Somatic Voices in Performance Research and Beyond

Somatic Voices in Performance Research and Beyond explores voice through soma or soma through voice, offering research processes within a new area of vocal, somatic, and performance praxis. It draws on eastern traditions, body psychotherapy, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, Authentic Movement, Body-Mind Centering, Integrative Bodywork and Movement Therapy, Fitzmaurice Voicework, Linklater Technique, Roy Hart Method, post-Stanislavski and post-Grotowski actor-training traditions, somaesthetics, and the founders of Shin Somatics, Body and Earth, Voice Movement Integration, SOMart, and Somatic Acting Process.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Somatic Voices in Performance Research and Beyond is a groundbreaking collection that brings together a vibrant community of international practitioner-researchers who explore the profound interplay between voice and the body. These methodologies offer a fresh perspective on vocal, somatic, and performance practices, pushing the boundaries of what is known and understood in these fields.

Voice work and theoretical ideas originate from diverse training backgrounds, including dance, acting, and performance, while also transcending conventional approaches to somatics and performance. This collection spans a wide range of disciplines, including philosophies, pedagogies, ethnic-racial studies, and queer studies, all of which contribute to a deeper understanding of embodied aspects of voices, the multidisciplinary potential of somatic studies, vocal diversity and inclusion, somatic modes of sounding, listening, and writing voice.

The methodologies employed in this collection draw upon a rich tapestry of Eastern traditions, body psychotherapy, somatic psychology, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, Authentic Movement, Body-Mind Centering, Continuum Movement, Integrative Bodywork and Movement Therapy, Fitzmaurice Voicework, Linklater Technique, Roy Hart Method, post-Stanislavski and post-Grotowski actor-training traditions, somaesthetics, and more. This comprehensive approach provides a rich foundation for understanding the multifaceted nature of the somatic voice.

In addition to the theoretical insights, the volume features contributions from the founders of several influential somatic practices, including Shin Somatics, Body and Earth, Voice Movement Integration, SOMart, and Somatic Acting Process. These pioneers offer invaluable perspectives and practical insights into the world of somatic voice exploration.

This book is a polyphonic and multimodal compilation of experiential invitations to each reader's own somatic voice. It culminates with the voices of contributing participants to a praxical symposium held at East 15 Acting School in London (July 19–20, 2019). The symposium brings together scholars, practitioners, and artists from various fields, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

Somatic Voices in Performance Research and Beyond fills a significant gap for scholars in the fields of voice studies, theatre studies, somatic studies, artistic research, and pedagogy. It is an essential resource for graduate students, doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, and anyone interested in exploring the intricate relationship between voice and the body. By embracing somatic methodologies, this collection opens up new avenues for research, creativity, and expression, contributing to the ongoing evolution of performance practices and the broader field of somatic studies.

Weight: 520g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367562618