The Exten 2021 Slaight Family Academy Intensive — March 1-13
The Academy “extensive”: that’s what Peter Jewett, our board chair, dubbed the 2021 Slaight Family Academy Intensive. I thought it entirely apropos. Two things became abundantly clear through our process: nothing replaces in-person learning; and the virtual world provides unique opportunities and outreach — take advantage of it! Engaging with virtual learning allowed us to expand our annual training program in several ways. First, and most dramatically, we increased our attendance. Where normally we have between eight and twelve participants, this year we had sixty-three! The elimination of distance, was the second bonus: we were able to bring teaching artists from the UK, from Pittsburgh, from Chicago, from Halifax, and from Vancouver. We were able to provide training to artists from Newfoundland, from New York City, and from the Yukon. I think that both artist and educator were relieved to “stay at home” under the current circumstances. The programming began with core classes, as always: voice, movement, scene study. In addition we had singing, puppetry, rhetoric, and accent work. In the evenings, after classes, we held four Symposia on various topics: Indigenizing Musical Theatre - Dillan Meighan Chiblow, Anishnaabe actor/singer/storyteller
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