Alexander Technique
The freedom, clarity and power conferred by excellent coordination are the hallmarks of the Alexander Technique, a kinesthetic method that allows students to perceive and set aside the habits that impede their best performance. Invariably, these habits include patterns of thought and misperception that mislead actors into using excessive, unnecessary tension and effort in their work. Choosing consistently to refrain from effortful acting is one milestone in the actors' progress in the technique. To reach it, actors must achieve more accurate perceptions of themselves and the dynamic demands of the task at hand. They must also decide repeatedly to forego the immediate pleasure of working in their habitual, effortful way, in favor of a freer way of working that ultimately is far more rewarding. This crucial ability not to do what is nonessential, counterproductive and overly effortful is strengthened through a daily practice of constructive rest, which is taught at the beginning of the first trimester and required throughout the year. Learning not to do the nonessential is the first meta-skill required of the actor. Learning always to do what is essential is the second. Actors must learn to coordinate consistently the myriad elements that their craft requires. In particular, they must develop the ability to refresh their attention continually with ease, so that they can remain open, listen to their scene partners, and live in the present moment on stage. This ability to renew their attention from moment to moment is another milestone in the mastery of the technique, and it leads to a host of other benefits. With it, actors can learn to free their breath at will, release into strong emotion, support themselves with effortless poise, speak with unforced power, move with grace and ease, choose from a far larger palette of acting choices and match the clarity of their acting intentions with a clarity of execution. During the fall trimester, actors receive three hours of group instruction each week. The principles of the technique are introduced and explored through guided group, partner and individual kinesthetic exercises. As the trimester advances, the Alexander Technique instructor and the voice instructor teach occasional combined classes, to consolidate the mutual benefits of their disciplines. In the second half of the trimester, actors also engage in scene work with literal hands-on guidance from the Alexander Technique instructor, which allows them to detect over-effort and other errors in the way they are using themselves as they are happening. The winter trimester builds on this foundation, with actors receiving weekly half-hour private instruction. These hands-on sessions help the actors to grow in their mastery of the technique, so that by the spring trimester, they can consistently use it in their scene work and are ready to apply it in actual productions. The Alexander Technique instructor attends rehearsals during the spring and provides support and assistance to the actors as they approach performance with far greater awareness and skill. |
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