Fall 2023 Talks

The Work: Straight Talk on Craft and Method launched in the fall of 2023 with a series of three talks called Breathing in History. Of course, there's much more to say, and the theme will come back, but here's a list of the talks you can access if you subscribe.

Leo Kofler and the Legacy of TB

Leo Kofler (1837-1908) is recognized as a pioneer of many practices which bring together body and mind. The Berlin-born singing teacher spent the better part of his life in New York, where he published his book: The Art of breathing as the basis of tone-production for singers, elocutionists, educators, lawyers, preachers, and all others desirous of having good health in 1887. Having conquered symptoms of tuberculosis, he described his breathing and voice exercises as a form of “life insurance.” In this session, I take on the famous story that he cured himself of TB by singing. But I also don't think that's the most important question. Instead, I look at what Kofler’s book says about a generation of voice and elocution practitioners, and the immense influence of tuberculosis on the development of breathing methods both for performers, and the general public.

Breathing at the Bauhaus

In 1919, artist Johannes Itten developed an introductory course for those who wanted to attend the Bauhaus school for art and design in Germany. Students were encouraged to develop their creativity holistically, in a curriculum which included studies of nature, colour theory and breathing exercises. Breathing exercises? In art school? It’s enough to make anyone want to go back in time, except that Itten also shaved his head, wore a monk’s robe, and followed strict (and sometimes dangerous) dietary practices. He was inspired by the work of German born Otto Hanish (or, as he called himself Otoman Zar-Adusht Ha'nish), the founder of his own religious movement, which he called Mazdaznan. What does it mean to know that the Bauhaus was so closely tied to what might be termed a cult? Are institutions still doing the same today?

Breathing as a (maybe) feminist act: dress reform and the contentious corset

 In many parts of the world, women in the late 1800s cast off their corsets and adopt looser fitting clothing, in the name of liberation. Healthy breathing was a big part of what the new wardrobe offered, yet others defended their corsets, saying they needed, and even enjoyed the support. The first wave of feminism, which included dress reform, was also tied to eugenics, white supremacist, sentiments, and rigid class divisions. Do traces of these early ideas remain with us in conversations about breathing, today?

And just a quick note, these were my first forays into The Work. They were recorded in hybrid form at the wonderful Red Sandcastle Theatre in Leslieville in Toronto. They're a little rough around the edges (including me doubling over with laughter when I recount one expert's prescription for how to handle a romantic crush) but they're also fun. I'm proud of the content and would love to share them with you.