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Tuning In: Soundpainting for Leaders and Creators Attention EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, ARTIVISTS, and PERFORMERS!
Wednesdays, March 26 - April 16
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Houghton Hall Arts Community
22 E 30th St, New York, NY 10016
$200
(Includes 4 sessions and accompanying reading materials. We encourage you to attend all sessions to get the most out of the experience.)
*All participants receive a $10 discount to the DECENNIA Live Composition Festival in Brooklyn, April 25-26.
Join Leese Walker for Tuning In: Soundpainting for Leaders and Creators, a 4-part masterclass designed to help professionals in education, advocacy, and activism harness the power of improvisation to become more effective, adaptive leaders.
In this course, you'll dive into Soundpainting, an interactive sign language for interdisciplinary improvisation. Learn how to break down communication barriers, build trust within diverse groups, and shift dynamics in any real-world situation. Over the course of 4 weekly sessions, participants will receive an introduction to the methodology of Soundpainting, reinforced by hands-on application with members of the world-renowned Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble.
Soundpainting isn’t just for performers—it’s a tool you can use every day, whether you're leading a classroom discussion, guiding a community meeting, or activating a movement. By practicing the principles of this technique, you’ll gain immediate tools for navigating conflict, fostering collaboration, and engaging others in creative problem-solving.
No experience necessary—just bring your curiosity and willingness to experiment.
Class 1: Wednesday March 26 – SETTING THE TONE
How do we create an environment for trust and collaboration?
In this first session, we’ll establish a foundation for creative leadership. Through engaging, team-building activities, you’ll learn the basics of Soundpainting and experience how its "wrong and strong" philosophy encourages risk-taking, confidence, and adaptability. The focus will be on creating a supportive space where mistakes become opportunities—a valuable mindset for any leader.
Class 2: Wednesday April 2 – DEEP LISTENING
How do we attune ourselves to the moment and those around us?
Great leadership begins with deep listening—paying attention not just to words, but to energy, intention, and the unspoken dynamics in the room. In this session, we’ll explore the art of presence, practicing how to fully receive and build on the contributions of others. Using Soundpainting, we’ll learn how to tune into group dynamics, recognize patterns, and transform what’s offered into something greater. By strengthening your ability to stay open, responsive, and adaptable, you’ll foster trust, creativity, and collaboration in any setting.
Class 3: Wednesday April 9 – COMPOSING WITH WHAT YOU ARE GIVEN
How do we lead with flexibility and embrace the unknown?
The best leaders, like the best improvisers, know that every challenge is an opportunity. In this class, we’ll explore the golden rule of improv—every offer is a gift. You’ll learn how to let go of rigid plans, embrace spontaneity, and build on the ideas of those around you. This practice is invaluable for navigating uncertainty, making space for diverse perspectives, and fostering innovation.
Class 4: Wednesday April 16 – SHAPING THE COMPOSITION
How do we recognize patterns and shape ideas into action?
This session focuses on structuring ideas into a cohesive vision. We’ll explore common storytelling frameworks and compositional techniques to refine our leadership and creative decision-making skills. You’ll practice critical thinking, pattern recognition, and strategic spontaneity—all essential for shaping effective meetings, performances, and group collaborations. In the final half hour, participants will have the option to invite guests and share their work in an informal, supportive setting.
ABOUT LEESE WALKER
Leese Walker is the founder and Producing Artistic Director of NYC’s Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble. The company of jazz musicians, dancers, designers, and actors has been working at the crossroads of activism, arts and social justice since 1997. A leading expert in Soundpainting, she helped adapt this universal sign language for theater and is one of only five certified multidisciplinary Soundpainters in the U.S. She has performed and taught at Lincoln Center, BAM, and internationally in Paris, London, Milan, Madrid, and Indonesia. Her street theater and creative placemaking work has been featured on ABC, CBS, NPR, and CNN Chile. A master teaching artist, she has trained educators at Lincoln Center, BAM, and Roundabout Theatre. She is a recipient of the BAX Arts Educator Award and the APPEX Fellowship.
ABOUT SOUNDPAINTING
Soundpainting is the universal sign language for live composition. The language is comprised of over 1500 signs and allows a conductor/composer to sculpt a performance in real-time with improvising actors, musicians, dancers, and visual artists. The technique was created by N.Y. composer Walter Thompson beginning in the late 1970's for use with jazz musicians. It has evolved into a multidisciplinary language that is practiced worldwide. The art of Soundpainting is a delicate interplay between the Soundpainter and the performers – a dialogue in which an improvised composition is constructed before your very eyes.
STILL NOT SURE?
We understand you might have some hesitations—what if you’re not an artist or you feel self-conscious about improvising? Rest assured, this series is designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of experience or background. You’ll join a supportive group where mistakes are celebrated as part of the creative process, and each session builds on the last to deepen your skills and experience.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Houghton Hall Arts Community, 22 East 30th Street,New York, New York, United States
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