VASTA CONFERENCE

Toronto 1999!!

Mark your calendar now for the exciting VASTA Conference '99 held in Toronto, August 1-3! This is our first Canadian conference, building a bridge between vocal training in the U.S. and Canada. All of our presenters are Canadian, whose work expresses our theme this year of "Bridges Across Disciplines."

Dr. William Weiss of the University of Ottawa will lead workshops entitled "Mobile Voice, The Minimal Movements and Spatialization Method." He writes, "The goal of Mobile Voice is to establish neuro-muscular speech patterns that would produce efficient speech without a speaker's attention on himself/herself. The approach is to increase the mobility of the bodily parts that produce speech."

We will also have workshops led by VASTA member David Smukler of Toronto and his associate Judith Koltai. Their training is called "Sensation, Spine and Sense," examining "how well-balanced and fluidly adaptable skeletal structure provides both freedom and security for muscle and breath. The workshop will integrate experiential work with the practice of observation skills."

Do plan on coming for the reception late afternoon on July 31st, where we will be doing some informal and informative networking to build some "bridges" of our own among our members. The conference planning committee is firming up plans for our housing at a university in Toronto; a more detailed article will appear in the next VASTA newsletter.

For further information or input, contact conference chair Candice Brown at (716) 673-3597, email <brownca@fredonia.edu>.

Report from the VASTA

Advocacy Committee

Barry Kur has been appointed coordinator of the Advocacy portion of the strategic plan, VASTA Vision: GOALS 2005. The action plans involve setting up sub-committees for outreach, near reach and in reach.

1. Outreach and near reach Directors

This committee will address the relationship of vocal coaches and directors in the professional theatre.

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Perhaps this committee will develop a position paper, a round table discussion, or both. In either case, the spirit of the action should be similar to the spirit in which Ralph Zito composed the Newsletter interview with Michael Kahn (Spring/Summer 98). In addition, as near reach this committee may wish to address how voice/speech training can be an integral part of Director training.

2. OutreachTeachers

This committee will develop ways in which the expertise of our membership may be extended beyond theatre. In this case, the committee will address extending our services to educators as professional speakers (in-service instruction) and/or the general education of pre-college students in voice/speech skills.

VASTA has had a very successful history of advocacy within OUR professional spheres. VASTA's web page, printed materials, and networking have provided increased guidelines for training of voice/speech specialists and significantly improved their retention in academic positions. It is now time to extend ourselves.

The following program is co-sponsored by SDC Foundation and VASTA and initiates a first stage action item of advocacy under the VASTA Vision: Goals 2005 strategic plan: A DIRECTORS/VOICE COACHES ROUND TABLE, Wednesday February 17, 1999, 5:00PM, at the STAGE DIRECTORS and CHOREOGRAPHERS FOUNDATION, 1501 Broadway, Suite 1701, New York, NY. Admission is free to SSDC and VASTA Members. Call for a reservation at 212-302-5359 (SDC Foundation).

VASTA Participants: Ralph Zito, Shakespeare Theatre, Washington DC; Center Stage, Baltimore; Arena Stage, Washington DC, and various other theatres. Arden Sampson, Longwharf Theatre, Goodspeed Opera House, Playwrights Horizon, and various other theatres. Dennis Carlo Patella, The Lab at Circle Rep; Atlantic Theatre Company, Monsterless Theatre and various other theatres. Walton Wilson, Actors Theatre of Louisville; Shakespeare and Co.; The Holderness Group and various other theatres. Barry Kur (Co-moderator), Penn State University School of Theatre; Pennsylvania Centre Stage, Past President of VASTA. SSDC Foundations Participants: David Diamond (co-moderator), Director of the Stage Director and Choreographers Foundation.

DIRECTORS to be announced at a later date.

The SDCF offers a number of sessions like this with focus on special directing topics, issues of collaboration and discussions with well known professionals. Barry hopes many of you, especially those close to the NYC area, can attend.