Polina Klimovitskaya

Polina Klimovitskaya has worked as a director and master teacher across Russia, Europe and the United States and holds an MFA and a Ph.D. from Yale University. She started her work as an actress and director in Moscow in the 1960s, studying acting with disciples of Stanislavsky and Vakhtangov and directing with the last assistant of the great stage-innovator Meyerhold. In the USA she performed at Yale Repertory Theater and in the Academy Award-winning short film Molly’s Pilgrim. Polina has directed at the Kennedy Center, among dozens of other places, and as an artist-in-residence at Mabou Mines, for whom she also wrote the story on which Lee Breuer based his production Red Beads. She has taught legions of students over 30 years through her unique approach and Kinetic Mind Practice at institutions, the list of which includes New York University, Brooklyn College, the Stella Adler Studio and Shakespeare Conservatory. She currently serves on the faculties of Michael Howard Studios, Hunter College and Yale University.