Alexander Technique
About Me
“Stasia Siena is a world-class teacher of the Alexander Technique. Beyond her technical skill in the Alexander work, she is a beautiful singer and naturally gifted teacher. Stasia is ideally suited to lead a program on the Alexander Technique for performing artists. In addition to her skills as a teacher, she has an in-depth knowledge of musical performance in all of its varying forms. She understands how to work with a flute player or a string player equally as well as a clarinetist, guitarist, trombonist, actor or singer. It stands in her favor that she is not a musical specialist in -- or a teacher of -- one particular instrument. Instead, Stasia can work with performers from any department and help them improve their artistry.” - Michael J. Gelb, Author of Body Learning: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique
Trained as a singing actor, Stasia Forsythe Siena, has a special interest in the Alexander Technique and wellness in the performing arts. She has served on the music faculties of Indiana University, Milliken University, DePauw University and the University of Illinois School of Music. She is currently an Artist Faculty member at Ƶ's Chicago College of Performing Arts, where she teaches group classes in the Alexander Technique to musicians and actors. Over the past sixteen years, Stasia has presented the Alexander Technique in university, conservatory and master class settings throughout the United States and abroad. She teaches the Alexander Technique every summer to some of the world’s finest French horn players at Kendall Betts Horn Camp on the shores of Lake Ogontz in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire. ()
Stasia has been teaching the AT for over twenty years. She received her Alexander Technique teaching certification from Joan and Alexander Murray at the Urbana Center for the Alexander Technique. She was an assisting teacher before joining the UCAT faculty and was appointed Co-Director of the UCAT teacher training program in 2017. Stasia is well-versed in The Dart Procedures, which were developed by Joan and Alexander Murray in collaboration with the esteemed neuroanatomist and anthropologist Raymond Dart. The Dart Procedures use developmental movement patterns to illuminate and underscore principles of the Alexander Technique. Stasia draws on other innovative teaching tools, including Body Mapping, to help her students move with ease and perform optimally. Stasia holds an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a master’s degree from Indiana University.
Diagnosed with scoliosis in her late teens, Stasia has a lifelong interest in holistic health and mind/body wellness. She sought out the Alexander Technique while struggling to recover from debilitating injuries resulting from a serious car accident in 1996. Since then, she has continued to explore a broad spectrum of somatic approaches. She is a 200-hour registered yoga teacher (RYT) and a certified Scolio-Pilates practitioner. (). She is an active member of AmSAT (American Society for the Alexander Technique). Stasia resides in Champaign, Illinois with her husband, Jerold Siena, and two children. She enjoys music, travel, practicing yoga and long walks with her three dogs.