Download Centering

The Basic Actor’s
Training Program:
CENTERING
The first step in an actor’s
training program in
personalization and self
exploration involves the process
of “centering.”
CENTERING is a
psychophysical condition
whereby an actor finds
emotional, mental and physical
freedom.
When centered, the actor is in
what is called “a state of
heightened awareness.”
This state of heightened
awareness enhances thinking,
physical activity, sensory
perception, and emotional
availability.
Acting requires speaking and
behaving in front of people…
This often creates excessive
nervous tension:
STAGE FRIGHT- the fear that
takes place when an individual
is on stage in front of others
RESULTS OF STAGE FRIGHT:
preoccupied with thinking normal
behavior is abnormal
 psychological entanglements that
distort honest expression
 excess energy creating inordinate
tensions through trembling legs,
twitching knees, fidgety fingers, facial
grimacing, shifting weight, aimless
walking, and breathiness.

Indications that an actor is not operating
from a strong sense of center:
insecurity
 assuming others are judging- thinking
appearance, manner, intelligence,
emotions, and movements are inferior
 becoming guarded, physically and
emotionally
 unusually artificial behavior
 deterioration of the actor’s effectiveness
and believability.

Emotional tension or anxiety in
study, rehearsal, or
performance is NOT
necessarily an unfavorable
condition provided it does not
become excessive and crippling
to the performance.
Adrenal gland pumps
adrenaline into the system
o Adrenaline reaches muscles,
vitality is restored and reaction
time enhanced
o Larger quantities of sugar are
released into the bloodstream,
greater energy for stimulus
response
o Breathing quickens, more
oxygen absorbed
o Pulse rate quickens, more
oxygen rich blood reaches
muscles, heart, brain, and
nervous system
o
Brain is capable of
thinking with greater
clarity, perception, and
quickness
 Muscles are capable
of performing with
greater physical effort
 Central nervous
system is capable of
reacting more quickly

Centering prepares the body
for better physical, mental, and
emotional expression.
Centering is the process of
focusing and channeling this
heightened state into
productive resources for the
actor.
VOCABULARY:
personalization
process
psychophysical
heightened
enhances
perception
excessive
preoccupied
entanglements
distort
inordinate
inferior
deterioration
unfavorable
vitality
stimulus
clarity