Fernande Girard & Lawrence Smith
Reflections on a qualitative research study using the Alexander Technique
In 2004, Fernande Girard completed a master’s thesis entitled: An inquiry into the experience of professional contemporary dancers studying and applying the Alexander Technique to dance: a qualitative study. Along with the experience of the dancer participants, the study describes the experience of the participating Alexander Technique practitioner, Lawrence Smith.
In this presentation, Ms. Girard and Mr. Smith will discuss some of the findings of the study, including the value of questioning as a teaching tool, both in the Alexander Technique and in dance.
The data collected from participant journals and interviews contained many reports indicating the transfer of Alexander principles to diverse activities, including dance training. The study also hints at how interviews and journals can assist the process of teaching and learning. Ms. Girard published three articles on the study, one in Somatics: An Alexander Technique teacher’s views on working with dancers; one in Dance Research Journal: Dancers’ application of the Alexander Technique, and a third, which bears the same title as her thesis, on the website of la Société des études canadiennes en danse.
Further, the presenters will discuss how the findings of the study have informed their teaching of dancers at the university level.
Fernande Girard holds a master’s degree in dance from the Université du Québec à Montréal where she teaches dance and somatics. She graduated from the National Ballet School of Canada in 1981 and was certified in the Alexander Technique in 1990. She has worked professionally as dancer and choreographer, and served as artistic advisor to soloists Roxane D’Orleans Juste and Chantal Lamirande. Fernande is pursuing her doctorate in Études et pratiques des arts at UQAM.
Lawrence Smith, current CanSTAT president, began his study of the Alexander Technique in the 1970’s when he was acting professionally. He completed his STAT certification requirements in 1989. Along with his private practice, he has taught at professional theatre and music schools, including UQAM, ESTHEM and the McGill Conservatory of Music. Lawrence was recently invited by the Montréal Symphony Orchestra to teach for the International Competition for Strings.
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