The course deals with the techniques, structure, and aesthetics of traditional Japanese acting and movement and their potential application to Western theatre. It combines two approaches to acting: a) East Asian acting and movement techniques; and b) a new Western-oriented acting approach in which the acting results emerge from various images.

The first approach begins with training in two techniques that together develop the body as both supple and firm: the Chinese T’ai Chi Ch’uan and the Japanese Suzuki Method. T’ai Chi Ch’uan develops elements such as relaxation, concentration, correlation, strengthens the lower part of the body, and creates connected and flowing movement qualities. The Japanese Suzuki Method strengthens the lower part of the body and helps students achieve vigorous qualities of movement.

In addition to movement training, students learn the key vocal techniques of Kabuki, Noh and Kyogen (the three acting styles of Japanese traditional theatre), which   help the student to acquire unique and creative vocal abilities. Students practice these vocal segments in the original Japanese.

A new Western oriented approach to acting in which the actor is trained to use imagination-guided impulses, instead of narrative and psychological processing of character and situation. This approach has been designed in order to combine the exceptional elements of traditional and contemporary Japanese acting with Western acting. In this part of the training, each student works on a text of classical western character. Through working on these short classical “monodramas” all the components of the training are fused into the student’s specific work and eventually to his/her acting technique.