This document describes various mime techniques called "exercises of style" that involve movement without emotional expression. It provides instructions for mime walks, climbing a ladder, pulling motions, flying, moving on a carousel, and walking a tightrope. The goal is to master the technical aspects of these movements before adding characterization.

1. MIME: Exercise of Style
BY Julie Meighan

2. Mime: Exercise of Style

The term ‘Exercise of Style’ has come from the
French school of Mime. Various mimetic illusory
techniques used in mime presentations whether
articular physical skill and control is necessary
have been put together where no particular
emotional impetus is involved. These ‘exercise of
style’ are concerned with walking on the spot,
running, pulling, lifting, throwing, flying, floating.

3. Walks
 Walks: (Where one stays on the spot but gives the
impression of moving from one place to another.)
Front walk: Feet slightly apart. Transfer weight
over one foot and then the other. Then weight
over one foot and other foot sliding on the floor.

4. Side/Profile Walks:

1. Begin with feet together. One foot forwards, toe
contacting floor. Take supporting foot onto the ball of
foot and this effort pulls the front foot back to its
original position besides the other foot.
2. Begin with the feet together –then one foot goes
forwards, parallel to the floor, but not contacting the
floor. This supporting foot goes onto the ball of the foot
and this causes the forward foot to come back to its
original position when it drops to the floor. The action is
then repeated with the other foot.

5. Climbing the Ladder:
 Transfer weight from one foot to the other letting
the body lift as the transfer is made. At the same
time the hands holding the sides of the rungs of
the ladder go down one step length. Then the
hands get a new hold on the ladder and a new
step is made. Shape ad width of the new ladder
must be constant (signified by descent of hands
down sides of the ladder) must be logical.

6. Pulling:
 Beginning: Arms stretched to side –feel pull of top
half of body. First to one side and then the other.
This is not a pull from the waist but rather placing
to the chest.

7. Rope Pulling:
 Hold rope in both hands to side – let thickness of
rope be constant in both hands. Extend arms to
side as far as they will go (body facing front) and
then feel the additional pull of the rope as the
top part of the body takes extra strain –then pull
back with body, followed by arms.

8. Flying:
 Holding balloons, umbrella or a rope above your
head extend arms as far as they go vertically, the
feel as top part of the body takes extra strain. Let
chest extend in direction of upper arm and then
this pulls the body onto the toes.

9. The Carousel:
 First stage moving round in a perfect circle on
toes – letting body float through air in round
circle, use very small rapid toe steps. Then repeat
circle with regular dip and rise as carousel horse
goes up and down. Then hold vertical bar of the
horse. Even though logically try to let the body
down on the circular track as the arms go on the
bar –remember to keep the bar vertical at all
times.

10. The High Wire/Tightrope:
 One foot in front of the other in a straight line.
Heel of front foot against toe of back foot. Slide
forward foot forwards in a straight line letting
knees bend and body bounce to establish tension
of high wire. Then take back foot off ground
(wire) and flow it round in space to place it in
front of supporting foot (the toe of the supporting
leg to contact the heel of the placed foot) then
slide the foot forwards, again keeping knees bent.

11. NB: DO THESE AS PURELY
TECHNICAL EXERCISE AT FIRST
AND THEN ADD
CHARACTERIZATION AND
SITUATION.