Terra Preta: Cultivating Space for Abundance – a Theatre Camp with Solal

5-11 December, 2024 Camino Art House, Gran Canaria, Spain

Terra Preta, the ‘Amazonian dark earth’ is an allegorical symbol of our work through the week. It represents a nutritious soil where we can plant our seeds. A space that we cleared up to cultivate new ideas, perspectives and narratives. Terra Preta is an ancient way of preparing the earth for planting, contains not only earth, but additional nutrients, carbon and the care of the gardener. When this space is ready, your seeds will grow fast, strong and the healthiest way it is possible.

Welcome to Terra Preta: Cultivating Space for Abundance, a unique theatre camp designed to explore the interplay between creating space and preparing for new beginnings. This immersive experience uses theatre as a dynamic tool for personal growth, community-building, and overcoming obstacles.

About the Camp

This theatre camp invites participants to explore the profound relationship between clearing space and preparing ourselves to welcome new experiences. We will delve into the essential process of making space—both physically and emotionally—before we can fully embrace and accept what is to come.

Throughout the week, we will examine the importance of understanding and discovering the spaces within us—our souls, memories, and hearts. This journey requires us to first identify what no longer serves us: the habits, emotions, and thoughts that we continue to hold onto, even when they only add unnecessary weight to our lives.

Participants will engage in improvisation exercises to help them process and let go of these burdens. Letting go is a significant task that varies for everyone—it can be quick or slow, painful or liberating. Through movement and voice techniques, we will explore different ways of releasing what no longer supports our growth.

As we prepare to receive, and connect, we will focus on understanding our desires and needs. We will learn how to ask for what we seek, how to manifest it, and how to bring it into our lives with intention. Finally, through the co-creation of a performance as a result of the camp, we will reflect on how to maintain and nurture this abundance, ensuring that what we have received continues to serve us and remains aligned with our evolving selves.

This camp offers a transformative experience, combining introspection, creative expression, and personal growth. Join us on this journey of clearing, discovery, and readiness to welcome new beginnings.

When?

5-11 December 2024

Language and Level/experience needed

The language of the camp is English. You don’t need to be an actor or have any experience in acting or movement arts to attend the program. This is all about playing, learning to connect to others while you discover your inner secrets. The camp is mostly for discovery for acting and movement lovers, but if you have a little bit of more experience it can also be interesting and fun for you.

Our facilitator

Solal has been developing their theatre practice from a young age and got acquainted with different styles ranging from classical, naturalistic, contemporary, improvisation, clowning, dance and physical theatre. Throughout their studies, they realized that what captivates them the most about any theatre practice is working as a group and collective. Having always felt that there was more to learn from the chaos of life than academia, they chose to travel the world, volunteering in several communities in Europe. They found joy and passion in sharing diversity of knowledge and experiences, with the open mind of a child. They met antagontheaterAKTion on their way in 2022 and joined the group shortly after, to strengthen their belief in the extensive experiment with both theatre and communal practice. As a teacher, their speciality are improvisation, stage presence and emotional training.

Workshop Overview

The workshop is designed to unlock creativity, enhance stage presence, and deepen the connection with both the self and the audience. We will be drawing from various disciplines to build a comprehensive toolkit for performers, combining improvisation, clowning, physical theatre, singing, choreography, and meditative practices.

Methodology

Improvisation: We will start each day with improvisation exercises. These will help participants to think on their feet, embrace spontaneity, and develop the ability to create compelling narratives and characters on the spot.

Clowning: Through the art of clowning, we’ll explore vulnerability, joy, and the freedom to fail. This module encourages participants to connect with their inner child, fostering authenticity and presence in their performances.

Physical Theatre: Our physical theatre sessions will focus on using the body as a primary tool of expression. Participants will learn to convey complex emotions and stories through movement, emphasizing the importance of physicality in performance.

Singing and Choreography: Integrating voice and movement, we’ll work on singing techniques and simple choreography. These sessions aim to enhance vocal expression and build confidence in coordinating voice and body, contributing to the overall dynamism of the performance.

Meditation and Visualization: To ease into character work and support mental and emotional preparation, we’ll practice meditation and visualization. These techniques will help participants center themselves, connect with their characters on a deeper level, and find creative inspiration from within.

Collaborative Creation

A key component of this workshop is the emphasis on co-creation. While I am here to guide you and facilitate the process, this experience is a collective endeavour. Your ideas, influences, and unique contributions are essential to the outcome. You are encouraged to take an active role—whether it’s proposing a song, suggesting a movement, or offering a new perspective on a scene. This workshop is about building a community where everyone supports each other, creating a space of trust, openness, and shared creativity.

Outcome

By the end of the week, participants will have developed a versatile set of skills that they can apply to any theatrical performance. The final performance will be a culmination of the week’s work, showcasing not only the individual talents of each participant but also the collaborative spirit that has been fostered throughout the workshop. The result will be a unique, co-created piece of theatre that reflects the collective creativity and shared effort of the group.

Program

Dec 5

Camino – 10am opening circle – 1pm lunch – 3-8pm activities – 8 dinner

Dec 6

Nature – 8-9am breakfast – 9am meditation – 10am – 1pm activites in nature – piknik lunch – 3pm-7pm activities in nature 8pm dinner in camino

Dec 7

Camino – 8-9 breakfast – 9am pranayama, meditation – 10-1pm activities – 1pm lunch – 3-7pm activites, 8pm dinner – campfire with some connecting games/talks/tasks…

Dec 8

RESTING DAY – no activities

Dec 9

Las Palmas – 8-9am breakfast in Camino, 9 meditation – 10-2pm activites in las palmas – lunch break (piknik?) 5-8 – open workshops in las palmas, dinner in las palmas

Dec 10

Nature – 8-9am breakfast – 9am meditation – 10am – 1pm activites in nature – piknik lunch – 3pm-7pm activities in nature 8pm dinner in camino – camp fire + cave gathering in dragon

Dec 11

Camino and SHOW – 6pm SHOW (on roof?)

About Camino Art House

Camino Art House opened its doors in 2015. Since than we have offered accommodation and have run different projects with artists. This includes exhibitions, workshops in art, health and lifestyle topics, and many more events. We welcome travellers who are always happy to be involved in our daily life and share their own experiences with us.
We have an old building, which is the central house, and a large land, where the camp will take place. We have caves, meadows, and terraces to use. The house itself will not accommodate all of us, so we will invite you to sleep in the caves or the campsite depending on the number of our group. We will communicate about this in advance after your application.

Accommodation and Food

We offer the following types of accommodation for the camp:
Shared dorm in house // shared dorm in cave // tent with beddings in campsite
For couples: private room in house // private cave room // large tent with beddings in campsite
None of our rooms has private bathroom, we have one main bathroom and a small shower in the house, and 5 dry toilets, and two outdoor showers with cold water in the land. Individuals can occupy private rooms with an extra fee of 15€/night.

We serve only vegan food. You will have breakfast, lunch and dinner and some snack and water during the day.

Contribution fee: 490€ / person / event

Special discount for those who in need: 440€

0. day: dinner+accommodation+breakfast 40€ (on 4^th Dec, breakfast the on the first day of the camp)

The fee includes: accommodation (shared dorm, shared facilities) and food (lunch 5th dec – dinner 11^th dec– 20 meals, 7 nights), tutorial fee, day trip transportation, rehearsal room fee in Las Palmas.
The fee does not include the transportation to and from Camino Art House at arrival and when leaving.

How to apply?

When applying we request a 50% payment. Rest of the fee will be paid at the camp at arrival or during the event.
Cancellation: if you cancel we refund 100% of your deposit until 20th October, 50% of your deposit until midnight 1st November. If you cancel after 2nd November we do not refund your deposit.
If you want to join to the camp, please contact us on e-mail or phone. Bea (Camino Art House) caminoart@caminoart.org, +34633339903 (whatsapp, please always use TEXT, do not call)