I specialise in movement for actors and I use these skills as a movement teacher, coach, director and dramaturg. Philosophically my movement heritage combines my early training with Lorna Marshall who was very influenced by Lecoq and Butoh with my Somatic movement studies in Laban, Bartenieff and Body Mind Centring and my training in Viewpoints and Composition with Anne Bogart, SITI Company and Mary Overlie. I see the body and mind as one entity and am interested in the subjective, experienced body and crafting movement from that deep place so that performers feel ownership over their expressive movement and character work. I hold the following professional qualifications:
Certified Movement Analyst (Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, NYC)
Dynamic Embodiment – Somatic Movement Practitioner (Centre for Kinaesthestic Education, NYC)
I spent five years researching how these approaches to movement could be interwoven into the process of directing theatre. This work resulted in a prize winning PhD, available to view here:
https://espace.curtin.edu.au/handle/20.500.11937/136
I bring this cross pedagogical approach to my directorial processes as well as movement training and coaching.
Image Credit: Tashi Hall
Testimonials
"Teresa creates a safe space to help explore ideas with the body as the medium for discovering more. Her work is gentle and deep. Also a great way of waking up the mind and one's creativity through the moving body." (Leila Lloyd Evelyn, Playwright)
"Teresa Izzard is a very skilled Movement specialist, in particular is her ability to use the techniques of Laban as a tool to help actors access emotional and physical areas required for complex characterisation. Many students have commented on how her methods facilitated the development of their characterisation skills. As a fellow collaborator on several projects Teresa has a dynamism that promotes creative thinking. Her sharp observation skills and ability to make innovative offers results in robust and imaginative work." (Gabrielle Metcalf, Theatre Director and Educator)
An overview of my training / influences
Theatre / Movement: Directing, Physical Theatre and Mask with Lorna Marshall in London, Physical Theatre with Wendy Houston and with Cristina Castillo in Melbourne, Lecoq technique and devising with Simon Edwards and Marian Masoliver at The Actor’s Space in Barcelona, Action Theatre at Chisenhale Dance Space London with Sten Runstrom and Michael Chekhov with Janice Orlandi at The Actor’s Movement Centre in New York. Mask with Aole.T.Miller, solo performance and dramaturgy with Margaret Cameron and Dawn Albinger, movement and writing with Nikki Heywood and interdisciplinary performance with Sarah Thom of Gob Squad in Perth. Directing classes with Anne Bogart (as observer) at Columbia University, New York. I reengaged with Lorna Marshall participating in movement workshops and attending a seminar she gave on movement education in drama schools when she visited WAAPA. Dramaturgy forum run by StagesWA as well as attending a directing workshop run by Francesca Smith at The Blue Room Theatre. In 2015 I attended the SITI Summer Theater Intensive in Saratoga Springs New York where I trained in Suzuki Actor Training, Viewpoints, Composition, Dramaturgy, Speaking and Movement with members of the SITI Company and Wendall Beavers. I am a proud member of the inaugural Directors Lab, Melbourne where I ran a working group. In January this year I attended a masterclass on devising processes with Jos Baker of Peeping Tom at the International Centre of Movement in London, was selected for Playwriting Australia’s inaugural WA Dramaturgy Training. In 2016/17 I attended a series of directing masterclasses at Rose Bruford College with Simon Usher and Colin Elwood. In 2017 I completed intensive directorial coaching with Elen Davies and Di Trevis and participated in the SITI Company Transformation through Training Symposium. I trained in Viewpoints with Mary Overlie as part of the Rose Bruford Summer Masterclass series. Recently, I was selected to attend the La MaMa Directors Symposium in Italy and received SNAP funding from DLGSC for the endeavour. Highlight of this intensive training included working with Anne Bogart on Viewpoints and Composition and taking a assistant directorial role within the workshop with Stacy Klein and Amrita Ramanan of Double Edge Theatre. I also attended a masterclass in Viewpoints and Composition led by Lynne Bradley of Zen Zen Zo.
Somatic Movement: Laban Movement Analysis/Bartenieff Fundamentals with Sandra Kay Laufenneberger and Peggy Hackney, Body Mind Centring and dance with Alice Cummins, Body Mind Centring and Yoga with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Amy Matthews, Dynamic Embodiment with Martha Eddy, Linda Tumberello and Trisha Baumen, Anatomy with Amy Matthews and Irene Dowd, Anatomy and Biochemistry with Irene Dowd and Rebecca Dietzel and Feldenkrais with Annie Stainer. I continually professionally develop in this area through workshops, trainings and online seminars. Most recently I have attended workshops on Muscles, Heart, Gut and Head Brains and Cellular Consciousness with Alice Cummins as well as having regular private sessions. I participate in weekly online sessions with Amy Matthews called Embodied Movement Explorations. In 2015 I finalised my intermediate studies in Dynamic Embodiment with Martha Eddy and engaged in professional development with Jeremy Williams. In 2015 I took part in an advanced training group in Laban / Bartenieff Studies at Agape Institute in Belgium with master teachers Karen Bradley and Karen Studd. In 2017 I assisted Dr Martha Eddy CMA teaching Embodied Anatomy and Bartenieff Fundamentals at Montclair State University, New Jersey. I also presented on my work combining Viewpoints and LMA as part of the Labanarium launch at the University of Surrey and at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York. I have a regular personal movement practice in pilates and yoga and in 2025 am looking forward to a visit from master teacher Dr Martha Eddy CMA .