HOLD IT! B

Exercise Intermediate 30 min 4–10

Description

In this exercise, participants will explore different body expressions and how these affect their speech. Players will adopt various physical stances such as hunched shoulders, aggressive steps, pigeon-toed stances, expanded chests, and relaxed stomachs.

They will carry these body attitudes through six or seven short scenes, allowing them to embody the characters they portray more fully.

Setup Requirements

A spacious performance area with enough room for movement.

Point of Concentration

Body language and its impact on communication.

Side Coaching

Encourage players to fully commit to their chosen body expressions.
Remind them to pay attention to how their speech changes with different stances.
Invite participants to explore exaggerated body language for deeper character portrayal.

Points of Observation

Watch how body attitudes influence vocal tone and delivery.
Notice interactions between players and how their physicality affects scene dynamics.
Look for awareness and adaptability in players as they shift between scenes.

Evaluation

Did the body attitudes change how participants spoke?
How did their physical expressions influence character relationships?
What feelings or thoughts did different stances evoke in players?

Examples

1. A character with hunched shoulders speaks softly and hesitantly.
2. A character with an expanded chest projectively expresses confidence.
3. A character with a flabby stance speaks in a lazy tone.