Knickers & Vests: competition, ridicule and performance
Performances:
11th June 3rd International Qualitative Conference in Sport and Exercise - Venue: Whitelands College, Roehampton University
25th May London 2012 Open Weekend - Venue: University Square, Coventry
26th May London 2012 Open Weekend - Venue: Orleans Gallery, Richmond
13th-29th July Interactive Performances and Happenings. Venues: Coventry Parks
30th July British Westfield Health Transplant Games Opening Ceremony. Venue: University Square, Coventry
31st July-1st August British Westfield Health Transplant Games. Interactive Performances and Happenings. Venues: Warwick and Coventry Universities and Coventry Sports Centre.
In the year of the London Olympics Triangle's Knickers & Vests project investigated notions of “discipline” in sport and theatre, inspired by memories of Physical Education between 1948 and the late 1980s. It drew on interviews and memories of compulsory school sport and explored the tactics of reluctant sports participants, asking What are the connections between school sport coaching, dressage choreography, actor training and performance?
A parodic team of misfit sports officials participated in sporting events and devised an emotionally expressive Opening Ceremony. 6 years later, Richard Talbot's 'Dickie Goodwin' is a triathlon age-grouper, competing very seriously in his category.
Research:
Ian Pickup and Lawry Price. Teaching physical education in the primary school : a developmental approach. London ; New York : Continuum International Pub. Group, c2007.
Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839)
The prime developer of natural gymnastics was Per Henrik Ling. In 1813 Ling founded a teacher-training centre, the Royal Gymnastics Central Institute, in Stockholm. Ling devised and taught a system of gymnastic exercises designed to produce medical benefits for the athlete. Calisthenics are attributed to him, including free calisthenics—that is, exercises without the use of hand apparatus such as clubs, wands, and dumbbells. Although Ling did not promote competition, free calisthenics have evolved into the competitive sport now known as floor exercise.
Madame Bergman Osterberg (1849-1915)
Martina Bergman Österberg was a Swedish woman and an early supporter of women's suffrage in Sweden. She trained at the Royal Central Gymnastic Institute in Stockholm, and was appointed Superintendant of Physical Education in Girls' and Infants' Schools by the London School Board in 1881. She founded a college for girls in Hampstead in 1885, known as the Hampstead College of Physical Training. Teacher training was the central activity of the College, following the scientific method of the Swedish teacher Per Henrik Ling.