Lessac Kinesensics Training: A Pedagogy for Training the Nigerian Student-Actor's Speaking Voice

Abstract

Lessac kinesensics training is viewed in this paper as a psychophysical approach, developed by Arthur Lessac as a voice, body and mind work that concentrates on two energies: Vocal energy and Body energy (NRG). These energies help to create an embodied actor. However, the essence of any vocal pedagogy is to develop an embodied actor for character believability. But how organically is the character development?

Psychophysical approach deals with awareness, de-patterning from habits, an organic process to incorporate the senses, mind, concentration on self, and the build-up of body energies to develop effective vocal dynamics for performance. There is the assumption by student-actors that phonetics training as a cognitive learning process ends in the classroom which may not be carried over to performance and real life situations as a result of its rigidity. Due to this detachment from character development and embodied actor training, they however, create an imaginary gap.

The imaginary gap which psychophysical process fills is what few scholars suggest in order to realise an embodied acting which embodies and shapes the breath and energy at work for the actor. This paper discusses the need to test run this concept, with a view to integrating the basic principles of Lessac kinesensics training on the Nigerian student-actor's voice, body and mind as a approach for optimal vocal performance.