THE ONLY THING BETTER THAN PLAYING ON STAGE IS PLAYING AT THE HEART OF LIFE (Dramatherapy and Social theatre, ed. Sue Jennings, 2009)

DRAMA WORKSHOPS AS PART PF A PERSONAL DEVELOPEMENT (Andragoška spoznanja, Adult education magazine, 2008)

Summary

The here presented performance method of drama workshop was developed on basis of professional staging (actress, singer) working with people(mentor, trainer), permanent learning ,research and analyses of the use of voice and body language on the exposed stage in interpersonal communication and exploration of positive effects of an individual being part of such a creative process. It has been tested working with people of diverse backgrounds and mixed interest groups.
The experience and knowledge acquired from drama workshops serve an individual as an aid of overcoming obstacles, developing survival strategies, better understanding and accepting of oneself and surroundings and designing the desired interaction patterns. This enables the participants to take over the responsibility to improve their quality of life. On teh area of education (where motivation and interaction are crucial elements of knowledge transmission) as well as working with vulnerable groups, we have come to an conclusion, that the way these workshops work helps participants recognizing their own and unfamiliar behaviour patterns – seeing themselves and other from a different perspective, neutralizing tension in interpersonal and professional relationships.
Participants experience own expressive and creative potential. Believing in their own possibilities and creativity increases faith in life, which offers the feeling of personal fulfillment. Findings have been collected on basis of evaluations, questionnaires, discussions, in-depth discussion, diary entries, work in groups and video footages (with permission of participants).

Article AT THE INTERSECTION OF ART, EDUCATION AND THERAPY (Human resource management magazine, november 2007)

Summary

When I introduced the AV drama method and especially when I started to apply it in the field of education, I was confronted by frankly surprised faces. Art in communication?  In adult education? Although these forms of education have been surrounded by an aura of exclusivity for many years, society is now aware of mutual connection between health and the hygiene of relationships. Nothing brings individuals closer than a shared experience. A group can be an awful and an uncomfortable  challenge; on the other hand, it can be your partner and ally. In a group one can test the limits of one’s psychological and physical abilities, “drop arms” or persist in the power game.

Alenka Vidrih: DRAMA WORKSHOPS ( AS AN PROTECTIVE FORM OF SUPPORT, SUITABLE FORMULATION AND HEPL WITH SOLVING MUTUAL RELATIONSHIPS ) IN PUBLIC, STATE, CORPORATIVE AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS (Oblike in meode dela v umetnostni terapiji, november 2008)

Summary

This is a presentation of artistic and therapeuthicpractices of the G.G.A.V Institute. Its work is based on the principles of arts therapy and the AV performative method, which in its nature and content is most similar to the drama therapy model. the presentation focuses on the large role and importance of this practice in the prevention work with individuals and their working surroundings. The method enables a bigger insight into communication culture of different enviroments, which is especially important for trainers-therapists as bearers and promoters of communication culture. in a framework of a structuread activity, individuals are included in the process of action learning as well as therapeutic process by means of the play method. in this presentation I wish to point to several traps of arts therapy practice ad to invite to discussion.