Speech Performance Coaching

Resounding body, resonating words.

**Speech training from the heart of the JAPANESE AESTHETICS**

Public Speaking & Performance Coach for Business and on Stage (Online)

There are some common key factors that contribute to an unforgettable public speaking performance or a stage performance. In such a performance, I always see Three Elements working: the speakers’ connection with their inner truth, their ability to resonate with the audience, and the solid structure and form in their storytelling.

To create and deliver a speech is not just about giving information. It is an EXPERIENCE that you are creating for the audience. In this event, you are playing the role of a RESOUNDING VESSEL, or a MEDIUM they experience the content through.

My speech training works with the whole of you - body, mind, and spirit - bringing the essence of you through your words, working towards creating a memorable experience for your audience and yourself.

I’ll be drawing from some principles of the Japanese traditional performance called NOH theatre as well as somatic work and other performing arts spheres. The focus will be on:

1) Physical dynamism and subtlety

We’ll bring dynamic radiating presence on stage through the examination of your physical and mental posture as well as movements. Subtlety comes from attention to details. All is in the body.

2) Connection with the inner truth

We’ll tap onto your inner landscape that holds feelings, sensations, thoughts, and emotions. We’ll address how emotions manifest in the body and how to best utilize it in speech. By doing so, we’ll bring authenticity to the speech content and enhance heart-to-heart communication.

3) Standing with the Vertical and Horizontal axis in the space

We’ll explore how you can connect with the entire space through both vertical and horizontal axis. By establishing the connection with the space around you, you’ll gain the support of the space, which leads to ease, confidence, and efficiency. This part includes energy work and imagination training.

What happens when you are giving a good speech?

RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGH SHARED FREQUENCY

Speech comes through the vessel of YOU and goes out into the space.Your frequency travels through the air to the audience and they start resonating. The audience responses create vibrations that continue extending beyond. This visceral and cerebral experience bring certain energy to the audience and to the whole space.

YOU MAKE THE AUDIENCE ALIVE BY MAKING YOURSELF ALIVE

Through the words you speak, the person who you are becomes manifested. You yourself become the content. Audience do not just experience the words. They experience the words that are coming from you. When you become alive, they become alive. You are the vessel, the. medium and they are the focus. You are connecting with the highest of themselves.

YOU AND THE AUDIENCE EXIST ON THE SAME GROUND

Whether the speakers are at a podium on a higher level platform or speaking through a screen, you always feel that they are right there with you when they are on the same wavelength. These speakers have an exceptional ability to SENSE the audience.

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NOH theatre principles and concept:

Facing self (Inner Space) is extremely important.
Connection with the Vertical and Horizontal axis makes going beyond the third dimension possible.
Everything is about rhythm and pace - how you speak, move, and act. Rhythm and pace creates content and emotional flow.
Form is there to hold and manifest the content. The more precise the form is, the deeper the content becomes.

Book here

Credentials:

30 years of experience in theatre and dance: performing, directing, choreographing, producing, touring, and teaching
10 years of NOH theatre training and performance
30 years of Performing arts training from the East and the West
20 years of teaching theatre in university as well as professional setting
5 years of running MFA program in experimental theatre
5 years of being on Toastmistress club member
5 years of teaching Japanese language using Oral language method
Keynote speaker for (Re) sounding Bodies Symposium at UC Davis, CA
20 years of creating dance theatre work and presenting them nationally and internationally
Somatic Certificate: Guild-certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, Usui Reiki Energy healer, Posture Balance practitioner, Nutritional Consultant (American Association of Nutritional Consultant), GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) practitioner, JKA (Jeremy Krauss Approach for special-needs children) to be certified year 2020
Comprehensive Bilingual skills of Japanese and English language - capable of functions from daily to specific field
Comprehensive Bilingual skills of Japanese and American expressivity - grew up in Japan in early years and lived most of adult life in the US, going back and forth between two cultures in philosophy, behavior, and communication styles

Testimonials:

”In my 30-year career as a choreographer and teacher, I have had many collaborators, and all those who work with me know that I can be highly demanding. I found Naoko’s blend of professionalism and artistry unique. Naoko has many qualities that commend her: deep knowledge in choreography and theater, somatic practice, organization, etc. There is one aspect, however, that rises above the rest, She has both an intellectual brilliance and amazing intuition. She is always responsible and fully immersed in the idea we are working on. As a dramaturg for my dance company, we always have lengthy discussions to clarify and discover a deeper meaning of my work. She understands me, and she pushes me to be a better version of myself as an artist. What a joy and a blessing to collaborate with her.” (Anabella Lenzu, choreographer/performer, NYC)

”Naoko brings her wealth of knowledge about body, dance, and performance in her mentoring and teaching. By taking her class and workshop, I learned a lot about these things. However, what makes her extremely appealing is her expressivity and worldview as an artist. In her art of teaching, body, language, performance, and life are all connected. She guides the students through her poetic language so masterfully that I always forgot time was passing! She also never forgets to give undivided attention to each individual student. Her class focuses on the basic principles about how to exist on stage with potency - how to maintain high level of consciousness, how to grasp physicality and its relation to psychology, how to create more potent relationship between one’s body and another body, and how the body can affect the energy of the space. I’m so surprised that it changed my ability to express so much after taking her workshop. “ (Mayu Shirai, dancer, Japan/New York)

“Naoko’s level of discipline to the craft motivated me, Her selflessness inspired me and her focus on the little things overall changed my trajectory. We can have grand ideas and ambitions but if one is not geared towards improving and mastering the little things in his/her own life, that big dream that exists will never come into fruition like it’s designed to. She said something in Directing class I will never forget. She said “Jacob, I can see you struggling with something. Do not concentrate on the end result, concentrate on your next step of your path, give it everything you have and then once that is complete take another step. You will reach your destination through the process.” Thank you again for teaching me and impacting my life in such a strong and positive way.” (J.J, actor, GA)