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Now based in both Berlin and London, the London International School of Performing Arts (LISPA) was founded in 2003 by Thomas Prattki - the former pedagogical director of the Jacques Lecoq International School of Theatre (Ecole Jacques Lecoq) in Paris. LISPA is a private educational institution offering full-time postgraduate Masters-level training programs in Devising Theatre based on the teachings of Jacques Lecoq and personal and artistic development/Jungian process (Integral Movement and Performance Practice), as well as short workshops and a regular Summer School.
Contents
Locations
LISPA began life at the Playground Studios, Latimer Road, London. Due to increased student numbers, an additional studio was used in Hackney, North London and the courses ran for a number of years as double groups. Eventually in January 2008 the whole school moved to a studio and office in 3 Mills studios, East London.
Since January 2016, all full-time courses now take place in at the EDEN Studios, Pankow, Berlin, Germany.
Devising Theatre and Performance - DTAP (formerly Initiation course)
The Devising Theatre and Performance course (DTAP) focuses on physical preparation and observation of the physical world, enabling the student to transpose these elements through the body and the space around them.
Starting with the Neutral Mask the students learn the state of calmness. Later human passions, emotions and behaviours are explored through the use of Larval and Expressive Masks. Dramatic transpositions and creativity are unlocked by observing animals, the elements, art, poetry and architecture.
Classes take many forms including, movement analysis, improvisation, acrobatics, vocal preparation, writing, painting and sculpting.
Collaborative work or Devising as it is known, is a vital part of the work at LISPA. Every week the students are given the opportunity to devise their own theatre. They work in small groups to develop a theme given by the teachers which allows them to explore the territory they are currently learning in class. They then present this exercise to the teachers.
The DTAP Course culminates with a final project or investigation where the students are given a longer time to develop a presentation based on observation of a particular theme or subject of their choice (i.e. location, activity or human condition).
Advanced Devising Practice - ADP (formerly Advanced course)
The Advanced Devising Practice course (ADP) follows much of the same structure of class form, i.e. improvisation, acrobatics, voice, writing and creation. However, work is focused to explore further the dramatic genres: Dramatic storytelling, Epic drama and Melodrama, Commedia dell'arte, the Grotesque theatre, Fantastical and Mysterious worlds, the Chorus and Tragic hero and the world of the Clown.
Each term the students are enabled to present their work in a public performance to receive feedback, not only from their teachers but the fresh audience.
The ADP course culminates with an individual project developed over a longer period. Each project is of a theme and form of each students choosing.
In the 2007-8 academic year there were two Advanced Courses running concurrently - one group of students working from morning to mid-afternoon, the other from mid-afternoon to late evening. Each group consisted of around 25-35 students.
Integral Movement and Performance Practice - IMPP
Starting in Autumn 2014, the new program Integral Movement and Performance Practice is a professional development course for practitioners within the performing, healing and educational arts who are interested in the use of movement, play and devised performance within environments for artistic and/or personal development. The course offers theatre pedagogues, educators in the performing arts, performing artists with a background/interest in teaching, or practitioners with existing training in a movement/performance based healing practice a practical and theoretical insight into fundamental concepts useful for pedagogical, educational and therapeutic work with masks, movement and devised performance. Linking the most important cornerstones of Jacques Lecoq's teachings around movement, masks and playfulness with C.G. Jung's concepts for personal growth, the program aims to offer an interdisciplinary approach to self-development in and through the performing arts.
Workshops
In addition to the full-time courses LISPA has a yearly Summer School and a regular workshop in association with the London International Mime Festival in January of each year, as well as various bespoke workshops throughout the year.
Masters Degree option
In the past LISPA has offered an MFA in conjunction with Naropa University, but it is no longer offering this option. However, LISPA is now in dialogue with Rose Bruford College in London and Columbia College Chicago in order to re-establish a Masters program at the school.