Fall Term 2022

We are a different type of acting school.

The Yat/Bentley Method of Acting comes from a long theatre lineage. Inspired by the work of both American and international theatre philosophers and practitioners, we are furthering our investigations to offer a humane training for the current needs of the artist.

We encourage you to read our Class Overview before looking more deeply at our class descriptions below.

The Yat/Bentley Centre for Performance is now enrolling for our Fall Term 2022!

All classes are offered both online via Zoom and in person.

There are course offerings for everyone, from beginners to advanced artists. Private sessions with Tom Bentley-Fisher and members of the YBC Teaching Company also available.

Tuition rates are listed in the class descriptions below. .

Not ready to enroll quite yet? You can also reach out directly to team (at) yatbentley.com. We look forward to speaking.

NEW TO THE YAT/BENTLEY METHOD?

RSVP to attend our Introductory Workshops or go in depth with our Character Transformation Intensive

WORKSHOP RSVP

SCHEDULE | COURSES

2022-2023:
Fall Term: Tuesday, September 13 - Saturday, December 10, 2022 (no classes November 21-26 US Thanksgiving)
Winter Term: Monday, January 16 - Saturday, April 8, 2022
Spring Term: Monday, April 17 - Saturday, June 10, (Plus Showcase week of June 12-16) 2023

FALL ‘22 SCHEDULE

September 12 - December 10, 2022

Experience the deep self-trust that comes from the core of the Yat/Bentley Method. Investigate and build your own artistic practice through collaboration and discovery. For those who are new to performing, or have had some acting experience and want to go deeper. Learn more.

An essential class for all YBC students. Suitable for all curious, creative minds. All students committed to learning the YBC Method should take this class for at least one term. Learn more.

Gain a deep understanding of the Yat/Bentley Method. Improve what you do well - acting, directing, writing, teaching. Move through your resistances. Employ these new discoveries immediately in your work. For intermediate to advanced artists. Learn more.

Commit to the Yat/Bentley Method with twice-weekly training in a small cohort. Tackle monologues and original scenarios with muscularity and verve. For intermediate to advanced performers. Learn more.

Continue your commitment to the Yat/Bentley Method with twice-weekly training in a small cohort. Work on scenes and original characters with depth, commitment and clarity. For intermediate to advanced performers who already have a familiarity with the Yat/Bentley Method. Learn more.

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COURSES

BENEATH THE WORK | EXPANDING INNER RESONANCE
Learning Level: Beginner to Advanced / Professional

WEDNESDAYS 6:00p - 8:30p PT on Zoom SEPTEMBER 14 - DECEMBER 7 (no class Nov 23)

Tuition: $840/COURSE (or $280/mth)

Learning Level: Beginner to Advanced/Professional (max 12 students)

Step in with a spirit of curiosity and experimentation as we uncover what your deepest creative values are, and begin to develop the tools to honor those values. Build a foundation for continuing explorations in the Yat/Bentley work by activating an experiential understanding of the reservoirs and pathways available to us.

• Prompts and reflections that subtly awaken a fuller awareness of your body and intuition,

• Exercises and improvisations for uncovering the infinite waypoints along the swing from introversion to extroversion,

• Collaborative creation to enliven your connection with the act of being seen and the experience of entering into the outer world from a place of fullness,

• Short readings and references to works of art that build the colors in your personal pallette.

Taught by Adam Kotin and Miranda Bentley (YBC Teachers). Suitable for Beginner to Advanced / Professional artists.

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EVERYTHING IS MOVEMENT | BUILDING HEALTHY HABITS
INTRO TO THE YAT/BENTLEY METHOD
Learning Level: Beginner to Advanced / Professional

SATURDAYS, 10a-12p PT on Zoom or Asynchronous SEPTEMBER 17 - DECEMBER 10 (no class Nov 26)
Tuition: $360/COURSE (or $120/mth)

The artist must live fully; it is essential to develop ways to create the most healthy body/mind. EiM is a psychophysical approach to salutogenesis. Salutogenesis is the origin and creation of health. Through movement and breath, through your inner resonance and stillness, discover how much is available to you.

Develop the essential practice of an artist. Starting with the simplicity of the body in space, connecting to movement and breath, cultivate your most healthy self.

The life of an artist needs to be supported by practice. You are what you pay attention to. This is the class for all curious folks to find the artistic practice that uncovers their joy of constant discovery. 

In this essential experiential course, you will receive an embodied understanding of the foundations of the Yat/Bentley Method. Learn to use the tools of:

• The Swings – Physical exercises to develop the inner and outer lives of the performer.

• The Spheres – Psychophysical exercises to uncover the energies within and without. Find and trust your inner essence in order to unfold that energy with confidence.

• Feldenkrais® and Awareness Through Movement® – Gentle, guided lessons that offer another portal to the unknown, to discovering effortlessness and animating the entire body.

• Voice – Grounded in the work of Cicely Berry and evolved through the Yat/Bentley Method, uncover your voice through imaginative exploration of body and energy.

Taught by Heidi Carlsen and Pamela Hollings (YBC Teachers). Suitable for all curious minds.

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TRANSFORMATION |  PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE YAT/BENTLEY METHOD 

WEDNESDAYS 2:00p - 5:00p PT hybrid SF/Zoom SEPTEMBER 14 - DECEMBER 7, (no class Nov 23)
Learning Level: Intermediate to Advanced / Professional (max 8 students)
Tuition: $1,680/COURSE (or $560/mth)

For those who have already completed their study of the notes, or advanced students / professional actors. Gain an understanding of the work that allows  you to immediately take to your professional creative process.

Students in this course will be challenged to work beyond their habits with confidence and imagination, as they create characters through:

• The Notes — Reference the YBC Notes to create nuanced characters with a strong inner life.

• Active, Embodied Choices — Stretch into the three-dimensionality of character using the confluence of spheres and pathways. Connect to bone-deep impulses that take you along unexpected routes, uncovering truthful and imaginative journeys.

• Explore Text through the specificity of the Yat/Bentley Method.

• Create the Transformation – Uncover surprising, nuanced characters through the Yat/Bentley Method.

Taught by Tom Bentley-Fisher (YBC Artistic Director), with members of the YBC teaching company. Suitable for those familiar with the Yat/Bentley Method or advanced students / professional actors.

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MUSCULARITY INTERMEDIATE | UNCOVERING INNER DEPTHS
TRAINING IN THE YAT/BENTLEY METHOD II
WEDNESDAYS 6-9p PT hybrid SF/Zoom, and SATURDAYS 1:30p-4p PT on Zoom,
SEPTEMBER 14 - DECEMBER 10 (no class Nov 23, 26)
+ presentation rehearsals during the first week of June

Tuition: $2,400/COURSE (or $800/mth)
Learning Level: Intermediate to Advanced/Professional (max 8 students)

Put your knowledge of the Yat/Bentley Method to immediate work as you expand and deepen your abilities through an intimate learning experience. Enrollment is limited to eight students per class - the class meets twice weekly over the course of the 2022-23 academic year. Culminate the year by showing your work to an invited audience of peers and industry professionals.

Students in this course will be pushed to meet their resistances with confidence and imagination, as they experience:

• The Inner Attitudes Notes — Receive the notes initiated by Yat Malmgren and developed by YBC.

• The Inner Attitudes — Through simultaneous exploration of monologues and original scenarios.

• Active, Embodied Choices — Connect to bone-deep impulses that take you along unexpected routes using the four variations of each Inner Attitude.

• Personalized Coaching — The YBC teaching company will craft a tailor-made experience that builds on each student’s previous work, including one-on-one instruction.

Taught by Tom Bentley-Fisher (YBC Artistic Director), Heidi Carlsen and Jocelyn Truitt (YBC Teachers) with guest appearances from the YBC teaching company. Suitable for those familiar with the Yat/Bentley Method or advanced artists.

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MUSCULARITY ADVANCED | REVEALING CHARACTER
TUESDAYS 6-9p PT hybrid SF/Zoom and FRIDAYS 2-4:30p PT on Zoom, Sept 13 - December 10
(no class Nov 22, 26)
+ presentation rehearsals during the first week of June, 2023

Tuition: $2,400/COURSE (or $800/mth)
Learning Level: Intermediate to Advanced / Professional (max 8 students)

Create character and work with scene partners through specificity of the Yat/Bentley Method. Enrollment is limited to eight students per class - the class meets twice weekly over the course of the 2021-22 academic year.Culminate the year by showing your work to an invited audience of peers and industry professionals.

Students in this course will be pushed to meet their resistances with confidence and imagination, as they experience:

• The Drives Notes — Receive the notes initiated by Yat Malmgren and developed by YBC.

• The Confluence of Drives — Through simultaneous exploration of scenes and original characters.

• Active, Embodied Choices — Connect to bone-deep impulses that take you along unexpected routes, uncovering truthful, surprising characters using the confluence of Drives, Spheres and Pathways.

• Personalized Coaching — The YBC teaching company will craft a tailor-made experience that builds on each student’s previous work, including one-on-one instruction.

Taught by Tom Bentley-Fisher (YBC Artistic Director) and Heidi Carlsen (YBC Teacher) with members of the YBC teaching company. Suitable only for those familiar with the Yat/Bentley Method.

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PRIVATE LESSONS

The YBC Teaching Company is also available for one-on-one private coaching in the Yat/Bentley Method, Feldenkrais, and Voice. Contact Us for more information about available times and rates.