the improvisation love across Scotland”.
Organisers of a Weekend of Improvisation in Glasgow (WIG) want their event to help develop a community of artists, practitioners and amateurs of all ages, abilities and disciplines interested in improvisation.
As well as fostering creativity across art forms from stand-up comedy to performance and music, improvisation techniques have application in the day-to-day lives of everyone, says Zoe Katsilerou of Iceberg, the Glasgow-based international arts collective behind WIG.
“We are all practitioners with improvisation at the heart of our practice,” says movement/voice artist Katsilerou of Iceberg, which includes dancer Penny Chivas and actor-musicians Eilon Morris and Nicolette Macleod.
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Though the four came together from a shared interest in improvisation as a form of performance, Iceberg want to open up the techniques and ideas to everyone, whether they are an aspiring artist or not.
“We believe that improvisation is for everybody, and the only way we can continue to grow, expand the event and make our work accessible, is to spread the improvisation love across Scotland, so we do warmly invite everyone,” says Katsilerou. “We see improvisation as a valuable training practise for everyday relationships and ways of relating to each other and the world.
“Improvisation is a practise that brings us into the present moment, and we relate to each other according to what is happening in this moment. The training principles are based on listening, respect, pursuing pleasure in what you do and finding a clear relationship with each other and with one’s self.”
Now in its third year, WIG presents improvised performances this evening from members of Iceberg, theatre-maker Stephanie Arsoska, Manchester’s Vonnegut Collective and Something Smashing, a dance and music improvisation night based in Edinburgh.
Tomorrow Vonnegut Collective founders Gemma Bass (violin) and Gary Farr (trumpet) run a public workshop introducing participants to their practice of transferring techniques from musical improvisation into bodily movement.
Like all public events at WIG, which is supported by the CCA, Creative Scotland and artist-led dance organisation The Work Room, the workshop is open to those wanting to deeper develop their own skills as well as those with no previous experience at all.
As members of the Green Arts Initiative, a group of Scottish arts organisations working to reduce their environmental impact, Iceberg encourage participants to use more sustainable ways of getting to the festival.
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Ideas of interconnectedness also inform the future Iceberg hopes for improvisation in Scotland, including setting up regular events where people can perform, collaborate and support each other.
“There is so much improvisation happening across Scotland as well as members of the public who have new ideas and fresh ways of approaching improvisation,” says Katsilerou.
“We’re hoping to foster an improvisation community in Scotland that embraces local improvisers and also makes connections internationally.”
Performance: Tonight, CCA, Glasgow, 7.30pm to 9.30pm £8, £5 concs.
Workshop by Vonnegut Collective: Tomorrow, CCA, Glasgow, 4pm to 6pm, £8, £5 concs. Tel: 0141 352 4900. www.cca-glasgow.com icebergimprovisation@gmail.com
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