Isabella GiaVulva’s Post

This week I'm going to my first Choir rehearsal. It's a trial or 'taster' session 🎤 Obviously, I was nervous to submit the request, but I was greeted with such a welcoming email from London City Voices that the nerves didn't last long 💖 This was a great lesson for building a community. When someone new is interested in joining your community... → Your first message to them is crucial. This could be your only chance to convince or validate that they're in the right place. 👂 You'll want to communicate that the environment will be one where individuals feel heard, valued, and connected to a shared purpose or interest. 🫶 Give a bit of proof or some colour that members have a genuine connection. Because that's ultimately what we're all looking for when we make the first move, right? 👋 Maybe you'll take this time to encourage open communication, start active engagement, and provide a sense of belonging. → Most importantly (at least for me) 🧭 Give clear guidelines or rules to ensure a positive and inclusive atmosphere. (Rules can be empowering!) 📆 Tell them how everything works and what they can expect. What the next steps are and the support they can look out for. 🪴 This helps in establishing a foundation for long-term community growth and cohesion. → LCV's first email checked every single box. Calling themselves 'London’s Friendliest Choir' is well-fitting. ⭐️ Stay tuned for how the trial goes.

Why is it, whenever they talk about art or performance, some people resort to ridicule? Artists are stereotyped, the creative process trivialised. There’s a deeply ingrained tendency to trivialise the craft of acting - to mock what actors do. The powerful repeatedly trivialise or openly attack artists, seek to suppress the wisdom of our craft. The powerful co-opt those they can, make them the allies of power, give them patronage, influence and celebrity. Those who can’t be tamed, are neutralised. It’s a feature of every period of radical political change. Actors who are not co-opted into the power-structure are neutralised, redefined as 'just' entertainers. Performance is treated as no more than a temporary relief from reality, separate from the important business of life. It’s as if the powerful want to deny access to the deep-level benefit that comes from participating - as performer or audience - in creativity. The value of participating in drama, especially in schools, is ignored. Why study drama when you’ll not be an actor? Behind this, superficially rational attitude, is an implication that what someone learns through performing, has no intrinsic value, and is only useful when it lead to marketable product. We know this isn’t true. The evidence from research is clear. When children participate in acting and performance, the outcomes are transformational. Yet performance is squeezed from the curriculum. Actually that’s not true. Performance is not squeezed from the curriculum of schools attended by the children of the rich and powerful. Eton College’s website has a whole suite of pages dedicated to its Drama Provision. It proudly announces: ‘There are three different theatre spaces, staffed by professional theatre practitioners. The powerful recognise that performance delivers a significant technology of learning. Evidenced by relentless cuts to arts provision in the schools most children attend, it seems it’s a technology reserved for the children of the elite. Why? ‘What Actors Know’, is how to be more fully human. The deep-level mystery of acting is awareness of our interconnected humanity. Actors connect - inwardly, with their bodies, thoughts and imagination, outwardly with their fellow-performers and audience. To learn to act is to learn to connect. Here’s the core of the democratising threat in ‘What Actors Know’: we're all actors. We can all connect. Connection empowers. Interconnection is a threat to those who would control others. ‘What Actors Know’ heals disconnection and reminds us of our collectivity. On Tuesday 20th at 7.30pm, John is running a FREE online session at School of Human Kind called: ‘Being Authentic: What Actors Know About Playing Your Role in Life.’ In it he’ll be exploring some of the fundamentals of What Actors Know. You can register for the event here: https://lnkd.in/eSUaSsXb

Something really beautiful that we can offer to our community is breaking your stress cycle! A few ways we can support you in doing this is... 1. Laughter- this is a useful way to release and express emotions you keep bottled up. 2. Talk to People- Casual but friendly social interaction is the first external sign that world is a safe place. 3. Do something creative- Engaging in creative activities today leads to more energy, excitement, and enthusiasm tomorrow. We can offer 3 of the 7 ways to break the stress cycle! Why not try out coming to a show, volunteering with us, or take a workshop! https://lnkd.in/gV9vGvW

One quick way to be more inclusive in your organisation is to remove acronyms as far as possible. Acronyms are a code. You can only gain full access to the information if you know the code. In education one common challenge is understanding NFA. What does this mean? No further action or no fixed abode. One needs serious and immediate attention, one doesn't. Every organisation will have acronyms and they work well to shorten documents and keep conversations moving. The problem with them is that: - They can be misunderstood - They are often unique to that organisation and so not experienced anywhere else - They can rely on someone telling you what they mean - The above can then put the onus on a new or inexperienced person having to ask questions which might make them feel stupid or inept- not a good outcome. If we want to use acronyms, we recommend we always explain what the acronym means, or that we challenge people to explain (especially if we are experienced, it helps those who aren't). Try to do this automatically, and that will help people to be included in the organisation and in the work you are doing. #equitydiversityinclusion #arts #artsandculture #leadership #inclusionleadership #inclusionmatters #theatre #dance #music #diversity #hr #training #education #onlinetraining #learning #inclusion #equity #development

One quick way to be more inclusive in your organisation is to remove acronyms as far as possible. Acronyms are a code. You can only gain full access to the information if you know the code. In education one common challenge is understanding NFA. What does this mean? No further action or no fixed abode. One needs serious and immediate attention, one doesn't. Every organisation will have acronyms and they work well to shorten documents and keep conversations moving. The problem with them is that: - They can be misunderstood - They are often unique to that organisation and so not experienced anywhere else - They can rely on someone telling you what they mean - The above can then put the onus on a new or inexperienced person having to ask questions which might make them feel stupid or inept- not a good outcome. If we want to use acronyms, we recommend we always explain what the acronym means, or that we challenge people to explain (especially if we are experienced, it helps those who aren't). Try to do this automatically, and that will help people to be included in the organisation and in the work you are doing. #equitydiversityinclusion #arts #artsandculture #leadership #inclusionleadership #inclusionmatters #theatre #dance #music #diversity #hr #training #education #onlinetraining #learning #inclusion #equity #development

People won't feel left out when they know others are on their side. Yet, feeling left out persists, particularly when it comes to live work events. Cliques, hierarchy, ignored contribution and our own social anxiety mean it's easier to step aside and say, 'not for me.' This is something I've experienced from talking to people who are heading down next week for You Are The Media Creator Day. 200 people in the theatre and this year the shift is about active participation. It's understandable to feel a bit nervous. Normally, when it comes to organising an event, the emphasis is on the presenters who people pay attention to. What if we flipped that and paid attention to each other? This means the focus shifts: 🌥️ You do it for people, not to them ✏️ You allow people to feel involved 🏆 People are given status 🎤 You build warmth No one needs to feel on the sides. We can create spaces where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and ultimately, close to each other. Looking forward to getting everyone to Lighthouse - Arts and Entertainment | Poole and a work day in the theatre #InPoole

Come to this event tonight! Learn more about Healing Action and ways we can partner together to end human trafficking!

I'm organising Cheeky Fest in #London and you get the chance to #Perform at and/or #Sponsor or #Invest and revel in the wonderment before, during and after the #event (including #marketing via multiple Cheeky #social pages, groups, profiles) WHY? #MentalHealth (inc #depression, #anxiety, #bipolar / BPD) awareness & management + self-esteem / #confidence = less money spent on #healthcare #Jobs, #work, #employment = income = less money spent on #Benefits e.g. #UniversalCredit Free practical & applied #training / #education = less student debt #Community inc #Friendships, #Relationships, https://cheekyfest.london

Creating a Space for Teenagers: Revitalizing Theater Shahr We're excited to be working on a project to transform Theater Shahr into a #welcoming and #engaging space for #teenagers. Our vision is to create an open, vibrant hub where young people can #connect with friends and family, explore their #creativity, and discover the power of #art. We envision a space that: • Fosters Community: Provides a safe and positive environment for teenagers to gather, play games, listen to music, and simply enjoy each other's company. • Ignites Creativity: Offers opportunities to engage with different art forms, sparking their interest in theater and other artistic disciplines. • Brings Back the Heart of Theater Shahr: Reclaims a space that was once a vibrant hub for the community, and transforms it into a dynamic space for the next generation. This project is a collaboration between: Under the guidance of: • Professor Nikoo Sereshti • Together with our team: Rana Mohammadi, Elaheh Omid, Saba Shirdel We believe in the power of young people and are committed to creating a space where they can thrive. #Teenagers #CommunitySpace #Theater #Art #Creativity #SocialEngagement #YouthDevelopment