A packed day that combines theatrical tradition and technological innovation, exploring how the actor’s body is transforming in the digital age. The discussion with Prof. José Quintana and Noa Zatta’s masterclass on the basics of motion capture offer a unique opportunity to understand the new frontiers of contemporary performance.

Il programma della giornata

Mattina: incontro con il Prof. José Quintana

The day begins with a discussion and reflection on the relationship between the body, theater, and new technologies in the training of contemporary actors. Prof. Quintana will share his perspective on how traditional theatrical techniques, from physical mime to dramatic biogeometry, intertwine with the demands of digital performance, opening up new perspectives for 21st-century actors.

Afternoon: basics of motion capture with Noa Zatta

The second part of the day is dedicated to a hands-on experience in the world of motion capture, the technology that has revolutionized cinema, video games, and digital productions.

Part One: theory and fundamentals

The workshop begins with an analysis of the fundamental aspects that define a motion capture performance:

• What is the Volume, and how does this technological space work?
• Motion capture suits: why actors wear them and how they work
• How the “magic” happens: the process of capturing and transmitting body data
• Body awareness and dramatic intent in the digital environment
• The digital transposition of movement: from the physical body to the virtual character

Part Two: exercises and performances

The day continues with practical exercises, including:

• “Cinematics”: scenes performed inside the Volume
• Exercises based on the Laban method for movement analysis
• Individual and group conceptualization work
• Dialogue between gesture, space, and technology

The goal is to understand how to facilitate the transmission of the data our bodies send through physicality, transforming physical performance into credible and expressive digital characters.

The teachers

Prof. Jose Quintana

Founder and Artistic Director of the Quintana School

With over thirty years of experience, Prof. Quintana offers a unique and in-depth perspective on theater. Originally from Guatemala, he has lived in Europe for twenty years, during which time he has developed his artistic practice and research in various countries across the continent.

A graduate of the Escuela de Arte Dramático (ENAD) and the National Conservatory of Guatemala, he continued his training in Mexico, Guatemala, and Cuba, specializing in Anthropological Theater. He studied Theater Pedagogy in various countries, including Spain, Greece, and Austria. In Spain, he devoted himself to exploring various character-building techniques, from Lee Strasberg to Mikhail Chekhov, including Grotowski (with Elżabieta Moszczyńska), as well as mime at the Nouveau Colombier school in Madrid (Marcel Marceau) and Moveo in Barcelona (Etienne Decroux’s physical mime) with Thomas Leabhart. In Austria, he studied classical mime with Sami Molcho.

An actor and director in Guatemala and Mexico, he won first prize at the 2008 Festival de Langreo Art Nalon Escena in Asturias, Spain, for “Cascorro Manoslarga,” a play he wrote himself. He currently teaches in the master’s degree program in theater pedagogy at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. He has taught at numerous institutions and schools, including his own acting school, Pantoteatro, and has led courses in various countries. From 2024 to 2025, he taught Stylized Gestural Theater and Dramatic Biogeometry at the Accademia Proscenio in Parma. In 2025, he founded the José Quintana International Italian-Spanish School of Theater and Mimodrama in Canegrate.

Noa Zatta

Bachelor’s degree in World Performance | Master’s degree in Acting for Digital Media

East15 Acting School, United Kingdom

An Italian-Swiss professional actress who performs in both Italian and English. She began her career at a very young age: at just 12 years old, she was cast by Oscar-winning director Gabriele Salvatores as a co-lead in the film “Il ragazzo invisibile,” which was released in Italian theaters.

After graduating from a classical high school, she moved to the United Kingdom, where she studied acting at East 15 Acting School, one of Britain’s most prestigious theater schools, earning a Bachelor’s degree in World Performance with highest honors (First Class Honors, equivalent to an “110 with honors” in Italy), followed by a master’s degree in Acting for Digital Media at the same university.

She has acted in numerous professional theater productions, films, and TV series both in Italy and abroad, including the Rai series “Un passo dal cielo 8” and “Non Uccidere 2.” She specializes in acting techniques for virtual environments and has worked on motion capture projects for video games and digital productions.

Her international background and practical experience in the digital sector make her an ideal instructor for anyone wishing to explore the world of technological acting.

Who it’s for

The workshop is open to everyone: professional and aspiring actors, artists, theater and film students, enthusiasts of new technologies, and anyone curious to discover how motion capture works and how digital technologies are transforming the world of entertainment. No specific experience is required.

Practical Information

Date: December 21, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Circolo Bell’Unione, Via Volontari della Libertà 18, Canegrate (MI)
Cost: €100
Limited Seating

Registration

For information and registration, contact us at:

📩 ideatheatrehub@gmail.com

📩 info@scuolaquintana.org

Organization

A collaboration between Scuola Quintana and I.D.E.A. – Atelier Internazionale Dell’Espressione