The audio cast series where Robert has conversations with improvisers working across performing and multidisciplinary arts. You’ll hear him talking to dance and theatre artists as well as those arts practitioners who are working with improvisation more broadly. Interviews with Improvisers stems from Robert's interest in the relationship between voicing and dancing. Ruth Zaporah (she/her) is a US based performer and teacher. She has dedicated over five decades to creating, refining, and teaching the art of improvisation. She is the founder of a unique improvisational physical theatre method known as “Action Theater,” which is now practiced and taught by students worldwide. From the early days of her experimental classes and performances in Berkeley, California, during the 1970s, to the development of Action Theater as an art form, and through the elegant distillation of the practice in recent decades, Ruth’s career and legacy have established her as one of the foremostpractitioners working in the field of improvisation of her generation. Ruth’s initial training was in ballet, but it was in college that she discovered modern dance, drawn to its dramatic possibilities. In the mid-1960s, Ruth was hired by a Maryland college’s Drama Department to teach movement to actors. However, when the students arrived fully dressed and seemingly uninterested in a dance class, she asked them what they actually wanted. They expressed a desire to learn how to embody their characters. At the time, Ruth had no understanding of the concept of “embodying” or “character,” so in response, she simply suggested they "walk." This moment marked the beginning of her fascination—and, as she describes it, her obsession—with improvisation. Ruth began Zen Buddhist practices at 17, and her years of practice, combined withher college studies in philosophy and her performing and teaching experiences, laid the foundation for her development of Action Theater. In both 1990 and 1994, Ruth, along with a team of performers and organisers, travelled to warzones in Sarajevo and Kosovo. There, she and her colleagues spent their days offering a few hours of respite to refugees in camps, and in the evenings, they performed in small theatres across Sarajevo, Dubrovnik, Belgrade, Pristina, Kosovo, and Zagreb. A published author of several books on Action Theater, Ruth has received two NEA choreography grants and numerous other honours. Her work spans continents, and in 2010, she was named a Cultural Envoy by the U.S. StateDepartment. Ruth continues to live and work in Berkeley, California. Website: www.actiontheater.comIn this conversation, Robert chats with Ruth Zaporah, a renowned practitioner in the field of improvisation and physical theater. Celebrated for developing the technique of Action Theater, Ruth shares her extensive experience spanning 40-50 years. She delves into her early beginnings with family performances, her educational and professional journey, and the evolution of her unique approach combining physicality, vocalization, and narrative. She discusses her teaching methods, the importance of making students comfortable, and the transformative impact of her practice. The dialogue also touches on her collaborations, particularly in duet performances, as well as the significance of audience interaction and the therapeutic, non-political nature of their work, even in war-torn regions. An insightful reflection on a lifelong dedication to performance and the philosophy behind it.00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Ruth Zaporah01:27 Ruth's Early Life and Dance Beginnings02:28 Discovering Improvisation and Blake Street Hawkeyes05:15 Developing Action Theater06:20 Teaching and Impact of Action Theater15:36 Philosophy and Zen in Ruth's Practice20:39 Collaborations and Performances28:07 Political Power of Improvisation32:51 Reflections and Closing Thoughts If you wish to view a transcript please contact Robert: hello@robertvesty.com
