The first meeting

I would like to write a few thoughts upon “The first meeting”. The very first interaction, which we could call ‘the first meeting’, I find is a very powerful moment. It affects both the performer and the audience members and the roles of ‘audience’ and ‘performer’ may dissolve to the point where it is impossible to discern which is which.

Thru a playful and task orientated approach we have looked at this moment through the body, the eyes, intention, relationships, and although we have done a lot, there are many ways to go about it and we have only begun to touch the surface. We have discussed the use of tools, either in the form of guidelines or practical tools to assist their journey to a deeper level of interaction. This “tool” (for example a task or game, or as we also called it a “positive distraction”) may help us to take the focus away from “meeting”, which on its own could create a sense of pressure or uncomfortable intimacy, functioning in the opposite direction then the one we are trying to find.

There might be a tendency that the audience is in a sense being manipulated by the performers and this tools, but perhaps its possible to move past this barrier into a realm where both parties are working as equals. So then I wonder, does there come a point when they “the visitors” can accept their role both as performer and observer? And how can we be responsible for making this happen?...