Witnessed Solos: Winter 2024 | |
Online Event
Witnessed Solos is an invitation to join a circle of fellow improvising singers in a series of weekly singing meets with a series of different people, taking it in turns to drop into stillness and sing from the present moment for up to 10mins, while the other compassionately witnesses.
How does it work?
- Each week for a number of weeks (depending on the size of the group), we’ll be paired up with different people, and these pairs will be announced at the beginning of the week by email.
- In our duos, we then arrange a mutually convenient time each week to come together online on Zoom for 30mins. In this time, we will say a brief hello, then take it in turns to drop into silence, turn attention inward, and sing from the present moment, whatever is alive, for up to 10mins.
- Some people put a timer on, others go for approximately this length of time – it’s up to you. The other person is muted and witnessing / listening. Then you swap over and the same happens.
- As a pair, you can decide if or how you would like any reflections to be shared – at the end of both sings, or after each sing, or not at all. Reflections should be supportive, sharing what you experienced and witnessed, not giving advice or suggestions.
- All singing/sounding/silence is valid. This is absolutely not a performance. This is listening to what wants to be expressed and expressing it, and a friendly fellow singer to hold space for us and witness us in this exploration of the moment.
- When the circle is complete and everyone has sung with everyone, will will meet altogether for a reflective closing session, to share our experiences and have a final singshare.
What?
- The practice is described above.
- The ticket includes an hour online Opening Circle in October and Closing Circle (probably in Feb/March), as well as weekly pairings which involve 30mins of contact time each week. There may be a Reconnection Circle at the beginning of January as well, if it feels right.
When?
- We’ll have an Opening Circle together on October 24th at 6pm UK time, and then the Witnessed Solos will run for however long until the circle is complete and everyone has met with everyone. We’ll have a Closing Circle at the end of the cycle, which is TBC until we know the number of participants. Weekly pairings will be sent every Monday by email.
Why?
- We have gathered like this a number of times and found that it is such a special way to connect with each other, a wonderful way to be accountable to ourselves in our free singing exploration, and a precious gift to receive another singers’ voice and presence in this way.
- It is fascinating to follow your own personal enquiries each time, be it eye contact, what it means to be witness, following impulse, questioning ‘performance‘, exploring texture / words / sounding / silence / stillness / storytelling / etc…! (At this time, I’m particularly excited to explore the similarities I have recently discovered between this voice practice and an approach to clowning which foregrounds authenticity, noticing, following what brings pleasure, deep presence, and the difference between compassionate witnessing and being audience.)
- It is a beautiful thread of connection and creativity to keep the singing flame lit throughout the darker months of the year.
- I’m excited to offer another round and see where it takes us!
(Note, this is offered with much gratitude to Teresa Verney who created the basis of this practice back in 2020. We would never have dreamed where it would take us! xx)
7