Demidov Acting Teacher Certification Program

The Demidov Teacher Certification program has been established by the International Demidov Association and Professor Andrei Malaev-Babel in 2020. It is currently a four-year comprehensive online curriculum, aimed at training teachers around the world, capable of cultivating a new formation of actors. Demidov pedagogues are deeply steeped in the principles, the values and the ways of the Organic Technique, while their teaching is rooted in admiration and respect for the actors and their creative process.

The four-year certification course takes place entirely online, giving participants a unique opportunity to master the philosophy and tactics of the Demidov School of Acting, while continuing with their current occupation and practices. Hailed as “pedagogy of the future” by key Russian theatre masters, the Demidov School of Acting asks teachers in training to engage in sustained, rigorous practice that consists of four major activities:

Experiencing the Demidov School of Acting First-Hand – cultivating and sustaining essential instincts of "living onstage" via participation in the Two-Year Demidov Acting Certificate Course featuring signature Demidov etudes, as well as the organic approach to Character Facilitation, Scene Study, Role Development, as well as independent Scale Work.
Observing Expert Teaching of the Demidov School – gaining insight, from observation of Professor Malaev-Babel's work, into the expert facilitation of the Demidov School, including teaching processes and strategies, facilitation and support techniques, fundamental actors' mistakes and successes.
Learning the School’s Philosophy, Techniques and Tactics – via weekly meetings with Professor Malaev-Babel (in the third and fourth years of certification), sharing successes and challenges of independent teaching, receiving careful critique and gaining sufficient theoretical understanding of the Demidov School while being able to communicate it to students.
Applying the Demidov School via Teaching Practice – in the third and fourth certification years, teaching the Acting curriculum up to 3 times/week under the guidance of Professor Malaev-Babel, while gaining the ability to demonstrate proficiency in facilitation of the Demidov School.

There are currently five graduates of the Demidov Teacher Certification Program, hailing from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Greece. Each of them demonstrated passion, dedication, and commitment to the Demidov School both prior to entering the Certification Program and throughout its duration. The first cohort of certified Demidov teachers graduated in May 2023.

Andrei Biziorek
Director, Demidov Studio London

Andrew Bosworth
Director, Demidov Studio Chicago

Vicky Georgiadou
Director, Demidov Studio Athens

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Teacher Program Inquiry

(Demidov Acting Certificate Program)

▶️ Weekly Training (20 credits)
Participate in 3 classes per week (academic-year schedule) as a full student in the Online Acting Certificate Program. You’ll engage with foundational principles through etudes, partner work, and advanced psychophysical training.

▶️ Participation in Demidov Intensives and Annual Demidov Summer Courses (5 credits)

Participants intending to continue into Teacher Certification should begin accumulating the required supplementary training during the first two years of the Acting Certificate Program. As a general guideline, candidates should aim to complete approximately half of the 240 required supplementary contact hours during Years 1–2, including 2 Annual Demidov Summer Courses.

For certification purposes, supplementary training is calculated by actual contact hours:

15 contact hours = 1 Intensive equivalent
A standard five-day Demidov Summer Intensive consists of 15 contact hours.
A standard weekend Demidov Masterclass consists of 6 contact hours.
Hours from qualifying shorter Masterclasses and one-day Association offerings may be combined toward the 15 contact hours required for one Intensive equivalent.

During Years 1–2, prospective Teacher Certification candidates should aim to complete at least 60 contact hours of qualifying Intensives and Masterclasses, equivalent to 4 Intensives.

In addition, participants should attend one Annual Demidov Summer Course each year, for a total of 2 Summer Courses during Years 1–2. Each Annual Summer Course consists of approximately 30 contact hours.

All qualifying Demidov Intensives, Masterclasses, and Summer Courses completed through the International Demidov Association prior to formal enrollment will be credited toward these requirements on the basis of their actual contact hours.

The supplementary training requirement for Teacher Certification consists of 240 contact hours of Demidov training over the four-year journey, including 4 Annual Demidov Summer Courses. The remaining hours may be completed through qualifying Demidov Intensives and Masterclasses.

Four Annual Summer Courses = 120 hours
Additional Intensives/Masterclasses = 120 hours
Total supplementary training: 240 hours

🟨 Note: Certification requires completion of 8 intensives and 4 summer courses over the course of the 4-year program. It is essential to begin this work during the first two years—not to delay until the teaching phase.

All Demidov Intensives, Masterclasses, and Summer Courses completed at the Association prior to formal enrollment in the Teacher Certification Program will be counted toward these certification requirements. Participants are encouraged to begin accumulating credit as early as possible during their actor training years.

▶️ Weekly Independent Teaching (10 credits)
Teach 1-2 Acting Certificate classes per week (2.5 hours each) over 60 academic-year weeks.
→ Core certification requirement

▶️ Weekly Class Observation (5 credits)
Observe 1 Certificate class per week, taught by Professor Andrei Malaev-Babel.
→ Mirrors the 60-week academic structure

▶️ Weekly Strategy & Critique Class/Training Faculty Meetings (5 credits)
Attend 1 class per week year-round with Professor Malaev-Babel. These sessions include critical feedback, philosophical discussion, and teaching strategies. This weekly meetings (1+ hour) will include fellow teacher-trainees/certified faculty.

→ Focus on pedagogical insight and collaborative guidance

▶️ End-of-Semester One-on-One Meetings (5 credits)
Engage in personalized feedback and planning sessions with Professor Malaev-Babel each semester.

▶️ Outreach, Media & Public Engagement (5 credits)
Contribute to the public presence of the Demidov School by participating in content creation for Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and podcasts. Collaborate in recruiting future students and sharing the School’s mission.

▶️ Demidov Intensives / Masterclasses / Annual Summer Courses (5 credits)

Continue participating in supplementary Demidov training throughout Years 3–4. By the completion of Teacher Certification, candidates must have completed 240 contact hours of qualifying supplementary training across the four-year journey, including 4 Annual Demidov Summer Courses.

Candidates should normally complete 2 of the required Annual Summer Courses during Years 3–4, while continuing to accumulate qualifying Intensive and Masterclass hours toward the overall requirement.

Four-year commitment
Years One & Two: 3 classes per week during academic year
Years Three & Four: Up to 4 classes per week during academic year; 1 class/week during summer months + participation in intensives and summer courses throughout calendar year
Year One: 30 weeks
Year Two: 30 weeks
Year Three: 45 weeks
Year Four: 45 weeks
Total Weeks: 150
Total Classes: 450 (not counting Intensives and Summer Courses)

🔹 ACTING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM (Years 1–2)

Tuition: $9,000/year

Participation in Intensives and Summer Courses:
These are strongly encouraged but not required for graduation with the Acting Certificate. However, participants interested in continuing on to the Teacher Certification track should aim to complete 2 summer courses (one per year) and at least 4 intensives during this period, in order to accumulate the necessary credits.
After completing Year 1, participants become eligible for:

25% discount on all Demidov Intensives and Summer Courses.

🟨 Note: No tuition discounts are applied based on future interest in teacher certification. If the participant later enters the Teacher Certification Program, they will then qualify for different benefits.

🔷 TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (Years 3–4)

Standard Tuition: $9,000/year
Guaranteed Discount for Acting Certificate Graduates:

25% off tuition ($6,750/year)

Participation in Intensives and Summer Courses:
These are mandatory for certification:

8 Intensives and
4 Summer Courses (each weighted as 2 intensives)

To support completion of these required training elements, Teacher Certification participants receive:

🟩 CERTIFICATION DISCOUNTS ON INTENSIVES & SUMMER COURSES:

50% discount on all Demidov Intensives and Summer Courses during Years 3–4

🟨 Note: This replaces the 25% actor-training discount and reflects the required nature of this coursework for certification. Discounts do not apply retroactively.

Teacher Certification Program 2021–2025