Movement 4

Movement 4, The Suzuki Method continues the Maggie Flanigan Studio’s commitment of providing our students with the broadest conservatory training in the United States.  Physical simplicity is the mark of a seasoned, well-trained actor. This is incredibly difficult to achieve, and takes a great deal of training and work on your physical instrument.  Great actors are able to strip away all of the unconscious, pedestrian, and habitual physical patterns that clutter the clarity of a character. Anything that is an impediment to your ability as an actor to be simple, but also free and experientially alive must be eliminated from your work.  The Suzuki Method is considered one of the most vigorous and powerful training methods for actors, challenging and instilling in them strength, physical simplicity and presence, three essential qualities to any serious actor. Developed by renowned Japanese theatre director Tadashi Suzuki and The Suzuki Company of Toga, The Suzuki Method of Actor Training looks at the actor’s use of breath, the center of gravity and energy to develop power, presence and precision both physically and vocally. Suzuki believes that acting begins and ends with the feet.  His work incorporates stomping, squatting, and statue work to help the actor connect to the earth.  It has been an integral part of the training at NYC’s renowned SITI CO, and is often combined with Ann Bogart’s Viewpoint technique, which our students receive in Movement 3.  This rigorous physical discipline borrows elements of traditional Japanese theatre (Noh and Kabuki), Greek theatre, ballet and martial arts. The physical vocabulary of these basic training forms hones an actor’s physical awareness, imagination, vocal power, will, and strength. Actors trained in The Suzuki Method develop rich and resonant voices and cultivate powerful physical and vocal energy.

This 12 week, 24-class semester is the culmination of the physical training at the Maggie Flanigan Studio.  Building on the freedom and release that is developed with the Williamson Technique in Movement 1 and Movement 2, and the dynamic physical behavior created with The Viewpoints in Movement 3, this class challenges the student to work for physical release, ease, strength and simplicity.  When combined with a resonant voice and a rock solid acting technique, our students are fully capable of producing vivid, fully realized human behavior.  Any artist must master their instrument, and for the actor this is the totality of you.  Physical training is at the core of the Maggie Flanigan Studio conservatory, and we believe it should be a priority for any serious actor.

Movement 1, 2 & 3 are all pre-requisites for this class. Movement 4 is a requirement for Business 1.