Today we’d like to introduce you to Murisa Harba.
Murisa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
“I live to push boundaries. I find comfort in the uncomfortable. I seek out the “new.” New situations, new combinations, new challenges, anything that will allow me to step out of my comfort zone and prove to myself that I can do something I have never done before and in so doing, prove to others that they can too.”
— Murisa Harba
It was important to me to create and maintain a safe place for actors to push themselves out of their comfort zones on an on-going basis and I hadn’t found a place that provided that in Los Angeles. This kind of environment was so important to me in my own growth that it spurred me to start About The Work, early 2013. I am extremely thrilled and lucky to be working with actors who care so much about not only their own craft, but also their peers. I believe in constant encouragement to reach outside of one’s comfort zone and continue to challenge the artist, week after week, always resetting the bar. That is how ABOUT THE WORK came to be. We just celebrated our 4-year anniversary last month!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Lots of logistical moving parts at all times! Also lot of invested emotion — I love what I do and am constantly thinking of ways to challenge each actor. It is such an incredible high when an actor has a breakthrough in their performances. However, in the beginning, because the work we do in class is so personal, I tended to carry it with me outside of class and it was really weighing down my mood and energy especially if we worked on heavy material. I had to learn how to always remain emotionally present and open while being able to let it go when we left the work space.
Another random challenge has been protecting the space. It hasn’t happened a lot, but I have had to let a few students know that it was no longer a good fit, if I felt they violated the safety of the space. If any student feels on guard, they will not produce or even try to reach their potential because of fear of public failure in front of the person and being judged. I am very protective of the work. The Work comes first.
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the About The Work Actors Studio story. Tell us more about the business.
ABOUT THE WORK is an actors studio tailored to the actor who takes their acting craft seriously. Led by Murisa Harba, students meet once a week on Theatre Row to work on their craft. All acting classes are individually based on the actor’s specific needs and goals. We believe it is important to create and maintain an environment that is supportive and safe. As artists, we need to feel comfortable to stretch ourselves out of our comfort zones to do our best work on an ongoing basis. Always stretching, always learning.
Every acting class starts with a full vocal and physical warmup so that we can approach the material from a place of openness. I would say that my chakra approach sets me apart from other instructors/studios. I utilize the chakras (the body’s natural energy centers) to tap into what is already inherent in our body as human beings as a way to physically, vocally and intentionally warm up the actor’s instrument: the body. The actor will then learn how to incorporate the chakras into their character-building and scene work to garner rich, connected results that happen organically. This approach empowers the actor to shift from a “heady” approach to utilizing the whole body and voice as a “true” instrument, while delivering strong, concrete decisions in their prep work.
I am most proud of my students and how far each of them has come artistically in their journey. I ask a lot of them and they must not only trust me but they must trust themselves in order to make progress. It is so rewarding to be a part of that process.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe that luck is really just preparedness plus opportunity. I also believe in the law of attraction. And lastly, I do believe I have been incredibly lucky and do not take any of it for granted.
Contact Info:
- Address: The Complex – Studio Villa
6472 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90038 - Website: www.about-the-work.com
- Phone: 201-370-5050
- Email: murisa@about-the-work.com
- Instagram: @aboutthework
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/AboutTheWork
- Twitter: @aboutthework
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/about-the-work-actors-studio-los-angeles-2
Image Credit:
Matt Beurois
