Feist does more with puppets!

I remember so well Feist's debut into the puppetry scene, when in 2008, she was first featured on Sesame Street with her hit song '1, 2, 3, 4'.
Now the pop icon has a new music video out. Honey Honey sung by Feist, features puppetry by the Old Trout Puppet Workshop from Calgary, Canada.

The Banff Centre, in collaboration with the Old Trout Puppet Workshop, is offering a two-week exploration into the creative art of puppet theatre from 26 December to 11 January 2011.

The Old Trouts are a company founded on the collaborative nature of ensemble-based creation, they build their shows through a process of consensus, which shall be the thesis of this workshop. Over the 17-day period of the workshop, participants will explore exercises that identify the physical awareness and synchronicity of an ensemble, as well as participate in an arena of debate and building that facilitates an effective sharing of ideas. These exercises will in turn support the foundation of original, theatrical, puppet performances to be developed in the subsequent part of the workshop. The Banff Puppet Theatre Intensive will address elements of design (both set and puppet), scripting the silent narrative, collaborative directing, and manipulation of puppets. 

Participants will create individual puppets, engage in small ensembles, and, in the nature of collective creation, create short experimental projects to be presented publicly. The workshop shall launch forth from the position that there are no right or wrong answers, but rather, through conversation and execution, that there is a way to discover the most inspired and effective solutions. The Banff Puppet Theatre Intensive is open to puppeteers, actors, dancers, directors, designers, teachers, visual artists, writers, and anyone with a willing spirit. To apply, contact The Banff Centre here!

An International Creative Thinktank

Imagine an Arts Centre in compassing every art - plastic, visual and performance and combine this with leadership, scientific and aboriginal cultures and what you have is The Banff Centre, here in the Canadian Rockies. It's something we've really only been exposed to this weekend and all of this surrounded by the most extraordinary nature and snow covered mountains on all sides. Our Paper Playback Workshop yesterday was attended by some of the Banff creative leadership and was a powerful experience for all of us, sharing ideas and play together. Last night we attended a Community Leadership debate on whether “communityship” can replace traditional leadership at the local level. And the result of a refreshing and stimulating dialogue, so open and yet so rare in the greater artistic world. This example which we discovered this weekend, truly shows communityship and dedication to the arts globally. Today we leave back to Calgary and up to Lake Louise. The trek west has begun!

Banff...

This morning we arrived at The Banff Centre, surrounded by the Rockies, which has provided professional career development and lifelong learning for artists and cultural leaders in performing, literary, new media, and visual arts. Their work is showcased throughout the year in public concerts, exhibitions, and events, culminating in the Banff Summer Arts Festival. Tonight we saw an incredible Jazz Concert showing off some of the best young musicians this place has to offer. Tomorrow we have a day to explore the place and do a mountain walk. On Monday we are conducting a Paper Playback Workshop for the Banff Leadership Program. This inspiring place seems unique and it offers every combination of arts of every kind, leadership and a conference centre all inside the Banff National Park.