Stefan Niedziaà Âkowski (born 12 March 1945 in Warsaw, Poland) mime artist, author, director, teacher and choreographer.
In 1964, Stefan was invited by director Henryk Tomaszewski to become member of the Tomaszewski's Wrocà Âaw Pantomime Theater. Niedziaà Âkowski acted internationally as part of the company until 1975, before moving on to co-found and co-create âÂÂThe Stage of Mimesâ at The Warsaw Chamber Opera.
In 1979, Niedziaà Âkowski left Poland and moved to the United States. Upon arrival in New York City, he founded a new mime company with Alice Winslow. Together, they established a school, The American School of Polish Mime. During this time, he authored and directed many works, including "Beret", "Facets", "Fighting with Death", "Pygmalion", and "Time's Sculptures".
In 1986, Stefan left New York to join his wife and daughter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During this time, he was frequently invited by Marcel Marceau to teach at Marceau's Ecole Internationale de Mimodrame de Paris Marcel Marceau. In 1993, Niedzialkowski co-wrote, with Jonathan Winslow, a book on the art of mime titled, "Beyond the Word â The World of Mime." Marcel Marceau wrote the foreword to the book, concluding "...Stefan has opened the door with utmost sincerity and integrity, and his contribution is beyond words."
In 1993, Niedziaà Âkowski returned to Warsaw, Poland. In 1994, he took the position of artistic director of the Warsaw Pantomime Theater at the State Jewish Theater in Warsaw. Simultaneously, Niedziaà Âkowski founded The Mimes Studio (Studio Mimow) at the Warsaw theater, Teatr Na Woli. From 2000 to 2002 and in 2004 Niedziaà Âkowski was the author and artistic director of The International Mime Art Festival at the Teatr Na Woli theater. In 2005, Stefan Niedziaà Âkowski's Mimes Studio moved to its current location at the Mazovia Region Centre of Culture and Arts in Warsaw.
A celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Wrocà Âaw Pantomime Theatre by Tomaszewski was held in 2006. As a part of the celebration, Stefan Niedziaà Âkowski created, directed, and choreographed his mime drama, âÂÂDusioà Ââ (Soul), for the Wrocà Âaw Pantomime Theatre company. Niedziakowski played the title role as a guest artist at the premiere in December 2006 on the Scena Kameralna of the Polish National Opera in Warsaw.
In 2007, the film âÂÂActor of Silenceâ was created by Tomasz Tarnawski, centering on Stefan Niedzialkowski's life and works. It also features performances from students of the Mimes Studio under Niedziaà Âkowski's direction.