After the opera production, when the authentic purpose for collaboration to accomplish the collective goal no longer exists, students sometimes struggle to re-establish their connection as a group and refocus their attention. They need to be reminded that it is the group effort that brought them to this point on the track. Each contributed to the whole in a unique and personal way, but the interdependence of the process enabled them to arrive at the station, their intended goal.

To bring students back together as a company, we present them with new challenges, exercises in which they must apply the skills they have acquired throughout the opera process to work as a team to achieve a common objective.

In silence, company members were asked to complete a series of tasks requiring physical connection and contact and no adult consultation.

“Find a way to connect your bodies so that all are touching and no one is left out.” Students held hands in a circle.

“Now connect in another way. Another. Now another.”

“Connect your bodies to form the capital letter A. Create an H. Now a V.”

The tasks became progressively more difficult and the students mastered them all without saying a word or directing one another. An hour passed quickly and the company was eager to continue. Now, individual company members could remember their true power when joining forces. They were back on track.