The Performing Self
Since FM Alexander began to develop his work in Australia in the 1890's, his teaching has been popular with performing artists.
In the early years after his arrival in London in 1904, Alexander was known to go from theatre to theatre in a hansom cab to give a lesson to leading men and ladies such as Sir Henry Irving and Lillie Langtry before they went on stage. More recently actors who have benefitted from Alexander lessons include Dame Judy Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Paul Newman, John Cleese and Lenny Henry. The Alexander Technique has been used by the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare's Globe. From the world of classical music there are countless performers who have used Alexander's discoveries to help them: Sir Adrian Boult, Sir Colin Davies, Julian Bream and Sir James Galway. Dancers Gill Clarke and Trisha Brown, classical and popular singers Lesley Garrett, Sir Paul McCartney and Sting and countless others have studied this remarkable technique for integrating the self. |