Travel to Oaxaca, Mexico for this artists residency! You know how much concentration and energy it takes to translate your artistry to the performance venue and execute masterfully in front of an audience. Imagine how wonderful it would be if you could enhance your ability to be in the spotlight with calm assurance, knowing you are free of worry, time after time.
With this workshop, you will learn to:
- Perform consistently with joy, freedom and satisfaction
- Effectively control the performance jitters that get in the way of execution
- Better convey to your audience the beauty, interpretation and ability you have achieved
- Ensure that you are performing with confidence
During our time together, we will help you identify and overcome the barriers that diminish your ability to concentrate and execute a masterful performance. You can achieve the creative life you have always dreamed about and gain the inner satisfaction and recognition from others that you deserve.
Helen works with client to perform with greater confidence
Why Oaxaca, Mexico? This is an inspiring location! We have chosen the relaxing, get-away-from-it-all, informal village of Teotitlan del Valle — where it is safe and family friendly. Here, nestled under flowering Bougainvillea and 6,000-foot majestic mountain peaks, you will be able to focus on and enjoy developing the skills that will increase your success:
- learning how to use positive self-talk specifically for your desired performance outcomes,
- seeking approval from within, managing perfectionism,
- using progressive muscle relaxation and mental visualization, and
- accepting criticism and feedback.
This residential workshop, designed for adults at various levels of accomplishment, is for students, amateurs and professionals . Forms of expression may be musical instrument, voice, dance, or something else. Through group sessions and personal coaching, you will review your performances and make significant improvements.
In addition, there will be plenty of time to reflect on your performance goals, to hike or walk through the pristine countryside, take an optional cooking class, share your enthusiasm for music and the arts with other participants, discover market towns and artisan villages, meet artists and crafts people, savor Oaxaca’s extraordinary food, and much more.
BONUS: We are in Oaxaca during Guelaguetza, the famed folkloric festival that draws people from around the world. Tickets to the performance are included in your registration fee!
You’ll receive handouts and an extensive reading list, have time for interaction and questions, receive personal attention and coaching in a safe environment, and choose to take part in exercises that can be fun, affirming and transformative. The tools you will learn include highly effective approaches used in other fields to lower stress and increase performance. If you wish, you may bring your instrument to put techniques into practice in real-time – this is entirely optional and not necessary for the learning.
Previous workshop participants have said: “I enjoy a level of performance satisfaction I never knew possible.” “This was a life-altering experience.” “This was the first ‘self-help’ class I actually enjoyed.” “Now I’m free to perform with joy instead of fear.” “”I signed up thinking (the class) would help my students, but I am the one who will benefit the most.”
Helen Spielman, M.A., Perform Confidently
Your Instructor is Helen Spielman, M.A. an acclaimed performance anxiety coach who has an international clientele and presents workshops for a diverse population of stage performers. She is on the faculty of Wildacres Flute Retreat and the University of North Carolina Wellness Center where she teaches musicians, speakers, actors, business professionals and athletes to perform with confidence and concentration.
Helen synthesizes more than 30 years of her own experience as a performing musician, educator, public speaker and nationally certified grief counselor to bring to her workshops a wealth of knowledge and resources. In 2010 Helen became a Fulbright Senior Specialist and inducted as a Distinguished Honorary member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity. Also in 2010 she received a Fulbright-Hayes Grant to teach at the Latin American Festival of the Flute in Honduras.
Helen approaches her sessions with warmth, humor, and support. Because she had severe stage fright herself as a younger person, both as a speaker and musician, and was able to overcome it completely, she is an empathetic and credible guide through the process of learning to performing confidently.
For more complete bio information, see Helen’s website: PerformConfidently.com
Preliminary Schedule*
Friday, July 20, 2012 – Arrive and check-in (light evening snack)
Saturday, July 21 – Morning workshop session, lunch, artist studio visits (includes breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Sunday, July 22 – Guided tour to Tlacolula regional market, lunch, afternoon workshop session (includes B, L, D)
Monday, July 23 – Morning workshop session, afternoon Guelaguetza Folklorica dance and music performance, dinner in Oaxaca city (includes B, L, D and admission to the Guelaguetza)
Tuesday, July 24 – Morning workshop session, afternoon and evening on your own (B)
Wednesday, July 25 – Morning workshop session, afternoon on your own, evening
recital or group performance (optional participation) (includes B, L, D)
Thursday, July 26 – Depart after breakfast and evaluations (B)
*(B=breakfast included; L=lunch included; D=dinner included)
Lodging/Accommodations and Cost
To keep this program affordable, we will stay at a family operated, local bed and breakfast that is clean and basic. If your needs are for luxury accommodations, please consider a different program.
The base cost for the program is $1195 USD. This includes six nights lodging double occupancy, six breakfasts, four lunches, four dinners, tickets and transportation to the Guelaguetza, and all instruction.
Most travel programs of this type and length cost more than twice as much!
It does NOT include airfare, taxes, gratuities, travel insurance, liquor/alcoholic beverages, some meals and transportation.
Plan 1: Basic – Shared Room and Shared Bath, $1195 each person.
Plan 2: Single Private Room with Shared Bath, $1295 each person.
Plan 3: Single Private Room with Private Bath, $1495 each person.
Option 1: Add-on one night, Thursday, July 26 and leave on Friday, July 27; and take a Zapotec cooking class on Thursday for an extra $145 (includes one night lodging, breakfast and cooking class fee, lunch, dinner)
Option 2: Add-on two nights, July 26 and 27, leave on Saturday, July 28, and take part in the Thursday cooking class AND an all-day excursion on Friday, July 27 to the Ocotlan market town and surrounding crafts villages, for an additional cost of $285 per person (includes breakfast, lunch, dinner on both days)
Costs, Reservations and Cancellations
A 50% deposit is required to guarantee your spot. The last payment for the balance due (including any supplemental costs) shall be postmarked by May 26, 2012. We prefer Payment with PayPal. We will be happy to send you an invoice.
If cancellation is necessary, please tell us in writing by email. After May 26 no refunds are possible. However, we will make every possible effort to fill your reserved space. If you cancel before May 26, we will refund 50% of your deposit.
We strongly recommend that you take out trip cancellation, baggage, emergency evacuation and medical insurance before you begin your trip, since unforeseen circumstances are possible.
To register or for questions, contact: oaxacaculture@me.com or call (919) 274-6194. Thank you.
This workshop is produced by Norma Hawthorne, Oaxaca Cultural Navigator LLC.
