On Labor: A devising lab for experimental performance

Labor Day Weekend: September 3 -7, 2026; Class showcase date TBA

Denver/Aurora Colorado

ABOUT the workshop:

How does original theater convey a message without feeling didactic or pedantic? How do we create performance work inspired by the rhythms, patterns, and shapes of the natural world? What makes work feel responsive, risky in the right ways, and challenging to audiences while keeping them safe?

In this long weekend intensive, students will create unique theatre compositions that use text and movement in various experimental forms, generally inspired by the theme of labor.

Some guiding questions that may inspire our work:

  • How has the definition of labor changed through history, digitally, and culturally? How does labor relate to local and global politics?

  • What is the relationship between work and craft?

  • How does theater allow us to imagine new systems, worlds, and structures outside of the ones we know?

  • What is the relationship between work/labor and environmental collapse?

  • What does it mean to ‘deserve’ something? Who has access to power? Who is held accountable?

  • What is the role of community as it relates to revolution, art making, and economy?

  • How do we explore the relationship of the human to the natural world by researching plants, animals, landforms, and water bodies?

Pieces do not need to necessarily answer any of these questions, but are invited to use them as launching points of inspiration.

While these framings seem geared towards dramatic work, this intensive supports pieces that are comedic, absurd, dramatic, immersive, movement-driven, text-driven, using new media elements, or any combination of form. Students will get a breadth of styles, lenses, and materials to draw inspiration from, including physical theater, Viewpoints, Clown, Bouffon, devised theater, ensemble, and more. This class will use a research-oriented and iterative devising process to support each student’s individual taste and approach.

SCHEDULE:

  • Thursday, Sept 3: 6 - 9pm at 1400 Dallas Arts

    • Orientation: cohort orientation, gaining a performance vocabulary, and building initial ensembles

  • Saturday, Sept 5: 11a - 6pm class will be held outdoors (weather dependent)

    • Research: studying the rhythms of the natural world

    • Movement: mirroring, flocking, shapes, and spatial relationship

  • Sunday, Sept 6: 10a - 6pm at 1400 Dallas Arts

    • Foundations: solidifying foundational physical performance principles

    • Draft: creating drafts of material, and initial performances

  • Monday, Sept 7: 12 - 6pm at 1400 Dallas Arts

    • Refine: making adjustments, reviewing notes, and final presentations.

  • TBD: A public class performance will take place in mid-late September or early October

Cost: $200 - $450

This workshop is offered on a sliding scale basis, meaning you should pay relative to your income and means. Paying on the higher end subsidizes students who can only afford to pay the lower end.

  • Base cost: $200

  • Standard cost: $325

  • Upper cost: $450

One full scholarship is available for a BIPOC student. I want this work to be as accessible as possible, and other need-based scholarships will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Contact me for consideration.

WHo is this for?

This workshop is valuable to performers and theatermakers from all forms and traditions. Participants do not need formal training or experience, but should have some experience (or at least a strong interest) in creating original work. Historically, my classes have had students with backgrounds in improv, drag, burlesque, clown, standup, dance, puppetry, ballroom, and more.

This class will have a maximum of 15 students, but likely much smaller (6-10).

TO APPLY:

Send a brief letter of interest to soleil.onstage@gmail.com (or through my Contact page) that expresses your artistic interests, performance background, and what draws you to this work by August 25th.

My goal is to create a cohesive cohort of varied backgrounds and interests, with balanced levels of experience, and therefore I may not have the capacity to accept everyone who expresses interest.