Our Mission:

The Visit is dedicated to decolonizing actor training and reshaping it into innovative works for both stage and screen. Our creative spaces are rooted in the intersection of indigenous heritages and spiritual practices, energizing artists and performers by fostering deeper connections to their craft.

About Us:

At the heart of our work is Budi Miller Taksu Training (BMTT), a pedagogical system developed by Dr. Budi Miller through over 20 years of research. His approach blends actor training techniques from Balinese performance arts, Fitzmaurice Voicework, and other Western physical acting methods. BMTT is designed to cultivate an intensive training environment for both professional and aspiring actors.

Taksu is a central concept in Budi’s work, originating from the Balinese term for the moment when the divine manifests itself in performance. This energy exists in all people, and different cultures give it other names: duende in Spanish, élan in French, hana in Japanese, and ase in Yoruba. In the U.S., athletes often refer to it as being “in the zone.”

Through training in Balinese mask work, actors access deeper knowledge of their physical and emotional bodies, shedding societal limitations such as judgment, guilt, and shame. By freeing the body, performers can open gateways to Taksu energy, move beyond ego-driven thinking, and tap into an unlimited, inspired imagination. The mask work provides a safe, transformative space where actors explore uncharted areas of themselves and release their fullest artistic potential.

Our Approach:

The Visit draws on Budi’s pedagogy and other decolonial theater practices to form the foundation for actor workshops, residencies, intensives, ensemble-driven devising, artistic collaborations, and productions of both new and classical works. Our training is rooted in the integration of body, mind, and spirit, empowering performers to achieve self-awareness and artistic depth.

Who We Serve:

We serve disciplined actors and theater artists, particularly those from BIPOC communities, who seek a rigorous, decolonized approach to training. Our focus is on Black, Indigenous, Asian, and Brown artists, as well as anyone committed to doing decolonizing work. We cater to performers looking for a safe space to explore their full selves, tapping into their creativity and embracing a spiritually grounded artistic practice.

Budi’s Pedagogy:

Dr. Budi Miller’s training offers actors full autonomy in their creative process, encouraging them to connect with their imagination and achieve artistic enlightenment. His methodology is both embodied and presentational, emphasizing the sacred relationship between art and spirituality. Budi’s work is built on the belief that art originates from divine inspiration and is crafted by human hands, making it an essential part of an actor’s practice.

Through self-inquiry, actors develop an understanding of their personal relationship to their craft, exploring the interaction between the actor-self and the character-self. This process enables actors to deepen their connection with their imagination, their performance, and their audience.

Our Vision:

The Visit envisions an artistic infrastructure that spans the globe, providing access to decolonized training for communities traditionally underserved by formal acting schools. Our goal is to create satellite spaces in places such as Hong Kong, India, and other locations where actors can develop their craft without the need to engage with conventional graduate programs. These global spaces will serve as alternative pathways for artists entering the industry.

Our long-term vision is to cultivate an ensemble-driven community of artists whose work embodies the prestige of institutions like Chautauqua, without compromising on the mission of decolonization. We aspire to build a worldwide network of artistic hubs that uphold the values of rigorous, spiritually grounded actor training.

Budi Miller Taksu Training (BMTT):

Over the course of two decades, Dr. Budi Miller has developed a pedagogy that provides a safe environment for actors to explore uncharted areas of their artistry and release the parts of themselves that have been restricted by traditional performance methods. Participants integrate practices of self-inquiry, exploring the interaction between their personal identities and the characters they portray. This process enhances their relationship with their imagination, performance, and audience engagement.

How We Achieve This:

We accomplish our mission through a variety of avenues, including retreats, workshops, artistic collaborations, productions, and cultivating a community of like-minded artists. Our collaborations with institutions and artists provide further opportunities for growth and development, both individually and collectively.