Michael Dias on Teaching Theatre Acting
Prescriptive teaching approaches are limiting to students that do not share the cultural heritage of any given pedagogy. I work to decentralize the role of teacher, so that the student becomes the core of their own educational process. It is therefore the student’s imagination and heart which lead the way in their training, allowing them to honor their own unique creative impulses. Actors, more than many other professionals, must be able to find their own path and navigate that path on their own. My classes always meet in a circle, and I participate in the exercises as one of the group. As I empower the students in my classrooms, students feel safe and excited to come together to make art, take risks and build community.
I recognize that there are many paths to becoming a successful performer, and the needs of every burgeoning artist will be vastly different. What I can offer is an understanding of that fact, and a radical willingness to meet students where they are. With decades of experience in various methodologies of movement, I have built an arsenal of exercises to be able to adapt to many different learning styles. I’m interested in helping the new generation of creative storytellers to break down the barriers which may stand in the way of their self-expression, and to help them discover new possibilities of performance. Ultimately, my goal is to foster a community of young artists that embraces celebrating differences, risk taking and the unique value of one’s authentic voice.
Prescriptive teaching approaches are limiting to students that do not share the cultural heritage of any given pedagogy. I work to decentralize the role of teacher, so that the student becomes the core of their own educational process. It is therefore the student’s imagination and heart which lead the way in their training, allowing them to honor their own unique creative impulses. Actors, more than many other professionals, must be able to find their own path and navigate that path on their own. My classes always meet in a circle, and I participate in the exercises as one of the group. As I empower the students in my classrooms, students feel safe and excited to come together to make art, take risks and build community.
I recognize that there are many paths to becoming a successful performer, and the needs of every burgeoning artist will be vastly different. What I can offer is an understanding of that fact, and a radical willingness to meet students where they are. With decades of experience in various methodologies of movement, I have built an arsenal of exercises to be able to adapt to many different learning styles. I’m interested in helping the new generation of creative storytellers to break down the barriers which may stand in the way of their self-expression, and to help them discover new possibilities of performance. Ultimately, my goal is to foster a community of young artists that embraces celebrating differences, risk taking and the unique value of one’s authentic voice.