The Crawl

Over the last few weeks, we have been exploring Sequencing exercises and The Crawl. The Crawl is a highly energetic movement that involves many muscles: arms, legs, back, abdominal muscles. The aim of this activity is to allow the performer to be engaged in a highly physical task - and to vocalise from that movement while keeping the throat open, chest relaxed and belly free. The Transverse is active due to the nature of the movement, but the performer must relax the Rectus Abdominis in order to maintain a sense of freedom in the belly area.

Think of the voice as being extremely powerful, the energy being sourced from deep down in the Centre. Don’t allow your limbs and spine to be stiff and rigid. Use your creative imagination to take the body in all sorts of places, but every move must involve the centre of the body.

1. Position yourself upstage, facing forward.
2. Get into Step1 of the Plank–Front position, with head down.
3. Slowly raise the head as you begin to speak your dialogue and move forward using your feet and hands to move down stage. Never let your knees or belly touch the ground.
4. Be articulate, let the sound be free, open and rich. Let it develop from the Centre.
5. Keep speaking as you crawl, never losing the energy at the end of the line.
6. Freeze when you finish the line in whatever position you find yourself in.
7. Additions:
a. When you reach the end, repeat the speech again while going backwards.
b. Vary the intensity/volume of the voice.
c. When frozen, lift one arm/leg up off the ground.
d. Close your eyes as you lift the arm/leg up off the ground.
e. Speak with eyes shut.

Chris Jackson and Justin Groves