Actor Portifolio

Igor Amanajás is an actor who has honed his craft through years of dedicated study and practice. He completed his formal training in the field of Theatre at the prestigious Arts Institute of the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil in 2008. 

 

In 2009, seeking to expand his horizons and explore new creative avenues, Igor relocated to New York City to study acting for both theater and film at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. Here, he received training in the Method, learning how to fully inhabit his characters and convey authentic emotions and experiences to audiences. In addition to his acting studies, he also delved into the world of mime, studying under the tutelage of the renowned American Mime Theatre. Furthermore, he also learned about view points and Suzuki technique from the SITI Company, which helped him to further refine his skills and expand his range as a performer.

 

In 2010, Igor embarked on a unique artistic journey, traveling to Abano Terme, Italy to participate in a residency program focused on the creation and utilization of masks in theatrical performance. Under the guidance of the late master Donato Sartori, he immersed himself in the world of Commédia Dell'Arte, a highly stylized form of theater known for its use of masks and physical comedy. During this transformative experience, Igor had the opportunity to attend the first-ever world congress of theatrical masks, where he engaged in discussions, workshops, and masterclasses with some of the most renowned names in the global theater community. 

 

In 2011, he began his studies and training in Balinese performing arts, becoming a disciple of the great master I Made Djimat. In 2012, he joined the Experimental Actors' Nucleus of SESI in São Paulo, under the coordination of director Professor Dr. Maria Thaís. At Unicamp, he formed a study group focused on theatrical masks that culminated in the creation of the play Decameron, for which he was the director.

 

In 2014, he returned to Bali to continue his studies, initiating his research at the master's level in the Postgraduate Program in Performing Arts at Unicamp. In 2015, he graduated from the Specialization (lattu sensu) in "Art History: Theory and Criticism" at the School of Fine Arts in São Paulo, publishing the first article in Brazil on the art of Drag Queen actors.

 

In 2016, he defended his master's thesis "Between the Niskala and the Sekala: The Art of Topeng Actors" in Performing Arts.

In 2018, Igor began his doctoral research in the Performing Arts program at Unicamp. He then relocated to Bali in 2019 to further his training and refine his skills in Balinese dance-dramas. In 2023, he successfully defended his thesis titled "From the Amazon to Bali: A Journey between Myths, Traditions, and Intercultural Creations in Balinese Dance-Dramas." In 2024, he will commence his post-doctoral research on intraculturality in the classical repertoire of Legong dance.

 

Throughout his extensive career as an actor, Igor has had the opportunity to study and work with some of the most renowned figures in global theatre, including Jeremy James (Théâtre du Soleil), Enrico Bonavera (Piccolo Teatro), Alice K (USP), and Fernando Neves (Os Fofos), among others. As an educator, he has taught courses in acting for undergraduate programs in Performing Arts at UNICAMP and USP (Sao Paulo University), as well as served as a permanent acting professor at the 4 Act Musical Theatre School.