ATNYC was formed by John Nicholls and Nanette Walsh in 2006.
It offers individual lessons and group classes in the Alexander Technique, Teacher Training leading to certification as a teacher of the Technique, “hands on” supervision of teachers and trainees and Post Certification Advanced Training Programs.
Nanette Walsh received her Master of Fine Arts from Syracuse University in 1982 in computer media, specializing in linguistic analysis of movement. Having received her undergraduate degree in Special Education/Art Therapy she combined digital communication, special education and linguistics to help create some of the first computerized communication systems for people with disabilities at The Cerebral Palsy Center in Syracuse, New York. Her interdisciplinary interests also led her to the Department of Neurosurgery at Upstate Medical Center. There, she collaborated with scientists in the creation of an award winning animated film presenting early research findings on neural pathways of pain.
In 1983 Nanette moved to New York City to begin her study of the Alexander Technique. During this time she taught Computer Graphic Animation at the School of Visual Arts in NYC and worked as a programmer analyst and a freelance consultant. She received her teacher certification from the American Center for the Alexander Technique in 1995.
In 1999 she began post-graduate study and correspondence with Peggy Williams and Walter Carrington, first generation teachers, in London, England. She continued ongoing study and correspondence with Williams and Carrington until their deaths in 2003 and 2005 respectively.
Nanette was Chair of the American Society for the Alexander Technique (AmSAT) from June 2010 – November 2011. She and John Nicholls are Directors of AT·NYC’s Teacher Certification Program and full time faculty members. She is also on the faculty of the Annual Summer East Coast Residential Course in Sweet Briar, Virginia, and has been part of visiting faculty at the American Center for the Alexander Technique.
Nanette maintains a private teaching practice in New York City where she offers individual lessons as well as “hands-on” supervision groups. She is currently chronicling the life and teaching of Peggy Williams. Nanette is also experienced in various forms of contemplative meditation and is a long-time practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan.
John Nicholls graduated from Oxford University, UK, in 1966, and then worked for some years in the computer industry. An interest in psycho-physical growth disciplines led him to train as an Alexander teacher (1973 to 1976). He trained in London with Walter and Dilys Carrington, at the oldest established Alexander training centre, and remained at the centre for eleven years, building up a large private practice and assisting daily on the Carrington’s teacher training course.
In 1980 John became an elected member of the Council of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT) and was Chairman of STAT in 1985 and 1986, during which time he initiated the devolution of STAT into affiliated national societies. In 1986 he gave the annual STAT Alexander Memorial Lecture, which was published under the title: The Alexander Technique in a Larger Context.
He then spent three years in Australia, directing the Melbourne Alexander Teacher Training School and again building up a large private practice. After this period in Australia, he returned to the UK as Director of a teacher training course in Brighton, East Sussex. His highly praised book, The Alexander Technique: In Conversation with John Nicholls and Sean Carey, was published in a first edition in 1985, with a Danish translation, and a greatly expanded and revised second edition in 1991 (English version only). He also edited STATNEWS from 1990 to 1992.
Between 1990 and 2002 John directed the Brighton Alexander teacher training course, gave private lessons in Brighton and London, and ran seminars for the public and regular post-graduate classes for teachers in Britain, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Italy, Australia and the USA (New York and Boston). He was one of the featured second-generation heads of training courses at the third International Congress in Switzerland (1991).
In 2003 John moved to New York City where he offers private lessons, “hands-on” supervision groups for teachers and trainees, a teacher certification program, and structured postgraduate courses for teachers. He and Nanette Walsh are currently Directors of AT·NYC’s Teacher Certification Program and full time faculty members. He is also on the faculty of the Annual Summer East Coast Residential Course in Sweet Briar, Virginia. Since moving to the USA John has been a featured guest teacher at several AmSAT Conferences, gave the AmSAT Alexander Memorial Lecture (titled Where are we going?) in 2005, and was featured at both the 2004 and 2008 International Alexander Congresses at Oxford University, UK and Lugano, Switzerland.