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| - STAY. AWAY.
Let me preface this review by saying:
- I am a working actor, and two of my most notable jobs found me AFTER LEAVING the studio.
- I was artistically raised in the theatre, and as a result am drawn to directors/coaches that are direct. Michele appears direct, but she's actually cruel.
- There are 7 "unlisted" reviews about this class. Click "7 other reviews that are not currently recommended" at the bottom of this review page to read more.
I studied with Michele / Lonsdale Smith Studios on
and off for three years, both in studio and private coachings. I was nineteen when I met her for a private coaching, fresh faced to LA, desperate for mentorship, and more specifically, desperate for the mentorship of a black woman. She ticked every box, and she knew it. She went straight for the jugular - diving into my deepest personal insecurities, leaving me broken and unclear about how to move forward, to which she responded she would not "reveal" anymore until I was in her class, as she believes students don't learn as much in private as they do publicly in front of their peers. At the time, I took that as an insightful act of love. After 3 years with her and 1 year away, and a lot of reflection and research... I know it was because she knew she couldn't break me into submission on her own, she needed to do it with the support of a group of people (her followers) who would back up everything she said. She needed to publicly humiliate me. Repeatedly.
(My review is much too long so please scroll through the photos to read beyond what I have posted here.)
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