client spotlight: Jed

Early in my career as a musician, I had no idea I was queer. I was exploring the world of dance and the painting world and would often have intense bursts of creativity that would last a few months. I would hyper fixate; it felt like a burning flow inside me that needed to be externalized. I would disappear into art practice. I had moments of free flowing and also had doubts that stopped me from following impulses. Performance for me felt like a new person would take over my body, and it fed off the crowd and the energy of the fear.

I took an Acting class with Miriam in 2019 that totally shifted my practice. I learned to speak in front of people and to deeply listen to my body, and that the more myself I was – queer and weird as hell – the better the performance. I felt so accepted for my body, and self, and was so able to explore it. Authenticity became easier. I found a part of myself that I hold so dear now and I often find myself sharing this acceptance I felt with others in my work as a therapist and yoga teacher. I gained a lot of confidence in this class that I still draw on. 

Miriam asked me to collaborate on an eight-week research project in 2020 into psychologically safe training methods for actors. I learned techniques for connecting to my body and getting out of my head that I still use every day. I learned to trust the process and the impulse. I learned so much about safety in the body and in the ensemble.

The biggest shift in my artistic practice since working with Miriam has been to let go of doubt. She made me 100% more confident as an actor and a person. I had no idea I was capable of what she gently pushed me to do. Miriam's work is raw and uncut: it feels like tapping into a source that we all can access. She is a solid, nurturing teacher with a beautiful perspective on creating. She will teach you to trust yourself and access your creativity without self doubt.