We are very happy to announce the return of Leela Alaniz to Paris who will be giving a very special workshop:
WORKSHOP:
Daily Actor Training: Integrated Psychophysical Method
Instructor: Leela Alaniz
Dates: From Monday, June 1st to Friday, June 5th, 2026
Location: École Hippocampe – Paris
Centre de formation Hippocampe
1 Passage du Buisson Saint Louis
75010 Paris (at Théâtre de la Terre)
Metro: Belleville or Goncourt
AFDAS funding available
Training Description
Participants will be introduced to physical theatre through work based on psychophysical relationships: body-action, thought-awareness, emotion-reaction. These elements constantly interact with one another, across varying directions and intensities.
Exercises derived from the organic process aim to release the flow of energy along the spine, which then spreads throughout the entire body and extends beyond the physical gesture. Participants will develop their capacity for concentration and learn to identify their physical, emotional, and mental centres.
Rather than directly attempting to “be expressive,” the actor is invited to engage in a genuine process of organic exploration. It is this process that gradually allows a personal artistic expressivity to emerge.
Targeted Skills
To master psychophysical skills related to cause-and-effect relationships in acting: understanding and articulating the connections between thought, emotion, and action, both in individual work and in interaction with partners; finding accurate impulses to initiate action or respond to a scenic proposal.
Objectives of the Training
- To perceive and develop internal impulses that give rise to action and speech
- To understand and master the construction of actions following the body’s line of force, in resonance with emotional and psychic interactions
- To create dramatic situations using specific physical, vocal, and imaginative tools
- To deepen and broaden awareness of oneself, one’s partner, the stage space, and the relationship with the audience
Pedagogical Process
The training is based on an integrated psychophysical approach, combining physical exercises that simultaneously engage emotion, attention, self-observation, spatial awareness, and partner interaction.
It includes exercises derived from the organic process aimed at releasing the energetic flow along the spine. This flow travels through the body and nourishes stage action. The actor thus develops concentration and identifies their three main centres: physical, emotional, and mental.
Physical movements are approached as the result of impulses originating within the body and extending into action.
In-depth work on bodily mobility enables the isolation of different parts of the body, mastery of joints, and exploration of varied speeds, resistances, and qualities of movement. These explorations expand the actor’s expressive potential.
Playfulness and the pleasure of playing occupy a central place in this process. Improvisation, based on listening and exchange, work on the speaking voice in relation to different emotional states, as well as exercises of attention and inner awareness, are integral to this training.
Instructor
Leela Alaniz is a Franco-Brazilian director, actress, researcher, and pedagogue. Artistic director of the French physical theatre company Pas de Dieux, she holds a Master’s degree and a PhD in Philosophy and Theatre from Sorbonne Nouvelle University (Paris 3) and currently teaches Performance and Acting at LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore.
With over 25 years of artistic and pedagogical experience, she has developed an actor training method that connects the organic lineage of Jerzy Grotowski with the Corporeal Mime of Étienne Decroux, placing embodiment and creativity at the core of the creative process.
Practical Information
Schedule
Monday to Friday, 2 pm to 6 pm (total of 20 hours)
Fees
- Individual funding: €260
- AFDAS / OPCO funding: €520 (contact us for a quotation)
Access and Admission
To apply, please send by email a motivation letter (maximum 1 page) along with your CV to:
hippocampe@mime-corporel-theatre.com
Target Audience
Actors, dancers, puppeteers, performers, as well as students in mime, theatre, circus, puppetry, dance, music, etc.
Prerequisites
Good general health condition: no technical prerequisites required.
Accessibility
This training is open to people with disabilities, provided that the reception and training conditions are compatible with their needs. Please contact us to discuss your situation.
Further Information
Email: hippocampe@mime-corporel-theatre.com
Phone: +33 6 29 96 29 06
Website: www.mime-corporel-theatre.com
