390 Little Collins street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000. Tel: 0409 690247
The Feldenkrais Method for performing artists
Ingrid Weisfelt was a company member of Meryl Tankard’s Australian Dance Theatre and of TanzTheater Basel, Switzerland.
She has performed with Kim Walker, 2 Dance Plus, Vincent Crowley, Joachim Schloemer, Vienna International Arts Festival, ChamberMade Opera, Kage Physical Theatre, Not Yet It’s Difficult, Chunky Move, Force Majeure, and in Stephen Page’s Orphee with Opera Victoria.
She has worked as Movement Trainer for the opera Massacre at the Vienna International Arts Festival and as Movement Director for Crestfall at the Red Stitch Actors Theatre. Ingrid was Choreographic Assistant and Movement Trainer for Today in The Lumina Room for the Cologne State Theatre Company, Germany. For the Victorian Opera, Ingrid was Choreographer for Don Giovanni, Assistant Director/Choreographer for The Coronation Of Poppea, and Associate Director/Choreographer for Ariadne Auf Naxos.
Ingrid teaches movement for actors at the National Theatre and at Monash University.
Ingrid devises and creates her own work. Currently she is developing a new Dance Theatre work called MALMO.
Excerpt of MALMO rehearsal footage on YouTube
“I have been working as a performer for the last twenty years in the genres of dance theatre and physical theatre. Eleven years ago Ingrid introduced me to the Feldenkrais Method.
Since then, through her work with the Feldenkrais Method, Ingrid has greatly increased my understanding and knowledge of my own body and enhanced my physical skills and abilities. She’s helped me improve my flexibility, strength, coordination and awareness and with the Feldenkrais Method, she’s given me a wonderful tool to use when approaching different tasks and techniques. What ever I have been doing, be it ballet, physical theatre or bringing forty kilos of foam to life as a Wild Thing, The Feldenkrais Method has helped me do it better.
Ingrid has also been crucial in helping me deal with injuries; reducing pain, speeding recovery and preventing them from recurring. She has helped me monitor and manage my ageing body as I continue to put it through the stress of performing in dance and physical theatre shows. Without Ingrid and the Feldenkrais Method I wouldn’t have lasted this long.
Ingrid is insightful, intuitive, thoughtful and has a sure and calming touch. She is without doubt one of the best teachers and physical practitioners that I have worked with. Above all though, she has opened my eyes to a whole new way of moving.”
Vincent Crowley, Actor (Carol: “Where THe Wild Things Are”)
Why come to the Melbourne Feldenkrais Studio if you are a performing artist?
Having over 16 years experience as a performer in some of Australia and Europe’s most re- known and respected Dance, Theatre and Opera companies, Ingrid understands both the physical and emotional pressures of being a performer.
Through personal experience, Ingrid understands how a performers’ successful experience in the rehearsal room and on stage is directly linked to their sense of freedom, fun and spontaneity. Successfully freeing oneself from negative parasitic thought within the creative process, leaves the performing artist open and available to challenge, inspire, and take risks within the creative process.
The Melbourne Feldenkrais Studio can help performers in three key areas:
1. Physical Skills Development
Refine and calibrate functional movement to inform whatever highly trained and developed performance art form you specialise in. Vocalising, breathing, rolling, sitting, walking, falling, arching, folding, twisting and turning become total body actions as you become aware of unconscious movement patterns which limit your skeletal and muscular freedom and develop new movement possibilities which are supported through your whole skeleton and intention. Feldenkrais is a systemic approach to movement and can therefore exist within any form of physical action. Through gentle and explorative based movement lessons, performers can learn, develop, and hone skills to answer the demands of any role.
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2.Process
The Feldenkrais Method cultivates a state of mind that allows and demands continuous learning, requiring exploration without value judgement and creativity within the moment. An Awareness Through Movement lesson parallels the creative process in a concrete, comfortable and safe environment.
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3.Awareness
Through the Feldenkrais Method we can teach ourselves to start to recognise the physical sensations in our body when we experience emotions and begin to broaden our pallet and understanding of different emotional states. When we express ourselves more clearly, we become a better communicator and therefore a more effective and engaging actor, singer or dancer.
For more information about the Feldenkrais Method for actors click here.
“If you know what you are doing, you can do what you want.”
Moshe Feldenkrais
Photo credits:
Black and White: Rachel Roberts
Try At Home: Virginia Cummings
Feldenkrais For Performers: (Right)Tony Melov
(Above) Nassiem Valamanesh
“We act in accordance with our self image.”
Moshe Feldenkrais