TEACHING STATEMENT:
“Moshe Feldenkrais said, ‘If you know what you are doing, you can do what you want.’ This work is geared to bring each individual incrementally into states of increased physical presence, awareness, and therefore, possibility. It offers artists a vocabulary and a means of practice by which to access impulse, connect energetically with others and allow creative response. The methods I use in the classroom are based primarily on The Feldenkrais method, Feldenkrais Principles and Movement Improvisation methodologies. My teaching philosophy is ‘start where you are.’ Whatever state or stage you are at this moment is the ONLY place to start a real journey of learning. I believe everyone can do this work. But it is not for the faint of heart. This process is not formula oriented and does not offer a ‘quick fix.’ Although the toolbox is very specific, results take time and practice. The work itself takes courage, patience and desire. If you bring these qualities to the work, the work gives back to you endlessly.”
BIO:
Sita Mani is a graduate of the Actor’s Center Teacher Development Program. She is a founding faculty member of The Studio New York and currently on faculty at Herbert Berghof Studio. Guest teaching includes The New School, Mark Morris Dance School, Scott Freeman Studio, and The Feldenkrais Institute in New York and The Shiamak Davar Institute Of Performing Arts, Durga Das Foundation and Bahujan Hitay Projects in India. She received her dance education and certification from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York, The School Of Western Dance and Classical Ballet and Shiamak Davar Institute Of Performing Arts in Mumbai. She studied acting at Michael Howard Studio and is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, Licensed Massage Therapist, Shiatsu Practitioner and Reiki Practitioner. She has studied Tae Kwon Do, Aerial Arts, Yoga, Alexander Technique and apprenticed as a teaching assistant for The Lucid Body Technique at The Yale School of Drama, Marymount Manhattan College and Michael Howard Studio. She maintains an ongoing study and exploration of Contact Improvisation and is a certified Facilitator (Joker) for Boal’s “Theater For Social Change” process. Sita started her professional career on stage in India at the age of fourteen and at seventeen was a Principal Dancer and Choreographer’s Assistant with The Shiamak Davar Dance Company performing on stage, on national television and teaching for three years. New York credits include THE LITTLE CLAY CART at Ohio Theater and performance with Sanza Nemo Collective, Impact Theater, Theater In The Flesh, Kathak Ensemble, Compagnie Piedo, Memento Dance Company, and a number of independent choreographers and directors from India, Europe, South and North America. Her current focus is on developing devised work. Original works: WHAT YOU COUNTED AND CAREFULLY SAVED (BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange and recipient of 2015 HB Studio First Floor Residency). SCARAB TALE (First Asian American Theater Festival New York). BRACKEN AND SUNFLOWERS (Evolving Arts Theater, IRT, Riverside Church, One Arm Red). Her teaching method calls on her unique eclectic background to develop an evolving form of movement training which works towards giving performers a more refined self awareness, physical awareness, visceral authenticity and working process.