What is Movement in Drama?

Movement in drama refers to the physical aspects of performance. This includes:

• Posture
• Body language
• Gestures
• Spatial awareness
• Dance training
• Combat training
• Movement specialist skills (e.g. buffon, Laban, etc.)

To master movement, an actor must understand how their body interacts with the stage, props and other performers. From small changes in posture to grand gestures, every move on stage should contribute to the overall performance.

Why is it Important?

Expressing Emotions

Movement helps performers express their characters, non-verbally. A slumped posture can show hopelessness whilst a wide stance and upward turned chest can show power. These expressions add to the overall performance.

Building Characters

The way a character moves helps reveal their personality, background and state of mind. From a clumsy and awkward teenager to a graceful and lithe dancer, movement helps build the character.

Improving Storytelling

Performances are visual, so movement is a key part of that. Movement can guide the audience’s focus, build tension or establish the overall mood of a scene.

Mastering Movement at Italia Conti

Our acting and musical theatre courses integrate movement training as an essential part of the overall curriculum. We combine practical exercises, theoretical study and plenty of performance practice to ensure students master this skill.

Students will take part in:

• Character work and how different physical movement choices can transform a character
• Lessons around the fundamentals of body awareness, such as alignment, control, balance and spatial awareness
• Collaborative work, which helps students master movement in relation to others, which is especially important for scenes like dance or combat
• Performance opportunities to build confidence and give performers a chance to test out their abilities and receive feedback

Why Choose Italia Conti?

With more than 100 years of experience, we’re a leading provider of performing arts education. We employ an expert faculty, we have access to state-of-the-art facilities and we create a nurturing and supportive environment that empowers students to become versatile performers.

A key characteristic of an Italia Conti course is the collaborative and interdisciplinary approach. This approach enables us to create triple-threat students who have the skills and experience they need to succeed in the performing arts industries. Our courses develop versatile skills that can be applied in a variety of performance contexts.

Beyond training, we arrange ongoing networking support for our graduates, which is essential for students landing their first role. Our alumni are some of the biggest names in the business, and we are always looking for ways to connect past and present students, to ensure every Italia Conti graduate lands the role they are looking for.

Whether you see yourself on the stage, the big screen or TV, an Italia Conti course is your key to mastering movement in drama.