The Jumping Off Place
phone: (503) 265-9551
phone: (503) 706-0233
info@thejumpingoffplace.com“I loved how you both threw yourselves absolutely into the class. I think you provided huge inspiration to the rest of the class with your enthusiasm”
—Student testimonial, fall 2007
Mary Rose
Mary Rose was a shy little girl who was scared to say "hi" to other kids on the beach. Her mom thought that enrolling her at The Neighborhood Playhouse theater school might help. This is where it all began. From ages 7-16, she learned improvisation games and tools for the theater. With that as her starting point, she started a theater club in high school, getting her first experiences directing and performing.
In college, she studied theater and participated in several plays, often focusing on original script creation processes involving improvisation. She also participated in a percussion and dance performance group called, Boomshaka.
After college, she traveled the world a bit, studying capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, wherever she went. In 2003, she landed in Portland, OR in order to join Sojourn Theater in their performance of Seven Great Loves. She performed with Sojourn for several shows, always using improvisational and physical theater techniques for developing material. Meanwhile, she continued capoeira training.In 2005, she participated in Jessica Wallenfels' "Break, Then Open" as performer and assistant director.
She continues to be involved in theater/film projects in Portland. In addition to her theater and capoeira training, dance has been a crucial part of Mary's body-based art experience. Ranging from ballet in her youth, to creative movement, modern dance, hip-hop, samba, salsa, ecstatic dance and contact improvisation, she is passionate about movement and it inspires everything she does.
"I am fascinated by everyday life communication between people--their bodies and voices in relation to one another. I notice constantly that so many of us, (including myself), seem to be afraid to speak to one another, let alone be playful or dance together. We say 'sorry', when we barely brush against one another for fear of invading personal space. I hope to change this phenomenon as much as I can, to share what I have learned and am still learning through the media I know best."