Paris: Individual or Group "Voice/Stagecraft for Wellbeing" Classes

Kayla Collingwood
Dec 13, 2023
5 min read

Updated: Aug 14

Do you want to feel more grounded in your body, reconnect with your voice as an expression of your whole self, and express yourself with confidence and authenticity while caring for your emotional wellbeing? You're in the right place.

Our voices and bodies are living records of our thoughts, emotions, and experiences. They can carry both our stories and the weight of old tension, habits, or unspoken feelings. The work we will explore in "Voice/Stagecraft for Wellbeing" sessions offers space to meet them with awareness, compassion, and creative freedom.

An operatic singer and wellbeing? Tell me more...

Hello! I’m Kayla Collingwood – a classical singer, educator, and creator from New Zealand, now based in Paris.

My journey with this work began with the goal of training as a professional opera singer. As a young performer, I was, to put it bluntly, a mess! I would frequently cry in singing lessons and high-pressure environments, held a lot of tension and fear in my body, and struggled with performance anxiety - all of which I later discovered stemmed from previous experiences in my life. Somewhere along the way, I realised the techniques I was learning (breathing, body awareness, vocal training, theatre practices - and therapy!) weren't just for the stage. They were tools that helped me process my challenges, navigate difficult times, and reconnect with myself.

During my postgraduate studies, I explored devised theatre and somatic body/voice practices. That’s when it clicked: this work is fundamentally human work, not just for performers. It offers practical, creative ways to meet stress, grief, anxiety, trauma, creative blocks, or simply the weight of daily life.

Over time, my teaching evolved beyond traditional singing lessons to embrace movement, voicework, trauma-aware practices, and elements of music therapy. Today, I help people reconnect mind, body, and voice – whether to prepare for performance, build confidence in speaking, explore creativity, or feel more at home in themselves.

What Is Voice/Stagecraft for Wellbeing?

This approach weaves together my background as a classical singer, theatre practitioner, and educator.

Each session blends elements of:

Vocal exploration informed by a classical technical foundation
Theatre-based movement and character work (Laban, Grotowski, Stanislavski, Barba)
Somatic bodywork practices (Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais)
Music education methods (Dalcroze, Kodály, Orff)

Rather than following a rigid formula, I adapt each session to your needs on the day. You might work gently one week, dive into something more dynamic the next.

Three core pillars guide each session:

Embodied voice and movement: Cultivate seamless integration of mind, body, and voice, tuning into their dynamic interplay as a foundation for authentic expression.
Creative self-expression: Explore sound, text, character, and movement without judgement
Connection: With yourself, the space around you, and others within it

The Evolving Focus: Healing Through Voice

In recent years, my work has expanded beyond traditional performance training into supporting overall wellbeing. As someone originally from New Zealand, the Māori concept of hauora (wellness) deeply informs my approach. This holistic model honours four interconnected dimensions of wellbeing: taha tinana (physical health), taha hinengaro (mental and emotional wellbeing), taha whānau (social wellbeing), and taha wairua (spiritual wellbeing and personal beliefs).

Using the body and voice as living expressions of your inner self, this work acts as both a mirror and a release valve – helping process stored emotions, restore balance, and support personal integration. This is not clinical psychotherapy (I am not a licensed psychotherapist), but it can complement therapeutic journeys beautifully. If I believe you’d benefit from specialised support, I will gladly refer you to an appropriate professional.

I also keep this space free from religious practices to ensure inclusivity and safety, particularly for those who have experienced religious trauma. However, if you express that you'd like to explore religious-based songs or texts, this is possible, especially in cases where this can help with cultural reconnection.

What happens in a session

Our sessions may include:

Breathing techniques to calm and ground
Movement to release tension and increase body awareness
Free vocalisation - with or without words
Structured voicework to build technique and expression
Working with text, poetry, or music to explore your expressive palette
Character exploration for creative or emotional processing
Guided improvisation with sound, movement, and imagery
Quiet moments for integration

Every session is responsive to your emotional and physical state. Nothing is forced – you work at your pace, in your way.

Benefits for Wellbeing

Every person is different and their needs are different.

People who work with me often find they can:

Reconnect with breath, posture, and spatial awareness
Respond to challenges with openness rather than old patterns
Express themselves more clearly and safely
Process emotions that felt inaccessible
Release long-held tensions in the body and voice
Build genuine confidence and presence
Access creative “flow” states
Improve communication skills naturally
Experience joy, connection, and restoration
Develop tools for self-regulation and resilience
Take up space in the world and feel worthy of doing so

Valuable for teenagers

Adolescence can be a time of intense change, yet opportunities for non-judgemental, embodied self-expression are rare.

This work can help teens:

Build authentic confidence by strengthening mind-body-voice connection
Process strong emotions in healthy, creative ways
Develop self-regulation skills and resilience
Strengthen communication and social awareness
Discover their authentic voice and identity in a safe space

For parents: my approach is informed by years as both a nanny and music educator, and is pedagogically grounded. While not a quick fix to the challenges of adolescence, this work provides a genuinely safe, supportive environment for growth and the development of a toolkit your child can take through life.

Practical information

📍 Where we can work:

Maisons-Alfort - My home studio (warm, comfortable space – subject to availability) OR my weekly group classes at EZ Music Learning.
Paris or Val-de-Marne - At your location (travel fee applies)
Central studio - Professional space (studio hire fee applies)
Online - Anywhere in the world! PLEASE NOTE: This work is best in person, and I accept online students on a case-by-case basis.

💫 How we can work together:

Trial session - Perfect for exploring this approach (charged at my regular rate)
5/10 session packages - Discounted bundles with flexible scheduling
Weekly sessions - Consistent weekly meetings for steady development and support (weekly group sessions available at EZ Music Learning (Maisons-Alfort).
Group sessions - For workshops which are open to the public, sign up to my workshop mailing list or follow me on social media to stay updated. You can also contact me to arrange a personalised session for your group.

Languages: English or French

Ages: 13 and up for this specialised approach (younger students considered on a case-by-case basis)

2025 rate: €50/hour

Contact me for a personalised quote based on your location, session length, group size, and package preferences. If cost is a concern, please don't hesitate to discuss this with me – we can often find a way to make it work.