Arthur Lessac's keynote speech, VASTA conference, 2009

I have just read a most inspiring man's most inspiring words on the voice and the role of voice trainers in the world. It has made me feel so proud that I am working in the field that I am, that I have the ability and the inclination to assist people to find their "original voices". This document is 9 pages, and it is the easiest 9 pages I have ever read so I encourage everyone who is reading this one paragraph, to do the same! Truly inspiring, truly wonderful.

http://lessacinstitute.com/vasta_address.pdf

Words of Wisdom - books I am reading that are full of WISDOMS

I am currently reading Osho's book "Awareness" and it has some wonderful things in it that I would love to share. Following are some quotes that I believe are fundamental to the craft of acting or any performance actually. They apply to both your artistic self and your self self! He writes his words as an application to life, I believe that its all relative, and this applies across the board!!

"Awareness is what makes you a master - and when I say a master, I do not mean a controller. When I say be a master, I mean be a presence - a continuous presence. Whatever you are doing, or not doing, one thing must constantly be in your consciousness, that you are."

"Your failures will be helpful. They can show you how unconscious you are. And even if you can become aware that you are unconscious, you have gained a certain awareness. If a madman becomes aware that he is mad, he is on the path toward sanity."

"Only when you act from the centre is your act total. And when that act is total, it has a beauty of its own. When the act is total, it is moment to moment. When the act is total, you don't carry the memory - you need not."

I am sure I will find more of these awesome quotes as I continue reading, so I will add them as I find them. I hope you get as much from them as I do.

Feedback from Acting Essentials Workshops

I have now completed 2 Acting Essentials workshops, and have had some wonderful feedback from the participants. Here are a couple of testimonials about peoples experience working with me:

I had such an enriching weekend. You have excellent skills as a teacher, you are completely engaging and your passion for this kind of work is so inspiring. I am completely taken by kinesensic training, it seems to me to be an explanation for so many of the terms and pieces of feedback you get as an actor that never made sense. I feel like my understanding of what other teachers have been trying to say is translated by Lessac. I described it to my mother last night as a wholistic approach to acting training. I think the whole group left feeling inspired and reenergised.... the Lessac training just makes so much sense as a holistic approach to acting training. Nicole Bilson , actor, Brisbane

Thanks for running such a great workshop on the weekend! I loved the energy and passion that you teach with, I think it really served to create an environment in which we all felt safe to explore the work. It was surprisingly refreshing to also discover that the 'work' is enjoyable and easy to apply. I know that I myself rediscovered the joy and the play in what we do as actors. In fact I have already begun applying it to my performing (in the theme parks and for some VO work I did on Monday) and am having a blast with it. Had so much fun, it's a shame we only had 2 days to be introduced to Arthur's amazing work. Ben Clements - actor, Gold Coast

I just wanted to say it was such a pleasant surprise how much I got out of the workshop. You have such a beautiful presence. The workshop was fun and positive and allowed us to be free and vulnerable and that owes much to you and your warm and encouraging nature and abundance of enthusiasm for the work. And what's not to be enthusiastic about it. Watching you morph from one energiser to the next was awesome and I want to be able to do that too!
One of the best things I have taken from the workshop is putting the 'fun' back into acting and rehearsing. Play. Explore. Isn't that our job as actors? Anyway, I loved discovering and exploring the different states of Relaxer Energisers. It was a whole new approach to text that had immediate results. Of course I now feel the need to further develop these skills and would appreciate any little tips you have for "practising" - i mean playing with them. I also loved the flower-smelling breath connection exercise and use this quite regularly now. Its a great one to wake up in the morning with! I'll never forget how good it felt after we got up and walked out of the room after doing that exercise; Floating, tall and effortlessly as if in another world!

Belinda raisin, actor, brisbane

Teaching Private Lessons from Home

As I am now based in Melbourne, I am offering private lessons from home and also from the studios at TAFTA in East Malvern. If you are interested in private lessons, please contact me via email at aimee.blesing@gmail.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Please be sure to tell me your full name, your location and what kind of lessons you are looking for.

ACTING ESSENTIALS - VOICE & BODY WORKSHOP

An intensive workshop in voice & movement and how to apply them to acting.

Do you want to be seen by a casting director before you are really ready to be seen?

If you have ever been nervous before an audition or performance...

If you have ever felt that you have not been at your best...

If you have ever felt disconnected from your acting...

If you have ever doubted your interpretation of a scene or your preparation for performance...

This training is for you!

Queensland Dates: 25th & 26th April

Venue: Warner Roadshow Studios, Gold Coast

NSW Dates: 9th & 10th May

Venue: TAFTA Studios, St Leonards

Adelaide, Perth & Melbourne Dates TBA

COURSE INFORMATION - Acting Essentials Intensive Workshop

Do you want to be seen by a casting director before you are really ready to be seen? Many actors underestimate the value and importance of voice and body training. Acting Essentials gives you the tools you need to be prepared, be inspired, and be easily directed in any acting situation. The focus of Acting Essentials is on the voice, but as the voice and body cannot be separated, the body must be a part of the training, thus it is essentially voice/body training. My goal for this workshop is for actors to become more skilled at linking the separate areas of actor training to create a more “whole” and embodied experience using Lessac voice and body training as the foundation. (www.lessacinstitute.com)

During the workshop we will be addressing the areas of breath, voice, body and presence, and how they combine and apply to the overall experience of acting, essentially "connecting the dots". We will be using scenes and short texts to explore these connections, so you will have a system of exploration that you can take away with you and utilise when you need it most. Handouts will be provided so that you can revisit and continue to explore the work as you need to.

Tony Award winning actor Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon, Dracula) on his experience of Lessac Voice & Body Training...

“...for thirty years or more it has sustained me. I have never lost my voice due to strain, overuse, or, more importantly, misuse... It has given me infinite vocal freedom. It works, and once acquired it will do the same for you...It’s simple to maintain and only strengthens the voice as you grow older.”

THIS IS REAL ACTOR TRAINING, NO GIMMICKS, NO SHORTCUTS.

BE A PART OF THIS UNIQUE TRAINING EXPERIENCE, APPLY NOW!

CONTACT AIMEE BLESING (aimee.blesing@gmail.com) FOR MORE INFORMATION OR FOR AN APPLICATION FORM

Aimee Blesing has spent the past two American summers participating in Intensive training with Master Teachers of Lessac Kinesensic Training (www.lessacinstitute.com), a holistic voice and body method developed over 75 years of research and performance. Aimee is a Practitioner of the Lessac work and a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts acting course (2001-03). She has spent over 10 years training in performance, voice and movement and is passionate about making innovative and world class performing arts training available to Australian performers.

"She has exceptional skills as an actor and... has become one of our leading Practitioners of this work, genuinely gifted as an instructor....I highly recommend her."

- Nancy Krebs, Master Teacher, Lessac Kinesensic Training, Maryland USA

KINESENSICS FLYER

Back in Melbourne Town

I have just arrived in Melbourne for a gig with Essential Theatre Company.  I will be playing Helena and Peter Quince in my favourite play of all time, A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Needless to say, I am very excited about this show, and can't wait to get stuck into rehearsals and play with all my kinesensic adventure tools!!!

I will be in Melbourne at least until the end of March and will be available to work with individuals, companies or small groups on any performance work during this time.  Feel free to contact me with any enquiries.