ABSTRACT
The Evolution Exercise and the Song and Dance Exercise develop actor trainee's stage presence, increase his physical and emotional self-awareness, and strengthen his concentration to handle the many pressures of performing. The two part Song and Dance, was initially developed and taught by Lee Strasberg as a diagnostic tool to deal with singers and dancers who were overly tied to their strong habits. The results were startling, and he began teaching the exercise to all of his students. The exercise helps uncover habits and tests actor trainee's ability to break them, and it can also teach him to focus on more than one thing at a time while following his own commands. The challenge is to remember all the different commands demanded by the exercise and implement them at the same time, which addresses the ability to concentrate at will, break his habits, and take control.
