Presense & Play6-week course
Presense & Play6-week course
Presence & Play is a 6-week course designed to help you reconnect with your body, your attention, and the present moment. Using actor training practices such as movement, voice work, and simple improvisation, participants learn to step out of their heads and into direct experience.
Before learning to ride the wave of spontaneity, you learn how to stand on the surfboard — grounded, aware, and present.
The Situation
Many of us have learned to rely on preparation and control. Instead of being present, we start performing a version of ourselves. But real connection happens when the body, emotions, and attention are aligned.
You might recognize yourself here:
• constant self-analysis and overthinking
• fear of saying the wrong thing
• difficulty reacting spontaneously
• tension in the body during conversations or presentations
• social anxiety or emotional distance
• having ideas but struggling to express them under attention
The Practices
Actors are trained to stay present, responsive, and emotionally available even in unpredictable situations. We adapt play-based actor training practices for everyday life. The goal isn’t to perform better — it’s to help you stay grounded, connected, and fully alive in the moment.
In this course we practice the same foundations through:
• body awareness and grounding exercises
• voice and breathing work to regulate the nervous system
• improvisation and spontaneous interaction
• attention and listening training
• partner and group exercises that build trust and authentic contact
• emotional state work through physical action
What to expect
The course unfolds over three stages.
FROM HEAD TO BODY
Here we establish psychological safety and begin shifting attention from constant thinking to physical awareness.
BODY AS INSTRUMENT
Here we explore how the body shapes communication and emotional states.
FROM TECHNIQUE TO AUTHENTICITY
The final presentation is not an exam — it is a celebration of the journey and the transformation that has taken place.
What you’ll experience
Embodied Presence
Shift from mental control to physical awareness and live attention.
A deeper connection with the body and the ability to stay grounded in the present moment.
Freedom from Overthinking
Move from constant analysis to natural response.
Less internal monitoring and greater trust in natural responses.
Authentic Human Connection
Shift from social performance to real contact with others.
More ease in meeting people, listening, and interacting without performing a role.
Aliveness & Personal Discovery
Shift from habitual patterns to curiosity, creative energy, and self-discovery. A renewed sense of curiosity, creativity, and connection with oneself.
Inside the room
What Participants Say
Course instructors
Igor Kliuchnyk
Actor. Theater director. Founder of TISTO Studio. 11+ years leading sessions across Ukraine, Europe, and the US.
Igor Kliuchnyk
Co-founder of TISTO · Actor · Theater Director
Co-founder of Beautiful Flowers Theatre and NAFTA Theatre. Co-founder and director of Parade Fest International Theater Festival. TEDx speaker on transformation through play.
15+ years working at the intersection of theater, education, and leadership. Founded TISTO School in Ukraine — 1,000+ graduates, 20+ programs, 21 corporate clients including EPAM, GlobalLogic, and SoftServe. Led teams of 200+ people using theater-based methods.
Since 2022 — co-founder of Rescue Now humanitarian foundation (450,000+ people assisted, partnerships with UNICEF, USAID, UN).
Petro Ninovskyi
Actor · Facilitator · Juilliard MFA
Petro Ninovskyi
Actor · Facilitator · MFA, The Juilliard School
The first Ukrainian actor in the history of The Juilliard School. Also holds BFA and MFA from Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema, and Television, and completed the Midsummer Conservatory Program at the British American Dramatic Academy (London).
30+ projects in film, television, and commercial productions. 10+ years of training in leading international programs. Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Prize in Acting (2024).
Mriia Vanieva
Actress, teacher, coach. Co-creator of the TISTO program. Leads sessions across Germany, Europe, and the US.
Mriia Vanieva
Actress · Teacher · ICF-Certified Coach
30 years of professional experience in theater and performance. 5 years with the Kharkiv State Academic Drama Theatre. 2.5 years teaching at Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts (Berlin). 13 years at Kharkiv National University of Arts.
3,000+ hours of acting training delivered. Certified coach under ICF standards (CoachingUp University). Co-creator of the TISTO program.
Olha Kryvosheieva
Actress. PhD Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences. Author of the Flow-Vision Coaching Method.
Olha Kryvosheieva
Actress · Educator · Business Coach · PhD (Pedagogy)
9 years of stage career in Ukraine and Europe. 10 years teaching at Kharkiv National University of Arts, Ernst Busch Academy (Berlin), and Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF (Potsdam).
Author of the Flow-Vision Coaching Method — a proprietary approach to working with the subconscious. 1,000+ workshops and masterclasses delivered, from aspiring actors to C-suite executives.
Commitment& Details
Start May 12 → June 17
Thuesdays, 7-9:30 pm
Session Length: 2,5 hours
Held: Ukrainian
What to bring: Comfortable clothing and an open mind
Location: Manhattan, NYC
Format: Hybrid: In-Person sessions & Online webinars
Commitment: Full 6-week enrollment
Experience Level: Open to All
Group size: Group of max 16 people
CourseSchedule
May 12, Tuesday (In-Person)
May 23, Saturday (Online)
May 19, Tuesday (In-Person)
May 26, Tuesday (In-Person)
June 2, Tuesday (In-Person)
June 6, Saturday (Online)
June 9, Tuesday (In-Person)
June 17, Wednsday (In-Person)