The world of the Pose

Introducing Pose Dramaturgy.

Pose dramaturgy uses pose moments as a dramaturgical tool to create performance. It is a theatrical artform that invites performers and audiences alike to engage in the performance with their imagination.

It offers:

  • a sensory approach for engaging with a play text

  • a sensory approach for exploring character

  • a sensory approach for creating performance

  • a sensory approach for engaging with character/s

  • a performance for the audience to co-create

Pose dramaturgy reflects on the creative exchange between theatre and visual art. The pose templates are sourced from paintings and ask: what can the actor learn from a painting about the pose as an expression of a present moment?

Posing is central to contemporary culture. We use it in family photos, school portraits, on social media, and in fashion. It appears in reality shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race and in the ballroom scene documented in Paris Is Burning, the seminal film that brought pose culture into mainstream awareness. Social media has made the single pose a primary mode of communication. One pose can highlight a mood, mark a moment, or, as the saying goes, “break the internet.”

We have been posing our entire lives and many of us hold a love–hate relationship with the act. Pose dramaturgy meets students in this world they already inhabit and transforms that everyday familiarity into a tool for theatrical exploration and creative expression.

The Visual language of the Pose

  • Detail from the Italian painter, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio's work, David and Goliath (1610)

    Caravaggio work has inspired artists such as filmmaker Derek Jarman, Photographer Cindy Sherman, Playwright Samuel Beckett and many more…

  • Billie Whitelaw posing in Samuel Beckett's Footfall

    Whitelaw’s pose is based on Caravaggio’s David and Goliath painting.

  • Kabuki actor, Bando Tomasaburo posing in 'Wisteria Maiden'

    The pose in the Kabuki theatre is called a ‘mie’ pose.

  • 'Paris is Burning' (1990) Jennifer Livingstone's documentary about the ballroom scene in NYC.

    The act of posing is in the forefront of contemporary popular culture with shows such as ‘The Pose”, ‘Rue Paul’s Drag race,’ … Voguing.

    On social media poses are used as the primary mode of communication. One pose image to highlight your day/mood.

    ‘Break the internet with a pose!’

  • Growing up posing

    We have been posing our entire lives and have a deep love/hate relationship to the act of posing.

  • Caravaggio. 'Seven acts of Mercy'

    An example of a pose template

  • Seven Acts of Mercy, pose template

    Using a pose template

  • Seven Acts of Mercy, pose template used in a different context

    Here, the ‘seven acts of mercy’ pose template is used for a commissioned work for Stirling-Maxwell Centre and the Beniba centre for slavery studies, Archives and special collections.

Experience Pose Dramaturgy

Curious about pose dramaturgy? You can book one of my solo performances, Sensing Blanche or Sensing Medea, which include an introductory workshop on pose dramaturgy. These sessions offer a unique opportunity to experience the technique live and engage directly with its concepts.

This combination is an ideal way for university theatre programs and students to get a firsthand feel for the work before committing to advanced workshops or courses.

Sensing Medea, a live solo performance. 40 Min.

This solo performance, created through the innovative use of Pose Dramaturgy, reimagines Euripides’ Medea by embodying the raw emotional and psychological depths of its central character. Through powerful physical expression and carefully crafted poses, the piece explores themes of rage, betrayal, and vengeance without words, offering a fresh and compelling perspective on this classic tragedy. Perfect for academic settings, the performance encourages dialogue on ancient texts, contemporary interpretation, and the use of movement in storytelling making it an inspiring addition to university theatre programs and classics departments.

To bring this captivating solo performance to your campus, please contact us to book a show or schedule a post-performance discussion.

Sensing Blanche, a live solo performance. 35 min.

This solo performance employs innovative Pose Dramaturgy to explore the complex inner and outer worlds of Blanche DuBois from A Streetcar Named Desire. Through evocative physicality and striking imagery, the piece offers a fresh, embodied interpretation of Tennessee Williams’ iconic character, inviting audiences to engage deeply with themes of memory, desire, and identity. Ideal for academic settings, the performance sparks conversations on theatrical form, character study, and the interplay between text and movement, making it a compelling addition to university theatre programs and interdisciplinary courses alike.

To bring this captivating solo performance to your campus, please contact us to book a show or schedule a post-performance discussion.

Private Solo Performance Workshops — Coming Soon in NYC!

Unlock your unique creative voice through personalized workshops exploring solo performance and pose dramaturgy. Starting November 2025, sessions will be available both one-on-one and in small group settings (max. 5 students) in New York City.
Details and booking info will be available soon.
Interested? Reach out to be the first to hear about it!

About

Nicole Kovacs is a NYC based Danish/American Educator and Performer. She earned her practice-led PhD in Theatre Studies from University of Glasgow. PhD titled, The world of the pose, constructing a dramaturgy of the pose.

Pose dramaturgy reviews:

’gratitude and compliments for your performance piece. I found it incredibly powerful and I do hope that others felt the impact and meaning as well.’

‘It was absolutely magnificent!’

Sensing Blanche review