“If you want to have Presence as an Actor you need Energy. This begins with good nutrition, sleep and exercise habits. Your instrument is your body. Treat it like a Stradivarius and it will play like one!” – Cindy Tanas
GROUND AND CENTER AWARENESS FOR THE ACTOR
In acting class, begin to think about dropping out of your thinking, analyzing, judging, figuring-figuring out mind and drop down into your breathing, intuiting, sensing body. Drop your mind down into your feet.
An acting student in one of our Toronto acting classes practices dropping out of the mind and into the body.
Each day, be aware of your connection to the ground as an actor. Imagine growing big, strong roots into the ground and connecting to mother earth. Walk around with your roots connected wherever you go. Feel the weight shifting from one leg and foot to the other leg and foot. Drop your mind into your feet.
Allow your hips to move gently from side to side. Drop your pelvic floor. Soften your jaw. A tight jaw is indicative of a tight pelvis.
Drop your breath into your belly center.
Listen to your voice. Is it in the lowest register you can find in your body? If not, breathe and drop it in lower and a bit deeper each time you practice.
RELEASING TENSION FOR THE ACTOR
Standing with your legs parallel and shoulder width apart, begin jiggling your body so as to release your muscles and body tension. Keep yourself rooted and don’t let your feet come up off the floor. Make low sounds as you gently jiggle and shake. Imagine releasing all of the tension you don’t need into the ground. Give it to mother earth. Imagine it burning up in a big ball of fire at the core of the earth.
There are many exercises for Grounding and Centering and for dropping into your body which were inspired by my bioenergetics training over a 7 year period. Stay tuned for my next article on “The Actors Instrument”. These skills cannot be acquired by just reading about them. They are the scales that actors must work on day to day.
If you would like to continue to Part 2 of this article go here: https://cindytanas.com/ground-and-centre-awareness-part-2/
All characters exist inside of you because you are connected to the “Collective Unconscious”. You are enough! Believe in that…….
Cindy Tanas Actors Studio teaches acting classes for Theatre and Film in Toronto and the GTA, Collingwood and Southern Georgian Bay.
Connect with Cindy for a free consultation
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Acting Teacher / Mentor / Life Coach Cindy Tanas, has run a highly reputable and successful Toronto acting school for over 25 years. She teaches Acting Classes for beginners and experienced actors. Cindy is a member of ACTRA, former Chair and member of TAAS (Toronto Association of Acting Studios) and member of Theatre Ontario.
Cindy Tanas Actors Studio offers a holistic approach to acting in Toronto since 1995. Both in person and online acting classes are available.
www.torontoactingstudios.com
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