Waldemar Raźniak will visit a number of classes in the Performing Arts and Visual and Media Arts departments 27th February to 2nd March 2017, including a graduate theatre directing class, a film acting class and film direction classes. He will also lead a workshop in physical movement.
VMA Associate Professor and School of the Arts Assistant Dean Tom Kingdon explained that School of the Arts Dean Rob Sabal had:
...thought [Raźniak] would be an exciting person to bring over to our campus in Boston and thought he would bring a European perspective to some of our work, particularly in terms of directing, but also as an actor.
Raźniak, currently vice-rector for international and student affairs at the National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Warsaw, has extensive acting and directing credits on both stage and screen. Kindgon added:
Raźniak’s work kind of 'marries' the style of Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman with that of Russian theatre director Maria Knebel. He is also influenced by the physicality of Polish theatere director Jerzy Grotowski, who was known to create theatrical performances out of marathon rehearsal periods of improvisation.
Razniak’s visit is being sponsored by the Department of Performing Arts and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. Kingdon said of the collaboration:
It’s a relationship we’re just starting, and we hope it’ll bloom and there will be further exchanges.
Last April, VMA Senior Scholar-in-Residence Jim Lane brought a group of Emerson students to a student film festival in Warsaw through the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
Source: www.emerson.edu, compiled by NR 17 Feb 2017