Spring Term 2022

We are a different type of acting school.

The Yat/Bentley Method of Acting comes from a long theatre lineage. We are furthering the work of both American and international theatre philosophers and practitioners.

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 Spring Term 2022!

All classes are offered online via Zoom.

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. We are pleased to offer a limited number of scholarships; please Contact Us if you would like to learn more.

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

SCHEDULE | COURSES

New to the Yat/Bentley Method?

RSVP to attend our Introductory Workshop on April 3rd from 10am-12pm Pacific Time, held via Zoom.

SPRING ‘22 SCHEDULE

APRIL 18 - JUNE 11, 2022

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.

Fuel your craft with the mystery of YBC’s work in this course designed to welcome students who can benefit from a different perspective. For beginner to advanced artists. Learn more.

Create character through the Yat/Bentley Method. Work with your peers to polish performances. Present your performance to the public. For intermediate to advanced performers, inquire to determine suitability for enrollment. 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

EVERYTHING IS MOVEMENT | BUILDING HEALTHY HABITS
WEDNESDAYS 6-7:30p PDT, APRIL 20 - JUNE 8

Tuition: $240/COURSE (or $120/mth)

Learning Level: Beginner to Advanced/Professional

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, Pamela Hollings and Miranda Bentley (YBC Teachers). Suitable for all curious minds.

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MUSCULARITY OF CHOICE BEGINNER | BUILDING THE FOUNDATION
TRAINING IN THE YAT/BENTLEY METHOD I
SATURDAYS 10a-12:30p PDT, APRIL 23 - JUNE 11

Tuition: $560/COURSE (or $280/mth)

Learning Level: Beginner to Advanced/Professional

This is the preparation class for the Yat/Bentley method. We identify the fundamental sensations and pathways that will allow you to step deeply into the work. If you have studied Yat Malmgren’s work, this will give you a different perspective. If you are new to the work, this is the first step in completing the three stages of the Yat/Bentley training. 

This class will explore the importance of coming from a place of deep truth and imagination through: 

• Identifying the inner sensations of Sensing, Thinking, Intuiting, and Feeling.

• Experiencing the activation of Intending, Attending, Deciding, and Adapting.

• Developing the manifestation of these energies through Weight, Space, Time, and Flow,

• Underpinning the Stanislavsky methodology of with the specificity of the Yat/Bentley method.

• Expanding the imagination and thoroughly investigating the inner and outer movement of the Spheres.

• Introducing you to the work of Laban and Jung through the Psychology of Movement initiated by Yat Malmgren and developed by Tom Bentley-Fisher.

At YBC we are expanding into the mystery of ourselves, opening to the full array of who we are. Join us to uncover your own hidden depths!
Taking this course in combination with, or in sequence with, either EiM or Beneath the Work prepares the student for the twice-weekly Muscularity classes.

Taught by Lavinia Hollands and Pamela Hollings (YBC Teachers) with guest appearances from the YBC teaching company. Suitable for Beginner to Advanced/Professional artists.

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TRANSFORMATION | CHARACTER & PERFORMANCE THROUGH THE YAT/BENTLEY METHOD

WEDNESDAYS 2-4:30p PDT, APRIL 20 - JUNE 8
+ presentation rehearsals during the second week of June

Tuition: $1,120/COURSE (or $560/mth)

Learning Level: Intermediate to Advanced/Professional

For those who have already completed their study of the notes, or advanced students / professional actors. Culminate the year by showing your work to an invited audience of peers and industry professionals.

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.

• Public Performance — We will work towards a public performance in mid June 2022.

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
THURSDAYS 6-8:30p PDT and SATURDAYS 1:30-4p PDT, APRIL 21 - JUNE 11
+ presentation rehearsals during the second week of June

Tuition: $1,600/course (or $800/mth)

Learning Level: Intermediate to Advanced/Professional

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 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 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
MONDAYS 6-8:30p PDT and FRIDAYS 2-4:30p PDT, APRIL 18 - JUNE 10

Tuition: $1,600/COURSE (or $800/mth)

Learning Level: Intermediate to Advanced/Professional

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 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 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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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.