3-Month Distance Learning Program
Choreography and Blocking in Performance
Stage Composition, Mise-en-scène and Blocking
A practice-based distance program for theatre directors, choreographers, dancers, and performing arts professionals who work with choreography, stage composition, mise-en-scène, blocking, and movement directing.
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Weekly practical assignments with individual feedback from a tutor
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Tools that can be used directly in rehearsal and production planning
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Built for working theatre-makers - study from anywhere, keep a professional rhythm
Program Overview
Gateway to the Professional Stage
A practical, professional course designed to teach how choreography and blocking function within a director’s workflow and rehearsal process. Over 12 weeks, you engage in real weekly assignments that develop your ability to compose movement, organize space, and communicate complex staging clearly - all within a structured distance learning rhythm.
This program is built around NIPAI’s signature “Learning by Doing” philosophy: each concept is immediately applied through practice, and personalised feedback ensures continuous development.
Whether you aim to refine your directing toolkit, strengthen collaboration with performers, or deepen your understanding of physical composition, this course grounds your work in visible, usable skills.
Credits apply toward the full Diploma
A Direct Path to the Theatre Directing Diploma
If you later continue into the 18‑month Diploma, your completed module can be reviewed as part of your pathway, and tuition alignment can be discussed individually during admissions.
Step 1
3‑Month Module - Choreography and Blocking in Performance (Stage Composition, Mise-en-scène and Blocking)
Step 2
Continue your studies within the 18-Month Theatre Directing Diploma Program or the 18-Month Movement Directing Diploma Program (distance or blended)
Step 3
One cohesive method + a growing portfolio + your own production at the end.
You don’t study “a topic.” You build a sequence of professional modules where each piece supports the next - method, portfolio, and clarity of practice.
Our Philosophy
Learning by Doing
Distance learning works here because the program is built around a weekly production rhythm, not passive watching. Each week you receive a clear focus, create a concrete submission, and refine it through feedback
Depending on the week, your submissions include:
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stage diagrams / ground plans and spatial solutions
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photo sequences or short rehearsal videos that demonstrate composition choices
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blocking notation and movement pathways
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short written explanations that clarify intention and structure (so your work is transferable to rehearsal).
Upon successful completion, you receive a certificate confirming your achievement and training in choreography and performance staging.
Weekly cycle
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Get access the weekly lecture
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Read the weekly brief
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Apply it to your play
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Submit the assignment
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Receive feedback + refine
What you leave with
Learning Outcomes
The program aims to develop your ability to:
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build stage composition that remains readable under rehearsal pressure
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create practical ground plans and blocking maps to share with collaborators
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direct movement as part of storytelling, not decoration
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structure transitions and sequences using montage thinking
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document your process in materials that can support your portfolio and rehearsal communication.
Is This Program For You?
Who Should Enroll
The Choreography & Blocking in Performance course at NIPAI is designed for choreographers, dancers, theatre directors, and emerging artists interested in expanding their skills in movement and staging for performance. Over the course of three months, this distance-learning program provides a comprehensive and practical exploration of key elements of performance-making: choreography, composition, mise-en-scène, blocking, movement directing, and montage. There are few programs worldwide that cover such a broad spectrum of subjects in one course.
Next step
Ready to develop your staging practice through choreography and blocking?
Apply or request start dates and tuition. We’ll reply with the next intake options and the details relevant to your situation.
Places are limited, and candidates are selected competitively based on experience and artistic potential / professional profile.
Questions
FAQ
Here are answers to some of the questions we receive most often from prospective candidates.
No. The program is structured for distance learning and can be completed from anywhere.
Further reading
Blog Posts
If you want to explore the topic before applying, start with these practical articles from the NIPAI blog:
