020: Feldenkrais and Performance with Victoria Worsley: Doing Less, Discovering More
“What Feldenkrais was trying to help people do was to become more responsive in many different ways, to change, to be able to adapt, to find new qualities, new ways of connecting with people’”
Victoria Worsley
IIn this episode of the Shapes in Motion podcast, Sarah Perry speaks with Victoria Worsley, Feldenkrais teacher, former actor, and author of ‘Feldenkrais for Actors: How to Do Less and Discover More.’ Victoria shares her journey from a 20-year acting career to discovering the Feldenkrais Method for herself, which transformed her approach to movement, recovery, and performance. Victoria discusses how body awareness supports creativity, why habits shape identity, and how subtle, intentional movement can unlock new possibilities - not only for actors, but for anyone looking to enhance their physical awareness and overall well-being or creative self.
About Victoria Worsley
Victoria was an actor and theatre maker for twenty years. She discovered the Feldenkrais Method nearly 40 years ago and has been mining it for ways to enhance acting and performing skills ever since. A professional Feldenkrais practitioner since 2007 and Assistant Trainer since 2021, she works with actors, musicians, singers, dancers and sports people as well as the general public. She coaches actors one-to-one, and has taught many workshops for Shapes in Motion and with director/author John Wright (also one of the UK’s most experienced teachers of mask and clown). Victoria has taught at a number of drama schools including Oxford School of Drama, Mountview and Rose Bruford and her book “Feldenkrais for Actors - How to do Less and Discover More” was published by Nick Hern Books in 2017. She holds a 2nd dan black belt in goju ryu karate and enjoys barefoot running.
Links
Website: www.feldenkraisworks.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feldenkraisworksuk/
Facebook: FELDENKRAIS WORKS https://www.facebook.com/vicmworsley
Victoria’s book, “Feldenkrais for Actors” (follow link to get publisher’s discount!): https://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/feldenkrais
Feldenkrais Guild: The FELDENKRAIS Guild UK
Chapters
Introduction to Victoria Worsley
From Acting to Feldenkrais
Discovering Feldenkrais: A Personal Journey
The Integration of Mind and Body
Using Feldenkrais in Acting
Understanding Habits and Movement
The Role of Habits in Identity
Exploring New Possibilities in Movement
Feldenkrais Beyond Acting: A Broader Application
Rehabilitation and Movement Awareness
Feldenkrais and Its Perception Among Performers
The Journey to Writing a Book
Final Thoughts on Practice and Nuance
To get in touch with Sarah visit www.sarahperrymovement.com and follow @sarahperrymovement on Instagram.
To get in touch with Stephen visit www.stephenmoynihan.net and follow @stmoynihan on Instagram.