Mask and Clown Intensive "Baby Clown"
This 16 day workshop is the foundation course of the Pochinko technique of clown training.

Richard Pochinko was a Canadian visionary who developed a style of creative exploration and/or performance training, drawing on three traditions: American circus clown, European clowning and North American Aboriginal mask work. John Turner studied with Richard for the last two years of his life and has continued to develop the work through 21 years of creating and performing professional clown shows (Mump & Smoot) and 18 years of directing and teaching across North America.

The workshop begins with a strong focus on the art of listening. Games and exercises are used to awaken and encourage a sense of pleasure, to heighten awareness of one's immediate environment, and to develop an honest response to internal impulses and external events. Individual creativity is explored with colour work and body work and eventually the students begin the making and wearing of six masks. These masks mark out the playground for the clown (creative self), guiding the participants through their innocence and experience, extremities and normalcies, culminating in the "birth" of their individual clown.

This workshop is an intense blast and furnishes the student with a malleable structure for continued creative exploration, with limitless applications. It is not necessary to be a perfomer to take this course. All are welcome, from all walks of life.

Baby Clown Dates & Fees

July 4 - 19, 2009
$1050.00 (incl. GST)

Clown Boot Camps
These six day intensive workshops are designed to be a catalyst for a more expansive concept of what clown is and how it can be used.

Using various writing and development techniques and exercises to evoke both left and right brain involvement, the participants explore their own unique approach to the creation of material and performance.

There will be some emphasis on the Bouffon perspective as well as the exploration of a clown/bouffon synthesis. Each day will consist of a minimum of 3 hours focused on creation, and 3 hours focused on performance. There will be many additional hours for exercises, discussions, and the exploration of themes that arise out of the classes.

Students should be aware they will be extremely challenged and are to bring 2 short prepared pieces in addition to other work to be discussed after registration.

Although a Joey/Auguste (duos) workshop is not offered, duos wishing to work together can be accommodated within the regular Boot Camps. Please state if this is your desire.

Prerequisite: Pochinko style Baby Clown (or From Mask to Clown or Clown Through Mask)

Boot Camp Dates & Fees

June 22 - 28, 2009
$525.00 (incl. GST)

Accommodation
Accommodation, transportation and food are NOT included. For the hearty adventure seeker there is plenty of room to set up a tent for free. Bathing is done with outdoor, sun heated shower bags. Very nice, high end port-a-potties are provided for toilet facilities. Barbecues are supplied for cooking and a freezer is supplied for food storage. All camping gear, cooking utensils, bedding etc. must be brought by the students.

For those requiring indoor sleeping facilities there are very reasonably priced cabins and B & B's nearby. Once each session's class list is set the group will be put in touch with each other for the co-ordination of transportation and supplies. Further details and recommendations will be provided at this time as well.

The luxuries that ARE offered are fresh air, room to go off on your own for peace and quiet, and a pastoral setting ideal for a creative adventure. There is also swimming nearby in Lake Huron, the North Channel, or in small inland lakes. Classes will be held in the studio, in the fields, in the forest, in the swamp and at the beach.

If you're coming from Toronto it's a full day journey. From Sudbury it's two and a half to three hours.

How to Apply
To apply for Clown courses
Please send a resume, photo (photo copy is fine) and a brief discussion of your reasons for applying for this course to

John Turner
RR1 Evansville, ON
P0P 1E0

or by email to jackturns@gmail.com
or contact by phone 705-282-1741

Address, telephone number and email address (if available) should be included with application.

Students are selected according to application information, date of application and possibly a telephone interview.