Noeline Levinson
I qualified in July 1990. I studied with Shaike Hermelin in Tel Aviv, Israel. It was the most transformative 3 years of my life. Shaike was a most special teacher. He really embodied the Alexander Technique for me. When I looked at him, I understood the technique. He breathed, lived and was completely the Alexander Technique. Standing opposite him in a lesson was a true privilege. Just by looking at him, I could feel my shoulders widen and by back lengthen. I do miss him so very much. It was the most wonderful experience, being a student in Shaike's school. I was only 21years old when I started my training. A very young student indeed, and I think the youngest student he had ever taken on. I did not speak a word of Hebrew, but somehow managed to get by. The fellow students were just amazing, friendly and loving.
I returned to South Africa after qualifying and immediately started to work as a teacher, firstly in Cape Town. I taught at the opera school at the College of Music. I still remember my first lesson there. I prepared lessons for eight weeks, and taught it all in the first 10 minutes of my first lesson. That was a shocker, and I never prepared a lesson again in my career. I remember thinking after those first 10 minutes, wow, what now? So I started from scratch and we had a lot of fun in those classes. I also taught privately from my home. I had many students who were performers of one kind or another.
I then moved to Johannesburg and began teaching at the drama school at the Market theatre. I taught there for a number of years.
I gave demonstrations at the Wits University and gave talks to the Music Teachers Association. Most of my clients were actors, singers and musicians of all kinds. The performing arts was and still is my passion. Over the years I have so enjoyed watching my student's performance improve with every lesson they received.
I started my career as a dancing teacher, I just love to dance and love to teach. After my training, I gave much thought to exercise and the Alexander technique. After 10 years of teaching, I devised a training called S.E.T. which stands for Safe Exercise Training. I wrote a manual and set up a training course for those who taught others exercise. I trained personal trainers in this method. Basically, it is exercise using the Alexander principle. The trainers who trained in S.E.T. had so much more to offer their clients. I met my husband during this time. He was a personal trainer when I met him. His clients benefited hugely from his S.E.T. knowledge. He was able to train more mature adults, those who had injuries and those who were more frail. He had amazing results with them, just using these techniques. His clients did not suffer any injuries while training with him. It was very rewarding to witness.
I left South Africa in December 2008 for New Zealand. I have started to teach the Alexander technique in Auckland, and hope that one day I can make a difference to those whom I meet here.
I returned to South Africa after qualifying and immediately started to work as a teacher, firstly in Cape Town. I taught at the opera school at the College of Music. I still remember my first lesson there. I prepared lessons for eight weeks, and taught it all in the first 10 minutes of my first lesson. That was a shocker, and I never prepared a lesson again in my career. I remember thinking after those first 10 minutes, wow, what now? So I started from scratch and we had a lot of fun in those classes. I also taught privately from my home. I had many students who were performers of one kind or another.
I then moved to Johannesburg and began teaching at the drama school at the Market theatre. I taught there for a number of years.
I gave demonstrations at the Wits University and gave talks to the Music Teachers Association. Most of my clients were actors, singers and musicians of all kinds. The performing arts was and still is my passion. Over the years I have so enjoyed watching my student's performance improve with every lesson they received.
I started my career as a dancing teacher, I just love to dance and love to teach. After my training, I gave much thought to exercise and the Alexander technique. After 10 years of teaching, I devised a training called S.E.T. which stands for Safe Exercise Training. I wrote a manual and set up a training course for those who taught others exercise. I trained personal trainers in this method. Basically, it is exercise using the Alexander principle. The trainers who trained in S.E.T. had so much more to offer their clients. I met my husband during this time. He was a personal trainer when I met him. His clients benefited hugely from his S.E.T. knowledge. He was able to train more mature adults, those who had injuries and those who were more frail. He had amazing results with them, just using these techniques. His clients did not suffer any injuries while training with him. It was very rewarding to witness.
I left South Africa in December 2008 for New Zealand. I have started to teach the Alexander technique in Auckland, and hope that one day I can make a difference to those whom I meet here.
My teacher used to tell me, 'we are human beings not human doings, this is teaching you how to be, not what to do'
