Anna-Katharina and the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique
When you really concentrate, you will get a sense of expansion. You will feel that you are a larger person than you are physically, as if you become a person two or three sizes bigger than your ordinary physical self, and that you are flowing with all your being toward the object of your concentration. Whether it is a physical thing or an image that you are concentrating on, your whole invisible person will be in movement.MICHAEL CHEKHOV
Anna-Katharina has been in touch with the Acting Technique of Michael Chekhov since 20 years. She learned from her father Jörg Andrees who is a master tutor of the method since over 30 years. Through her involvement with movement, dance, theater and circus art she has specialised her approach to performing arts. She is interested in what lies behind the obvious. How can the performer really connect with his creations? The search for a deeper meaning of what we want to say with our art is an exciting and never-ending journey. Anna-Katharina supports performers to find images and tools to feel free and creative on stage and to enjoy with a feeling of ease their own creation. Images are used to define the space, to get clarity in movement and transitions. Working with the space in general and especially with the backspace offers a feeling of freedom and focus at the same time for the artist on stage. Reflecting the work-process as well as support for the rehearsal and performance- structure give joy and freedom in the work. Anna-Katharina is teacher and partner of the Michael Chekhov International Academy, Berlin (MCIA).
​The central themes of the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique are concentration, awareness, transformation, imagination, working with impulse as well as inner and outer gestures. You learn through psycho-physical trainings and get to know tools in working with atmosphere, imagination and feelings. The tools are clear and practical. Working with imagination brings you to experiencing the truth of the moment. According to Chekhov the performers work is to create an inner event that is an actual experience that takes place in real time within the performer. This inner event, as experienced by the performer, is seen by the audience as an external expression. Michael Chekhov called it the creative individuality of the actor/performer´s, which is not directly tied to his personality. This creative individuality allows the artist to use parts of himself that are not only elements of everyday life, but parts of their unconscious in which more universal and archetypal images occur.
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I am a creative artist. I have the ability to radiate. Lifting my arms above me, I soar above the earth. Lowering my arms, I continue to soar. In the air moving around my head and shoulders, I experience the power of thoughts. In the air moving around my chest, I experience the power of feelings. In the air moving around my legs and feet, I experience the power of will. I am that. MICHAEL CHEKHOV