Teaching Staff
Michael D. Frederick, Sweet Briar, Hawaii, Malibu
Founder & Director
Michael is an internationally recognized teacher in the field of Psycho-physical Re-education. He trained as an Alexander Teacher in England with Walter Carrington and in America with Marjorie Barstow, both master teachers trained by F. M. Alexander. Michael studied in the U.S. and Israel as a Feldenkrais Practitioner and has extensive Yoga training in both the U.S. and India. He is the founding director of the first three International Congresses on the Alexander Technique and has organized over 150 workshops in the U.S. and Europe since 1978. Michael was voted best Alexander Teacher in Los Angeles magazine’s “Best of LA”.
“No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it.” —Albert Einstein
“You can’t do something you don’t know if you keep on doing what you do know.” —F.M. Alexander
Meade Andrews Malibu
Meade currently teaches as guest artist in theatre at Rider University, and in the music program at Westminster Choir College, both located in Princeton, New Jersey. She maintains a private Alexander Technique practice in the area, and also travels to teach in New York City, and Washington, DC, where she continues to present workshops at the Studio Theatre, her professional base for over 20 years. Meade has been teaching the Alexander Technique for 25 years, and also works as an acting coach and movement consultant for theatre productions. She recently completed a course in Alexander Technique and the ‘Art of Breathing’ with Jessica Wolf, and several teacher refresher courses with John Nicholls.
Carol Boggs Sweet Briar
Carol is an Alexander Teacher, Laban Movement Analyst, and Massage Therapist with B.S. and M.A. degrees in Dance. She practices in greater Washington DC, and has joined faculties teaching for AT residential courses in the U.S., Japan, and the Caribbean. In 2003 she completed Jessica Wolf ’s post graduate course, “The Art of Breathing”. Carol has been teaching the Alexander Technique since 1980. www.carolboggs.com
Lyn Charlsen Sweet Briar, Malibu
Director for the Alexander Training Institute, Los Angeles. Former Alexander Technique teacher for the University of Southern California School of Theatre, U.S.C. Music School/Opera Division, and at California State University. An Alexander Technique teacher for over 30 years, Lyn practices in Van Nuys and Santa Monica, CA.
Martha Hansen Fertman Sweet Briar
Martha has been teaching the Alexander Technique for thirty one years. In 1983 she co-founded an innovative teacher training program that has evolved into the Alexander Alliance, an international consortium of Alexander teacher training. She comes to the Alexander Technique through a broad base of movement studies from all types of dance to T’ai Chi Chuan and Authentic Movement. Her training in AT includes a 10-year apprenticeship with Marjorie Barstow as well as studies with Catherine Wielopolska and Elisabeth Walker, all first generation teachers. www.alexanderprinceton.com
Michael Gelb Malibu
This year, we are looking forward to a series of special presentations by Michael Gelb, author of Body Learning, An Introduction to the Alexander Technique, and the best-selling How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci. Michael trained as an Alexander Teacher in London during the mid-1970s. Michael is an internationally renowned author, speaker, and consultant (and, yes, juggler) who helps individuals and organizations worldwide find innovative solutions to their most important challenges. Since 1979, clients such as DuPont, Merck, Microsoft and Nike have been inspired and transformed by Michael’s unique, creative approach. www.michaelgelb.com
Barbara Kent Sweet Briar
Barbara is former director of teacher training at the American Center for the Alexander Technique (ACAT) in New York. Barbara began her carreer by studying singing at Julliard School of Music. She is a certified Rubenfield Synergy Method Practitioner and a student of Carl Stough, integrating his principles of breathing coordination into her work. Barbara has been training Alexander Technique teachers and working in private practice for over 30 years in NYC.
Frances Mardsen Malibu
Frances trained as an Alexander teacher at the Constructive Teaching Center in London with Walter and Dilys Carrington and has been teaching for thirty years. She completed two years postgraduate work at the Urbana Center for the Alexander Technique, directed by Joan and Alex Murray. Prior to her Alexander training, Frances studied acting at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow. She is a member of the faculty and Board of the Alexander Training Institute of Los Angeles. She teaches at USC, Occidental College and California State University at Los Angeles. Besides teaching at USC, Occidental College and California State University at Los Angeles, Frances also teaches for “Shakespeare at the Huntington” and “Intimate Opera Company.” She maintains private practices in North Hollywood and Pasadena, California.
John Nicholls Sweet Briar
John trained in London from 1973 to 1976 with Walter and Dilys Carrington, and afterwards assisted the Carringtons daily on their teacher training course for eleven years. He has subsequently directed Alexander teacher training programs in England, Australia, and the U.S. His book, The Alexander Technique: In Conversation with John Nicholls and Sean Carey, was published in 1991. John, along with Nanette Walsh, is currently director of the ATNYC Alexander teacher training program in New York City. He maintains a private practice in New York, and directs postgraduate programs for teachers in the USA, UK, and other European countries.
Carol P. Prentice Sweet Briar, Hawaii, Malibu
Carol trained in the mid-1980s as an Alexander Teacher with Frank Ottiwell in San Francisco. She subsequently furthered her training with first generation Alexander Teachers Marjorie Barstow, Walter & Dilys Carrington, and Marjory Barlow. She has been teaching this work for over 25 years. Carol is also a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and graduate of the California College of Ayurveda. She currently teaches at the California College of Ayurveda and has an Alexander Practice in Grass Valley California. Carol is enrolled in a three year Yoga teacher training in the tradition of Sri T. Krishnamacharya at the Healing Yoga Foundation – San Francisco.
Jean-Louis Rodrigue Hawaii, Malibu
Jean-Louis is an internationally recognized teacher of the Alexander Technique and a pioneer in its application to the performing arts, somatic education and health. He trained with Frank Ottiwell and Marjorie Barstow, the first teacher to be trained by F.M. Alexander in 1931. Mr. Rodrigue has provided training and coaching in performance enhancement and injury prevention on Broadway and for such ensembles as the Royal Shakespeare Company, Cirque du Soleil, and the Mark Taper Forum. Since 1988, he has been a member of the faculty at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. He has also been part of the continuing medical education faculty at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and his work has been showcased through the UCLA Collaborative Centers for Integrative Medicine and its affiliated UCLArts and Healing program. www.alexandertechworks.com
Judy Stern Sweet Briar
Judy has been a physical therapist for 40 years and an Alexander Technique teacher for 24 years. Judy specializes in chronic or acute pain conditions, combining her knowledge of physical therapy and anatomy with her knowledge and skill as an Alexander Technique teacher. A senior member of the American Center for the Alexander Technique (ACAT) faculty, Judy also maintains a private practice in Rye, New York.
Lucia Walker Sweet Briar
Lucia lives in Oxford, England but trains and teaches internationally. Since qualifying as an Alexander Technique teacher in 1987, Lucia has taught individuals, groups, and on teacher training courses in Europe, America, and Japan. She continues to work as an independent dance teacher and performer specializing in improvisations.
Nanette Walsh Sweet Briar
Nanette received her Master of Fine Arts degree in 1982 specializing in the linguistic analysis of movement. She received her teacher certification from the American Center for the Alexander Technique in 1995. In 1999 she began an intensive course of study and correspondence with Peggy Williams and Walter Carrington in London, continuing until their deaths in 2003 and 2005 respectively. Nanette has previously taught at ACAT. She is currently, along with John Nicholls, director of AT·NYC’s Teacher Certification Program. She maintains a private teaching practice in New York City. Nanette is also a long-time practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan. Currently Nanette is chairperson of the American Society for the Alexander Technique (AmSAT).
Anne Waxman Sweet Briar
Former senior faculty member of the American Center for the Alexander Technique (ACAT) and the Actor Studio MFA Program in New York, Anne presently teaches the Alexander Technique at the William Esper Studio. She has presented the work to the general and performing art audiences and trained teachers nationally and internationally. Certified from ACAT in 1984, and the Art of Breathing in 2003, Anne offers Master Classes for performing artists and maintains a private practice in Manhattan.
Guest Teachers are at hand in the event that a faculty member is unable to teach. This always ensures an excellent 1 to 7 teacher-student ratio.