POWER UP: The first connection

Today l headed out to Sir Joseph banks for my first in school workshop for the PYT POWER UP youth theatre project.

I left home early and headed to Redfern...then changed at Wolli Creek and got to Revesby by 10am!

I saw an old man against the backdrop of Miller's fashion store and Go Lo variety shop. He had an expression like life had passed him by. It was "filmic"...like in a film.

I headed over to the shops to see if there was a quick break fast style snack. The cafe across from the station didn't do it for me, so it was a trip to Franklins to fill the gap. I bought yoghourt and and vegetable juice.

When l got into the school there was a woman and a young girl in the front office. I hung at with them untill the head teacher of Drama came to find me. The front office was the same as many l saw during my time facilitating workshops for the YWCA. a mix of art, trophies and plaques littered the walls. (Not truly well curated as many different shaped memorabilia filled in the spaces between honor rolls and the like.) A warm feeling was in the space.

Off to the drama department and l was greeted with a sky blue (moving towards colbalt) coloured wall. A space with chairs around the outside and plenty of room to move....perfect. As l was setting up a couple of different teachers popped their heads in offering technical assistance and it was all very accomodating and sweet. we set up a screen and projector for the video, the ghetto blaster was on the ready and then it was time for action.

Enter the year 12 drama class....27 of them at least (those most interested in the POWER UP project.) I looked into the faces of the sort of peopl lwanna see on TV and on the stage. I saw the stories. A mix of polynesian, anglo, chinese, viet and arabic students looked back. I really dug it- in the funky way!

I chatted with them about why it's time to step up and how the POWER UP project was about getting the talent from the West out there!

The best bit of the day:
Watching a class of students move, that is dance to LOSE CONTROL- whether a dancer or an actor...just doing drama as a subject, or truly into hip hop...or not...they all really jumped in and put their personal spin on the moves.... SO GOOD!

Yup for now that's it.