The Heart Nose
Is the smallest of all the masks. Let it help you drop all the others and reveal you to yourself. Clowning leads us on a grand journey from the head to the heart. Encountering oneself and others in complete innocence and wonder frees up the forces of childhood in each of us and prepares us to be more present with our friends, colleagues and children. Being in the moment is at the heart of the matter and brings forth the playful spirit in each of us.
” If a small child has been able, in his play to give up his whole being to the world around him, he will be able, in the serious tasks of later life, to devote himself with confidence and power to the service of the world. ” Rudolf Steiner
Playshops
The clown allows our imagination to soar, whilst keeping our feet firmly on the ground. Working with warm-ups, games and on the empty stage, we will find our inner clowns through improvisation, play and welcoming everything that emerges. We warm up with physical and vocal game exercises. We continue with improvisations on a stage, alone or with others. This is done with care and respect for each individual and within a framework of rules that ensures a secure and safe environment.
Serious Fun Events:
Blondine is also available for hire for an hour, for a morning, an afternoon, or a day of Serious Fun. This light hearted experience is perfect for team building in business, men and women’s groups and any organisation that wishes to lighten up its environment and interactions. These games and exercises do create connection, trust, listening and creativity (in oneself and others). Serious Fun is great for Students, Teachers and all Human Beings alike.
Workshops welcome up to 30 participants & could stretch to more, practicing welcoming what is coming to us : yes, and…
The courage to Be: Inner Clown Adventure
How do we responsibly summon the Courage to BE? Clowning is a state of playfulness that allows us to experience a childlike, naïve and vulnerable state of being and paradoxically we learn, grow and are strengthened through reconnecting playfully with what makes us most vulnerable. This approach to clowning is not a technique (tricks, gags and routines), but a personal journey towards finding one’s unique way of being, by listening and being receptive, essential skills for any creative and imaginative endeavour. Through clowning and connecting to our naturally playful and creative spirit, we can develop and sustain, in ourselves and in each other, the heart to be who we truly are, to trust life and ourselves. This improvising approach, being here now, is at the heart of the being human quest. It is so true that it is compatible in any festival, gathering and lives happily in every theme, whether it be in Canada, France, Greece, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Norway, etc. See the playshops.
Weekend Adventures: There are possibilities of deepening the journey by doing weekend 2 and 3 at later times. There are also many diverse adventures: Couples in the nose, Parent and Child in the nose, Singles in the nose, All is possible in the nose, Serious Business Fun in the nose.
Week Journeys: consisting of 5 half days or 5 full days.
These workshops, with the nose, are limited to 12 participants.
Workshops
2019
2018
2017
2016
Testimonials
Ken Martin, Therapist:
“What I learned is: whatever you think is going to happen...it doesn’t, so relax into the moment.”
Lilith Swetland, Executive Assistant to the Registrar:
“Two days of clowning was a gentle and humorous way to see my Self - ethos and pathos at work (not to mention ego!) - and instead of crying, I laughed.”
Eric Treijs, body worker:
“The clowning workshop was an opportunity to step into the unknown for me. I passed through the fear and found myself learning how to be with people without pretending to be anyone and the best part—belly laughing all the way! What a great way to learn and grow.”
Thomas Loh, Architect:
“Through tender steps, the journey leaves us in bare-naked beauty that we just are. One is reminded of a familiar path... relaxing into the magic of laughter, effortlessly.“
Danielle Labonte, mother, language teacher, lover of dance:
“Shedding layers and masks has allowed me to accept myself and others. I let IT come to me or not: that is all O.K. ... I stretched myself into yumminess, therefore trusting myself and others more.”
Sandy Anderson:
“Thank you Blondine for a perfect get away space, a welcome escape from the clutters of Left Brain. How wonderful to see our natural being: popping, oozing and floating out in such stunning majesty and innocence.”
Birgit Wolf:
“Blondine's work shop was a wonderful gift to my "whole self", that part of me that often lies dormant in my daily life.
I love to go beyond words, and that is exactly what we did all week end. What a bonding and precious experience to have had with other people!
Blondine encouraged us with such refinement and simplicity to be whole, real, soft, vulnerable, present, conscious and touching. And as a natural result of that we were FUNNY!! And also we were so lovable! I fell in love with the “pure humaneness" of all the participants. Blondine kept a wonderful safe space for us all and I will always be grateful to her for what I experienced that week end! I recommend this work shop to anyone who is willing to understand what it means to truly be a human being and finds joy in sharing this beingness with others."