Jos Baker program - ART FACTORY INTERNATIONAL

physicology and creative tools

workshop

Jos Baker has envisaged a workshop which draws from and combines the following two aspects of artistic research.

Physicology works with a combination of analysis and experimentation to develop a deeper understanding of the physical, psychological and evolutionary principles that affect human movement. The work looks at ways of deepening physical and intellectual understanding of how movement can work while also developing tools to handle some of the psychological factors that can hold us back in learning and in performing. These principals are then expanded through both fixed material and improvisation, building to richly detailed, technical and highly physically dance phrases. As the classes develop the emphasis turns to performativity and musicality while keeping a fun and high energy spirit of exploration.

Creative tools is an exploration of ways of making material for stage performance. Exploring physical extremes and characterisation; this workshop will look at ways of creating scene ideas using theatrical and physical tools, and then on how to develop and refine those ideas. How does a dancer approach a character, how does a character dance? We explore methods of generating material that play with the personality, image, and the strengths and weaknesses of the individual in the attempt to find unique and specialised material.

With Jos Baker

Jos worked for Peeping Tom as a dancer, actor and collaborator, principally with the productions 32 Rue Vandenbranden, and A Louer. Since then he worked for DV8 Physical Theatre on the production of John then began directing and performing in the promotional events for Petit Bateau’s Cedric Charlier collection. Other stage works include In the process of.. by Zoi Dimitriou and Plastic Junkies by Antonin Comestaz.
On film Jos made several music videos and short films, including: Forgot to live by Ay Wing, and Let it Roll by Mustard Gas and Roses directed by Koen Mortier, J’te Ramene directed by Yves Housmann and Biegga savkala duoddariid duohken lea soames by Elle Sofe Henrikseni, as well as several commercials.
He has created several of his own works, including: Creature Man Don’t Tell Me, Feedback, What do you do?, We were youth, Tidal Breath, Let us not ask where it leads, Understanding Sugar and Of no fixed abode.
He also teaches internationally, offering a range of classes and workshops for professional dancers at intstitutions including SEAD, Ballet Junior de Geneve, PARTS Summer School, TrinityLaban, The Place, Amsterdam Thea- tre school, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Codarts, Deltebre Dansa, El Danseu Festival, Tripspace Projects, Ravnedans, Jetsummer, Staatstheatre Kassel and many others.
Jos started his dance training at the age of 7 with Oxford Youth Dance and then continued his formal education first at The Laban Center London and then at PARTS [Performing Arts Research and Training Studios] in Brussels. Throughout this training he has studied many techniques and approaches, including: Ballet, Release, Cunningham, Graham, acting, Capoueira, Popping, Salsa, Tango, Contact Improvisation, Flying Low, Passing through, Forsythe improvisation Technologies, Labanetics, Physiology and Physics.