UCPA Departments

Acting – Dance – Music

ACTING

ADULT DEPARTMENT STATEMENT: The Eric Morris System is based on the 80 year old system created by Stanislavski and brought to the States by Lee Strasberg under the name of The Method. Morris’s work goes beyond the method in dealing with the instrument with the belief that it is virtually impossible for an actor to learn. or execute a process of acting without first eliminating blocks, tension, fears, inhibitions and other such obstacles to expression. It is the first system of acting to be developed in 80 years. The system has hundreds of exercises and techniques dealing directly with freeing the instrument and thus allowing the actor to be him/herself. From a state of “doing no more or less than what he/she feels” the actor can then use a craft that enables him/her to create reality on the stage or before a camera. Every actor’s fundamental training begins with work on him or herself with the exercise of will, concentration and sensory responses. The actor learns to think, to experience and to behave. Together with the use of improvisation, scene and monologue work, this creates the foundation for his/her “craft” and the development of imagination.

Technique Class – Monday, 8:00-10:00 p.m.

Each class will include relaxation preparations, group craft explorations and individual exercises related to liberating the “instrument” (oneself), eliminating emotional obstacles and learning to achieve a “being” state. Students learn through scene/character work, improvisation, cold-readings, and monologue work. The methodology is based on the “Eric Morris System” (Method) technique to fulfill emotional obligations of dramatic material from an organic, honest place.

Actor’s Improv – Tuesday, 8:00-9:30 p.m.
Improvization class based on the Eric Morris System. This class is limited in size. Students must be enrolled into the acting program and attend the Monday night Technique Class to be able to participate in this class.

Private Instruction – This is offered for those actors who wish to prepare audition material for theatre/film, on a one-on one basis. Tuition for privates varies.

YOUNG PEOPLE’S PROGRAM
Please click here for the most recent schedule of classes.
http://www.universitycenterfortheperformingarts.com/spring11.pdf
The methodology used for this group is based on the revolutionary Viola Spolin Method created in the 1940′s.

The ability to play is with us from birth. Acting for the theatre evolves naturally out of playing. Recognizing this source of energy, this method applies the game form to theatre disciplines. The games are simple, operational structures that transform complicated theatre conventions and techniques into game forms. Each game is built upon a specific focus or technical problem and is an exercise that militates against the artifice of self-conscious acting.

Every child is brilliant in their own way Theatre games motivate children to think in new ways and move in new directions to explore their relation to each other, themselves and their environment. There are games to free the actors tension, games to cleanse the actor of subjective preconceptions of the meaning of words, games of relationship and character, games of concentration-in short, games for each area with which the growing actor is concerned.

Playing theatre games helps to draw out the natural intelligence and humor inherent in each student, creating opportunities to explore their unique abilities and explore their own treasure house of creativity. This inspires an “I can!” attitude that stays with them long after they’ve left the stage.

YOUNG ADULT ACTING WITH AUDITION PREP: Ages 13+
Friday, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

The methodology for this class is based on the “Eric Morris System” (Method). The class is structured like the adult classes. This class is divided into warm-ups, improvisation, monologues, cold readings, scene and character study. Also, the art of “auditioning” is explored.

PERFORMANCE WORKSHOPS
Musical Theater Workshop ages 8-13: Wednesday, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Young Actor’s Workshop ages 8-14: Saturday, 3:00-4:00 p.m.

These classes are by audition or invitation only and are designed to give students an opportunity to perform.

INSTRUCTORS
Gilda Pianelli – Theater/Film Department Director-Master Teacher

Barbara Sloan – Master Teacher/Actors Movement/Action Theatre
Debi Rodensky -Master Teacher/ Choreography
Karen Rassler – Master Teacher-Musical Theatre Workshop/Musical Director
Roxanne Lamendola – Acting Teacher
Marlena Martino- Acting Teacher
Elaine Almonte – Acting Teacher

DANCE

The UCPA offers dance classes in the areas ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip-hop, flamenco, ballroom and middle-eastern (belly dancing). Classes focus on technique training. Performance opportunities are offered through our bi-annual Adult Student Concerts and children may audition for the Children’s Ballet Theatre Project. All child/teen classes have a mid-semester open house for parents and a final presentation at the conclusion of the semester.

BALLET DEPARTMENT
The UCPA follows a syllabus created by Master Ballet Educator, Ruth Petrinovic. Ms. Petrinovic is nationally renowned for her ballet workshops and syllabus which is being implemented by ballet studios in Florida, Alabama and New Hampshire. Students who have trained with her have performed both nationally and internationally with such companies as American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Zurich Ballet and Dutch National Ballet, just to name a few.

The ballet classes are structured in such a way that students are placed based upon level and age. Students will advance to higher levels once they are able to demonstrate the required skills of their respective level. This syllabus, as designed by Ms. Petrinovic, emphasizes developing the dancer’s freedom to move with a flow of energy and security. Instructors carefully observe each student’s physical abiility and application of technique. Fundamental aspects of dance, such as posture and alignment are taught to each student based on his/her unique physiology to avoid bad habits that could result in injury. The artistic and emotional awareness of dance is also addressed as students progress.

INSTRUCTORS

• Brianna Austin – Middle Eastern (belly dancing)
• Seth Gordon – Hip Hop
• Amoure – Hip Hop
• Paola Escobar – Flamenco
• Damaris Ferrer – Ballet/Pointe and Flamenco
• Cheri Valenzuela – Tap
• Pablo Malco – Hip Hop
• Jodi McMahon – Jazz
• Isabelle Bienvenu – Ballet/Pointe
• Pablo and Alicia Repun – Argentine Tango
• Kelly Bensen – Hip Hop/ Ballet/Jazz/Tap
• Debi Rodensky – Jazz and Tap
• Barbara Sloan – Ballet, Modern
• Cheri Valenzuela – Tap
• Emilia Kawashima – Ballet
• John Wittenborn – Ballet/Pointe and Jazz

MUSIC

VOICE
This class is offered for children, teens and adults. Classes begin with basic breathing and singing technique exercises. The remainder of class time is spent working through repertoire. Repertoire for children’s classes is age appropriate and mostly from the Broadway musical theater genre. Adult students may choose from the Pop/Contemporary class on Mondays from 7:00-8:00 pm. Class size is limited to 10 students per class.

PIANO and GUITAR
Private piano and guitar instruction is available for both children and adults. Beginning level students are taught fundamental technique and basic theory. Intermediate and advanced students are coached on technique and interpretation. Students are encouraged to participate in UCPA concert events.

INSTRUCTORS

• Alicia Chen – Piano
• Marisol Ibanez – Piano
• Vindhya Khare – Piano and Voice
• Rosella Lamendola – Voice
• Roxanne Lamendola – Voice
• Karen Rassler – Voice
• Kristina Timofeeva – Guitar