DEEP COVER, ASSET CONDITIONING and FIELD SITREP –

Our primary strategy is to infuse every aspect of Challenger Training with MUSIC.  From Warm-Ups to Long-Form, ALL Challenger training is carried out with a musical accompaniment.  Our choice of Performance Games is also influenced by this infusion.  We either choose games that have an implied musical element, or we add music to games with none.  Challengers are encouraged to count and move with beats at every opportunity with emphasis placed on the moments BETWEEN actions and words.  Well-filled pauses are valued higher than any other Physical and Vocal elements.  As with all training.  Repetition and Muscle Memory are employed to create a reflexive impulse to seek out and use beats in every aspect of stage performance.  We are always “Aspiring to the beauty of Music.”

BASIC TRAINING FOR ALL FIELD OPERATIVES –

Frankly, just swaying to simple beats and counting and pausing as a line drill is a great introduction, then… 

• Etudes set to music, both solo and duo, are the primary training for Rhythm, as well as Full Expressive Potential.  Cadets are coached to count and pay particular attention to separating their beats using the Rhythm of the music. Repeating an Etude in ½ time or ¼ time or slow motion can be a great stimulus for rapid growth.

• Capoeira.  This beautiful and effective Brazilian martial art is perfect for Rhythm and Conditioning.  Just the basic Jinga can introduce Dance and Rhythmic fighting to reluctant new cadets with great success.  Slowly adding crouches and blocks, then punches and kicks can flesh out many a training session.  Using Side-Coaching to relate moves to improv is a must.

• Machine or Transformer.  Transformer is a variation of Machine that puts the rhythmic “Machine” (by instantly adding several other players) into a scene as a Transformer that can become whatever machine is called for in the scene.  Adhering to a rhythm is much more difficult in this scenario.  Almost too hard for Performance, but H.Q. has seen good results in advanced training.

BLACK BAG ACQUISITIONS FOR DOG AND PONY SHOWS –

Performances are a full rhythmic production, everything from preshow to introductions to closing bits should be set to music, and Agents should reflexively listen, count, pause, and emphasize to beats within that music.  Performance games that exploit and train for Rhythm are…

• Death by Rhyme.  A line game where Agents create their own precision drilling rhythm with claps and slaps.  Start with a name from Audience, then 1st Agent chants “I knew a guy/gal whose name was _____” while marching forward to rhythm.  All repeat while marching backwards to start, then next Agent must create a rhyming phrase while all march forward, then down the line.  When a player fails to Rhyme or stay with Rhythm they are “Suppressed” with a weapon (Pencil, Radio, Avocado) from the audience.  Bodies stay in the path of the forward march for added difficulty. 

• What You Got.  Two Lines facing each other. One line is a thing or concept and the other line is an opposing thing or concept.  Then they have a “Song/Dance Battle” advancing and retreating while chanting to a strong Rhythm why they are the superior thing or concept.  Every advance is led by the Agent nearest to the audience and has a 3 or 4 word phrase repeated 3 times and includes a “Dance Move” that is picked up by all in the line.  Lines go back and forth till one line cannot continue.  Then switch line leaders and things and concepts (from audience). 

• Verse.  2 lines. 1st in lines start scene from audience offer.  All lines must be in Verse.  Go till one fails gloriously, then replace that agent with next in line, repeat last verse and continue.  End with a bang!

• Beastie Boys. Line or circle. 4 Agents at a time to create full song.  Suggestion from audience then start with big Beastie boy “Aw yeah…” then filler phrase of “Dadadadadadadadadaaa”, then 1st in line sings/raps first verse with OBVIOUS final word that ALL Agents rap at same time, then next Agents get 2nd verse and ALL rap final word of that verse, which rhymes with last final word.  Repeat to 4 verses then “Aw yeah” and repeat sequence for as many Agents as you have.  Same agents can repeat if you have small numbers.  BE the Beastie boys, or any other painfully OBVIOUS rap group with a signature sound.

• Backwards and Forwards. Play the scene.  Call “Backwards” and “Forwards.”  Caller should try to get Agents into a physical and vocal song and dance to a rhythm created by music or just the natural rhythms of the scene and calling.

• Yoga Studio.  Mellow music.  One Agent takes the lead in a Yoga class and announces poses to a group.  They DO in Rhythm.  Leaders can switch with every pose… “And then right into the Convulsing Iguana pose…,” etc. Leader can either narrate instructions or just critique other agents.

• Slow Motion Death and Dance scenes.  Music. Objects from the audience.  Callbacks from other scenes.  Go till no one is left standing.

The proper tech can add a lot to your performance.  Having an Agent just on Sound or Lights or over-all Tech for a given show is a great way to maximize Rhythm and many other Theatrical qualities.  If you have an interested recruit.  Groom them as a full member of your unit.  A live musician or two would be the supreme asset.