BodyCreative
Coaching
For Artists & Performers
My coaching combines acting techniques, movement, dance and physical training to help you grow in your physical freedom and in your creative process. It is especially designed for professionals, and those with a strong desire to develop as an artist and performer. In addition to training that we typically experience in large groups, one-to-one coaching will give you an experience that is unique, challenging but also extremely rewarding.
The foundation of the work is built on awakening and activating the body, of going beyond habit and feeling more and more free. Even the most trained bodies acquire muscle habits that lead to movement patterns. These are schematic systems that we often do not notice, which become so strongly absorbed, dulling the raw nerve and spontaneity that is essential in a performer.
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Times are changing and creative collaborations are transforming in the online space. Many of you have expressed interest in personal guidance and tutoring in the past, I decided to create this platform to offer various forms of collaboration one-to-one.
But what is this BodyCreative practice all about? Is it dance or martial art or pantomime, is it theater, yoga or something else ...?
The point is simple, but not so far as to be clear in the blink of an eye.
Simply put, it is a practice that deepens the relationship between oneself, the environment, a partner or a collective of people in a highly stimulating way and at the same time it is very useful for artists, for whom it extends the tools for creativity and understanding our human nature. It adapts to the level, advancement and goals of the student.
Like cooking, sports, or craft techniques, it has been the result of many strange combinations of systems, games, exploration and research since the beginning of the centuries. I would say that it is perhaps the most layered practice with us, drawing inspiration from probably every area of ​​people's interests and teachings. It is because theater (from which it originates and from which it is the main tool) is an art associating all arts, crafts and human disciplines, in order to set a mirror and can come closer to the answer to the question "who we are".
"To create complete worlds using only the things at hand—performing art in an embryonic form, in the process of being born- using the smallest amount of fixed elements to obtain maximum results.
The awakened instinct of the performer can spontaneously select the appropriate tools to transform the space."
"The driving force behind it all is a living being: the actor/performer."
Ludwig Flaszen - Teatr Laboratorium
One of the most important principles in the work is the composition of stories—the collage or montage of actions balanced between intuitive and narrative. Often initially the proces might seem illogical and chaotic, but gradually shapes into something more complete and meaningful. I will guide you through the process of balancing this montage between subjective and objective, to embrace both.
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I want to help you cultivate into a mature actor, one who thanks to his/her own resources and techniques, can become a work partner for the director and, at the same time, an independent creator.
In the tension between freedom and limitation, structure and its absence, we find a unique space for experiencing and creating.
How does it look in practice?
There are 3 models of coaching
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Online
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Hybrid Online + Live one to one meeting
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Live meetings [Wroclaw, Poland]
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In the first class, we will clarify your goals and focus to set up a working plan.
The intensity of the classes will depend on your needs and expectations.
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As a reference, I suggest 1 1.5-hour session per week for regular personal development. The work is slow but rewarding, and I would suggest committing to at least 12 hours of work before seeing tangible results.
Nevertheless, I know that sometimes it is necessary and more effective to dive into intense period of work development especially if you are creating or researching the performance or having specific deadline for achieving your goals. I’m used to that, we can go intense.
Indicative prices per class/training:
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One to one online training/class cost from 210 PLN / 45 EUR / 40 GBP
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One class is 1 hour but it can be doubled for additional costs.
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For buying more classes the price per class can be reduced.
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The class/training can be shared with up to two person at the same time.
In my experience, the ideal situation is to work in a small group of 2 people who have similar goals.
Each person will grow individually much better from the transference of group energy and by learning from each other.
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WHAT PEOPLE SAY
"Matej is a truly transformative practitioner, his teaching and guidance have enriched my personal physical practice allowing me to explore untapped resources whilst feeding the work of my company and giving me tools and insights that I have found to be invaluable."
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Henry Maynard - Artistic Director of Flabbergast Theatre,
“I feel like you gave me the gift of myself, and for that I have no words.”
“I was reminded of my own skills as a performer. I felt intimately artistically seen, as well as challenged and inspired to create. Working and talking with you made me remember why I love to do this-- why I have to do this.”
Susannah Wilson, actres, performer
“He is a genius pedagogue of physical theater and a great researcher and innovator. … A rare artistic and poetic soul that has the power to make our world more beautiful.”
Alexandra Kazazou, actress
Matej Matejka gently guides and challenges the participants to push the boundaries of their physicality and perception. Throughout this workshop, the participants develop a keen sensitivity to their surroundings and to each other – the group becomes one living entity, synchronicities happen. It’s an intense and even transformative experience of pure pleasure though movement and attunement to the others; the vital forces take over. Matej Matejka proves himself to be an excellent workshop lead, a daring and resourceful artist of profound sensibility, with great passion and care for the work he’s doing; with an transdisciplinary mind-set and methodical approach, he uses the tools of dance and theatre to suit particular environments, groups and contexts. The Shape of Things to Come – a trans-disciplinary research project and and art-science collaboration – has greatly benefitted from his visionary thinking and generous expertise. “
Dr. Diana Serbanescu is a computer scientist and a cultural scholar with a focus on interdisciplinary research. She is a research group leader in the project "Criticality of Artificial Intelligence" at the Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society, and a co-founder of the “Institute for Creative Anticipation and Performing Arts” in Berlin.