DrLeela Alaniz

Academics

Dr Leela Alaniz

Lecturer, Acting
lasalle_theatre_leela_alaniz
  • PhD (Theatre), Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris III, France
  • MA (Theatre), Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris III, France
  • MA (Theatre), Vincennes-Saint-Denis University, Paris VIII, France
  • BA (Theatre), CAL – University CAL de Artes Cênicas, Brazil

Leela Alaniz is a Franco-Brazilian director, actress, actor trainer and the founder and artistic director of Paris-based theatre company Pas de Dieux. Her career consists of a constant round-trip movement between the practice and theory of theatre. With over 25 years of practice and research in Theatre Anthropology and Corporeal Mime, Dr Alaniz has performed and directed several plays, toured in numerous countries and taught courses in the US, Europe, Turkey, Singapore and South America.  

Dr Alaniz's academic research is focused on the field of Practice-as-Research, a methodology based on studying evolving actor training techniques for theatre. Her own unique training method explores the fusion between artificiality and organicity as embodiment and artistic expression. Rather than focusing on just interpretation, Dr Alaniz’s training method empowers the actor-author i.e. the actor as a creator, and the devising process of contemporary theatre. 

After attaining a double major in Physical Education and Theatre Studies in Brazil, Dr Alaniz received a scholarship grant to participate in UTA, a centre of research for Theatre Anthropology in Brazil. Thereafter, she founded and directed the Casa de Artes BAKA, a multicultural arts centre. Successively, she was a research scholar at Pomona College, California for five years as a practice researcher and performer under the direction of Thomas Leabhart, spending one more year in Paris as his assistant. 

In 2012, Dr Alaniz became a full-time lecturer in movement for acting and performance at Intercultural Theatre Institute, Singapore. In 2019, she was appointed as a full-time lecturer in Theatre at the School of Dance & Theatre, LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore.

Publications
  • The Thinking Body, the Dancing Mind – the Actor in her Search for the Lost Unity. France and UK (forthcoming)
  • O Mimo Corpóreo e a criação contemporânea. Victor de Seixas. Preface by Leela Alaniz. Ed. Giostri (2022)
  • Body, Arts and Spirituality in François Delsarte (1811-1871): a dynamic of expressive somatic education, translation, Revista Cena, n° 24, UFRGS University (2018)
  • The Corporeal Mime of Étienne Decroux and the search for expressiveness according to the Grotowskian perspective of artificiality, Revista Cena, n° 23, UFRGS University (2017)
  • The Dynamo-Rhythm of Etienne Decroux and His Successors, Mime Journal: Vol. 24, Article 2. DOI: 10.5642/mimejournal.20132401.02 (2013)
  • Dynamo/Rhythm and Counterweight an experimental study on the drama of the body in scenic space, Post-Doctorate Programme UFRGS University; Brazil (2017/2018)
  • Dynamo/Rhythm: Study and Transformation of the Movement’s Qualities of the Performer, SBPC, Sociedade Brasileira para o Progresso da Ciência, 69° Reunião Annual, UFMG University; Brazil (2017)
Research Practice

Performances (choreographer and director)

  • Close Up. Written by Koffi Kwahulé and directed by Ezgi Coşkun, Hokuscorpus Theatre Company, Artistic Adviser. Istanbul, Turkey (2022)
  • Business is Business; Paris, France (2009)
  • Divine Wind and Tears Lost in The Rain, ITI; Singapore (2008)
  • La Ville de Contrastes; Paris, France (2007)
  • Don Qui; Paris, France (2006)
  • Living Water – Movement Assistant; Paris, France (2004)
  • Children of Izieu; Choreography, Paris, France (2003)
  • Myths from Around the World Movement Coach; California, US (2002)

Performances (actress/performer) (select)

  • The World Is Round; Paris, Spain, Brazil, US (2004)
  • Wars I Have Seen; Paris, France (2003)
  • Koan, Dance-Dense Festival; Paris, France (2003)
  • Compositions; Paris, France (2000)
  • Corporeality; California, US (2000)
  • Duo; Orange County Museum; California, US (2000)
Conferences, Lectures and Demonstrations (select)
  • Global Connections: Performance Pedagogy and Practice, conducting face-to-face workshops at the 'Singapore Lab', LASALLE College of the Arts Singapore – UNATC, Romania – WAAPA, Australia (2023)
  • International Seminar Psycho-physical practice and Technology – Technological Interventions in Contemporary Theatre. Conducting 'Training for a crafty actor' (practical workshop) and conference ‘Psychophysical Actor’s Training and Animated Characters' (papers presentation) at the University of Calicut; Kerala, India (2023)
  • Biennale des Arts du Mime et du Geste - Organisation as a membre of the Collectif des Arts du Mime et du Geste; Paris, France (2022)
  • Arrhythmia: Performance Pedagogy and Practice. Local Symposium on Performance Pedagogy and Practice in Singapore. Moderator and Panelist: Dynamo/Rhythm – when drama and poetry are embodied by the actor. LASALLE College of the Arts; Singapore (2021)
  • VI Contemporary Mime Exhibition - (VI Mostra de Mímica Contemporânea - Projeto Mímicas – Angatu). Hosting Festival, Opening conference: Corporeal Mime - vehicle and obstacle; Brazil (2021)
  • The International Webinar on Contemporary World Theatre. Conference: Corporeal Mime - Artificiality and Organicity in the Actor's Work. CPRACSIS Centre for Performance Research and Cultural Studies in South Asia; India (2020)
  • Ateliê de Pesquisa do Ator – APA. Lecture Demonstration: Corporeal Mime – Technique, Figures and Repertoire; Brazil (2020)
  • Contemporary European Theatre. Lecture: Developing an Author/Performer. University of Calicut; Kerala, India (2020)
  • SBPC, Sociedade Brasileira para o Progresso da Ciência, 69° Reunião Anual. Conference: Dynamo/Rhythm: Study and Transformation of the Movement’s Qualities of the Performer, SBPC, UFMG University; Brazil (2017)
  • Biennale des Arts du Mime et du Geste – Organisation as a member of the Collectif des Arts du Mime et du Geste. École Superieur d’Art Dramatique; Paris, France (2015)
  • Journée d’étude international – Héritages et transculturalité en arts du spectacle vivant, directed by Dr. Katia Legeret – Mediator. Paris VIII University; Paris, France (2015)
  • UNIRIO, UFRGS, UDESC – Brazil Universities – Lectures/Demonstrations (2007)
  • Matières en conversation – Performed repertory piece The Washerwomen of Etienne Decroux, Théâtre du Lierre, organized by Théâtre du Mouvement; Paris, France (2005)
     
Awards
  • Scholarship CAPES/BRAZIL for Post-Doctorate Program – UFRGS University (2017)
  • Grand Jury Prize for directing Don Qui – Festival Ici et Demain; Paris (2006)
  • Special Prize of SATED for the direction of Casa de Artes Baka – Cultural Center; Brazil (1994)
  • Prize Scholarship – Public selection for Research Nucleus U.T.A. for actor training research. Work based on Theatre Anthropology (1992)
Research Interests
  • Contemporary actor training
  • East and West theatre transversality
  • Grotowski/Decroux convergences in organicity/artificiality
  • Artaudian and Meyerholdian heritages