“Personality Development” – these two words are of great importance in parenting. Most parents are always on the lookout for different opportunities that will help their wards enhance personality skills.
For those of you who would like to understand PERSONALITY more precisely, it is a set of behavioural, emotional and cognitive patterns that are evolved out of biological & environmental factors. While biological factors can be an influence of the genes, environmental factors will depend on the types of exposure with the external world.
The biological factors are also influenced by the dominant set of multiple intelligences present within each individual. Intelligence is an intellectual potential that we are all born with, something that can be measured. Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner concludes in his research that all of us are gifted with different types of intelligences and have a variation as to which of the intelligence / intelligences play a more dominant role in us. He concludes that there are 8 types of intelligences in all of us, which can be listed as:
- Visual / Spatial
- Linguistic / Verbal
- Logical / Mathematical
- Kinesthetic / Physical
- Musical
- Interpersonal
- Intrapersonal
- Naturalistic
Of these eight one or more are dominant in every individual and these clubbed with the exposure, shape the personality of the individual. To evolve an effective personality also referred to as Whole Brain Development, apart from harnessing the dominant intelligences, the subdued intelligences must also be groomed along with exposure to different life experiences. It is important to find a program that can address all three requirements
- Harnessing dominant intelligence
- Grooming dormant intelligences
- Exposure to varied life experiences
Theatre is one art form that facilitates all 3 requirements. The image given alonside is self-explanatory as to how theatre helps address the eight multiple intelligences.
A student of theatre is exposed to all 8 multiple intelligences through the different modules. Apart from facilitating the evolution of the multiple intelligences, theatre also helps students explore various life experiences and emotions through stories, poems, plays, role plays, character analysis in a safe & controlled environment. Theatre also facilitates opportunities for team work, group discussion, time management, planning & execution through other expressive avenues such as direction, lyric writing, playwriting, dance choreography, costume designing, set designing, back stage management, marketing & publicity. Children going through an effective theatre curriculum blossom as confident and expressive individuals.
Alchemy's Developmental Drama connects to the Magical Ratio of the Fibonacci series. You can connect with Vijay Viswanathan by writing to him on vijay@alchemytheatres.com
