Ann Frances Penistan began her teaching experience as an
Alexander Technique teacher in 1986 with a background in theatre. She
founded the Alexander Technique Program at the Ryerson Theatre School and
was coach and advisor to the Northern Lights Dance Company, while
running her own private teaching in Toronto Canada from 1986 to 1993.
In 1987 Ann became the assistant Alexander Coach with the
Shaw Festival Theatre, and went on to become the head coach for the next
ten seasons. In 1989 she commenced coaching for the Stratford
Shakespearean Festival in Stratford, Canada and continued there each
season until 1994. From 1995-2000 she gave numerous workshops with the
theatre school at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta as well as
coaching numerous productions with the company including Othello
directed by Michael Langham starring Megan Follows.
In 1992-1993 she studied voice at the Central School of
Speech and Drama for the Advanced Diploma in Voice Studies
During this time the opportunity to be the assistant
director with an Alexander Technique Teacher Training program arose
through David Gorman, the director for the Centre for Training in
London, England. From 1993-1997 she held the position as assistant
director giving Ann the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of
the process of learning and teaching. A new work emerged during the
years of this training program and is now called LearningMethods™.
In 2004 Duncan McIntosh invited Ann to come to Prince
Edward Island to be part of the founding teachers wishing to develop a
new Performing Arts Conservatory. She will be returning for a second
year in the summer of 2005.
Her private teaching includes coaching Brent Carver in
many productions, most notably through the full course of his role as
Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman, directed by Hal Prince in Toronto,
London’s West End, and on Broadway. She also coached Colm Feore for many
of his roles at the Stratford Shakespearean Festival and for his role as
Glen Gould in 32 Short Films about Glen Gould, directed by Francois
Girard
Ann continues to work with Theatre Companies on specific projects, as well as conducting ongoing private classes and
workshops for the Performing Arts, Universities, Alexander Teachers, Voice Coaches and Equestrians, in Canada,
England, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany.
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