FALL 2012

DRA1151: Acting I
Section 1A – Monday, Thursday 11:30am – 1:00pm
Section 1B – Tuesday, Friday 11:30am – 1:00pm
Drama Rm. 713

Instructor
Belov, Tanya Office Hours:
Office: Available via telephone or email for appointment.
belovt@uncsa.edu

Course Description
The students will be introduced to the major elements of Stanislavsky’s techniques. During the course, the students will perform
several acting exercises in order to grasp the concepts of these acting basics. The first exercise termed “The Non-Verbal Space Object
Exercise” which will highlight the importance of attention, relaxation, and public solitude. The second set of exercises are termed
“Myself in Given Circumstances” where each student will live within a story given to them by the Instructor and experience the
application of given circumstances, the “Magic IF,” and imagination. The next step in the course will include communication: both
non-verbal and verbal and will introduce effective use of props. Over the course of the semester, the students will gain a theoretical
understanding and practical execution of the following elements: Concentration and Attention, Sense Memory and Emotional Memory,
Imagination, Public Solitude, Sense of Truth, Physical Action, Space objects, Inner Monologue (Internal Action) and Verbal Action,
the Magic "IF," the Actor's choice, and Given Circumstances. Fundamentals of a healthy actor’s process will be stressed including
rehearsal, work ethic, self-critique, professional language, and professional presence in an Ensemble.

Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will:

• Acquire the skills to create their own actor’s process based on “doing.”
• Use the Stanislavsky techniques to enhance and build their craft as an actor. It is essential for each student to learn
these techniques theoretically while also being able to practically apply these techniques to their work in the space.
• Identify acting habits that are standing in their way and find solutions to change these habits. Each student will also
gain an understanding of their strengths and work to more fully understand their artistic point of view.
• Learn the importance of being a citizen artist. This includes comments in class, the ability to respectfully give and
receive critiques on one’s work, work ethic, being responsible to one’s partner, respecting the Studio and workplace,
and creating healthy habits to support one’s artistic growth.

Course Format and Procedures

Each class will be 1.5 hours long and will consist of a minimum of three scenes/exercises per class. The students will prepare
the workspace according to the circumstances of their story. The student will be responsible for all props, costumes, etc. used
in their scene/ exercise. They will also be responsible for the setup and clean up of these items. Before presenting each
exercise, the student will explain their given circumstances of their story to the class and Instructor. After the work is
presented, the Instructor will have a dialogue/ critique for the student that may include a work session of their scene/exercise.
Other classmates will comment on the work presented in the space and the Instructor will lead the discussion in order to

Acting I – Syllabus 1
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DRA1151: Acting I
facilitate in the other students’ learning by observing. After each exercise, the student working in the space is required to
email the Instructor a Self-Evaluation detailing what the student learned from the exercise and how it relates to their overall
actor’s process. Students may be asked to repeat their exercise before moving to the next one if the Instructor believes it will
be valuable to the student’s growth. Students must understand that repetition of the exercise is not punishment, but an
opportunity to strengthen the artistic muscles of repetition and discovery. Please Note: Rehearsal is required. It is also
important that students are aware that under no circumstances are the props of other classes from other Stuidos to be taken
out of their respective room or Studio. This is prohibited.

Course Requirements
Class Attendance and Participation Policy
We all learn from each other and it is essential that all students are present except in the case of extreme
emergencies. Students are required to be in class prior to the class start time. Students will not be admitted to class
after the door is closed. Emergency situations will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Students who will be
absent from a class should notify their acting partners. If a student is scheduled to perform on a day they will be
absent, the absent student should notify the classmates next in the class exercise rotation. This course follows all
attendance guidelines and policies outlined by the School of Drama and the University of the NC School of the Arts.

Required Materials
Textbooks:
-Required: Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen.
-Recommended: The Actor and the Target by Declan Donnellan

Policy on Make Up Work and Late Assignments

Each student must complete the exercises that have been outlined above. Students are also required to send a self-
evaluation no later than two days after working in the space. If this timeline is not followed, the self-evaluation will
be counted as late. If a student misses an exercise, it must be made up before continuing on to the next exercise. If
students have questions about an assignment, they must ask immediately. Stating that you do not understand an
assignment/exercise on the day it is due is not grounds for an extension and the student’s grade will be negatively
affected.

Grading Procedures
Grades will be based on performance in the following:
Students will be graded on their understanding of the basic Stanislavsky principles and their ability to produce
results. Students will also be graded on their self- evaluation, active participation in class, work ethic, and being a
responsible and active member of the Ensemble.

Grading Scale
98% - 100% A+
94% - 97% A 74% - 76% C
90% - 93% A- 70% - 73% C-
87% - 89% B+ 67% - 69% D+
84% - 86% B 64% - 66% D
80% - 83% B- 60% - 63% D-
77% - 79% C+ 0% - 59% F

Acting I – Syllabus 2
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DRA1151: Acting I

Student Responsibility for Coursework

In submitting assignments and projects for courses, students take responsibility for their work as a whole, and imply that,
except as properly noted, the ideas, words, material and craftsmanship are their own. In written work, if students cite from a
source of information or opinion other than themselves without giving credit, either within the body of their texts or in
properly noted references and without using quotation marks where needed, or otherwise fail to acknowledge the borrowings,
they have in fact presented the work, words or ideas of others as if they were their own. Failure to abide by those simple
principles of responsible scholarship is dishonest, as is receiving or giving aid on tests, examinations or other assigned work
presumed to be independent or original. A student whose work is found to be dishonestly accomplished and submitted as his
or her own for credit will be removed from the course with a grade of “F.”

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

In compliance with the UNC School of the Arts policy and equal access laws, I am available to discuss appropriate academic
accommodations that may be required for students with disabilities. Requests for academic accommodations are to be made
during the first three weeks of the trimester, except for unusual circumstances, so arrangements can be made. Students are
encouraged to register with the Officer for Student Disabilities to verify their eligibility for appropriate accommodations.

Acting I – Syllabus 3