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Student
Testimonials
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"The
class and Susan's wonderful, freeing, positive teaching style, enabled
me to shed my usual inhibitions and fInd out I was more creative than
I ever thought possible. The class was a tremendous source of
fun and a great way to connect with people." -- Valerie Frankfeldt Psychotherapist
"Susan makes me feel comfortable being me...and that's no easy task. I learned it's OK to be spontaneous, make incoherent sounds and to freely express myself. Not only is she an excellent teacher, she cares. She comes prepared for each class. Do the right thing and take this class!" -- Gamal Dillard, Comedian and Actor "Susan's teaching combines an extraordinary blend of support and direction. Her innate kindness gives the least courageous student the courage to take risks -- 'To dare to suck.' But she's not a passive spectator to a drowning; if necessary, she will gracefully reach through the muck and mire to perform a much needed rescue, 'rewinding' the action to a safe, dry place back on the shore. Her intervention is never critical, but always instructive." -- Debra Blau, Illustrator/Designer and organizer of Barefoot Boogie (www.barefootboogie.org) "Susan's passion for improv, warm personality, and supportive teaching style make this an immensely enjoyable experience. In her workshops I have had a chance to tap inner creativity, lower inhibition and gain a level of comfort in perfomring that extends beyond the classroom walls into many aspects of daily living. Let's face it, all the world's a stage and we are merely scriptless players. I recommend her workshops to everone and anyone; the actor and non-actor alike." --Aubrey Canecchia, Cosmic Observer (and Physical Therapist) Susan's
Improv classes are the antidote to bland thinking. I took her class
several times and learned how to enjoy myself while leaving behind
any judgmental thoughts about what I was going to say. The best part
of her class is learning how to trust your own powers of creativity.
One big surprise for me from Improv was learning to have the courage
to sing in front of an entire class while creating rhymed songs...all
without preparation. The musical experiences in Susan's class eventually
led to my taking singing lessons....and now, I'm actually singing
opera! Take this class to find the hidden layers of creativity and
talent that lie within you.
--Linda Tagliaferro, Artist & Writer
(www.lindatagliaferro.com) |
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"IMPROV
- it's not only for the professional actor. For me the class
has been a way of IMPROV-ing upon myself. To learn to listen, be supportive
and take initiatives are things which are useful in everyday life.
Still what has been the most important and refreshing aspect of this
class has been to be able to, after a typical stressful day, relax,
play and have fun."
-- Karin Karlander, Interior Decorator
"Susan is a very talented teacher and performer who has the ability and patience to allow her students to relax as they learn the principles of improv in a safe, non-competetive environment. And the best part is that this all happens while you're having loads of fun just being yourself." --Chris Tsakos, Social Worker "Improv -- it's fun! Susan's Improv workshops have helped me gain more confidence in myself both personally and professionally. As a professional dancer, her classes have given me more freedom to work on a stage; whether it's big or small, I feel more comfortable with the usage of the space. As an actor, many of her improv exercises help me work on building characters for my monologues or plays, and of course, I feel more comfortable improvising when I forget my lines. Susan as a teacher is great!! She's very patient and she makes you feel at home. No matter what level you are, she makes sure that you understand all the exercises before she goes on to the next step. She's very encouragning and she doesn't take 'no' for an answer, she always says 'Yes, you can do it!'. Thanks, Susan, for being so professional and such a beautiful person." --Angel Garcia, Tango Dancer, Actor, Choreographer and Teacher "My daughter Susan's improv workshops are a delight. I can't remember having so much fun since I was a child. I have learned many improv skills in the workshop. Susan encourages us to express ourselves and take risks. She is an excellent motivator and a keen critic who does not offend. I have gained many skills that helped me in my drama workshop as well." -- Joyce Kaessinger, Co-Owner of "Beyond the Rainbow" at www.rainbowcrystal.com |
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"At first I was rather apprehensive
because I have heard some wild stories about acting and improvisation
classes. I had this vision of myself trying to 'work out the inner
emotinoal problems of being a brass doorknob' in front of twenty strangers
and wanting to die of severe embarrassment. But, from the minute the
first class started, it was a stress-free, enjoyable journey. It was
fun, it was games, it was a lot of laughing and, ultimately, it was
a great experience.
"Susan knows exactly how to make all of her students comfortable, whether they are old acting pros just trying to brush up their skills or people who have never done any kind of acting who are just curious. She is a wonderful teacher, who knows how to keep the group on track, but also knows when to let them go on a tangent to help the lesson she is trying to teach sink in a little deeper. "Students often surpirse themselves with just how quick and creative they are when put into dialogues and situations that Susan uses to teach the fine art of improvisation. It is really entertaining to watch people go to great lengths to resolve the problems that come up when we are trying to stay within the parameters of the exercises. For example, it is not unsual for someone to throw themselves on the floor and act like a fish on a hook. But what is even more interesting is that the students will congratulate that person for his ingenuity after they do it. This kind of thing does not happen anywhere else! (At least not in the day to day world of normal people). "The greatest thing is finally to realize what Susan is trying to teach us at the end of every class. These lessons are not simply to learn how to do improvisational acting, but most of the lessons can be applied to many situations that we have to deal with in our own personal lives, and Susan is very passionate about relaying that. "As a director and a film maker, this kind of experience is invaluable. Because of the technical nature of the medium, dramatic film acting can be very inflexible. But having a basic knowledge of improvisational acting does teach me to roll with something if the actors feel like they want to try something different. Often, the spark of an unplanned moment can make the difference between a good take and a great one. Finally, Susan's class is the most fun someone can have while learning the finer points of improvisational acting. YES is the key word here!!" -- Joseph C. Giannico, Director and Film Maker "Empowering, enjoyable and creative. It opened up my mind and made me feel I could accomplish anything. Each class was a learning experience and one for which I am eternally grateful. All I can say is 'MORE PLEASE!'" -- Nathalie Bekin, Writer |
