Martin Gruber (choreographer)


Martin Gruber is a German director, choreographer and movement teacher for performing artists.

Education

Degree in Theatre and Music from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Training in Zenbodytherapy® and Triggerpoint Anatomy® with William Dub Leigh, Functional Integration with Alon Talmi. Suzuki Training with Tadashi Suzuki in Toga-Mura. Judo, Aikido, Iaido, Hojo in Japan and Germany, 6th Dan in Aikido. Study in Butoh Dance with Kazuo Ono in Japan, Acting with .

Life

Martin Gruber works as a director and a choreographer. He is a professor for movement at the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin. He has developed his own method of actor training and founded the Tami Method®, named after :de:Alon Talmi|Alon Talmi.,
Martin Gruber’s impact on contemporary European actor training is important: In 1985 he introduced Aikido into actor training at the Otto Falckenberg School, in 1986 Suzuki-Training, and in 1993 August Everding invited him to develop the movement training for the then newly founded Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding. Since then quite a number of his students have become teachers themselves and teach his methods both in universities in Germany and further afield. Many of his former students work successfully on stage, in film and on TV.

Basics of Actor's Training

Martin Gruber developed a new foundational method for comprehensive, interdisciplinary actor training inspired by Asian and western dance, martial arts as well as many of the concepts from structural integration and functional bodywork.
His method is based on three main aspects: Individual work on the student's posture, dialogical movement work with a partner and formal dynamic work with the collective. The training combines amongst other things neurophysiological understandings and techniques, a modified approach to Tadashi Suzuki's training as well as Aikido and creates a comprehensive system.
In this way, his method can answer to the demands of an ever-changing theatrical landscape that is constantly searching for new modes of expression, whilst lending the skills necessary for the traditional theatre. The actor gains competence to access the whole plethora of theatre styles ranging from classical theatre to performance art.

Theater Laboratory

In 1986 Martin Gruber opened a training place for professional theatre groups and performing artists in a converted farm in Birach, Bavaria. The directed by Otto Kukla and Crescentia Duensser was the resident company until 1992. Premiering Armut, Reichtum, Mensch und Tier ; Figaro and Co; Ulenspiegel. Since 1995 there have been premiers in the Bavarian dialect for example Wir sind Gefangene, Lena Christ, Die heilige Nacht by Joern van Dyck and Bettina Mittendorfer.
Teachers at Birach include Rena Mirecka, Paco Gonzales ; Marita Günher, Prof. Alon Talmi, William Dub Leigh, Nobuyuki Watanabe.

Teaching

Martin Gruber has given trainings at many international institutions e.g. Ecole Supérieure d’Art Dramatique du Théatre Nationale de Strasbourg, Central Academy of Drama, Beijing, and Shanghai Theatre Academy, workshops for example at Westerdals Oslo School of Arts, Communication and Technology, Oslo, National School of Drama, Delhi, Mozarteum, Salzburg, Hochschule für Musik und Theater München, Mime Centrum Berlin, Berlin University of the Arts, ImPulsTanz Vienna International Dance Festival

Directing