I’m a mime. Words don’t come easily for me. Sometimes I joke that words are my second language. But the body, ah, now that can say something! Did you know that 93% of communication is body language and tone of voice and only 7% is actual words?
I’ve been in training for many years, to use my body concisely and lyrically to communicate; that is, I’ve been studying mime. It’s a fascinating art form. The body, as the instrument, has to be tuned. I do this by taking dance and Pilates. The mind has to be trained, too, in the intricacies and subtleties of the medium. In addition to my introduction over 50 years ago to the art of mime by Tony Montanaro, I have spent 1-2 weeks each year in intensive training with the top practitioners of the art, including Stefan Niedzalkowski and Marcel Marceau.
But why study mime? Mime is powerful. Good mime eliminates everything not essential, distilling the movement, timing and breath, until all that’s left is the purity of the message. It’s elegant. It has an incredible range, from the droll humor of human foibles to the drama and poignancy of existence; it can speak of the past and how it affects the future; it can be absolutely simple yet deeply profound. It speaks the essence, the poetry of humanity. It’s also incredibly playful. Without the restriction of words, one can play with ideas, personalities, even reality. In addition to the hard work, mime is just plain fun!
I perform in schools and festivals and libraries and churches. Mime speaks powerfully. Sometimes words can’t express what’s in the heart, and mime is a heart medium, and speaks of what is deep inside us humans.
In His Hands Art 