WORKSHOPS IN BIOMECHANICS

Biomechanics is the system of actor training developed by legendary Russian director Vsevolod Meyerhold in the 1920’s as the study of the body in motion. The heart of the method is a study of five etudes or, series of physical positions, which string together to tell a story. The method was created by Meyerhold as an alternative to Stanislavsky’s system, which was predicated on the style of realism. Meyerhold’s directorial style utilized grotesque, expressionistic models and decidedly non-realistic artistic approaches. Biomechanics was designed by him to train actors for this kind of work, however, it works as a wonderful tool for focusing physical energy and thus is useful to an actor preparing for work in any theatrical language.

Details of Training

Training in the method begins by working with wooden dowels. The goal is to find grace and balance with an object in connection to the body. The dowel work is also a tool toward heightened concentration and awareness of the body in space, economy of movement and the breaking down of movement into specific parts (the recoil, the action and the full stop).
After warm up with the dowel work the student begins work on the five etudes. The etudes require intense concentration and awareness as the actor moves through a series of still pictures with synchronization of body parts, negotiating a variety of time signatures and rhythms within the body and more deeply applying the three parts of the movement vocabulary (recoil, action, full stop)

Instructors

Mr. Rovinsky and Ms. Channer trained in Biomechanics with Alexei Levinsky in St. Petersburg Russia. Mr. Levinsky is one of only a handful of teachers in the world who currently practice or teach the method in its entirety. Mr. Levinsky was trained by master teacher, Nicholai Kustov. Mr. Kustov worked directly with Meyerhold in his school and is therefore part of a direct line to Meyerhold’s teaching style and method. In addition to training in Biomechanics, both Channer and Rovinsky have trained in other physical theatre forms. Channer trained in Lecoq based clown at the Delle Arte School of Physical Theatre under master teacher Ronlin Forman and Rovinsky trained with Dutch improvisation master Willem Kuvenhoven. Rovinsky received an MFA in directing from the St. Petersburg Academy of Theatre Arts, Russia and Channer received an MFA in directing from the Yale School of Drama. Rovinsky and Channer are co-artistic directors of Theatre Novi Most based in Minneapolis MN.

Goals and Benefits

Goals and benefits for student who works in Biomechanics include increased physical awareness, practical understanding of theatricality in the moving body, use of body for storytelling, learning about psychophysical energy through application of rhythm, coordination of body, precision of movement and expansion of physical expressiveness. Biomechanics is a unique and rigorous method for preparing an actor’s body to work in tune with his or her mind. 
 It is an excellent base for any work an actor may undertake as it naturally creates a way for an actor to control and clarify the moving, living, corporeal self.

More Information

We’ve offered biomechanics training at universities and conferences across the U.S. including Yale School of Drama, SUNY New Paltz, University of Massachusetts, East St. Studios Theatre, University of Alabama, Montevallo University, ATHE, SETC; as well as in Amsterdam and Russia through our tours to those countries. We offer one day, half day and multi-day workshops as well as ongoing classes. Please contact us for more information.