Title of course: Suzuki Method for Actors Training
Number of days excluding travel days: 12
Period: 02/10/2017- 13/10/2017
Level: (BA/MA)
Number of credits: 2 ETCS
Number of study places: 2-4
Application deadline: 15th of August, 2017
Requirements: At least 3rd year of Acting, Theatre Directing, Performing Arts, Dance
Required documents for application: (motivation statement and / OR examples of work or CV, etc.)
How to apply: by Email to
Template for application
Guidelines for applying for an express course
Course description: Physically intensive course in which is developing concentration, coordination, gravity, self-awareness, willpower and imagination.
What kind of skills/training can students expect to achieve (learning outcome): Gained skills fully serves as acting tool.
Teacher: Assoc. prof. Vesta Grabštaitė.
Vesta Grabštaitė is a teacher, actress, choreographer, and director. In 2005 she earned her Master’s of Theatre Arts degree in directing from the Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy. She also underwent unique training in improvisational movement at the Improvisational Theatre in Moscow under the direction of Oleg Kiselev (1986‐1990). She has been very fortunate to study the Suzuki Method of Actor Training on several occasions under the supervision of Tadashi Suzuki in Toga, Japan since 1990. Additionally, she has studied traditional Okinawan dance (Ryukyu Buyo) with Hisae Takamine at the Okinawa Dance Research Institute, Naha (1995‐1996). Currently she is working on her Doctoral thesis in Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.
Ms. Grabštaitė’s theatre productions and choreography work in opera were nominated numerous times for the Golden Stage Cross award (the major national theatre award of Lithuania).
Since 1993 she has worked as an actress in the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre. In addition, she collaborates with the renowned Oskaras Koršunovas Theatre (OKT) on various international theatre projects as an actress and choreographer. She is a winner of Lithuania National Cinema Award “Silver crane 2014” as ”Best Supporting Actress“.
Since 1992 Ms. Grabštaitė has been teacher of theatre and drama in the Faculty of Theatre and Film at the Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy, where she lectures on the acting methods of Oleg Kiselev and Tadashi Suzuki. Currently Vesta Grabštaitė is Head of Acting and Directing Department of LMTA. In addition, she teaches at a number of international workshops and institutions, including the Finland Theatre and Budapest University, Latvija Jazeps Vitols Music Academy.
Additional information:
Accommodation: if needed, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre could try to help find a student who would host a foreign student for the whole period of visit.
Tadashi Suzuki Method of Actor Training develops the actor’s inner physical sensibilities, builds the will, stamina and concentration. The workshop activities include a series of exercises centered around the use of the feet in relation to one’s center. These exercises are designed to throw the body off center while maintaining a consistent level of energy and not swaying the upper body. The energy necessary to accomplish this task is considerable and constitutes a primary focus of this work. In the course of doing these exercises the body becomes more centered and this changes the manner in which the actor views him/herself within their body. This change is also related to how the actor views his/her work on stage. Issues such as engrained habits become more apparent. By developing the body awareness of the corporal center and a consistent level of energy, primary elements of actor’s awareness are heightened. The best and most consistent evidence of this work is apparent on stage, reflected trough an increasingly centered and controlled actor. By expanding the actor’s awareness, capacity and control of breath, center of gravity and energy, the Suzuki Method develops his/her ability to create movement in stillness, clear lines of intention, deep levels of commitment, multiple layers of concentration, a strong yet supple voice and a rigorous, fluid imagination.
