The place: Connie Rotella’s Triple Threat Academy in Montreal, inside the Danse 1-2-3 studios. The teacher: Anik Matern. I was looking to get out of my comfort zone, sharpen my reflexes, improve my English and find a little more freedom in my acting. What I found went well beyond what I expected.
Some encounters leave a mark on an artist’s path. For me, one of those important encounters happened in an improvisation class for actors.
A passionate teacher who wants to make each student not only a better actor, but also a better person
Within the first few minutes in the studio, I could feel a particular energy. Anik Matern is not simply a teacher; she is a genuine force of nature, intensely passionate and backed by more than thirty years in the profession. She is very clear about what she wants to do: “supercharge” us toward new possibilities. Connect us to the quantum field. Make us breathe life fully until we touch the present moment — and, eventually, manage to touch other people through the work.
Finding your inner voice
What struck me about her approach to improvisation was how far it went beyond technical exercises or the search for a joke at all costs. Anik pushes us toward raw instinct, toward that “inner voice” that is so often smothered by doubt or fear of judgment. Her classes are a constant invitation to take risks, explore and dare to be both “humble and bold,” as she likes to say. She has an extraordinary ability to create a safe space where you feel free to try, fail and, above all, discover something about yourself.
Connecting body, mind and acting
She talks about the connection between body, mind and acting, about acting into being, and about finding the “inner warrior” who tells stories. Those ideas can sound abstract when written down, but she makes them concrete through improv exercises, situations and feedback that is always specific and deeply human. I could feel certain blocks loosening, my creativity becoming more playful and my confidence growing from week to week. If I had to describe an “Anik method” from my experience, it would be that mixture of high expectations, generosity and an almost stubborn belief in each artist’s individual potential.
Beyond the classroom: a mentor and a friend
Anik’s impact did not stop at the door of the Triple Threat Academy studio. Over time, the teacher-student relationship became a friendship and a mentorship I value enormously. Anik became one of those people I turn to when doubt starts creeping in, when I need an experienced outside eye or simply an honest word of encouragement.
More than once, when an audition felt particularly stressful, she coached me through it. With her knowledge of the profession and her ability to identify exactly what needs work, she helped me prepare roles, sharpen choices and, above all, enter those moments with more confidence and authenticity. Knowing that a coach of her calibre believes in you can change the way you walk into the work.
My recommendation: dare to meet Anik Matern
Looking back, taking that improvisation class with Anik Matern was much more than technical training. It became a deeply nourishing human and artistic experience that continues to influence my path. If you are trying to push past your limits, reconnect with creative instinct and work with a passionate, inspiring guide, I can only recommend crossing paths with Anik. You may discover sides of your acting — and of yourself — that you did not know were there.
