Play Today! – An Energy Game
Photo courtesy of Mutasim Billah Pritam
[fblike]
On the blog, we’re starting to spotlight exercises we use in rehearsals and workshops. The key is never the game itself, it’s the use of it. One game can be used in so many different ways, accomplishing many different goals. Keep in mind: What does the group need? Why am I using this exercise now? How does it move the group forward?
Any exercise has the power to advance your group, if the teacher is present and teaching inside the game.
Today’s exercise is link tag. This is a great warm-up for most “on your feet” classes. You see immediate boosts in energy, joy and focus. The actors have a wonderful time playing at full speed and connecting with one another. A deceptively simple playground game is steeped in intention work. Tag is a wonderfully uncomplicated game that forces you to do one thing. You’re either “it” or your “free”. No major emotional journeys or huge plans to think up; just run! What could be clearer for an intention class?
HOW TO PLAY (even numbers needed)
- Form a large circle.
- Break everyone off in to twos.
- Each pair links inside arms.
- Make sure there’s space between the pairs.
- Pull one pair out – they’ll start the game. One is “it” and the other is “free”.
- To be safe, the “free” one has to link on to a pair before being tagged.
- Only two people can be linked at a time… so when the “free” one links on to a pair, the outside person is ejected and becomes “free”.
RULES
- Everything happens inside the circle. No running outside the circle.
- Once the “free” one is tagged and becomes “it”, they can instantly try and tag the new “free” one.
- You can’t unlink with your partner until the “free” one links.
- Everyone plays all the time. This is not an elimination game.
SELF-OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
- Did you find yourself jumping ahead, letting go early? If so, why?
- If anyone started giving up as “it” address this, ask why.