is a comprehensive and creative approach to developing the voice and the body in
a holistic way, resulting in greater flexibility and power and improved expressiveness
and communication. Kinesensics identifies simple but potent natural behaviors of the
body (鈥渇amiliar events鈥) which become powerful, organic instructions for creating
desired improvements in vocal or physical function, resulting in a more healthful,
enjoyable life. The Graduate voice curriculum provides three years of intense voice
and speech training for performers focusing on vocal health for actors, voiceover
acting, dialects, heightened language, musical theatre and more.
USM Professor of Voice and Acting and Lessac Certified Trainer, Robin Aronson and
Sheldon Mba (MFA Performance Candidate, 2020) engaging in full body resonation for
high stakes while sustaining a healthy vocal instrument.
Mel Angelo, (MFA Performance Alumni 2019 and Lessac Practitioner) exploring balance
and flexibility.
B Peyton MFA (MFA Performance Candidate, 2021) utilizing forward facial orientation
for a fuller, richer sound.
Jonathan Andrew, (MFA Performance Alumni 2019 and Lessac Practitioner) small ball
rolling to strengthen the spine and access deeper breath capacity in the body.
Master Lessac Teacher, Barry Kur guiding Christian Cooper (MFA Performance Candidate,
2020) and Jonathan Andrew (MFA Performance Alumni 2019 and Lessac Practitioner) in
Buddy Squats for lengthening the spine, elongated alignment and engaged breathing.
Mel Angelo (MFA Performance Alumni 2019 and Lessac Practitioner 2019) Travis Ascione
(MFA Performance Candidate 2021), B Peyton (MFA Performance Candidate 2021) and Morgan
Baker (MFA Performance Candidate 2021) engaging in a consonant scat band for enjoying
rhythm and musicality while enhancing clarity and intelligibility in speech.
Barry Kur with Lessac Practitioners
Southern Miss Students and Alumni with Master Lessac Teacher, Deborah Kinghorn
Robin Aronson and Deborah Kinghorn
Lessac Voice and Body Intensive Training Information
As a part of the MFA Graduate Voice curriculum, Robin Aronson, Professor of Voice
and Acting, established a one-year Lessac voice and training curriculum. Aronson is
a Lessac certified voice and body trainer, past President of the Lessac Training and
Research Institute and the 2020 Recipient of the Lessac Institute鈥檚 leadership award.
Lessac curriculum is based on Professor Aronson鈥檚 experience teaching the Kinesensic
voice and movement curriculum at the University of Rijeka in Croatia and at the Lessac
Training and Research Institute Summer Intensive. Professor Aronson has taught the
Lessac work in 7 countries. At Southern Miss, Aronson designed and implemented a plan
of study for graduate students to engage and learn the Lessac Kinesensic voice and
body work for one year as the foundation for voice and speech work in the classroom
as well as in production. After the training is completed, students are eligible to
achieve practitioner status toward Lessac certification.
The Lessac one year training program to offer Lessac practitioner eligibility at Southern
Miss is the first graduate program in the world to offer this curriculum through the
Lessac Training and Research Institute establishing the University as a global leader
in kinesensic voice and body training.
Earn your terminal degree in Theatre