\u201cI have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.\u201d \u2014 John Steinbeck<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

$\"John$
John Steinbeck<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Trules has been teaching since he was in 6th grade. He remembers when he first discovered he could teach<\/a>. It was in Mr. Tarshish’s Hebrew school class in Westbury, New York, when he creatively found a way to teach his sweet-but-slow, friend, Marvin Pishkowitz, how to read the arcane language.<\/strong><\/p>\n
And he remembers the only 2 great teachers<\/a> of his life. Both high school teachers: General Constance Green and Lieutenant Joan Colaprete. Both tough-minded and demanding English teachers. They taught him how to think, how to read, how to do homework, and how to write… sentences, paragraphs, essays, and occasionally… some poetry.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Then…. six months after graduating college (from SUNY at Buffalo, known in those days simply as “UB”), Trules found himself teaching college himself at Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois. How, you ask? <\/strong><\/p>\n
Well, after driving himself up and down America in his camouflage-painted 1964 Pontiac Tempest in the year 1970, Trules found himself in the Windy City of Chicago… climbing a creaky old wooden staircase up into an cavernous college rehearsal hall and into his unknown future. Please, read more….<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Since he was 22 years old, Trules has supported his various artsitic careers by teaching. He has taught movement and improvisation in college theater departments, improvisational modern dance in professional dance studios, and clowning and solo performance\u00a0all over the planet.<\/strong><\/p>\n
He has been a faculty member of USC’s (University of Southern California) School of Theatre since 1986, becoming a full-time Associate Professor of Theatre Practice at USC’s School\u00a0of Dramatic Arts, and retiring 31 years later in 2017. He has won a prestigious university-wide “USC Faculty Recognition Award”, and he has taught abroad many times, twice on Fulbright grants in Malaysia in 2002 and Romania in 2010. He has taught an international dance workshop in Beijing in 2007 and several other theater workshops in Jakarta in 2014 and Moscow in 2017.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Trules has developed and created his own original technique for each of the courses he teaches. Although he has studied with both masters and clowns (literally), it is the synthesis and originality of his technique\u00a0that make his workshops, classes, and courses…. completely unique.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Trules is currently available for independent teaching assignments in America or abroad.<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/h3>\nPLEASE CONTACT TRULES ABOUT TEACHING AT YOUR COLLEGE OR INSTITUTION.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
And please see his Facebook group, “Trules’ Children”<\/a>, made up of hundreds of Trules’ former USC and international students.<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
TEACHING HISTORY<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n
University of Southern California (USC), 1986-2017<\/strong><\/p>\n
USC School of Dramatic Arts (SDA)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Associate Professor of Theatre Practice, 2010 \u2013 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Senior Lecturer, 2006 -10<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Full Time Lecturer, Full-time Faculty, SOT 2003-05<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Adjunct Assistant Professor, SOT 1986-2003<\/strong><\/p>\n
School of Cinema\/Television \u2013 Adjunct Assistant Professor, 1999<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Created new course and co-taught \u201cPersonal Voice Documentary Filmmaking\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
Washington Prep High School, Director & Creator of Pilot Film & Video Program, 2004<\/strong><\/p>\n
UCLA Extension \u2013 Taught Improvisation & Theater Games, 1994-95<\/strong><\/p>\n
California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA), at Cal Arts, Valencia \u2013 Taught Creative Writing, 1992 & 1993<\/strong><\/p>\n
NYC – Taught Clowning as Director of NYC’s Resident Clown Troupe, The Cumeezi Bozo Ensemble, 1977-82<\/strong><\/p>\n
MoMing Dance Theater, Chicago \u2013 Taught Modern Dance, Ballet, Improvisation, & Clowning, 1975-77<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
$\"\"$ <\/p>\n
MoMing Bozo Ensemble, Chicago, 1975<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Columbia College, Chicago \u2013 Taught Modern Dance & Improvisation in School of Dance, 1971-75<\/strong><\/p>\n
Columbia College, Chicago \u2013 Taught Movement for Actors in School of Theater including \u00a0Grotowski Technique, 1970-72<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
INTERNATIONAL TEACHING<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
Guest Artist, Moscow, Russia, 2017 – Taught Solo Performance & Improvisation<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\"$ <\/p>\n
Guest Teacher in Jakarta, Indonesia, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n
Fulbright Senior Specialist in American Studies (Theater), 2008-2013<\/strong><\/p>\n
Fulbright Senior Scholar\/Guest Artist at the National Caragiale Film & Theater Institute, Bucharest, Romania, 2010<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Taught Solo Performance & Improvisation<\/strong><\/p>\n
Guest Teacher at LDTX Beijing Modern Dance Company, Beijing, China, 2007<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"Trules$ <\/p>\n
Trules held aloft by Beijing’s LDTX Modern Dance Company, 2007<\/em><\/p>\n
Fulbright Scholar, 2002, Malaysia –\u00a0<\/strong>Taught Improvisation, Theater Games, & Solo Performance at 2 different Islamic universities shortly after 9\/11<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
COURSES TAUGHT\/PRESENTATIONS OFFERED<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Theater (at the USC School of Dramatic Arts)<\/strong><\/p>\n
–Improvisation & Theatre Games<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Original improvisation & movement technique developed uniquely by Trules: Teaching creativity & self-expression. Enhances team work, self-confidence, risk-taking, trust, & thinking outside the box.\u00a0A participatory, physical workshop, teaching the student to loosen up, free his\/her body and voice, lose self-consciousness, and to become more him or herself. Teaches\u00a0how to \u201cmove from the center\u201d, \u201csay yes to the information\u201d, take risks in silliness and creativity, be a better public speaker, better communicator, and more\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026 Open to anyone who wants to open up and learn more about themselves and their creative potential.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 USC, 1986 \u2013 present; UCLA Extension, 1994-95; Malaysia, 2002 (Fulbright residency); LDTX Beijing Modren Dance Company, 2007; Bucharest Romania, 2010 (Fulbright Senior Specialist Residency);\u00a0Moscow, Russia, 2017.<\/strong><\/p>\n
–Solo Performance\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
Original personal story telling technique developed by Trules, teaching autobiographical, “personal monologue” creation, first in writing, then in performance. Connects performers to themselves and an audience in empowering, alchemical ways. Bridges the gap between people, politics, religion, & cultures.\u00a0\u00a0 A challenging, creative, and self-empowering course that shows the power and universality of our individual stories. No prior experience necessary. We all have stories. The class teaches the techniques of how unearth them, how to write for the theatre, how to discover one\u2019s own voice, and how to have the courage to present them to an audience.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 USC, 1993- present; Malaysia, 2002; Bucharest, Romania, 2010; Moscow, Russia, 2017.<\/strong><\/p>\n
See Trules\u2019 paper on solo Performance, \u201cPersonal Storytelling Bridges the Global Divide, Changing the World 1 Story at a Time\u201d<\/a>, presented in July, 2005 at the 12th International Conference on Learning in Granada, Spain.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
–Clowning\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
Original Clown Technique developed by Trules to train the body, mind, & spirit in clowning, character, costume & makeup and to bring students out in public as clowns! \u201cFree Public Laughs\u201d!<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"Clowning:$
Clowning: USC, Spring 2014<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Chicago, 1974-77; New York City, 1977-82; UMS, Malaysia, 2002;<\/strong><\/p>\n
-USC SDA Guest Artist Seminar, 2012-14:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cA Life in the Theater with Gordon Davidson\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
$\"\"$ <\/p>\n
Trules with students at the home of Gordon Davidson, Godfather and Pioneer of Los Angeles Theater<\/em><\/p>\n
New course created by Trules w\/ Gordon Davidson, Founding Artistic Director of the Mark Taper Forum, 1967 \u2013 2005. Passing on the Davidson legacy with guest artists such as Charlayne Woodard, Ken Brechner, Arvin Brown, Alan Mandell, John Rubinstein, & Charles McNulty, Theater Critic for the Los Angeles Times,<\/u>who came to class and wrote a front page \u201cCalendar\u201d piece<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
General Studies, USC,\u00a0<\/strong>Freshmen Seminars<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
\u2013Self Expression & the Arts<\/em><\/span>, USC 1993 \u2013 2010.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0An original Freshman Seminar created by Trules exposing students to arts and culture in Los Angeles, on USC\u2019s campus, and within themselves.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u2013Bob Dylan, the 60s, and YOU,<\/span>\u00a0<\/em>\u00a02011-16.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0An original Freshman Seminar created by Trules covering\u00a0albums 1-7 of Dylan\u2019s musical career, cobined with the relevance of the 1960s Counter Culture to\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Contemporary College Students<\/strong><\/p>\n
$\"\"$ <\/p>\n
\u201cBob Dylan, the 60s, and YOU\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Seminar Focused on Student Activism & Engagement in Social Justice and Social Enterprise, 2014-17<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u2013Micro Seminar:<\/u><\/em> 2005-present: \u201cArts & Culture, Los Angeles\/USC<\/span>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
An original seminar created by Trules exposing incoming freshman to LA\u2019s & USC\u2019s Arts & Culture through \u00a0the city\u2019s physical and cultural geography, and cultural opportunities such as museums theaters, ethnic neighborhoods; USC\u2019s \u201cVisions & Voices\u201d & Spectrum programs<\/strong><\/p>\n
–Filmmaking<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
Personal Voice Filmmaking<\/span>, USC 1991; Washington Prep High School, South Central Los Angeles, 2004<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Teaches novice or experienced filmmakers how to conceive, write, shoot, edit, title, and score, film\/video with the filmmaker at the center of his\/her own autobiographical story.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) at California Institute for the Arts, Valencia, CA, 1992-93. Poetry, Solo Performance, Short Fiction, Screenwriting<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cI have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.\u201d \u2014 John Steinbeck Trules has been teaching since he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1732,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1691","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/erictrules.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/erictrules.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/erictrules.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erictrules.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erictrules.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1691"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/erictrules.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3970,"href":"https:\/\/erictrules.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1691\/revisions\/3970"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erictrules.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/erictrules.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}