The Secret Art of the Performer: A Dictionary of Theatre Anthropology

by Barba Eugenio Savarese Nicola International School of Theatre Anthropology

A Dictionary of Theatre Anthropology subtly juxtaposes visual demonstrations of the performer's craft, from a wealth of Oriental and Occidental sources, to uncover knowledge of action in the heightened context of performance - from combat to religion and ritual. Whereas most Western research is concerned with naturalism and psychological realism in acting, the Dictionary focuses on the actor's arduous and eclectic craft. More than just a dictionary, however, this is a handbook for theatre practitioners and a guide for students and scholars of transcultural performance. It is a result of ten years' research conducted by Eugenio Barba and the International School of Theatre Anthropology (ISTA) based in Denmark. ISTA works with practitioners of theatre and dance from the major Occidental and Oriental traditions to study the underlying principles of the performer's technique. The Dictionary aims to expand our knowledge of the possibilities of the scenic body, and of the spectator's response to the dynamics of performance.; The Dictionary has practical sections on balance, opposition, and montage among other techniques, and discusses issues including The Text and the Stage, The Dilated Body, and Energetic Language. The visual essay of photographs, drawings, and diagrams which runs parallel to the text is skilfully constructed to complement the textual argument. The result is not only a lavishly illustrated sourcebook on Western and non-Western theatre - much of it until now little known - but an inspiring tribute to the secret art of the performer.

273 pages, Unknown Binding

First published May 14, 2014