The benefits of singing, music and movement were recalled by Barbara Ciemięga, who held her own body and voice workshop at CIK Orzeł last Saturday and Sunday. The workshop, entitled “Body Music,” was an adventure involving becoming accustomed to the natural sound of the voice, discovering one’s own abilities and getting to know the extraordinary instrument lying dormant in each of our bodies.
As the workshop participants say: “The two-day program provided nourishment for both soul and body. We devoted Saturday’s session to breathing exercises, physical exercises helping to release the voice, games that broke down psychological barriers and improvisation. We gave ourselves plenty of movement, oxygen and laughter. By contrast, we spent Sunday’s session immersed in the soothing sounds of traditional songs that Barbara Ciemięga proposed for us to learn. The songs we learned only seemed difficult at first, and to some they even seemed impossible to master.
The group of a dozen or so people, consisting mainly of amateurs, managed to master three songs from different cultures and traditions—Corsican, Romani and African. What is more, each song was sung in two-part harmony. It was a wonderful, uplifting two-day experience and a huge dose of positive, vital energy from Barbara Ciemięga.
(information: BOK-MCC/ii)