This class picks up where others leave off by addressing the feeling side of auditioning. What is it about auditioning, whether it is making a self-tape or in the room, that feels so different from acting and what can the performer do to bridge that gap? In this class series, the Balance Arts Center is excited to bring together its Founder and Director Ann Rodiger and two time Emmy Award winning casting director Julie Tucker to guide the actor in bridging the gap through integrating Alexander Technique directly into all aspects of the audition process.

This three-week workshop is for actors who wish to explore what it is about auditioning that feels different from acting and how to address those feelings from a body-mind perspective through the practice of the Alexander Technique.  

In each class you will work on sides assigned by Julie. She and Ann will work with you making adjustments from a body-mind perspective covering before, during, and after the audition.

In the first class, Julie will work with the actor as if it's an audition, creating a space as close to the audition experience as possible so you can note what is happening. For this mock audition, Julie will assign the actor audition scenes from television shows she has worked on and writing prompts to note the nervous system activation at points in the process. 

This class will be followed by Ann Rodiger's work to explore what you are experiencing and to seek tools to come into regulation through the lens of the Alexander Technique. 

In the final class, we will combine this work. We return to a mock audition with Julie, who has assigned you new material and writing prompts, followed by adjustments and reflections with Ann.

Classes will take place March 15th, 22nd, and 29th from 6-9pm ET in person at the Balance Arts Center in NYC, NY.

Ann Rodiger is the Founder and Director of the Balance Arts Center in New York City.  She has nearly 40 years of experience teaching the Alexander Technique. Her teaching draws from her knowledge from teaching the BAC Teacher Training Course and private lessons in the US and abroad as well as her knowledge of Labanotation, Laban Movement Analysis, Bartenieff Fundamentals, Yoga, meditation and various dance techniques.  She has developed the BAC Alexander Technique Teacher Training Program and substantial programming for performing artists. She has also adapted the Alexander principles to work for those with hypermobility and Ehlers Danlos Syndromes. Rodiger teaches internationally in Germany, Belgium, Greece, and Turkey. The Balance Arts Center is a NYC Women and Minority Owned Business and a thriving place for the community to teach, share knowledge, and perform.

Ann’s interest in the Alexander work began when she was studying dance at The Ohio State University.  Through the work she was able to find a sense of balance and stability that was previously unavailable due to her hypermobility. Training with the Murrays while Ann was teaching at the U. of Illinois, Urbana allowed the AT to become a more important part of her life.  She was pursuing the AT, dance performance and teaching, and meditation simultaneously.  

After teaching dance at the U. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the  U. of Hawaii-Manoa Ann moved to NYC to continue her dancing and performing.  She taught at the City College of NY and Labanotation at the Juilliard School.  She also began a private practice in the Alexander Technique and continued to pursue meditation. 

Following a 5-year break from NYC living in an ashram, she restarted her private AT practice and began the BAC AT Teacher Training program.  To date she has graduated nearly 40 students from a Balance Arts Center Teacher AT Training program. 

Ann is a member of the American Society of the Alexander Technique and served as Treasurer for AmSAT. She also travels to teach abroad in Germany, Belgium, Greece, and Turkey.

Julie Tucker has been honored with two Emmy Awards and Five Artios awards. She currently serves on the Board of Director for the Casting Society. She is the co-owner of Tucker/Meyerson Casting. Their current projects include Queen Latifah’s “The Equalizer,” Howard Gordon’s anthology series, “Accused,” and The independent film “Musica.” Most recent projects include “The Best Man, Final Chapter, ” “Dexter New Blood,” “The Expanse,” “The Hot Zone Anthrax,” “Hondo” & the Jennifer Lopez feature film, “Marry Me.” Past television credits include: “Damages” (Emmy and Artios Award), “Six Feet Under” (Emmy and Artios Award for NY Casting), “Rescue Me” (Artios Award), “Hunters,” “The Affair,” “Nurse Jackie,” “Sneaky Pete,” “Seven Seconds,” “The Crew,” “White Collar,” “The Following,” “Fringe,” “The Big C,” “The Americans,” “In Treatment,” “Lincoln Rhyme,” “The Baker and the Beauty,” “Tell Me A Story,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “Limitless,” “Black Box,” “Those Who Kill,” “The Michael J. Fox Show,” “Sirens,” “Sex & Drugs &Rock Roll,” “Allegiance,” “Canterbury’s Law,” “Love Monkey,” “The Book of Daniel” and the first three seasons of “Law and Order: SVU.” TMC served as the NY consultant for NBCU on pilots from 2013-2018. Additionally, they did NY Casting on numerous projects including; “Deadwood,” (Artios nomination), “Dexter” (Artios nomination), and “Homeland” (CSA Artios Award for the pilot episode) Other feature film credits include “Man on A Ledge” and “One for the Money.” In addition to television and film, she has been on staff and cast for The Roundabout Theatre, Manhattan Theater Club, and The Williamstown Theater Festival. Before casting, Julie directed Off-Broadway and assisted directors Terrence Malick and Martin Charnin.