THEMATIC WORKSHOPS

<< The way one gives is worth more than what one gives. So too, the way of walking is worth more than the destination, the way of picking it is worth more than the flower… >>

The technique created by Étienne Decroux is inherently self-sufficient; it provides the artist with an expanded body, which will sometimes carry the weight of the world and at others the subtle softness of a sheet.

It is a milestone for any artistic journey since, once fluent in this language, the person will have a wise body at their disposal (their scenographic compass) and, within reach, the invisible immensity.

Decroux turned modern mime into an art that can float like classical dance and shake like a martial strike.

The goal is to achieve a bodily awareness capable of living in a small gesture, a particular type of walk, in the posture of a gentleman passing by, but also in the way a cat moves or in the lightness of a falling leaf.

The workshop proposes the study of the art of corporeal mime according to the Étienne Decroux technique:

– Basic principles of the Étienne Decroux technique including movements on the lateral plane, in depth, and in rotation; study of the three expressive elements (head, bust, and trunk); study of the arms and their three levels; fingers and hands (positions and their symbolism).

– Repertoire: marches and dynamic figures (to put into practice the knowledge acquired during the workshop).

This 2-hour workshop flips the perspective: it’s not about refining techniques to repeat, but about discovering three creative engines that are always accessible to generate live and personal performances.
Through practical exercises and guided composition, we will explore:

1. Visualizing what isn’t there – giving body and credibility to the invisible.

2. The Mime Game – using rules and improvisation as a limitless resource.

3. Sounds, rhythms, and space-time portals – discovering how rhythm opens up narrative worlds.

The journey culminates in the collective creation of short silent scenes, where the three engines integrate. Ideal for performers, physical theater students, and the curious who want to transform mime from a technique into a renewable creative language.

The workshop explores the use of hands as autonomous storytelling tools. Following Jacopo Tealdi’s approach, the work focuses on finger precision and wrist articulation to bring every gesture to life.

Through Sign Language configurations and the use of Mudras, we build a visual alphabet capable of shaping clear symbols and concepts. The goal is to learn how to manage air resistance, treating the void as material to be sculpted.

This is a physical and mental exercise where tension and movement make the invisible tangible. The bare hand thus acquires the ability to evoke complex characters and scenarios, based on the power of gesture and imagination.