Acting for Life FUNDAMENTALS | Rotterdam

Welcome to AFL — Acting for Life 

Dates: 3rd of October - 5th of December / Every Saturday / 12:00 - 14:00 / Bergweg 283 3037 EM Rotterdam

Acting for Life (AFL) is a theatre-inspired training course designed to develop confidence, creative presence, and authentic communication through the integration of body, voice, and imagination.

Led by Juliana Berezhnaya, theatre and opera director and educator, and co-led by Eleonora Shafran, a visceral and intuitive actress with a gentle, supportive coaching approach, AFL blends professional stage practices with practical personal development. The course offers a structured, practice-first environment where participants learn to be present, expressive, grounded, and precise — both on stage and in real life.

Course Format

• 10 classes
• 2 hours per session
• Practice-first approach
• Led in English
• Small group
• Individual attention

Each session includes:
warm-up → focused drills → applied tasks → feedback-driven work

Course Structure

I. Lift-Off (Sessions 1–3)

From scattered → grounded

• Foundations: breath, centre, attention (“arrival” method)
• Body awareness: posture, grounding, gesture
• Voice basics: support, resonance, pace, pause
• Being heard without force

II. The Equator (Sessions 4–7)

From capable → compelling

• Speech & structure: articulation, phrasing, clarity of message
• Basic emotions: safe range, transforming nerves into energy
• Contact & interaction: deep listening, action–reaction, empathy
• Imagination & creative listening: imagery that powers voice and presence

III. Finish Line (Sessions 8–10)

From good → memorable

• Improvisation & flow: spontaneity with clear objectives
• Performance craft: rehearsal tools
• Showcase & feedback: short talk or scene, video recording

Who Is This Course For?

• Individuals seeking personal growth and self-confidence
• Professionals and teams aiming to improve communication, leadership, and collaboration
• Educators and students exploring embodied and creative learning
• Artists and performers wishing to deepen their expressive tools

No theatre experience is required — only openness to work with body, voice, and attention.

Techniques We Work With

Acting for Life draws on a wide range of professional theatre practices and acting methodologies, including the Russian psychological school, the Stanislavski system, Michael Chekhov’s psychophysical approach, and the theatrical tradition of Roman Viktyuk’s school.

These influences are combined with Juliana Berezhnaya’s own directorial and teaching practice, developed through years of work in theatre, opera, acting training, and creative education.

Rather than following one fixed method, AFL brings different tools together into a practical, body-based approach — working through movement, breath, voice, imagination, action, attention, and emotional presence to develop greater freedom, precision, and connection both on stage and in everyday life.

Website: artplatforma.eu

Instagram:@artplatforma.eu