from "A Turbulence of Muses" (Dec 2016; Portland OR)
Talent demonstrates a capacity for accessing and expressing the internal landscape -- of making the unconscious, conscious -- in a spirit of constant discovery. Skill refers to a dexterity for articulating the internal landscape through externally recognizable forms, symbols, images, and structures. Skill shows precision and clarity of form; talent shows “spirit” in action. Through talent we experience the presence, spontaneity and force of an artist; in skill, we experience their virtuosity, technique, and sense of design or form. More often than not, artists and performers demonstrate an imbalance between talent and skill; too much spontaneity can overwhelm skill and too much structure can crimp talent.
Striking a dynamic balance between talent and skill is the aim of any committed artist and/or performer. The more exceptional the performer, the higher the integration of talent and skill. Though talent cannot really be taught, it can be nurtured by encouraging total freedom of self-expression. Skill, however, can be learned by consistent application of method and technique to clarify the form of whatever our talent can access and express. As talent and skill cohere at higher and higher levels, the miraculous occurs.
Talent in paratheatre refers to an elastic capacity for accessing sources in the body itself, of sourcing or mining the body for veins of autonomous forces, images, emotion, sensation, and the deeper complexes and numinous archetypes of the personal and collective Unconscious; the inner actions of source-work or sourcing. Skill in paratheatre refers to the precision of expression and articulation of source-work. Paratheatre skills cen be developed by an ongoing practice of the trigger methods innate to this medium.
- from State of Emergence
Paratheatre Manifesto - Part 3
by Antero Alli