The Healthy Artist Masterclass

In order to be a great artist, you have to have a healthy nervous system. The notion of the ‘suffering artist’ is outdated, unsustainable, and always leads to burnout. As much as creatives train, we spend little to no time learning how to take care of ourselves. As a Broadway actor, meditation teacher, and university theatre professor, I’ve learned that meditation is a game changer when it comes to being a successful artist and enjoying the process of creating. 

“Working with Hardy was an absolute dream for our Department. In a creative process, it’s rare to find time for self-care. By intentionally carving out time and space for this work, our student-artists grew, both individually and collectively. They all left with a more comprehensive sense of self, and a better foundation for their personal practice. The impact was noticeable throughout the Department, and translated to success in the classroom and on stage. Healthy artists are better artists.” - Salvatore Mannino, Artistic Director, Loyola University

Click HERE to read the full article on the Healthy Artist Masterclass and the impact it had on students and faculty at Loyola University, New Orleans.

The workshop includes:

  • The 4 Day Vedic Meditation Course: Meditation is a game changer for creatives. It’s the foundation of this weeklong workshop. Students will learn this simple, natural technique and the best ways to integrate it into their day. By learning this self-sufficient practice, we’re giving young artists the ability to take their wellbeing into their own hands; leading to more fun, stability, and adaptability in the creative process.

  • The Science of Stress and the Art of Rest: Before the meditation course begins, students can sit in on a free introductory Q&A. I’ll share my story of how I came to learn meditation as a stressed-out performer and how it drastically improved my audition game, performance, and my skills as a Broadway understudy covering multiple tracks. I’ll break down the science of stress and explain why this practice of deep rest is so good for performers.

  • Curating Quirks: Rather than suppressing what makes us unique, I’ve found that embracing our unique traits and talents is what gets us the job or lands us the role. Over an hourlong workshop, students will create their own character biography, where they’ll discover and celebrate what makes them unique.

  • Application: Along with the Meditation course, programs will have the options to choose one or more of the following theatre masterclass options-

    • Audition Technique

    • Song Coaching

    • Dance Masterclass (Musical Theatre, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Original Broadway Choreography)

    • Monologue Work

    • Theatre Industry Q&A

    • Scene Study

    • Rep Book Assistance

    • Character Study

In order to be a great artist, you have to have a healthy nervous system.