Alexander Technique
Laban / Movement for Actors
About Me
Amanda Blair MacDonald is an AmSAT-certified Alexander Technique teacher. Amanda incorporates the Alexander Technique, Movement Pattern Analysis, Laban/Bartenieff, developmental movement, anatomy mapping, and brain-compatible pedagogy into her teaching methods to a wide spectrum of individuals and groups both in person and online.
Performing: Amanda has toured nationally and internationally, performing in 6 countries and most of the 48 states on the US mainland. Roles include: “Mistress” in Evita, “Peggy Sawyer” in 42nd Street, “Lola” in Damn Yankees, “Beggar Woman” in Sweeney Todd, and “Mrs. Cratchit” in Toby Nicholson’s musical version of A Christmas Carol. Every other summer she looks forward to singing in cathedrals in England with the Christ Church choir from Winnetka, IL.
Teaching: NY teaching includes: The American Academy of Dramatic Arts-NY (AADA), The American Musical and Dramatic Academy-NY (AMDA), The Ailey School, and The 92nd Street Y. Chicago teaching includes: Roosevelt University CCPA and Fast Track program, The DePaul University School of Music, The Theater School at DePaul, UIC School of Theatre and Music, The Joffrey Ballet, and Chicago Lights, plus numerous schools, studios, master classes, teacher professional development workshops, and private lessons.
Service: Amanda currently serves as the Membership Chair of AmSAT: The American Society for the Alexander Technique, a certifying body that is affiliated with teaching societies around the globe. During the pandemic she curated and hosted more than 60 online membership events, and was a presenter for 10 of them. She was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in June 2020 and the Certificate of Merit in June 2021. In June 2022 she joined the Board as a Member-at-Large.
Amanda’s TEDx DePaul talk about MPA “How We Move Is How We Think,” is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq0s22H7Kgs and on her website: www.AmandaBlairMacDonald.com
- Areas of Expertise
- Alexander Technique, postural assessment, transforming performance anxiety, freeing breath and voice
- Laban / Movement Pattern Analysis, Creating physical character, Developmental Movement
- Brain-Compatible Pedagogy, Teacher Professional Development
- Movement Improvisation
- Anatomy and Kinesiology
- Hanya Holm’s floor series
- Audition prep
- B.A. Theatre major, Music minor — Sewanee - The University of the South
- Professional Certificate Musical Theatre Performance — American Musical and Dramatic Academy - New York
- MFA Dance and Somatic Movement — University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
- Teaching Certificate Alexander Technique — The Dimon Institute
- Registered Movement Pattern Analyst Movement Pattern Analysis — The Next Move / Warren Lamb Trust