Acting for Dancers

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Acting for Dancers AFD is designed to provide dancers across the world the opportunity to encounter the beautiful art o

We build and design custom workshops specific to your groups needs. From private full company or cast training to private and semi private coaching for the professional, collegiate, and youth artists in training; we provide a relevant method of equipping and educating dancers on the power and importance of communicating a clear story through their performance. We believe a safe and supportive environment for the artist to learn and explore allows them to take risk and be free of the perfectionist mindset that can consume and inhibit the dancer from reaching their full potential as a performer. Contact us for more information on how to set up your event.

On MASKING — Part 1: The HumanWant to become a more emotionally intelligent performer? Start by studying human behavior....
09/21/2026

On MASKING — Part 1: The Human

Want to become a more emotionally intelligent performer? Start by studying human behavior.

Here’s a question I recently asked one of my artists:

Why would a human NOT say how they’re really feeling?

Maybe we’re trying to protect ourselves. Maybe we’re trying to hide something. Maybe we’re afraid of what might happen if someone knows how we really feel.

Sometimes we want something—connection, acceptance, approval, safety—and being honest about what we feel can seem like it might threaten that.

And sometimes? We don’t even realize we’re doing it.

We can become so used to protecting or covering a feeling that we lose awareness of what’s happening underneath.

This is where we can begin to look at masking: what I’m experiencing internally isn’t necessarily what I’m presenting externally.

And this is where emotional intelligence becomes part of your training.

Not only:

What am I feeling?

But:

What do I do when I feel it?

Do I hide? Protect? Avoid? Deflect? Perform?

Because before you are a dancer, actor, or performer—you are a human. And you are the instrument you’re creating with.

The more deeply you can understand yourself, the more of yourself you have access to as an artist.

Study the human. Then tell the story.

— Acting For Dancers

Part 2: Masking as a storytelling tool → coming next.

A little look back at DAY 1 of our first AFD Studio Residency of the season with our dancers at Palmetto En Pointe in So...
09/04/2026

A little look back at DAY 1 of our first AFD Studio Residency of the season with our dancers at Palmetto En Pointe in South Carolinađź’–

We started somewhere that might seem simple: coming back into the body.

Before storytelling. Before choreography. Before asking these dancers to express anything at all—we practiced arriving. Being present. Noticing. Listening. Responding.

Because so much of what we ask dancers to do requires them to be connected to themselves first.

From there, we explored impulse, awareness, our senses, energy, connection—and what it feels like to respond without overthinking or anticipating what comes next.

And then something really interesting happened.

When we moved into choreography, I watched dancers who had become increasingly open, expressive, playful, and present throughout the day begin to close off again the moment it became “dance.”

So we noticed it.

No judgment. No need to immediately change it. Just awareness.

Because sometimes the first step toward accessing more of yourself as an artist is recognizing where you’ve learned to shut yourself down.

And this was only Day 1. 🥹

So grateful to Palmetto En Pointe for trusting me with these artists and for creating the opportunity to do something deeper than a one-time workshop—to return to these tools, practice them, and continue building together throughout the year.

AFD Studio Residency 01 ✨
Spartanburg, SC

📸 Ashleigh Asper

Something I noticed while teaching Acting For Dancers last weekend…We had spent time getting grounded, present, connecte...
08/29/2026

Something I noticed while teaching Acting For Dancers last weekend…

We had spent time getting grounded, present, connected to our bodies and responsive to what was happening around us. Then we learned choreography.

And almost immediately, something changed.

The dancers became more guarded. More focused on getting it “right.” More in their heads.

It was such a clear reminder that presence isn’t necessarily something we need to learn—it’s something we need to learn how to come back to.

So the next time you feel yourself disconnect while dancing, don’t immediately try to perform harder, feel more, or fix it.

Notice what changed.

And come back into your body. ❤️

Save this one for your next class or rehearsal.

Some images from a magical few days at Advanced Acting For Dancers last week. ✨I invited these three artists to join me ...
08/25/2026

Some images from a magical few days at Advanced Acting For Dancers last week. ✨

I invited these three artists to join me in Santa Barbara to dive deeper into the AFD process—and wow, did we go deep.

We explored the emotional blocks we carry, how they show up in our bodies and our movement, and what can happen when we begin to release them—creating more space to access ourselves, our emotions, and ultimately, our storytelling.

I’m so proud of these three. Your vulnerability, curiosity, and willingness to explore the parts of yourselves that aren’t always easy to access left me incredibly inspired.

What a special few days. 🤍

Next month, we are hosting a 90-minute online workshop focusing on emotional intelligence- the missing piece behind powe...
05/19/2026

Next month, we are hosting a 90-minute online workshop focusing on emotional intelligence- the missing piece behind powerful performance.

This session is for you if...
- you want to feel more connected to what you’re performing
- you’ve been craving more depth and authenticity in your movement
- you’re curious about the emotional and psychological side of performance
- you want an accessible introduction to Acting For Dancers experience before attending an in-person workshop

đź—“ Sunday, June 14
⏰ Live online session + replay available
đź”— Registration link in bio

We can’t wait to share this with you 🤍

Most dancers don’t struggle with expression…they struggle with feeling safe enough to be seen.and those are two very dif...
05/14/2026

Most dancers don’t struggle with expression…
they struggle with feeling safe enough to be seen.

and those are two very different things.
because when your body feels watched—
it starts protecting.

You think more.
You hold back.
You try to “get it right.”

Not because you lack artistry…
but because your nervous system is doing its job.

This is why “just let go” rarely works, and why learning how to come back into your body changes everything.

This is a big part of the work inside Acting For Dancers—
building a foundation where expression doesn’t have to be forced.

It can actually happen.
♡

Over the years, AFD has had the opportunity to work with dancers through studio residencies, conventions, intensives, gu...
05/14/2026

Over the years, AFD has had the opportunity to work with dancers through studio residencies, conventions, intensives, guest teaching, and mentorship experiences across the country.✨

What began as a deeper exploration into acting and storytelling for dancers has continued evolving into spaces centered around confidence, emotional intelligence, presence, and truthful expression.

Every workshop is designed differently for the dancers in the room, but the intention remains the same:
to help dancers feel more connected to themselves, their movement, and the story they’re telling.

If you’re interested in bringing AFD to your studio, company, convention, or event, the inquiry form is linked in bio ♡

Over the years, AFD has had the opportunity to work with dancers through studio residencies, conventions, intensives, gu...
05/13/2026

Over the years, AFD has had the opportunity to work with dancers through studio residencies, conventions, intensives, guest teaching, and mentorship experiences across the country. ✨

What began as a deeper exploration into acting and storytelling for dancers has continued evolving into spaces centered around confidence, emotional intelligence, presence, and truthful expression.

Every workshop is designed differently for the dancers in the room, but the intention remains the same:
to help dancers feel more connected to themselves, their movement, and the story they’re telling.

If you’re interested in bringing AFD to your studio, company, convention, or event, the inquiry form is linked in bio ♡

There’s a difference between performing movement and actually experiencing it while you dance.If you’ve been craving a d...
05/11/2026

There’s a difference between performing movement and actually experiencing it while you dance.

If you’ve been craving a deeper connection while performing or moving...
We’d love to have you with us ✨

Acting for Dancers: Summer Intensive
August 15-16 • Santa Barbara, CA

A two-day immersive experience focused on presence, emotional connection, and storytelling.

Space is limited.
→ actingfordancers.com

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Santa Barbara, CA
93101–93103, 93105–93111, 93116–93118, 93120–93121, 93130, 93140, 93150,

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