Amy Tan Teaches Fiction, Memory, and Imagination

Armin van Buuren Teaches Dance Music

Become a Streamer

Carlos Santana Teaches the Art and Soul of Guitar

Chris Voss Teaches The Art of Negotiation

Christina Aguilera Teaches Singing

Draw and Paint Realistic Portraits

Dan Brown Teaches Writing Thrillers

David Mamet Teaches Dramatic Writing

Donna Farhi Teaches Yoga Foundations

Elevate Your Singing and Stage Presence

Es Devlin Teaches Turning Ideas Into Art 

Hans Zimmer Teaches Film Scoring

Helen Mirren Teaches Acting

Herbie Hancock Teaches Jazz

James Cameron Teaches Filmmaking

Jeff Goodby & Rich Silverstein Teach Advertising and Creativity

Jodie Foster Teaches Filmmaking

John Legend Teaches Songwriting

Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing

Misty Copeland Teaches Ballet Technique and Artistry

N. K. Jemisin Teaches Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing

Naomi Campbell Teaches Modeling Fundamentals

Natalie Portman Teaches Acting

Parris Goebel Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Penn & Teller Teach the Art of Magic

Prepare to Be Unprepared

Questlove Teaches Music Curation and DJing

Reba McEntire Teaches Country Music

Salman Rushdie Teaches Storytelling and Writing

Samuel L. Jackson Teaches Acting

Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing for Television

St. Vincent Teaches Creativity and Songwriting

The Duffer Brothers Teach Developing an Original TV Series

Usher Teaches The Art of Performance

Using Humor to Make Your Mark

Yo-Yo Ma Teaches Music and Connection

Introduction: Owning Your Power

Technique Informs Artistry

Performance: Kyle Abraham's Ash

Choreography Workshop: Ash Rehearsal

Working With Choreographers

Diversity and Inclusion in Ballet

Dancing

Tuning In to the World Around You

Performance: Bach, Suite no. 5, "Sarabande"

Meet Your Instructor

My Journey

Building Blocks of Dance Choreography

How to Develop a Music Video

Leading a Successful Shoot

Ciara “Level Up” Music Video Case Study

Blend Dance Technique & Expression

Structuring Your Novel: Layered Narratives and Other Variations

Dramatic Rules

Plot

Teach Yourself TV Writing

Beyond the Pilot: Writing a Series

Meet Your Instructors: Jeff Goodby & Rich Silverstein

It’s Great, but They’ll Never Buy It: Selling a Crazy Idea

How to Start an Agency, Specifically This One

Getting to Know Your Character

Developing a Season Arc

You’ve Sold Your Script. Now What?

Drawing From Storytelling Traditions

Immersing Your Reader: Choosing a POV

Beginning Your Story

How to End Your Story

Introduction

The Anatomy of a Thriller

Creating Suspense, Part 1

Captivate Audiences With Storytelling

Case Study: Prime Suspect

Creating Characters

Mentalist or Crook?

Working on Set

Case Study: Working With Terrence Malick

AVATAR Creating Technology

The Hierarchy of Characterization: Demographics, Outer Life, and Inner Life

Creating the Vision for Your Film

Jodie’s Short Film: Building Your Story into a Screenplay, Part 2

The Acting Process

Case Study: Activating Conscious and Subconscious Expression

Body Language & Speech Patterns

Convey Emotions Visually

Barre Technique: Temps Lié

Style Evolution With Prince

Moving From the Inside Out

Building a Set: Edits and Mashups

Fundamental Dance Formations

Adding Emotions and Dynamics

The Finishing Touches

World of Dance 2015 Case Study

Craft Impactful Dance Transitions

Blending Musical Genres

Collaboration

Draw Inspiration from Broad Perspectives

Practice as Musical Offering

Learning From the Blues

Guitars, Amps and Sustain

The Two Basic Jazz Forms

Armin's Early Influences

Working With Musicians

Working With Musicians: The Orchestra - Part 1

Training Your Ears to Listen

Delivering Your Final Performance

Making a Song Your Own

Elicit Powerful Musical Performances

Misty's Technical Transformation

Performance: Black Swan Variation

Barre Warm-up: Pliés and Tendus

Barre Technique: Ronds de Jambe

Performance Deconstruction: Black Swan Variation

Partner Workshop: White Swan Pas de Deux

New Faces: Runway Walk

Enhance Ballet Posture Control

Singing It Live

Playing Live: Connecting With the Listener

Getting Started

Performance Review

Out of the Studio, Onto the Stage

Performance Techniques: Engaging an Audience

Student Workshop: Cheyenne

Closing Thoughts

Using Humility and Self-Deprecation to Your Advantage

The Weeknd

Take Up Space

Can't Be Halfway In 

Finding Your Streaming Style and Routine

Enhance Your Stage Presence

Meet Penn & Teller

Sleight of Hand: The French Drop

Cups and Balls

What Is Magic?

Misdirection

Coin Magic

Magic Vs. Lying

Card Magic

Rope Tricks

Principles of Performing

Cause and Effect

The Joy of Magic

Bonus Chapter No. 1: Advanced Student Coaching

Bonus Chapter No. 3: Penn & Teller Live at Rio Las Vegas "Cell Fish"

Learn Expert Illusionist Tricks

Acting & Performing Arts

Teaches Comedy

Steve Martin

Steve Martin Teaches Comedy

Teaches Dramatic Writing

David Mamet

Teaches Acting

Helen Mirren

Samuel L. Jackson

Teaches Ballet Technique and Artistry

Misty Copeland

Teaches Music for Film

Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman Teaches Music for Film

Teaches The Art of Performance

Usher

Teaches The Art Of Performance

Teaches the Power of Storytelling

LeVar Burton

Teaches the Power of Storytelling 

LeVar Burton Teaches the Power of Storytelling

Teach the Art of Magic

Penn & Teller

Teaches Storytelling and Humor

David Sedaris

David Sedaris Teaches Storytelling and Humor

Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry

Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry

Natalie Portman

Teaches Voice Acting

Nancy Cartwright

Nancy Cartwright Teaches Voice Acting

Teaches Gymnastics Fundamentals

Simone Biles

Simone Biles Teaches Gymnastics Fundamentals

Teaches Modeling Fundamentals

Naomi Campbell

Teaches Filmmaking

Jodie Foster

Judd Apatow

Judd Apatow Teaches Comedy

Kevin Hart

Teaches Creativity and Film

David Lynch

David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film

Teaches Turning Ideas Into Art 

Es Devlin

Teaches Turning Ideas Into Art

Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Parris Goebel

Amy Poehler

Teaches The Art of Negotiation

Chris Voss

Teaches the Art of Negotiation

The Meisner Technique is an approach to acting that theater actor and acting teacher Sanford Meisner developed. The Meisner approach to acting emphasizes three elements: emotional preparation, repetition exercises, and [improvisation](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/natalie-portmans-top-5-acting-tips-for-improvisation). The Meisner Technique aims to connect actors with their scene partners and instinctively respond to stimuli. Many legendary Broadway and Hollywood actors trained with the Meisner acting technique, including Gregory Peck, Grace Kelly, Robert Duvall, Alec Baldwin, and Diane Keaton. 
Sanford Meisner developed the Meisner Technique in the 1930s. Consider its evolution:

- __The Group Theatre__: Meisner joined The Group Theatre in 1931, a New York theatre collective founded by actor and teacher Lee Strasberg, a leading proponent of the Method Acting approach and director of the Actors Studio; director and Actors Studio cofounder Cheryl Crawford; and director and critic Harold Clurman. The Group Theatre based their approach to acting, known as The Method, off theater practitioner [Konstantin Stanislavski’s](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/stanislavski-method) system. The Method emphasizes “affective memory,” a technique also known as emotional recall.
- __Neighborhood Playhouse__: Meisner and [Stella Adler](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/stella-adler), a fellow Group Theatre member, opposed affective memory, which they considered manipulative. Disagreements about the Method approach led to the theater collective’s disbandment in 1941. Meisner served as the head of the acting program at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City. There, he crafted a training program based partly on Stanislavski’s system and Strasberg’s Method Acting techniques. The founding principle of Meisner’s training is “to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” 
- __Meisner/Carville School of Acting__: In 1983, Meisner launched the Meisner/Carville School of Acting with long-time partner James Carville on the island of Bequia in the West Indies. A second Meisner/Carville School of Acting, later renamed the Sanford Meisner Center for the Arts, opened in Los Angeles in 1995, two years before Meisner’s death in 1997.
- __Legacy__: *Sanford Meisner on Acting* (1987), written by Meisner and actor Dennis Longwell, outlines Mesiner’s philosophy on actor training. Actors worldwide continue to train with the Meisner Technique.
The Meisner Technique has three critical components:

1. __Emotional preparation__: Meisner training requires an actor to enter a scene [emotionally](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/emotional-regulation) by drawing on imagination or a real experience to access a character’s emotional state. Actors should then focus on their scene partners and instinctual human behavior to drive the scene's actions.
2. __Improvisation__: The Meisner Technique posits that actors should only react when provoked by naturally occurring stimuli within the scene. When actors fully connect to a scene and the other performers, improvisation becomes organic, and reactions reflect the truth.
3. __Repetition__: The repetition exercise is a crucial component of a Meisner class. The exercise, known as the “Word Repetition Game,” puts two actors across from each other. One actor makes an observation about their scene partner, who then repeats the statement. Repetition eventually gives way to different perspectives (“I’m standing next to you” becomes “You’re standing next to me”) and builds both natural, improvised [dialogue](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/david-mamets-top-9-tips-for-writing-dialogue) and focused connection between scene partners.
Become a better actor with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by award-winning actors including Helen Mirren, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson, and more.
The Meisner Technique is an approach to acting that focuses on emotional connection and instinctual behavior. Learn about the history of the technique and how actors practice it worldwide.

The Meisner Technique is an approach to acting that focuses on emotional connection and instinctual behavior. Learn about the history of the technique and how actors practice it worldwide.

Meisner Technique: Sanford Meisner’s Approach to Acting

<p class="mc-mb-6">The Meisner Technique is an approach to acting that focuses on emotional connection and instinctual behavior. Learn about the history of the technique and how actors practice it worldwide.</p>

The Meisner Technique is an approach to acting that focuses on emotional connection and instinctual behavior. Learn about the history of the technique and how actors practice it worldwide.


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Learn the Art of Theater, Dance, & Magic

Learn the Art of Theater, Dance, & Magic

Spring Forward Sale: Get 40% off

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