The Return Beat – Interfacing with Our Interface

When: Friday 25, Saturday 26 & Sunday 27, February
Where: The American College of Greece, Black Box Theatre (and online)

Organized by:
The Makings of the Actor, Athens, Dr Olu Taiwo, Senior Lecturer, Department in Performing Arts, University of Winchester and the Labanarium, London.
The Conference is hosted by:
The Theatre Arts and Dance Department of The Frances Rich School of Fine and Performing Arts-The American College of Greece, with the support of Dr Kiki Selioni, Post-doctoral Researcher, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London.

 

About the event

This conference is part of a series of international events under the auspices of The Makings of the Actor Project. The mission of The Makings of the Actor is to gather international practitioners and researchers from diverse fields of performance practice and scholarship, to develop and disseminate, through conferences and workshops, an evolving performance pedagogy that addresses the needs of present and future actors. The Makings of the Actor Project is organizing a series of conferences based on books from international research practitioners discussing in theory and presenting in practice their works.

In his book ‘The Return Beat- Interfacing with Our Interface, A Spiritual Approach to the Golden Triangle’, Dr. Olu Taiwo coined the term Return Beat referring to a metaphysical experience of West African Rhythm from a performer-centered approach. This approach draws attention to modes of rhythmic perceptions that highlight certain shared resonant experiences in a group that are cyclical in nature. The Golden triangle refers to the use of rhythm through: Song/spoken word, dance/movement, percussion/drumming. It postulates that performances produced with this awareness means that the performer will have to be rhythmically intuitive and display a high degree of self-coordinating intelligence.

Taking The Return Beat – Interfacing with Our Interface as both a framework and provocation, this conference will delve into its various themes and practices, offering a platform for practitioners and scholars to share and reflect on their perspectives on, and insights into, rhythm within acting and performance. Through presentations, work demonstrations and discussions, we will explore common themes and differing understandings and approaches to rhythm in this field.

The event will be held as a Blended (Hybrid) Conference. In recognition of both the global reach of this theme and the expansive network of interested practitioners and scholars, as well as the impact of the current pandemic, participants are invited to take part either in person or virtually. Conference proceedings will be live-streamed; papers, and, where appropriate, workshops and demonstrations, can be presented remotely.

 

Paper Presentations, Teaching Demonstrations and Workshops will take place at two venues:

Friday 25 February and Saturday 26 February
The American College of Greece, Black Box Theatre, 6 Gravias Street GR-153 42, Aghia Paraskevi, Greece

Note
Required for entrance: ID card and a valid Certificate of Covid-19 Vaccination or valid Covid-19 Disease Certificate, as per the latest public health regulations.
The use of a protective mask is mandatory during the entire duration of the event and social distancing (1,5m) must be observed at all times.

Saturday 26 February and Sunday 27 February
University of Winchester, Sparkford Road Winchester, Hampshire SO22 4NR Enter Paul Chamberlain Studios

 

The event will also be available Online from the 25^th until 27^th of February.

For the complete Conference program, please contact:

[email protected] and [email protected]

 

Conference Registration fees
All those attending the conference will be given a discount code for use when ordering their own copy of Return Beat.

Paper presentations fees: 120€

Teaching Demonstration fees:

• 90 min. 200€
• 120 min. 220€
• 150 min. 250€

Attendance fees: 70€

Student & unwaged fees: 50€

 

Workshop fees

Participant fees: €70 student & unwaged: €50

Online attendee fees: €50

 

The whole event is free to the entire Theatre Arts and Dance Faculty and students. Alumni are eligible for 50% discount.

 

For info and booking, please contact:

[email protected] and [email protected]