Each chapter of this book presents a single day of the twenty-day training which Ruth Zaporah developed into Action Theater, her investigation into the life-reflecting process of improvisation. This book shows through exercises, stories, anecdotes, and metaphors how to focus attention on the body's awareness of the present moment, moving away from preconceived ideas. Improvisations move through fear, boredom, laziness, and distraction to a sustained awareness of creative options.
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Editorial Reviews
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"Action Theater is a true path to liberation: from self-binding and limiting concepts, from fear and mistrust. Working within the framework of Ruth's instructions, we can practice being spontaneously alive in a world that has not already been formed, where no script exists."
- Edward Espe Brown, Zen teacher and author of The Tassajara Bread Book
"Improvisation by its very nature is impossible to capture in words. There are few competent practitioners left in this cynical materialistic era. The need for "winging it" both on and off stage, of going out on a limb, "suspending disbelief," is of supreme importance particularly at this time. This is the value and healing property of improvisation, whether you're an artist or a business person. Ruth Zaporah is a master of this elusive and transformative art form. At last, after all these years we have a compendium of her exercises. This is a book of spells for your enchantment."
-John O'Keefe, playwright and actor, founding member, Blake Street Hawkeyes
"Those of us lucky enough to see Ruth Zaporah perform have anticipated this book with great eagerness. How has this genius of authenticity, this brilliance of spontaneity come into being? How does she do it? As countless students will tell you, Ruth Zaporah has been leading students in the direction of what she knows for a long time; she is an extraordinary teacher. And now, in a simple and wonderfully evocative telling, she has given us a record of how her work and its teaching takes place. This book will very soon become an indespensible classic, not only for studies in theater, but also inthe nature of life."
-Susan Griffin, author of A Chorus of Stones and The Eros of Everyday Life
- Edward Espe Brown, Zen teacher and author of The Tassajara Bread Book
"Improvisation by its very nature is impossible to capture in words. There are few competent practitioners left in this cynical materialistic era. The need for "winging it" both on and off stage, of going out on a limb, "suspending disbelief," is of supreme importance particularly at this time. This is the value and healing property of improvisation, whether you're an artist or a business person. Ruth Zaporah is a master of this elusive and transformative art form. At last, after all these years we have a compendium of her exercises. This is a book of spells for your enchantment."
-John O'Keefe, playwright and actor, founding member, Blake Street Hawkeyes
"Those of us lucky enough to see Ruth Zaporah perform have anticipated this book with great eagerness. How has this genius of authenticity, this brilliance of spontaneity come into being? How does she do it? As countless students will tell you, Ruth Zaporah has been leading students in the direction of what she knows for a long time; she is an extraordinary teacher. And now, in a simple and wonderfully evocative telling, she has given us a record of how her work and its teaching takes place. This book will very soon become an indespensible classic, not only for studies in theater, but also inthe nature of life."
-Susan Griffin, author of A Chorus of Stones and The Eros of Everyday Life
About the Author
Ruth Zaporah is a teacher, performer, and director. She travels widely in the United States and abroad, performing and teaching in theaters, dance and theater studios, on college campuses, and psychological training programs. She has twice been the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Choreographer's Fellowship.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An exploration into movement, improvisation, and creativity.,
By doctorum@hotmail.com (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Action Theater: The Improvisation of Presence (Paperback)
Unforgettable. This book is destined to become a classic. Ruth Zaporah is a master storyteller who doesn't so much "teach" improvisation as learn it with you. Based upon her experiences as a dancer and a dance teacher, her "Action Theater" system takes you through twenty stages of self-exploration that examine form, movement, and breath, among other things. As an artist, I appreciate Zaporah's ability to use her medium as a means of cutting through to the deeper levels of spiritual significance. This book is a must read for anyone who is interested in the creative process.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
All it promised and more!,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Action Theater: The Improvisation of Presence (Paperback)
This is a fantastic book. If you are considering it for whatever reason, get it. The possibilities are endless and it's very user friendly.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Catalyst for Revelation,
By
This review is from: Action Theater: The Improvisation of Presence (Paperback)
I used this book to infuse some improvisation into my modern technique class and the results were extraordinary. The students made profound discoveries about themselves, how they move and what they feel comfortable with and why... Zaporah's exercises are smart and well-framed. They are easy to understand, both simple & complex, and contain a wealth of possibility for play.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The space is a large and sunny dance studio with a sprung wood floor. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
change your shape, watch your breath, performance score Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Action Theater, Follow the Leader, Separate Sound, Solo Shifts, Transform Content, Collaborative Monologue, Face the Music, Only Verbs, Collaborative Deconstruction, Expressive Walk, Eyes Out, Non-Stop Talk, One Leader, Shape Alphabet New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The space is a large and sunny dance studio with a sprung wood floor. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
change your shape, watch your breath, performance score Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Action Theater, Follow the Leader, Separate Sound, Solo Shifts, Transform Content, Collaborative Monologue, Face the Music, Only Verbs, Collaborative Deconstruction, Expressive Walk, Eyes Out, Non-Stop Talk, One Leader, Shape Alphabet New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 5
books:
2
books
cite this book:
- Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda in Front Matter
- Allen Ginsberg (Gay & Lesbian Writers) by Neil Heims in Front Matter
- Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda in Front Matter
- Autobiography of a Yogi (Reprint of Original 1946 Edition) by Paramhansa Yogananda in Front Matter
- Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda in Front Matter
- Taken by Surprise: A Dance Improvisation Reader by Ann Cooper Albright in Back Matter
- At Play: Teaching Teenagers Theater by Elizabeth Swados in Back Matter
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