PAGE TO STAGE  "POLYPHONICS"

Nav takes 39 high school students on a 6-month journey to write and perform passionate poetry. 

​The students first learn how to ignite the create spark on to the blank page with emotion and authenticity. Followed by learning how to deliver their poem using voice techniques including breathing, resonance and articulation. The journey ends by sharing their work on stage with ​a unique and powerful performance with their own original poems, ambient music mixed live by a student DJ and fused with atmospheric projections.  ​​

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​"Je remercie Nav qui m'a inspirée pour ce projet et qui a donné bénévolement de son temps et de sa personne pour partager sa passion.  Même si elle me rappelle tous les jours que les mots sont puissants et peuvent tout exprimer, ce soir il n'y en a pas assez pour exprimer ma gratitude. Thank you rom the bottom of my heart." 
Joanne Roques, Professeur, Lycée François d'Estaing

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"I thank Nav who inspired me for this project and who volunteered her time and her person to share her passion.  Although she reminds me every day that words are powerful and can express everything, tonight there are not enough to express my gratitude. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. "
​Joanne Roques, Professor, Lycée François d'Estaing
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PUTTING CREATIVITY AT THE HEART OF EDUCATION

"Bringing creativity to the heart of an education programme is absolutely essential.  I believe this with such passion.  By guiding our children to connect to their creativity they build a deep sense of trust and confidence in themselves, they begin to harness their innate power and express themselves with the beauty of their individuality. 

When working on a creative project with school children, I believe the first step is helping our children to re-connect to themselves.  Helping them to hear their inner voice, their intuition, their uniqueness without fear.  Even at the age of 16 years old many may have drifted away and disconnected from themselves and buried their true desires so deeply that they no longer know who they really are.  How can we then create authentic work if we cannot connect to our authentic selves?

​The first step in my eyes is to create a safe space for them where they feel at ease, open and receptive and without feeling that they are being judged.  This is primordial in our lessons.  Being judged can stifle our authenticity and block our creative flow.  From this safe space they connect to their authentic expression.  We ask ourselves "how do we feel?" to FEEL what we are feeling.  No questions...no judgements.  A simple question like "how are you?" can unlock the doors to hurt, pain, regret and also love, desire and fire.  We dive into these feelings, using the energy of the emotion to create heart-felt and relatable poems.  There were tears as well as power, liberation and fearlessness.  Fearlessness being the fuel of the create spark.  

I provide them a safe space, openness and freedom from which wonderful topics naturally unfold.  I want to hear what makes these adolescents sing and what makes them cry.  I do not impose a subject, instead I allow their ideas to flow naturally.  On my most recent project the themes that surfaced where loss, joy, love, mother earth, time and identity.  Such powerful themes which we can all relate to, 

Whilst I taught I learned.  I learned from first hand experience that the adolescent voice is sensitive and powerful and needs to be heard and respected.  I learned that by opening to people and trusting them helps them to open and trust in return.  I am deeply grateful for these experiences which have given me hope for their future and the future of our planet.

So let's start by truly hearing their voices and allowing them to express what they need to WITHOUT JUDGEMENT and with the magical ingredients which opens us all, one of which is RESPECT the other ..... is LOVE." 

WHAT THE STUDENTS SAY...