Featured Courses

Body Intelligence

Presented by Brenna Palughi –

Body Intelligence focuses on developing the physical and emotional intelligence of the actor.

To be held in person (please review in-person requirements)

Class utilizes Allan Wayne Work exercises to build physical and mental stamina. These repetitive, circular exercises condition the muscles and break up fascial adhesions while unveiling emotional availability, eroding habitual tension and preventing injury.

There are guided creative movement explorations, ensemble, partner and solo work that allow the actor to fully experience moving from their body’s impulses as opposed to being ‘in their head’ to make choices. The focus on embodiment work leads the actor to greater emotional access and safety.

Class references concepts from Alexander Technique, Fitzmaurice vocal technique, integral anatomy, Lucid Body, meditation and modern dance.

Sign up for either Part A or Part B independently (5 weeks each), or join both for the full 10-week term. You may join Part B without taking Part A.

Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique is a gentle method through which you gradually learn to free yourself from unconscious physical habits that limit your ease, versatility, and freedom. This course will inquire into and enhance your “body map” – your conception of your body, as a whole and in specific areas. As you learn to release the downward pressure of your head to your spine, become clearer about your joints and how they work, and understand the unity of your body/mind and how it functions as a whole, you will gain access to an ever-increasing sensory awareness. Bringing conscious thought and awareness to daily life will allow you to change the habitual behavior that creates unneeded tension. Posture and self-use become conscious and volitional, not habitual and rigid. This translates to a greater possibility of fully embodying characters whose physical life is different from your own while maintaining healthy use of your body. Natural free use of the breath is addressed as a result of freeing the whole self, supporting your voice work.

When choosing a class, please refer to instructors’ teaching statements and bios, found on the faculty page, for greater detail about their approach to meeting the course goals. Every instructor brings their own methods and experience and teaching styles vary. You are encouraged to read about and audit the classes of each instructor to find the right fit for you:

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE INSTRUCTORS:
Martha Bernard | Stefanie Proessl

Required: Bring your own Yoga Mat
Recommended reading: BODY LEARNING by Michael Gelb

Most classes run for 10 weeks. Some classes are offered in two 5-week parts (Part A & Part B), and you can sign up for either part independently or register for both parts for $15 off. You can register for Part B without taking Part A:

Stage Combat

This class applies the definition of acting as “behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances” to the stage combat world. You must have the skills to tell the physical story with as much accuracy and commitment as you bring to the spoken word. You must be able to meld truthful emotional life with a performance that remains collaborative, repeatable and safe.

You will learn advanced hand to hand and grappling techniques, and should time allow, knife and sword work for the stage.

With the instructor’s’ guidance you will learn the process of crafting your own staged fights.

STAGE COMBAT INSTRUCTOR: Christian Kelly-Sordelet

Purchase with Stage Combat: Weapons Training in Fall Term 2024 for $15 Off!

HB Studio offers both online classes and in-person classes at the Studio. Before your first class, please review the information outlined on the relevant page(s). Class titles below indicate which are running online vs. in person.