Mime and Pantomime in the 20th Century

Dr. Lou Campbell, founding director of the 1974 Institute and Festival, provides scholarly insights to each of their works and amplifies what is foundational to modern dance, acting, clown and theatre.

Starting with Etienne Decroux and Jacques LeCoq, the foundations of the art form were laid. Marceau’s technique is Style Mime. Mamako Yoneyama, a student of Marceau, radically diverges into Zen Meditation Mime. Shozo Sato provides Japanese elements of Kabuki and Noh. The Mummenschanz were students of LeCoq but emerged with highly creative performance forms called Mask Play. Yet, Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, a colleague of LeCoq brought an insightful performance of the Renaissance Commedia dell'Arte with traditional masks. William Burdick posed the issue of mask in classical ballet, while Hovey Burgess offers circus technique as a direct extension of mime and pantomime.

Those interested in mime, pantomime, modern dance, clown, eccentric arts, acting, gymnastics and opera will enjoy this course.

This material is provided as a diverse educational medium for those subscribing to the course. A follow up course will address basic mime techniques along with a thorough introduction of anatomy, physiology and biomechanics, so essential for a complete understanding of the body as a performing instrument. This medium is called Physical Theatre.