Freedom To ACT Announces Conference On Acting And The Alexander Technique

Freedom to ACT, developed by Ann Rodiger and Belinda Mello, is in its 8th year! This year's conference topic is The Actors Audition: Preparation for Success and will focus on how actors use the Alexander Technique to maintain their presence throughout the audition process. The conference will take place on January 4th-6th, 2019 at Balance Arts Center: 151 West 30th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY. Register for the full conference or sign-up for individual workshops.

Belinda Mello says, "The Alexander Technique has been an essential tool that many actors (Judi Dench, Lenny Henry, Ian McKellen, Annette Benning, Kevin Kline, Margot Robbie, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Lupita Nyong'o to name a few) use to help them deliver unforgettable performances and have a long, healthy, and sustainable career." Ann Rodiger says, "With Freedom to ACT, we're looking forward to facilitating a collaborative space between Alexander Technique teachers, actors, and theatrical professionals -- and shining a light on the value of the Alexander Technique to the actor's process."

The 3-day conference includes workshops ranging from topics of Presence, Voice, and Auditioning without Anxiety to Self-Taping, and Acting on camera. There will be a pre-conference for Alexander Technique teachers on Best Practices for Staging Theatrical Intimacy with guest presenters from Theatrical Intimacy Education. The Conference begins on Friday evening with a short introduction on the Alexander Technique, and a Presentation on the Nervous System in Performance by Jennifer Frank Tantia, PhD.

Saturday and Sunday's workshops will be taught by: Meade Andrews, Kathryn Armour, Sarah Barker, Dana Calvey, Elizabeth Castagna, Holly Cinnamon, Sandra Bain-Cushman, Margi Douglas, Janet Madelle Feindel, Harry Hobbs, Cathy Madden, Tory Matsos, Jean McClelland, Belinda Mello, Erin O'Leary, Ann Rodiger, Jean-Louis Rodrigue, Jennifer Schultz, Eleanor Taylor, Jean E. Taylor, and Jessica Webb.

Early registration discount pricing of $260 is available through December 1st, 2018.. Student Discounts are available. The conference will take place at the new Balance Arts Center, opening December 1st at 151 West 30th Street, 3rd floor, NYC 10001. To view the full conference schedule and learn more about our workshops and guest instructors visit: http://www.acting-alexander.com/

To secure your place at Freedom to ACT 2019: https://bit.ly/2Pcwfub

Ann Rodiger, co-founder of Freedom to ACT, is the Founder and Director of the Balance Arts Center, a movement learning center based on the Alexander Technique. She is also the Director of the Balance Arts Center AmSAT approved Alexander Technique Teacher Training program. She works with many performers specializing in vocal work with actors and singers. She has private practices in New York City; Berlin, Germany and Antwerp, Belgium. Ann has been teaching the Alexander Technique since 1981 and was in the first graduating class of the Urbana Center for the AT with Joan and Alex Murray. She holds a B.S. in Dance from the University of Oregon and an M.A. in Dance from The Ohio State University. She is an Advanced Labanotator and is highly skilled in Laban Movement Analysis. www.balanceartscenter.com

Belinda Mello, co-founder of Freedom to ACT, is the founder of AT Motion, an Alexander Technique and Movement Studio, specializing in the performing arts. She teaches at the SITI Conservatory and The Barrow Group. Belinda has been teaching the Alexander Technique since 1989 in her private practice and as a guest lecturer at conservatory programs and theater companies. She coaches actors who have appeared in film, television, and New York theaters including The Women's Project, The Public Theater, BAM. Musicians who study with her perform at Carnegie Hall, in Broadway shows, and are recording artists. www.alextechmotion.com

Freedom to ACT is a collaboration between AT Motion and Balance Arts Center.

To secure your place at Freedom to ACT 2019: https://bit.ly/2Pcwfub