List of teachers working at the Bloomsbury Alexander Centre
(Up-to-date March 2006.)
All of the teachers working at the Centre are members of STAT (The Society of Teachers of
the Alexander Technique). Most of the teachers at the Centre also teach elsewhere - at
home, in Medical practices
or Alternative Health Centres, at Drama Schools or Music Colleges.
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The Directors of the Centre are
Stephen Cooper
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Stephen Cooper trained with Peter Scott and Marjory Barlow and qualified as a teacher of the Technique in 1979. He founded the Centre with Tessa Cawdron in 1986. While still associated with the Centre he now teaches in Oxford, both at his home in Headington and in the centre of the town. He is also Head of Training for the Headington Alexander Training School, Oxford |
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Natacha Osorio
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With a background in the performing arts, Natacha Osorio has been teaching the Alexander Technique since 1991 when she qualified as a teacher at the Constructive Teaching Centre for Alexander Technique in London. Over the years she has worked extensively in her private practice teaching people from all walks of life as well as in various Drama Training institutions such as Central School of Speech and Drama and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She has brought her experience in other fields such as acting, dancing and indeed pregnancy and childbirth into her teaching of the Alexander Technique. |
Other teachers working at the Centre are
Maya Galai
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Maya Galai trained with Patrick Macdonald, qualifying in
1983. She has been working on training courses for many years, having been a staff
member of the courses
run by Misha Magidov, Peter and Eleanor Ribeaux, and Stephen Cooper. She has travelled widely
as a teacher, especially in Italy and in her home country of Israel. |
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Brita Forsstrom, M.STAT. has a background in librarianship and journalism. She has been teaching the AT since 1984, and has extensive experience in giving seminars and workshops. She has worked with people from all backgrounds: musicians, stroke patients, actors, pregnant women and new mothers, to name but a few, as well as people who come to the Technique with a general interest in improving themselves. Places where Brita has taught introductory courses include Camden Institute, City Lit, Denman College (NFWI), Enfield Teachers Centre, to staff at Swedish University and YMCA (Central) Gym. She also has experience of working with choirs (Singapore and Sweden). Brita has been a guest speaker, given seminars, lectures and workshops at a variety of venues, including Royal Free Hospital School to 2nd year medical students (annually), Butterworths Publishers, Tommy Boy Music, St. Luke's Advertising Agency, Axa Insurance and many others. She has also taught at Mountview Drama School, Boston University Theatre Department, as well as on Alexander teacher training courses (ATA 1984-1986 and currently at The Alexander Technique Studio). She currently teaches a course for actors and performers at the City Lit, and also practices in EC2. Brita is co-author of The Alexander Technique for Pregnancy and Childbirth, Gollancz 1995). |
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Michelle trained with Walter and Dilys Carrington. She has been working at the Bloomsbury Alexander Centre since 1998 and also works in East London in Bethnal Green. She has experience of working with pupils from a wide range of backgrounds including office workers, health workers, teachers, musicians and other performers. She has also run introductory workshops for companies and organisations including Credit Suisse and the Royal London Hospital. Michelle has a website at www.gooduse.com |
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Geoffrey Higginson qualified at the Ribeaux school in Fulham in 1987 and has since studied with Bill Williams, Patrick Macdonald and Margaret Goldie. He teaches at the Oxford teacher training school and has worked with numerous musicians, mainly violinists and cellists. At present he also works in West Ealing (020 8579 5209) and Kingston-upon-Thames (020 8546 2426). Geoffrey's background is in mathematics, having a Ph.D from Imperial College, London.Visit Geoff's website at http://www.goodposture.co.uk |
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Alan Bignell (MSTAT). Alan first came in touch with the Alexander Technique some 20 years ago and, after having more lessons than he cares to remember, trained with Misha Magidov at the North London Alexander Teacher Training School. In addition to his work at the Bloomsbury Alexander Centre, Alan has specialised in giving Alexander lessons to employees within their work place. Among the organisations he has worked with are ICI, the German Embassy and Grey Worldwide. A French and Portuguese speaker, Alan has a very simple, down to earth approach to the Technique which is perhaps best illustrated by his web site at http://www.forwardandup.co.uk |
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Yoshi was trained by Peter and Eleanor Ribeaux. He has wide experience as an Alexander Technique Teacher, running workshops in hospitals, drama schools, music colleges and he is currently running Sunday Introductory Workshops at Bloomsbury. Yoshi’s unique background as a medical doctor (neurologist,) and as a performing musician trained at Royal Academy of Music, adds an extra dimension on teaching the Technique. He also teaches at home in Acton W3. |
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Carol Summers trained at the Alexander Technique Training School under the direction of Misha Magidov. In the past she has worked as a secretary and as a professional actor so has experienced the stresses and strains of both office and stage life. She teaches from the Bloomsbury Alexander Centre and from home in Leyton, E10. |
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Alun Thomas, MSTAT GRNCM, has a background as a professional violinist. He has given recitals on BBC Radio 3 and played concertos and chamber music with a number of well known groups at music clubs and societies throughout the UK. He has also played in principal positions with a number of the major symphony and chamber orchestras in this country. He studied at the Brighton Alexander Training Centre with John Nicholls and at the Alexander Re-education Centre with Ron Colyer. He has also studied with a number of the 'first generation' AT teachers including lessons over a number of years with Anthony Spawforth who trained with F.M. Alexander himself. He is currently writing a short book based on his years of experience as a performer and teacher on 'String playing and the Alexander Technique'. A long interest in the work of the teacher J. Krishnamurti has led Alun to an interest in the educational value of the technique and its important place as a platform for any quest involving understanding our difficulties and the search for deeper meaning in daily life. As well as the performance aspects of the work Alun is also interested in the technique as it relates to 'medical' problems such as chronic pain, respiratory difficulties and aspects of voice work. He likes to make learning the technique a fun experience that stimulates questions and curiosity. He gives evening classes on a regular basis at the Bloomsbury Centre and also teaches in Windsor, Berkshire. |
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Louisa Gnafkis is also a piano teacher and has acquired a rich teaching experience for over 15 years. In 1993, she begun intensive study of contemporary dance and has since studied many forms of movement in Greece, New York and London: Body Mind Centering™, Contact Improvisation, Authentic Movement and Ideokinesis. Louisa studied shiatsu, which continues to inform her holistic view of the person. She went to London to study the Alexander Technique, and graduated from Misha Magidov’s North London Teachers’ Training Course in 2001. She has also studied the Alexander Technique with other significant Alexander teachers, like Ted McNamara, Maya Galai and Glen Park. She recently completed training in healing using Subtle Energy Intergration. She lives and works in London, and also teaches in Athens, Greece. |
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Richard was formerly an accountant with Reuters. He trained in the Technique with Walter Carrington at the Constructive Teaching Centre, and now teaches at the Bloomsbury Alexander Centre and in west London. He is also a director of Alternatives at St James's Church, Piccadilly and leads regular clowning workshops. |
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