Nicole Kontolefa
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Teaching Artist

“The teacher is of course an artist, but being an artist does not mean that he or she can make the profile, can shape the students. What the educator does in teaching is to make it possible for the students to become themselves.”  - Paolo Freire

Curriculum Vitae

Education/Training:
MA in Applied Theatre, CUNY School of Professional Studies
BFA in Theatre Arts,  Moscow Art Theater School, Russia
Sustained Dialogue, Moderator Training, Butler University

University Guest Artist/Adjunct Instructor:
2019 Butler University  Instructor in Acting I and III for Theatre Majors
Taught and advised theatre majors in all years. Took part in departmental strategy planning sessions and campus wide diversity initiative through Sustained DIalogue training. 
2018 Fairfield University Devised + Implemented Process Drama for Humanitarian Department that calls for reflective and humanizing practices in structuring human development and aid across the world. 
2015 University of Wisconsin - Madison Guest Artist Performance and Master Class for Graduate and Undergraduate Students of Theater in Education
2018 Center for a Vital Community - Developed and implemented community building                                          workshops with four local groups in Sheridan College, WY to start conversations about inclusion around race and LGBTQ+ identities in a small town. Local groups varied from a young woman’s detention facility to senior center and theatre group. Community stakeholders included state senators, artists and community leaders from several local organizations.​

Teaching Artist/Facilitator:
2018-Present The Journey Theatre Project - Uses applied theatre to build community, equitable organizations and celebrate the lives and creativity of those we work with. 
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Clients: Compass School, CO-OP School, Catholic Charities, Idaho State University, City Year
Community Engagement/Applied Theatre Partners: The Bowery Mission, SAGE, Brooklyn Movement Center, M4BL, Compass School
2019 Creative Arts Team - Junior Youth Theatre Co-Director of Spring Production
Worked in a team of facilitators to track needs and assets of students. Directed a portion of the production using ideas, input and talents of the young people I worked with. 
2019 Bowery Mission - Co-Director of Mission Theatre Project
Worked with The Bowery Mission to implement a therapeutic theatre program based on participant centered devising techniques. Working in two residences, we recruited and retained participants, devised theatre based on their interests and produced two performances.  
2018 AATE - Conference Workshop ‘Process Drama as a Tool for Social Justice
Co-devised and facilitated a workshop using process drama to explore immigration and refugee experiences. Explored how this tool can be used to aid awareness and action planning about other important social justice issues.
2018 Memory Center of New York - Designed+Implemented a Community Arts Program for older adults suffering from memory loss. Worked with Center to recruit participants, schedule and implement sessions around the physical and cognitive needs of the participants. Culminated sessions in a party and celebration of the community.
2017-Present Department of Corrections NYC - As an In-Unit Arts Programming Provider I build classes that use theatre and creative writing to explore personal expression through a social justice lens. 
2010 Baltimore Theatre Project teaching artist 
2008 Master classes while in residence at Baryshnikov Arts Center

Arts Organization Experience:
2019 - Present The Journey Theatre Project - Co-Founder, Facilitator and Director of socially engaged workshops and productions. Developing and leading trainings in equity and diversity in the classroom. 
Clients and Partners: The Bowery Mission, City Year, Compass School, COOP School, Brooklyn Movement Center, Every 28 Hours Plays, SAGE
2005 - 2015 Studio Six Theatre Company -  Co-founder and Managing Director
Produced three international tours, twelve New York City productions, co-translated and premiered two new Russian plays, hosted visiting directors, actors and playwrights. Directed fundraising campaigns, donor stewardship, grant writing, vendor and artists contracts.

Publications:
Upcoming 2020: Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed Journal: “Don’t Poke The Bear: A Project Report. Co-author with Grace Cannon. 
Etudes: an online journal in theatre & performance: Lessons in Homemaking: Devising Theatre with Women and Men in Transitional Housing. Co-author with Esther Camacho-Triggs and Chelsea Hanawalt. December 2019.

Grants/Awards/Conferences
Kolyada Plays Festival - Grand Prize for I Am Me. Yekaterinburg, Russia
Golden Mask Festival - Contemporary Performance Program participant - I Am Me. Moscow United States Embassy in Moscow - Grant for Cultural Affairs - I Am Me.
Chekhov International Festival - Co-grant w/ SounDrama to produce A Town - Город.ОК.
LMCC - Fund For Creative Communities and MCAF for Spider at Baryshnikov Arts Center 
ITAC4 - International Teaching Artist Delegate
Seinfeld Family Foundation Scholarship - Four year scholarship to pursue degree in Moscow
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