Mind, body collaborate in improv fest

You may hit an obstacle at work and say “I’ll improvise,” or a musician in the middle of a score may have to improvise, but consider that there are situations every day where we must react to a changing environment.

It’s an ability we all have, yet few of us cultivate, said Linda Rodeck, a performance artist, writer and teacher.

Rodeck is among 17 artists who will be part of Solofest 2011, presented by The Filing Station.

The third annual show will feature 17 solo performers taking the stage in a 10-day festival of original solo works in a variety of genres, including dance, musical compositions, opera, storytelling and traditional theater. Guest performers will come from Los Angeles and San Francisco, while the majority of talent is local.

Rodeck’s piece “A Moment’s Notice” explores what happens when an improviser goes on stage without scripts, props or suggestions from the audience.

Using her body, intuition and mind, she will create “a dreamy landscape,” often called “three-dimensional poetry,” in which the improv calls forth the humanity in each of us. “It can be humorous, poignant, light or dark.” This kind of improv differs from what is usually associated with theater, comedy clubs or TV shows,” Rodeck said.

“In that kind of improv, it is largely a mental exercise in that the mind takes over thinking how witty it can be and the body is just dragged along.

“But here, we’re trying to collaborate and have equal measures of the body, spirit and mind combined in the improvisation,” she said.

It usually goes over very well with audiences, who find it compelling and enjoyable, she added.

Rodeck commended David Sinkus and Beth Bailey of the Filling Station for providing Solofest, and “the opportunity for local talent to flourish,” she said.

Bailey said the festival grew from a small number of solo artists three years ago wanting to rent space to present their works.

“We decided to get them all together and present it as a festival,” she said, adding that seven or eight performers will take the stage each night, with each performer on stage at least twice during the festival.

“It’s grown so much,” she adds. “Last year we took a huge leap as far as audience attendance and really good audience reaction.”

The festival fits into the Filling Station’s mission of promoting local artists, and has served as a stepping stone for some to go on to bigger achievements, Bailey said.

Besides Rodeck, the other solo performers are Kristen Loree, Christina Squire, Julia Harris, Christina Bouajila, Leslie Harrell Dillen, Marya Errin Jones, Penny Sinone, Don McIver, Susana Guillaume, Frank Melcori, Chris Livingston, Phil Bock, Susi Wolf and Jeff Hudson.

Workshops being presented during the festival include Rodeck on “Action Improv,” Tom Schuch on “How to Book Your Solo Show Everywhere” and “Solowork,” a public workshop for solo works in progress. Contact fillingstationabq@gmail.com to participate or for more information. For festival schedule and full description of shows, visit www.fillingstationabq.com.