Generated by Rank Math SEO, this is an llms.txt file designed to help LLMs better understand and index this website. # Ira Seidenstein ## Sitemaps [XML Sitemap](https://iraseid.com/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages. ## Posts - [Who Loves Lucy?… clowns and frowns](https://iraseid.com/who-loves-lucy-clowns-and-frowns/): Who Loves Lucy?... clowns and frowns - [CORNBALL CLOWNS – Peggy Ryan](https://iraseid.com/cornball-clowns-peggy-ryan/): Some thread of Clown history relates the word 'clown' to a 'clod'. A clod can be a lump of clay or dirt. A clod can be a country bumpkin. That is a person from the rural areas. Jim Nabors, the clown who was a singer, acted in two fine 'clown' TV shows: Mayberry R.F.D.; and, Gomer Pyle. Jim was 'Gomer Pyle'. - [Picasso’s Saltimbanques](https://iraseid.com/picassos-saltimbanques/): "Harlequin Dreams" was one of my Clown Theatre experiments. The whole show is 43 minutes and is on a link below. - [Women Clowns – Half of The Whole Truth](https://iraseid.com/women-clowns-half-of-the-whole-truth/): Women Clowns - Half of The Whole Truth - [“The Josephine Baker Exercise” the great Clown exercise for Women… and anyone](https://iraseid.com/the-josephine-baker-exercise-the-great-clown-exercise-for-women-and-anyone/): "The Josephine Baker Exercise" the great Clown exercise for Women... and anyone. - [One of THE Greatest Clown Routines](https://iraseid.com/one-of-the-greatest-clown-routines/): photo: Lucille Ball and Gale Gordon were a legendary Clown Duet albeit on TV, for 23 years. - [“HAL” of 2001: A Space Odyssey; and HAL’s Non-Clown Clown Source](https://iraseid.com/hal-of-2001-a-space-odyssey-and-its-non-clown-clown-source-its-non-clown-clown-source/): "HAL" of 2001: A Space Odyssey; and its Non-Clown Clown Source its Non-Clown Clown Source - [The 2-Hands Secret to Acting and Clowning](https://iraseid.com/the-2-hands-secret-to-acting-and-clowning/): photo: Ira Seidenstein in Harlequin Dreams - whole show 45 minutes on youtube - [My Only Short Blog About Clown/Acting](https://iraseid.com/my-only-short-blog-about-clown-acting/): This is me merely up to episode 4. - [BLOG of 100+ BLOGS: INCL EACH LINK – I.S.A.A.C.](https://iraseid.com/ira-seidenstein-blog-of-100-blogs-title-with-each-link-i-s-a-a-c/): photo: Ira Seidenstein teaching Slava Snowshow company's workshop for University acting students.2012 - Italy. - [“American Clown” The Documentary Stemming from “Bozo the Clown”.](https://iraseid.com/american-clown-the-documentary-stemming-from-bozo-the-clown/): photo: Pinto Colvig the original Bozo the Clown - [Clown – Teaching Clown – Self Refinement as An Artist](https://iraseid.com/clown-teaching-clown/): photo - Zsa Zsa Gabor and Buster Keaton in Paris. Gabor was acting in the film The Moulin Rouge (1952). Keaton was performing a short season across the street at Cirque Medrano. - [Teaching Clown – An Enormous Problem – Illumination & Solution – For The Love of Clown](https://iraseid.com/teaching-clown-an-enormous-problem-illumination-solution-for-the-love-of-clown/): photo - Lucille Ball in The Big Street (1942) - [The Laconic Non-Clown Clown Brilliant Artist](https://iraseid.com/the-laconic-non-clown-clown-brilliant-artist/): Artwork Reuben Heyday Margolin - [Sketch of Return – duologue – 10 minutes](https://iraseid.com/sketch-of-return-duologue-10-minutes/): The photo is NOT from Sketch of Return. The comical glasses, nose, and moustache are. - [Artist in Exile… a play about The Other](https://iraseid.com/artist-in-exile-a-play-about-the-other/): "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". Finally in Sweden long enough I thought I should learn about their famous 'national' playwright August Strindberg. I didn't really understand much of the Swedish language. It may be that Strindberg's plays are or were done so often throughout the world that in numbers of productions perhaps he was second only to William Shakespeare work's productions? - [Thoughts on Luzia – Cirque du Soleil. By Jim Pickles](https://iraseid.com/thoughts-on-luzia-cirque-du-soleil-by-jim-pickles/): Photo - "Kitsch Cans - The Gold-Crested Toilets." Outdoor 'facilities' Luzia - CDS - [CLOWN CODE – Part 3 – CLOWN THINKING](https://iraseid.com/clown-code-part-3-clown-thinking/): Gertrude Berg-one of the first women to create, write, produce, and star in a long-running hit comedy - [CLOWN CODE© PART 2](https://iraseid.com/clown-code-part-2/): Sammy Davis, Jr and Arte Johnson on Rowan & Martin's LAUGH-IN - [CLOWN CODE AND ITS PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES –  an I.S.A.A.C. concept (Part 1)](https://iraseid.com/clown-code-and-its-practical-princicples-an-i-s-a-a-c-concept/): The Three Keatons Vaudeville act circa 1900 about the time of Buster's official stage premiere age 5 - [Two Extremely Educated (and even intelligent) Non-Clown Clown Rabbis](https://iraseid.com/two-extremely-educated-and-even-intelligent-non-clown-clowns-rabbis/): Photo is Magician and book collector Harry Houdini. - [THE GODLINESS OF CLOWN](https://iraseid.com/the-godliness-of-clown/): The Godliness of Clown (photo of Vesta Tilley) - [Some Truths in Researching – REMNANTS: ENCOUNTERS WITH MY CULTURE.](https://iraseid.com/some-truths-in-researching-remnants-encounters-with-my-culture/): Weber and Fields I consider a keystone to modern Clown. - [The Structure of QUANTUM THEATRE: SLAPSTICK TO SHAKESPEARE from PhD Thesis](https://iraseid.com/structure-of-quantum-theatre-slapstick-to-shakespeare-from-phd/): This blog presents the structure of Quantum Theatre: Slapstick to Shakespeare method. Enclosed is the 8-page Appendix of my PhD Thesis: From the Liminal to the Visceral. - [WRITING AND CLOWN – A UNITY](https://iraseid.com/writing-and-clown-a-unity/): WRITING AND CLOWN – A UNITY - [Many Great Screen Clowns NEEDED Writers and Directors.](https://iraseid.com/many-great-screen-clowns-needed-writers-and-directors/): Many Great Clowns NEEDED Writers and Directors. - [2024 Exoneration of Denialism as Defined 2012](https://iraseid.com/2024-exoneration-of-denialism-as-defined-2012/): The 2024 Exoneration of Denialism as Defined 2012 - [Other Lives](https://iraseid.com/other-lives/): General Warning: My way of writing meanders. It doesn't work towards a 'final conclusion'. I hope to encourage you the reader to engage with yourself during your reading. I hope you enjoy the journey. Regards, Ira Seidenstein. - [Theatre As Religion](https://iraseid.com/theatre-as-religion/): Theatre As Religion - essay #31 of 46 - in the book Quantum Theatre: Slapstick to Shakespeare. The book was written in 1996. The manuscript and floppy disk were believed to be lost, but, were found in 2020. The book was intentionally generally not updated. It was edited mainly for grammar and spelling. I invited 4 friends to each write an essay. Those are the final essays, #43-46. - [98 YR OLD CLOWNS AND THE QUARTET SECRET](https://iraseid.com/98-yr-old-clowns-and-the-quartet-secret/): Here are a few paragraphs about two 98 year old clowns and their involvement in “The Quartet Secret” that I have written about elsewhere in blogs and the book Clown Secret. - [Learning To Learn: struggle is the DNA of being an artist](https://iraseid.com/learning-to-learn/): Performer/Artist Michael Moschen in the video here provided tells of his high school friend Penn who became a great and famous magician. Moschen, extraordinary artist and performer tells a few important bits about his amazing career and art and more. One snippet is about a book on Magic, with instructions. Penn borrowed that book from the library. Penn, Michael and his Brother began to struggle with the instructions with the book that changed their lives. - [The Joy of Teaching Clown… and the paradoxes.](https://iraseid.com/the-joy-of-teaching-clown-and-the-paradoxes/): Teaching Clown is a wonderful experience. - [Is a Tomboy a Clown or a Non-Clown Clown – Clara Bow is Such a Creature(s).](https://iraseid.com/is-a-tomboy-a-clown-or-a-non-clown-clown-clara-bow-is-such-a-creatures/): Is a Tomboy a Clown or a Non-Clown Clown - Clara Bow is Such a Creature(s). - [Clown Cults vs the Cult of the Dalai Lama’s Oracle](https://iraseid.com/clown-cults-vs-the-cult-of-the-dalai-lamas-oracle/): Clown Cults versus the Cult of the Dalai Lama’s Oracle - [Another Matriarch of Clown – Ann Miller](https://iraseid.com/another-matriarch-of-clown-ann-miller/): Ann Miller was a great clown whose forte was not acrobatics, nor mime, nor juggling but her forte was called ‘the triple threat’ i.e. an actor-dancer-singer.  Triple Threat was known initially in the world of American style Musical Theatre. - [Push-ups For Clowns](https://iraseid.com/push-ups-for-clowns/): PUSHUPS FOR CLOWNS - [Artistic Hearts – Secrets in my Method](https://iraseid.com/artistic-hearts-secrets-in-my-method/): Today I was asked: What does jo-ha-kyu mean in your Jo-Ha-Kyu Exercise because several of my students have asked me? I replied first that people should use google, youtube, libraries when they have a question, so did you look it up? That teacher of my method did a quick search on www and found a good answer. Here is my follow-up reply. - [What Does A Clown Know… part 4 of 4 – Space-Time Continuum](https://iraseid.com/what-does-a-clown-know-part-4-of-4-space-time-continuum/): Photo: Ira as "Mo" in "MoMents" created by Jane Barber, Annette Schoenberger, Kristen Duffus - with Chris Lacey and Ira Seidenstein - [What Does A Clown Know… part 3 of 4 – Time](https://iraseid.com/what-does-a-clown-know-part-3-of-4-time/): Photo: THE CRACKUP SISTERS - Creator Amanda-Lyn Pearson (white hat) with Bianca Mackail - [What Does A Clown Know – part 2 of 4 – Space](https://iraseid.com/what-does-a-clown-know-part-2-of-4/): Photo: Ira and Kristen in slapstick acrobatic show Building Blocks - [What Does A Clown Know?… reflections on creativity, culture and wellbeing – part 1 of 4 – Body](https://iraseid.com/what-does-a-clown-know-reflections-on-creativity-culture-and-wellbeing/): Photo - Ira Seidenstein - [Chaplin – some rare yet public bits](https://iraseid.com/chaplin-some-rare-bits-yet-public/): Photo above: Co-stars of the film Chocolat (2016): Actor Omar Sy & Chaplin's Grandson James Thierree. - [On Teaching: Acting and Clown.](https://iraseid.com/on-teaching-acting-and-clown-clown-secret/): Excerpts from Clown Secret Ch. 1 - The Eruption and Evolution of the Method: Quantum Theatre: Slapstick to Shakespeare. - [Homage to the Clown Barry Humphries](https://iraseid.com/homage-to-the-clown-barry-humphries/): PHOTO: BARRY HUMPHRIES with Director Ray Lawler who asked Barry to write a sketch for his character he did when the company toured. The first stage performance of Edna Everage was in the Union Theatre's Revue directed by Lawler - [Absurd Moods – videoed early experimental Clown Theatre piece](https://iraseid.com/absurd-moods/): IRA SEIDENSTEIN - EXPERIMENTAL CLOWN THEATRE SOLO - ABSURD MOODS - 1985. - [Ira Seidenstein Blog Titles and links – I.S.A.A.C.](https://iraseid.com/i-s-a-a-c-blog-essays-titles-etc/): THIS BLOG HAS BEEN UPDATED FOR CONVIENENCE AND INCLUDES HIGHLIGHTED TITLES AND A NUMBER ASSIGNED TO EACH TITLE. THE TITLE OF THIS BLOG HAS ALSO BEEN CHANGED. PLEASE SWAP OVER TO THE FOLLOWING LINK. THANK YOU, Ira. - [For The Love of Shakespeare: call a spade a spade](https://iraseid.com/for-the-love-of-shakespearecall-a-spade-a-spade/): For The Love of Shakespeare: call a spade a spade. - [“Shakespeareitis” – or, something’s rotten in the state of English language productions of Shakespeare’s plays](https://iraseid.com/shakespeareitis-or-somethings-rotten-in-the-state-of-english-language-productions-of-shakespeares-plays/): “Shakespeareitis” – or, something’s rotten in the state of English language productions of Shakespeare’s plays. - [The Grand-Mother of Contemporary Clown](https://iraseid.com/the-grand-mother-of-contemporary-clown/): The Grand-Mother of Contemporary Clown - Irene Ryan - [How The Authentic Lineage of Clown Works](https://iraseid.com/how-the-authentic-lineage-of-clown-works/): This blog/essay will provide one example of how the authentic lineage of Clown works via a professional Clown mentoring to newer professional or potentially professional Clown. This is a different relationship than a teacher who is paid for their services and thus has a business and monetary agenda from the beginning. A mentor in the professional situation usually is drastically more selective about who, and the few, they choose to mentor. A teacher is operating a business or is operating within a business for performing arts such as universities and private schools and private studios. - [CLOWN: AUTHENTIC? or APPROPRIATED?](https://iraseid.com/clown-authentic-or-appropriated/): Clown is a natural phenomenon. - [CLOWN TROUPES: A TROPE ON CREATIVITY](https://iraseid.com/clown-troupes-a-trope-on-creativity/): CLOWN TROUPES: A TROPE ON CREATIVITY - [Healing the Theatre and Clown Training?](https://iraseid.com/healing-the-theatre-and-clown-training/): Healing the Theatre and Clown Training? - [SACRED DANCE](https://iraseid.com/sacred-dance/): Photo - Gertrude Bodenwieser early performance. She was born Gertrud Bondi in Vienna, 1890. Bodenwieser choreographed over 300 dances and her companies performed in over 300 cities and towns internationally. She was extremely gifted as a choreographer with special talents: in using the unique attributes of her dancers; her use of space as a theatrical medium; and for her dramatic story telling through fluid dance. She was the creator of her own system and aesthetics in modern dance. - [REMNANTS – ENCOUNTERS WITH MY CULTURE. Prelude to my future book, part 1](https://iraseid.com/remnants-encounters-with-my-culture-prelude-to-my-future-book-part-1/): As the bishop said to the actress… believe it or not! The Remnant journey began because suddenly scattered participants in some of my workshops asked me “Why are there so many Jewish Clowns”? I always replied “I don’t know”. Mixed in with a journey into my Jewish Culture are my other cultures like; Clown and the performing arts, or, life in my adopted home Australia. - [WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER](https://iraseid.com/were-all-in-this-together/): We’re All in This Together - [DOGS AND CLOWNS… a match made in heaven](https://iraseid.com/dogs-and-clowns-a-match-made-in-heaven/): DOGS AND CLOWNS – A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN - [Thoughts From A Young Artist: Grėtė Šmitaitė](https://iraseid.com/thoughts-from-a-young-artist/): Followed by Grėtė Šmitaitė's reply to two questions - [An Elephant Walks Into a Room and Nobody Notices….. a slight insight into Jewish Humour in the key of b-flat.](https://iraseid.com/an-elephant-walks-into-room-and-nobody-notices-a-slight-insight-into-jewish-humour-in-the-key-of-b-flat/): Ed Wynn in photo above. - [The More the Merrier. Mr Most Merryful.](https://iraseid.com/the-more-the-merry-mr-most-merryful/): Oh the delights and treasures of youtube and ‘giggle’:) Today a site posted a short film of Joe Cook. I knew nothing about him. - [57 Female Clown Short Films](https://iraseid.com/57-female-clown-short-films/): There were four young girls who had the lead role in the Alice Comedies started in 1923. The first young actress was Virginia Davis and she acted in the first 14 films. - [Non-Clown Clown Lady](https://iraseid.com/non-clown-lady/): “She found work washing dishes and posing as a nude model. This same year, she hired the 17-year-old Georg Kreisler as a rehearsal pianist to continue focus on cabaret work. By 1941, she had opened the Beggar Bar in New York. It was a cabaret/restaurant that was filled with mismatched furniture.Julian Beck, Judith Malina, and Jackson Pollock worked for her.Tennessee Williamsalso worked for her for a short time as a busboy, but was fired for refusing to pool his tips. Gert commented that his work was "so sloppy".” Judith Malina worked for Gert at Beggar’s for two years and that inspired Malina for the rest of her life. - [Vaudeville: Patter; Shtik; Double Talk](https://iraseid.com/vaudeville-patter-shtik-double-talk/): Vaudeville: Patter; Shtik; Double Talk featuring “Shaw and Lee”. - [Artistic Soul Mates](https://iraseid.com/artistic-soul-mates/): Research is fun when you trust the subconscious and the spontaneous. - [Fabulous Fable](https://iraseid.com/fabulous-fable/): “Revenge of the myth” Gershom Scholem - [Jerry Lewis School of Clown?](https://iraseid.com/jerry-lewis-school-of-clown/): Here you will find out what one of the most talented clowns in modern times, Jerry Lewis, did as he explains how he tried to ‘get it’ and how he ‘owned it’. This article explains what the ‘it’, a Clown Secret is all about. - [Supreme Clown](https://iraseid.com/supreme-clown/): Thanks to someone named Peter for posting this link of Andy Kaufman. I have only seen a few videos of Kaufman. He, as he is, is Supreme. It is almost like looking at a masterpiece of art or music or dance etc. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” as the saying goes. If you want to know about Andy Kaufman simply ask yourself what happens when you watch him. Only through yourself can you truly know someone like him. I had a three hours visit with a great clown once when he was 87. The next day I was to report back to my clown/acting students about what he was like because in their country he was considered legendary. Basically what I reported besides the details of our three hours, was, “I can tell you where a clown comes from if you can tell me where a wildflower comes from”. Meaning they are each a phenomenon of nature, or the universe, or god. - [Multicultural Theatre. Multiculturalism.](https://iraseid.com/multicultural-theatre-multiculturalism/): This is a small excerpt from my new book. If you copy any of it for sharing please include: “Excerpt from Quantum Theatre: Slapstick to Shakespeare copyrights Ira Seidenstein”. The book is available now via any independent book seller or online seller via individual orders as print-on-demand. - [The Most Elegant Clown](https://iraseid.com/the-most-elegant-clown/): Swedish Clown Eva Rydberg is elegant. She trained as a dancer in her youth and began professional contracts as a teenager. She was a dancer in touring tent circuses including the most beautiful Circus Scott during its pinnacle years. She’s a classical actress with a speciality in the genre called “Revue”. Revue is usually light comedy with song and dance and clowning and live music. She was for many years the stage partner of the legendary Swedish Clown Nils Poppe who in his later years performed every summer in the outdoor family Revue theatre near his home in southern Sweden Fredriksdalsteatern in Helsingborg. - [Awful Clowns Are Wonderful](https://iraseid.com/awful-clowns-are-wonderful/): Photo: Jango Edwards' NCI Workshop/Project Barcelona 2019. Ira, Jango, Franto D Romano. - [One Clown Who I Forgot… until today!](https://iraseid.com/one-clown-who-i-forgot-until-today/): In Pittsburgh we had a great tradition for TV wrestling called Studio Wrestling. I’m on a Pittsburgher fb network and today someone posted a photo of our greatest referee who was essentially a clown. We all adored him. Izzy Moidel. His schtick was to be a ‘blind’ referee, that means he would always miss seeing when the ‘bad guy characters’ would do something illegal to the favoured wrestlers. Izzy also would get caught up tangled with the wrestlers. He also would get harassed verbally by the ‘audience clown’ a mature aged woman named “Rosie”. Sometimes she would clobber Izzy or a wrestler with her umbrella. - [The Legendary George Carl and Another Funny Meeting](https://iraseid.com/the-legendary-george-carl-and-another-funny-meeting/): George Carl was an excellent tumbler and was the topmounter in the teeterboard act in the Tom Mix Circus. I think he was topmounter to 4-man high. He told me that one day in Chicago he was doing pure tumbling on the grass by the lake, he was tumbling with the Moroccan acrobats and when he did his best tumbling, as a joke the others took off their tumbling shoes and threw them in the lake (acro shoes float so they could jump in and retrieve them easily). - [Absolute Clowning: Preston Sturges](https://iraseid.com/absolute-clowning-preston-sturges/): I’m halfway through seeing the three series of the TV show FARGO. As usual I’m an advocate of the clown Max Wall’s philosophy of life which he said was “One thing leads to another “. In reading about Fargo I saw that the writer Noah Hawley was commissioned by FX to “create a Coen Brothers” script. Noah was already a fan of the Coens, but, then analysed all of their films and scripts. - [Show Biz, The Art of Variety](https://iraseid.com/show-biz-the-art-of-variety/): There was a time when one said they were in “show business” or “show biz”. The performers understood that they shared a common bond with their colleagues whether they were singers, actors, dancers, circus artistes, musical theatre performers, etc. It was also a business that thrived in diversity and international artistes who traveled to perform. The supporting folks who made the entertainment industry flow included producers, technicians, agents, and publicists. - [Diversity Is Normal](https://iraseid.com/diversity-is-normal/): Martha Graham was one of the most prolific directors/creators of live performance. From the beginning of her company she worked closely with a diverse group of artists including her dancers, designers, musicians. She was born in 1895 and continued to direct and create into her early 90s. Graham had also worked as a dancer in Vaudeville which was a completely diverse community artists and producers. A zenith in the live performing arts. Martha Graham - Here she is working with the Riga, Latvia born Russian defector Baryshnikov. Here Graham is about 93 years old. Baryshnikov is rehearsing for one of her classic works Appalachian Spring. Also in the production was Rudolf Nureyev who had worked several times with Graham. Photo by Martha Swope. - [Non-Clown Clowns](https://iraseid.com/non-clown-clowns/): Clown is a natural phenomenon. - [Einstein and The Radical Clown](https://iraseid.com/einstein-and-the-radical-clown/): Wavy Gravy was one of the first radical clowns within the hippie movement. His performance career started in standup comedy and the more radical comedian Lenny Bruce was Wavy’s manager. Wavy’s real or birth name was Hugh Romney. His one comedy album is as Hugh Romney that album is on youtube. - [The Incredible Clown – Sid Caesar](https://iraseid.com/the-incredible-clown-sid-caesar/): Astounding. ACTOR/CLOWN/WRITER SID CAESAR - [Consulting Elders](https://iraseid.com/consulting-elders/) - [The Universal Mind and Non-Clown Clowns](https://iraseid.com/the-universal-mind-and-non-clown-clowns/): Jazz Musicians; Scientists: People can be ‘clowns’ without doing clowning as a profession. - [Is Nonsense Necessary to Make Sense of Society?](https://iraseid.com/is-nonsense-necessary-to-make-sense-of-society/): Is Nonsense Necessary to Make Sense of Society? - [Collaboration – “The Quantum Point”](https://iraseid.com/collaboration-the-quantum-point/): “The Quantum Point” is what I call the magic space in time where creativity can move in any direction or manner. Physically, the pineal gland is like the embodied metaphor of The Quantum Point. In the book Clown Secret (2018, 2020) there is a chapter Co-Creating. The Quantum Point can be the fulcrum between and balancing of collaborators. The follow-up book is also self-published “Quantum Theatre: Slapstick to Shakespeare”. I liked this article and the way the writer/mother/artist reflected on a challenging environment. https://busymockingbird.com/2013/08/27/collaborating-with-a-4-year-old/ - [Truth Is Not Black or White… it is more grey and fluid like Yin/Yang](https://iraseid.com/truth-is-not-black-or-white-it-is-much-more-grey-and-more-fluid-like-yin-yang/): This book link below was posted on fb today. This is great to see such a book. I will order it. Certainly in the USA the Entertainment Industry was an ‘activist’ in making the wedge into the public’s psyche to change it’s programmed and historic racism. That activism started already in the early films, but, as the public generally was living in a fully racist society, activism had to be cunning and incrementally introduced into films. Even Sammy Davis, Jr in his autobiography explains for example how he had to enter venues by the kitchen and was not permitted to use the front entrance even though he was one of the most talented and highly revered entertainers. Then is was Las Vegas and the “Rat Pack” which he was a part of that forged an open path for him. His friends in the pack included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, who along with Jerry Lewis ensured and forced greater exposure of Davis. But there is a set of ‘politically correct’ myths including how ‘black face’ functioned. Black face though controversial was consciously turned into an important wedge. Also the so-called ‘demeaning’ roles in films as servants (historically accurate) in almost all cases (not each, not all, but most) the film makers ‘placed’ the Black Americans so that people could visually see yes they are an equal part of the society. Additionally, almost always the Black servants and characters were recognisably with a nobility. Some were the opposite, but most were positive roles even if the character’s job was as a servant. Hal Roach already in the 1920s insisted to have a Black American child in The Little Rascals/Our Gang. Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Milton Berle were just a few of the most famous entertainers who fought the system and used their stardom to do so. Two books which deal with some of these themes are: “Blackface, White Noise” by Michael Rogin; and, the even politically oriented “The Eddie Cantor Story” by David Weinstein. - [Post-Pandemic Comedy of 1922 about Doctors/Medicine](https://iraseid.com/post-pandemic-comedy-of-1922-about-doctors-medicine/): Comedy made shortly after the Spanish Flu Pandemic. Doctors in the same field may often hold very different opinions. Thus the old adage “get a second opinion”. If you need a doctor go to one. BUT it is known that one tries to find a ‘good’ one as some doctors are better than others. For the record for change of seasons, and sometimes before or after long overseas trips, for those occasions when I feel maybe I should see a doctor ….. I almost always go to A CHINESE DOCTOR or a Doctor of Chinese Medicine who is either FROM China or Korea or Japan. The first time I went to one, it was because a friend was going and knew this particular one who was from Japan. That was in 1976. So I happened to see this the other day and had absolutely no idea about the subject nor story. “ Dr. Jack, has plenty of practice but scant fees. He believes in using sunshine methods and avoids medicine as far as possible. This is quite contrary to the methods employed by the renowned Dr. Ludwig von Saulsbourg (Mayne), who for four years has reaped a golden harvest out of the father (Prince) of the Sick-Little-Well-Girl (Davis), keeping the latter in dark rooms and feeding her drugs without end.” Western Medicine is brilliant with emergency care!! And microsurgery!!! And one form of diagnosis (Chinese Medicine has a different perspective). And several other areas. Chinese Medicine has its own virtues including 1000s of years of practice. A few years ago while on ‘tour’ with Cirque du Soleil I was near the teacher of my friend (a juggler who became a Doctor of Chinese Medicine). So I went for a general checkup. That Doctor was 15th generation of a Chinese family of doctors of Chinese Medicine. - [Ponydance: Clown? Dance? Or beyond?](https://iraseid.com/ponydance-clown-dance-or-beyond-this-essay-got-lost-but-now-its-found/): Clown Phenomenon – Pony Dance - [A GLIMPSE INTO THE AUSTRALIAN CIRCUS FESTIVAL](https://iraseid.com/a-glimpse-into-the-australian-circus-festival/): A GLIMPSE INTO THE AUSTRALIAN CIRCUS FESTIVAL - [Synchronistic Shakespeare](https://iraseid.com/synchronistic-shakespeare/): On the days that I do yoga in my living room I am surrounded by 8 bookcases. When I do seated asanas I am next to 2 of the bookcases. One of those has my books on Shakespeare, Chaplin, Beckett, Joyce. So I always see titles which tempt me. I almost always give in that temptation and select the book that that catches my interest. Today it was “The Shakespeare Wars: Clashing Scholars, Public Fiascoes, Palace Coups”. I would say 2/3 of my books I have yet to read. I collect them for future reference or future reading. - [Trance Acting And Hands](https://iraseid.com/trance-acting-and-hands/): One of the biggest breakthroughs in the teaching of contemporary acting came from Vahktangov when he directed the Jewish troupe Habima in Russia in “The Dybbuk”. He discovered (observed, understood, was inspired by) the way the Jewish actors naturally went into trance and how they used their hands. Vahktangov made other developments in acting including impovising on the themes of a play to develop a sense of play and to find the organic (trance) depth of character needs and expression. He was part of a cluster of Stanislavsky, Sulerzhitzky, Meyerhold who were fervent in their research, creations, and dialogic discoveries of which we are all recipients. Even Tadashi Suzuki has acknowledged “still Stanislavsky’s are the best books on acting”. Scholar Mel Gordon has written about Vahktangov’s major breakthrough about hands in acting occured during the time he was directing The Dybbuk and he took sick and was in the hospital next to an old Jewish man. When visitors came to see the old man, Vahktangov saw how animated the old man’s hands were when he spoke with visitors. So what Vakhtagov had thought was amateur acting by the Jewish players was in fact a deep state of communication as well as their cultural way. Thus instead of trying to control the actors he let them be. Another result was that the production was a breakthrough on many levels. Gordon notes some of this in his book on Stanislavsky The Russian Years. But I also attended his lecture on The Dybbuk many years ago. He had interviewed all of the then living actors who had been in the original Dybbuk production. Vahktangov’s lesson about authentic acting is true for each culture be it Australian Indigenous people, or Black Americans, or Italians etc. As Dario Fo noted in his book “Tricks of the Trade” he was highly critical of Lecoq method as it neutered everyone’s culture so they all acted like cultureless clones even if they came from Europe or Asia or South America. Their natural expression was reduced to a cold aesthetic. In the profession one has to learn to balance ‘natural’ with ‘professional’. Vahktangov mastered that via the Jewish players. Here is a very rare glimpse into the authentic Jewish culture as two great Rabbi’s born in Russia and meeting in USA are discussing matters important to them and their culture. Although the title uses the word ‘arguing’ as in the Italian sense as taught to me by my teacher Carlo Mazzone-Clementi ‘argumento’ implies and means discussion in Italian. In Jewish and Tibetan cultures also the rabbis and monks are taught to discuss with their whole heart, mind, body, soul with great fervency. Those who know my method The Four Articulations have techniques and creative exercises to learn how the hands work in relation to creativity, acting, trance, the body, and self expression. www.iraseid.com - [Four Cultural Hugs](https://iraseid.com/four-hugs-four-cultural-hugs/): FOUR CULTURAL HUGS - [Shakespeare Space-Time Continuum](https://iraseid.com/shakespeare-space-time-continuum/): SHAKESPEARE’S SPACE-TIME CONTINUUM.This week I saw King Lear and Cymbeline. Huge, long, meandering plays. In London, 2016. Cymbeline is the play with endless endings. King Lear is the play with endless middle scenes. Both have mystical elements as well as very earthy elements of; lust, death, power, family squabbles, tragedy and comedy.I think that the division of Shakespeare’s plays into either a tragedy, or history, or comedy starts the theatre community with a fallacy. It has long been my approach that the plays of Shakespeare are possibly all tragi-comedies. - [Dame Cecily Courtneidge – female comic acrobat, comedienne. One of Australia’s ‘first’ female ‘clowns’](https://iraseid.com/dame-cecily-courtneidge-female-comic-acrobat-comedienne-one-of-australias-first-female-clowns/): ” Cicely Courtneidge was born on April 1, 1893 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia as Esmerelda Cicely Courtneidge. Her father was from England”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYQNfMFs7uA - [Carlo’s Revenge – Project “Commedia Toto”](https://iraseid.com/carlos-revenge-project-commedia-toto/): Carlo’s Revenge – Project “Commedia Toto” in part in memory of my teacher Carlo Mazzone-ClementiI am in Italy, the country of Carlo’s birth. This project “Commedia Toto” owes much to Carlo and is a transference of his energy. Carlo was complex and I understood early that he was like a fire and if you got too close you might get burned. There are others who could tell drastically more about Carlo than me but that is up to them to write or not to.So, one of my teachers, and a most important one was Carlo Mazzone-Clementi of Padua, Italy. He was the founder of the Dell’arte School in California along with Jane Hill his wife and who was also an inspiring teacher (actress, comedienne). Carlo’s Assistant was Joan Schirle – a deeply wonderful person and complete Person of the Theatre. - [Ira’s Background with Shakespeare](https://iraseid.com/iras-background-with-shakespeare/): Ira has a unique and extensive background with Shakespeare and clown. - [3 Shakespeare Roles in BSC](https://iraseid.com/3-shakespeare-roles-in-bsc/): In the BSC 1992 season I played many minor characters in the three plays – Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice, Richard III. We were 16 actors (including John Bell and his wife Anna Volska) touring in repertory all three plays. 5 of us also later did a season touring bits of Shakespeare in a schools’ program directed by John. BSC was going to do 2 schools programs that year, one as per above of bits directed by John. The other was to be A Midsummer Night’s Dream in my 50-minute adaptation in avant-garde/experimental physical theatre form. It was decided for budgetary reasons to do only John’s bits show. - [Meetings With Remarkable Clowns](https://iraseid.com/meetings-with-remarkable-clowns/): In 1979 I chose to leave the USA to see the European traditional one-ring circus clowns. I left for 3 weeks, but, have been gone since 1979. Amongst the clowns I met in the first instance in Europa were Alfred Pauwells and Charlie Rivels. By 1979 however I was just beginning to be discovered as a clown myself. I had already apprenticed Danny Chapman (former Boss Clown of one Ringling Circus Units when Lou Jacobs was Boss of the other). I had already started training as an actor, and had trained at Dell’ arte school with its Founder Carlo and his staff. I had already created my own shows at The Eureka Theater of San Francisco (that theatre later commissioned Tony Kushner’s Angels in America). And I had also completed two tours with Kit n Kaboodle an American clown troupe at that time.  So in 1979 within a few weeks three offers were made to me: 1) Ringling Clown College had offered me a full-scholarship that in my case actually included pay; 2) Circus Vargas offered me a contract as a clown and to learn the classic “Frog in the Barrel” act since I was a contortionist; 3) Bill Irwin asked me to be his partner for his first NYC show. Hard to believe but I turned all three down as I felt I wanted to see and study the old masters in Europa and to see where that led me. I had just worked out a little street act, really just bits of partner acro/juggling/clown with Bernadette Sabbath a friend who was also en route to Europa. - [Teaching Is Learning](https://iraseid.com/teaching-is-learning/): Teaching is not easy. Every teacher needs to question their self, daily. BKS Iyengar has written a fine book on teaching called “The Tree of Yoga”. A teacher needs to provide an honest history of any subject that they offer. Professionally many practitioners of theatre and performance skills recognized long ago that my method was unusually potent. Thus, I have always insisted that anyone who studies with me should also be sure to have at least one other teacher besides me. Usually I am really talking about them getting at least a movement teacher since I feel that movement can be more transparent than many aspects of acting, clown or theatre. Most often my recommendation or the actor’s recognition of what they should study in terms of movement comes about from our conversation. Usually I recommend one of the three general areas of; dance, yoga or martial arts. - [Reviewing the Reviewers](https://iraseid.com/reviewing-the-reviewers/): Prior to becoming a resident then citizen of Australia I worked in an avant-garde world of theatre where, at the time, reviews were largely irrelevant. That was then and now is now. On the few occasions that my shows were reviewed in Helsinki once and Auckland a few times and once I think in San Francisco – in those I survived in good reports. - [Beyond The Norm in Clown Training](https://iraseid.com/beyond-the-norm-in-clown-training/): Beyond the Norm in Clown Training by Ira Seidenstein, PhDThis is a brief article on the subject of Clown Training. The point of the article is to open discussion about topics that seem to lack discourse in the field of Clown Training. There are a lot of assumptions. Here I am simply providing a counter-point of view to some of those key assumptions. - [Snipets. Prelude to Clown Secret book.](https://iraseid.com/29985-2/): This morning I saw a cloud that was to me like a clown’s face. I will attempt over the next 40 days to write a daily blog. Short or long. This celebrates the omen I saw in the cloud or the cloud that I chose to read as if it was an omen. Yesterday my colleague Caspar Schjelbred encouraged me (again) to write my book of clown. I saw a fabulous ‘clown’ show last night. So I am celebrating clown, the ‘omen’, the push by a colleague, the show.At the moment, I am on the last week of my annual teaching/directing/performing tour in Europa. Since 2006 I have come about twice a year to Europa (including UK).I am presently, this week, teaching one of the companies that I mentor. This one is in Ireland, Ponydance. They are their own form of ‘clown troupe’. They will perform soon in The American Dance Festival.I am also preparing for several projects. One is directing Antony & Cleopatra in Sydney with a performing season June 4-15. During that season I will be performing in Slava’s Snow Show for its Sydney season June 11-16.more anonIra - [Shakespeare Productions 2012](https://iraseid.com/shakespeare-productions-2012/): The Madness of King Lear – a duet Directed by Ira Seidenstein, Dramaturgy – Ira Seidenstein, Collaborative DevisingOpens at Adelaide Fringe March 8. Onward journey fringe festivals Tokyo, NYC, Avignon, Edinburgh, concludes in Sydney September 2012. ## Pages - [Park Sanghyun](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/park-sanghyun/): ​Alice Williams is a performance maker, theatre director, and phd researcher. - [Grėtė Šmitaitė](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/grete-smitaite/): Grėtė Šmitaitė has been doing the creative mentorship program with Ira Seidenstein in 2021-2023. During this time, with Ira's support as a mentor, she has developed and keeps internationally touring solo pieces "Meadow" and "Cracks". - [Serena Weatherall](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/serena-weatherall/): Serena Weatherall - Biography and Website - [Frane Meden](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/frane-meden/): Frane Meden is an actor, performer and teacher based in Pula, Croatia. - [Tree Stewart](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/tree-stewart/): Based in Cornwall, UK. Musician, circus, physical theatre performer and teacher. - [Gemima Jones](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/gemima-jones/): Gemima Jones is a quirky Melbourne-based contortionist, unwelcome at most parties due to a tendency to pour drinks with her feet. - [Dorothée Défontaine](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/dorothee-defontaine/): ​​​French performer based outside of Paris. She directs the company Aux Arts Etc. - [Flavien Renaud](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/flavien-renaud/): Flavien Renaud is an artist based in Switzerland. He is a performer in clown and mime. Being a trainer in vocal and scenic expression, he also includes singing in most of his shows. Flavien holds a PhD in anthropology.  Flavien has created a solo clown show under the direction of Ira. He has also performed in an improvised mime show and in different theater plays. He has created La Voix du geste, through which he proposes shows and trainings. - [Casey Lynne Delaney](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/casey-lynne-delaney/): ​Casey Lynne Delaney earned a B.A. Honours in Theatre Studies at the University of King's College in Nova Scotia, Canada. She is a Freelance Performer based in the USA. - [Marijana Matokovic](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/marijana-matokovic/): Marijana is a theatre director, puppeteer, mime, and Clown Doctor. Marijana performs in television and theatre. - [ACTOR/CLOWN ARTISTS](https://iraseid.com/actor-clown-artists/): Here you will find a cache of essays about clowns who were so inspired, yet who are rarely discussed within the field of Clown. - [CLOWN TRAINING](https://iraseid.com/clown-training/): There are a few patterns in clown training that each tends to be dogmatic within its own borders, and, tends to be antagonistic towards other viewpoints. - [CREATIVE ACTING](https://iraseid.com/creative-acting/): This group of essays introduces a process of recalibrating your ways of discussing the field of Clown and Clowning. - [Creative Mentorship](https://iraseid.com/creative-mentorship/): CREATIVE MENTORSHIP is effective immediately and long term. It has worked repeatedly with numerous individuals and their specific talents, skills, needs and situation. - [Book: Quantum Theatre: Slapstick to Shakespeare](https://iraseid.com/book-quantum-theatre-slapstick-to-shakespeare/): By Ira Seidenstein - [Interviews](https://iraseid.com/interviews/): Extensive interview from 2017 by courtesy of Mike Finch, Circus Network Australia.​Click the link to read/download pdf (51 pages). - [Leonie McDonagh](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/leonie-mcdonagh/): ​​​Leonie McDonagh is artistic director of the award winning Ponydance (Northern Ireland and International). - [Amanda-Lyn Pearson](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/amanda-lyn-pearson/): ​Amanda-Lyn Pearson is the creator and director of The Crackup Sisters. - [Christopher Howell](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/christopher-howell/): ​​​Christopher has a BA (Hons, double-major) in Theatre Arts and Studio Arts and trained as a classical singer at the Accademia Filarmonica in Bologna, Italy.  Based in London, he now performs internationally as a magician as well as in his magic variety act Norvil & Josephine.You can read a blog post on Christopher's experience with Ira Seidenstein's technique here. - [Empress Cherry Sunday](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/empress-cherry-sunday/): ​​​​Stacey Laureyssens – aka Empress Cherry Sunday – is an international award-winning face painter. She diligently studies the art of clown and her skills in face painting, balloons and puppetry to bring something unique to any event. - [Jim Pickles](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/jim-pickles/): ​​​Jim Pickles (Professor Pantaloon) used to be a research scientist, working on hearing. He made important fundamental discoveries on the functioning of the inner ear, has published many scientific papers, holds two doctorates (PhD and DSc), and wrote a major textbook on hearing “An Introduction to the Physiology of Hearing” which In four editions has been in print for over 35 years. He has given lectures and seminars on the anatomy and physiology of movement, particularly in relation to contortion. He took up clowning in his old age, performing in cabarets in Australia and overseas, and, basically, anywhere that will take him. - [Butzi](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/butzi/): ​Butzi is a magician and a speaker. - [Dan Renwick](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/dan-renwick/): ​Dan Renwick is a circus performer, clown & actor based in Tallinn, Estonia. He is the founder and artistic director of TaDaa! Festival and organiser of Open Tsirkus Stage. - [Elena Odessa Ray](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/elena-odessa-ray/): ​​​Elena Odessa Ray is an actress, clown and burlesque performer – aka Polly Pony Girl.​ She is also the creator of the immersive theatre show Let Them Eat Cake.​​​ - [Michelle Cajolet-Couture](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/michelle-cajolet-couture/): ​Michelle Cajolet-Couture is a Canadian performer & director based in France. - [Emily Burton](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/emily-burton/): ​​​Emily Burton is a physical theatre artist and clown based in Los Angeles, California. - [Book: Clown Secret](https://iraseid.com/clown-secret-the-book/): The secret held tight by the finest performers relies on universal principles. CLOWN SECRET will reveal those universal principles which are immediately useful and will place the secret within the reader's grasp. - [Upcoming Workshops](https://iraseid.com/upcoming-workshops/): ​​Please note: The following dates were confirmed before the worldwide corona pandemic. We expect/hope to be able to maintain them all. Check in with the local organisers for more information.​•  Porto, Portugal – Sep 14-18​•  Pula, Croatia – Sep 21 to Oct 4​•  Paris, France – Oct 7-11If you are unable to attend any of these workshops and are interested in organising another one in your home city or home country, please write directly to Ira. - [Contact](https://iraseid.com/contact/): Ira is based in Brisbane, Australia, and travels across the world. - [Clown Practice](https://iraseid.com/clown/): “It is a rare and unique individual who commits himself to a life of clowning. Ira is such a person. He is also one of the most naturally funny people I have ever met. He approaches his craft with a reverence for, and deep understanding of the tradition to which he belongs and which he continues with his own work. But what is beautiful about his performances, as far as I am concerned, is that there is always a hint of danger brewing just under the surface. This is the energy of the ‘contrary’ eager to expose any pretense in our selves and, like an incorrigible Zen master, slap us back into reality.” - [Oliver Pollak](https://iraseid.com/international-school/patrons/oliver-pollak/): ​Oliver Pollak is a mime artist, teacher and director based in Berlin, Germany. - [Anna Yen](https://iraseid.com/international-school/patrons/anna-yen/): Anna Yen is a Brisbane-based performer, theatre maker, director and movement teacher whose work spans theatre, contemporary circus and film. Her PlayMoves - Movement Workshops for Performance integrate the Feldenkrais Method with ensemble exercises and games to train performers' presence, pleasure to play, and complicity with other performers. - [Younes Bashir](https://iraseid.com/international-school/patrons/younes-bashir/): ​Younes Bachir is a theatre director, mentor and actor. He has twenty five years of international experience in performing arts, experimenting different artistic languages based on collective creation (physical theatre, chamber opera, macro events, video art and cinema). - [Terrence Price](https://iraseid.com/international-school/patrons/terrence-price/): ​​Price and McCoy are the only act in the world continuing the tradition of Australian Knockabout Acrobatics. During twenty-five years, Price and McCoy have successfully combined their unique talents to recreate the excitement of vaudeville for the modern audience. - [Tim McGarry](https://iraseid.com/international-school/patrons/tim-mcgarry/): Passionate about interrogating, developing and devising new Australian work, Tim McGarry trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and works as a writer, director, dramaturge and a devising theatre maker. - [Frederick Copperwaite](https://iraseid.com/international-school/patrons/frederick-copperwaite/): Frederick Copperwaite has been active in the theatre since 1978 and has extensive experience, working variously, as an actor, theatre director, theatre producer, dramaturge and acting teacher, both in Australia and abroad.He has performed in over 100 plays and his numerous television and film credits include work with international actors and film makers such as Julie Christie, William Hurt, Richard Obrien, SammoHung, Bill Butler, Keifer Sutherland and Jackie Chan.Frederick is a co-founder and artistic director of the NSW based Aboriginal performing arts company,​ Mooghalin Performing Arts. He has worked as an arts educator with the Bell Shakespeare Company since 2007 and since 2011 he has been head of Theatre and Screen Performance Studies at Eora College of Aboriginal Studies, Centre for Visual and Performing Arts in Redfern NSW. - [Tom Bishop](https://iraseid.com/international-school/patrons/tom-bishop/): ​Tom Bishop is Professor of English at the University of Auckland, where he works on Shakespeare and on commedia dell'arte. He is the author of Shakespeare and the Theatre of Wonder​, the editor of Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre​, and the co-editor of the annual Shakespearean International Yearbook. He also acts and sings, but he does not dance much. - [Anna-Sophie Jürgens](https://iraseid.com/international-school/patrons/anna-sophie-jurgens/): Anna-Sophie works in the fields of Popular Entertainment Studies and Science in Fiction Studies. She seeks to gain a better understanding of how popular arts of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were, and are, formative for our present. She is interested in the cultural and aesthetic capital of violent and cannibal clowns, epileptic dancers, freak performers, and mad scientists. In her current  research project she explores the interplay and relationship between comic performance and technology in culture. At the moment she lives in Berlin, but soon in Australia again, and spends a lot of time in archives and libraries studying historical clown robots. For more info see here. - [Adam Bruin](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/adam-bruin/): ISAAC Associate - [Naree Shields](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/naree-shields/): ​​​Naree Shields holds a BA Communication (Theatre/ Media) & a Grad. Dip. Education (Drama/ English), from Charles Sturt University Bathurst. Since graduating in 1994, she has devised & performed street/circus theatre; toured TYP shows; facilitated theatre workshops; worked as a drama teacher and studied oriental philosophy & healing. Naree has been mentored by Dr Ira Seidenstein since 2006. She has created & performed original clown storytelling shows, including “Grumblebum & Goglow’s magic seed”, “Stories in a Suitcase” & “Gardener Growellu & the Pink Feather Boa”. Naree has worked collaboratively with Theatre of Living Light to devise “The Sacred Earth Spectacular” as well as assistant directing & performing in a site specific performance of “The Bacchae”. Naree works regularly with the Q Theatre Company as a tutor for Studio Q acting classes & was a director for “Flanno fest” 2009 & 10, a theatre festival for drama students in Western Sydney. - [Robin Davidson](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/robin-davidson/): ​Robin Davidson is director of community and professional theatre, clown, actor teacher and writer. - [Bruno Lucia](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/bruno-lucia/): ​​Actor and stand-up comedian, Bruno Lucia has earned his showbiz stripes entertaining audiences internationally,winning fans in Australia, the U.K. and the U.S.A. For a complete biography - see Bruno's web site. - [Emily Joy](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/emily-joy/): ​​​Emily Joy is an Australian actress. - [Flloyd Kennedy](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/flloyd-kennedy/): ​​​Flloyd Kennedy is an Australian actress, singer, director, and voice coach. - [David Pearce](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/david-pearce/): ​​​David Pearce is co-director of Intuitive Way. - [Heleen Van den Bosch](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/heleen-van-den-bosch/): ​​​PhD Research Student in Belgium. In 2013 she participated in Commedia Toto, directed by Ira Seidenstein. - [Oona Doherty](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/oona-doherty/): ​​​Oona Doherty is a performance/visual Artist. The Guardian’s Top Ten Dance Productions 2019 awarded Oona Doherty in first place. - [Danica Hilton](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/danica-hilton/): ​​​Danica Hilton is a circus artist. She has worked with Cirque du Soleil. In 2013 she participated in Commedia Toto, directed by Ira Seidenstein. - [Olivia Moore](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/olivia-moore/): ​Olivia Moore is a French comédienne and actress. - [Alice Williams](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/alice-williams/): ​Alice Williams is a performance maker, theatre director, and phd researcher. - [Amanda Bishop](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/amanda-bishop/): ​Amanda Bishop is a noteworthy Australian actress, singer, comedienne. Currently still revered for her impersonation and interpretation of Australia's first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Amanda wrote and created the TV show "At Home With Julia". She has acted in the Sydney Theatre Company's Wharf Revue from 2008-2014. In the Wharf Revue 2013 she moved away from her fame as "Julia Gillard" and portrayed more than six other characters. - [Haley Brown](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/haley-brown/): ​​​Haley Brown is currently a wanderer, finishing up her year-long project "Infinities: Expanding the Modes of Performing and Being through Improvisation," as part of a 2014-2015 Watson Fellowship. She plans to pursue a rich, messy collection of different kinds of work in visual arts, theatre, clown, education, childcare, advocacy, face-painting, and raising chickens. - [Kevin Gorczynski](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/kevin-gorczynski/): ​​​Kevin Gorczynski is an autodidact mime. At the age of 14 he was a Black Belt and the European champion in Nunchaku. From the age of 15 he has been in regular employment first as a dancer and then as a mime/clown at a variety of theme parks in Holland, Germany, and currently in France.In 2015 he graduated from the Dance Academy of Utrecht. Since 2013 he has studied with Ira in numerous workshops and also performed in his projects in Italy and Paris.Recently Kevin has been a finalist for two roles in Cirque du Soleil. Kevin is fluent in Dutch, German, English, and has an intermediate ability with Polish and French.He has also written, directed, choreographed and played the main role in 2015 & 2016 for the main theme park’s Halloween season show for the month of October. - [Florian Bartsch](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/florian-bartsch/): ​​​Florian Bartsch is an actor, director and teacher in Paris. He founded the theatre companies The Improfessionals, NEW – The Improvised Musical and Schwartzbrotgold as well as the improvisation school Impro Academy. - [Oscar West](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/oscar-west/): ​​​Oscar West is a musician & actor, current member of the Pop-up Globe theatre company in New Zealand and Australia. - [Suzie Ferguson](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/suzie-ferguson/): ​​​Suzie graduated from Glasgow University with a degree in Hispanic Studies in 2004. In 2006 she moved to Barcelona and after a short clown course she spent 2 years street performing a successful clown/magic act.In 2008 she joined Theatre Modo, a Glasgow-based theatre company specialising in large scale community engagement projects and social circus as a Workshop Leader.After training with Angela de Castro and Eric de Bont, she co-devised and performed SICK, a solo clown show exploring the experiences of being sick and in hospital through the eyes of a clown, with Martin Danziger and was nominated for a CATs award for best female performance in 2010.After training with Ira Seidenstein, Suzie worked with Tenterhooks theatre company to co-create and perform in Werewomen, Call of Nature and The Weird Sisters as well as several short clown sketches for theatre.She is now Artistic Director of Hearts and Minds, and continues to practice in Children's Hospitals, Hospices, Respite centres and Dementia Units across Scotland as her alter egos, Dr Maybee and Bonnie Elderflower. - [Caspar Schjelbred](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/caspar-schjelbred/): Caspar Schjelbred is a performer, teacher, and director specialised in physical improvisation. He is the founder of Impro Supreme – a structured training methodology rooted in physical improvisation, clown, and mime, founded in Paris in 2010 and now based in Copenhagen. - [Elena Michielin](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/elena-michielin/): ​​​Elena Michielin is originary from Italy. She is a professionally trained actress and physical performer, graduated in Drama and Visual Art from the University of Padua. She began her acting career with a Commedia dell'Arte troupe in Venice. In 2007 she moved to Paris to study at the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq. Since 2009 she trains with Ira Seidenstein and co-assisted him during the Bagni di Lucca's Art Festival, for the shows “Commedia Toto” and “Woman In Rags”. In 2014 she joined the Improfessionals. Nowadays she is the co-director of the italian acting group Rital-Teatro, perform and work with Vini Carvalho artistic director of Fool's Cap Theatre, and recently played in Macbeth with the London based company The Factory Theatre.She regularly teaches to adults and children Commedia dell’Arte and physical theatre. - [Hugh W. Brown](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/hugh-w-brown/): ​​​Hugh W. Brown lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is an Actor with 22 years experience in Film, Theatre, Street Performance, Circus, Clown and Music, specialising in producing work for young audiences. Recent theatre credits: CahootsNi; Shh we have a Plan (USA tours 2018/19), The Family Hoffman Mystery Palace, Duck Death and the Tulip and Egg (2016 USA, London winner of Best Show for Young People Off West End). Performed solo all over Europe, Asia, Australia representing Ireland in the Street Performance World Championships. Hugh performed at the Opening Ceremony of The Special Olympics in Croke Park, Dublin; and as The Point Man in 'Waking of the Giant' at Warrenpoint. He was co-creator and librettist for CahootsNi’s musical productions of Pinocchio and Milo’s Hat Trick; Co-Director Writer and Performer in the Dublin Culture Connects/ Cois Ceim production Alight! and D.C.C’s Dockers and Demons.In Cambodia, Hugh wrote, produced, co-directed and performed the lead in the feature film INSIDE THE BELLY OF A DRAGON which has received special selection at the Cambodian Film Festival and Belfast Film Festival in 2017. Throughout those 22 years and as a result of his work with leading arts organisations like Belfast Community Circus, Lunar Circus, City Fusion and CahootsNI, Hugh has developed his own programme of creative exploration, Theatrical Thinking. - [Pauline Calmé](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/pauline-calme/): ​​​Pauline is an actor, teacher & director of Improvisational theatre, as well as a musician and an engineer.She has performed in 150+ professional theatre shows (improvisation, clown, mask, contemporary and classical).From 2013 to 2018 she performed in the successful long-form improv show Le Fauteuil as a member of the Parisian company Smoking Sofa. She was part of 15 improvisation festivals as teacher, performer and director in France, Slovenia, New Zealand (New Zealand Impro Festival 2017, Nelson Fringe Festival 2018) and Australia (Improvention 2017 in Canberra).She has created 2 written solos (Correspondances unilatérales, Paulin.e.s) and she is currently performing an improvised one (Unleash the Beast). - [Iva Peter-Dragan](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/iva-peter-dragan/): ​​​Iva Peter-Dragan is the founder and artistic director at TRIKO CIRCUS THEATRE, awarded the Best Croatian independent theatre of the season 2011/2012. The performances of Triko have been performed around the globe.She continually works in professional theatre productions in Croatia, both as director, movement choreographer and performer. Her most recent work is the circus solo Palunko’s Wife which she directs and performs.Her TV & movie experience includes casting circus artists for big productions, as well as creative coaching for variety acts on Croatia’s Got Talent season 2019 & 2020.Throughout her theatre career she has participated in many drama and clown workshops led by prominent international clowns and comedians: Lee Delong, Jango Edwards, David Shiner, David Larible, Nola Rae, Eric Debont, Ira Seidenstein, Slava Polunin, Tortel Paltrona and many more.Skills: walking on stilts, aerial acrobatics, juggling, playing trombone.In 2004 Iva graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zagreb, her main subjects being English Language and Literature, and Comparative Literature. She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Zadar, the title of her research is THEATRE CLOWN, PERFORMATIVITY OF COMICAL.She is a member the CROATIAN ASSOCIATION OF DRAMA ARTISTS and the CROATIAN ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT ARTISTS. - [Nikolina Majdak](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/nikolina-majdak/): Nikolina Majdak is a performer based in Zagreb, Croatia. She mainly explores the world of clown, street performance and different ways of physical performing. - [Michaela Lind](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/michaela-lind/): ​Michaela Lind is a Swedish performer who calls Brooklyn her home. She has trained in the theater arts, and performed all over the world. She holds a Ritual Performance Technique degree from City University of New York, where she traveled around the US to find the Heyoka. Has sung ABBA medley alongside Bejing’s Children’s opera in Bejing, performed butoh-acrobatic stilts with The Carpetbag Brigade and Circus Stella around the North Americas, performed in Slava Polunin’s backyard, and is bartending jewelry in Brooklyn, Stilt-wakling and singing Swedish A cappella around NYC to pay rent. She recently came back from PlayTheFOOL festival in Canada where she performed her own solo show, MY BIRTHDAY and finished a run at LaMaMa etc with the all female clown troupe show, The Bad Un’s. She is a member of Clown’s Ex Machina, The Drilling Company, and ARA Theater in NYC. - [International School for Acting And Creativity](https://iraseid.com/international-school/): “A different way of seeing, feeling, perceiving.” The Australian - [Biography](https://iraseid.com/biography-ira-seidenstein/): ​Ira Seidenstein has worked in over 140 live productions. - [The Seidenstein Method](https://iraseid.com/method/): The Seidenstein Method is an idea; that the teacher and director's general focus is to observe and to support each participant;via challenges in a professional yet creative way. The means to do that is: a) via the introduction template The Four Articulations for Performance; and, b) via the overarching structure and elements of Quantum Theatre: Slapstick to Shakespeare. - [Patrons](https://iraseid.com/international-school/patrons/): → Read Tom Bishop’s full letter of support - [Associates](https://iraseid.com/international-school/associates/): Actors, performers, directors who have trained with Ira, and apply the Seidenstein Method. - [Home](https://iraseid.com/): Clown • Actor • Teacher • Director - [Blog](https://iraseid.com/blog/): This has been autogenerated as a placeholder for blog.