‘The Body Dynamic’ Workshop

Energy, Presence and Instinct.
Greater physical awareness and presence on stage.
An Athletic Embodiment of your Meisner Technique.

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Course Overview

Using the foundations of the Meisner Technique as the jumping off point – this two-day workshop is a highly physical, immersive, daredevil approach in harnessing and delivering your body’s precise energy and frequency in performance.

This highly unique training, inspired by the work of Meyerhold + Meisner, is an immensely practical and exciting set of teachings to further and deepen the fundamentals of your current acting technique in a whole-body approach.

Through throwing, receiving and manipulating energy with ‘training sticks’ you will learn how to heighten your awareness of a room, your scene partner and ‘the moment.’

Developed over the last 25 years by a renown international touring physical theatre ensemble – Not Man Apart, this workshop is best for the adventurous. This approach has been taught at various institutions of art over the years including The Juilliard School, UCLA, USC, NYU, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre London and The Scottish Royal Ballet to name a few.

Dates:

Saturday October 18th: 3-6:30pm
Sunday October 19th: 10:30am-12:30pm

What is Required:

Movement Clothes – Courage – No Shoes

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In a vibrant community dance class set in a studio with wooden floors, participants are barefoot, each striking a dynamic pose. The walls showcase various small artworks and photographs, creating an inspiring atmosphere akin to actor training sessions.

In a bright studio with wooden floors and large windows streaming in natural light, a group stands attentively. Clad in casual workout clothes, they focus on the woman at the center as she offers particularization on dance techniques.

A group of sixteen people, wearing casual black attire, are gathered indoors on a wooden floor. They are smiling and posing together for a group photo. Some are standing while others kneel in front, embodying the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of their creative process at work.

TRANSFORM

Meet Your Instructor

John Farmanesh-Bocca has spent a 30-year career in the theatre. He is a multi-award winning theatre director and the Founding Artistic Director of both Not Man Apart – Physical Theatre Ensemble (2005-2015) and Shakespeare Santa Monica (2003–2014).

Mr. Farmanesh-Bocca now serves as Emeritus Director of the award-winning Not Man Apart Ensemble, which under his watch was named by Backstage Magazine in 2014 as one of the 13 most innovative physical theatre companies in the world.

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What You’ll Learn

· A deeper, more embodied way of listening.

· Developing your physical and emotional intuition.

· Learning how to trust and move on your first impulse.

· Advanced physical tools for preparation and warming up for performance.

· New skills for getting out of your head and into your body in an immediate way.

A gray-haired man in a white shirt sits on a table, gesturing animatedly like William Esper, as he talks to an engaged group of people around him. The group, consisting of both men and women, takes notes in the brightly lit room.

Schedule a Discovery Call

Have questions? Book a one-on-one chat with our Director of Admissions and Enrollment. We’re here to help you determine if Terry Knickerbocker Studio is the right fit for you.

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FAQs

Find answers to commonly asked questions about our Studio.

What is the Meisner Technique?

The Meisner Technique is a highly regarded acting method developed by Sanford Meisner. It focuses on truthful and spontaneous acting, emphasizing the actor’s connection with their scene partner.

Do you offer acting classes for beginners?

We do—in fact, most of our classes can be taken without any prior experience. Our Conservatory and Intensive programs each offer foundational training which can be equally suitable for someone just starting out and for the seasoned actor, as can most of our Special Topicsclasses (unless prerequisites are otherwise noted). At our studio, how much or how little experience a student has is much less important than the student’s sincere desire for and commitment to becoming the best actor they can be.

Do you offer virtual classes?

Most of our offerings are in-person, because we believe that face-to-face instruction allows us to develop a more nuanced understanding of our student’s strengths, current challenges, and progress. It also allows both teacher and student to be fully present, and for students to connect with their peers. That said, we occasionally offer virtual Special Topics classes. Please refer to the Programs and Classes page for more information.

Do you offer Scene Study classes?

TK Studio offers an Advanced Scene Study class taught by Nathan Flower for students who have already completed foundational training. On occasion, Terry teaches a Scene Study Master Class at the Studio, online, and outside of New York City. He has taught at studios in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Berlin. Please contact Christopher Booth to inquire further.

How do I apply to TK Studio?

To be considered for admission to any courses or workshops at Terry Knickerbocker Studio, you must submit an official application through the website. There is no application fee to apply to TKS, only the following elements:rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eYour contact informationu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eA forward-facing photo (don’t worry if you don’t have a headshot, we’re happy to accept other kinds of photos)u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eYour resumeu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eYour answers to a few questions that tell us who you are (including your relationship to values around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), what you’re looking for, and how you think our classes might help youu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e