Theater games and exercises that can be used by non-performers to enhance student learning in residencies.

Fundamental to the work of theater genius Augusto Boal’s work is that anyone can benefit from acting, and that untrained performers can engage in theatrical games and exercises that deepen and strengthen the collaborative process while unlocking essential truths in society and culture. This workshop will demonstrate and engage participants in a series of exercises that visual artists and educators can use in the classroom to teach students and teachers the fundamentals of collaboration, conflict resolution, and a process of learning together between teacher and student.

Wednesday 3:30-5:00

Conference Strand: Core Knowledge

Educators will learn: how theater movements, games and exercises can enhance the classroom learning environment by increasing collaboration skills while reducing conflict; how theater movements can enhance other non-arts learning in the classroom; 5 simple movement exercises to take back to the classroom; resources and information to continue learning Augusto Boal theater movements; how to use reflection at the end of exercises to analyze and discover student responses and outcomes.

Artists will learn: how theater movements, games and exercises can enhance the classroom learning environment by increasing collaboration skills while reducing conflict; 5 simple theater exercises to use within their residencies to enhance learning in both arts and non-arts; the knowledge base to use theater exercises and games in staff and teacher trainings to enhance collaboration between teaching artists and educators; resources and information to continue learning Augusto Boal theater movements; how to use reflection at the end of exercises to analyze and discover student responses and outcomes.

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Haifa Bint-Kadi is a mosaic artist and received her M.F.A. and classical training in Byzantine Mosaic in  Ravenna, Italy.  She has completed numerous public-art mosaics throughout the US, including New York.  She currently works with the Westchester Arts Council and CityLore in Manhattan conducting residencies in public school grades K-12. A teaching artist for more than 15 years, she began using performing movements after being involved in SARI Training in a program sponsored by NYSAAE. She was inspired to continue learning strategies for improving his visual-arts residencies by learning the historic Augusto Boal theater exercises.