TranslateWhat sustains culture?
The art we treasure depends entirely on the artists we rarely sustain.
Behind every performance is a body that has endured years of repetitive strain — and a mind that has carried the weight of relentless pressure — with little systematic education in how to move without harm or how to sustain psychological resilience. Musicians and dancers train at the intensity of elite athletes, yet the infrastructure to support their physical and mental health barely exists. SUSTAIN.ART exists to close this gap: through discipline-specific somatic education, a vetted global network of practitioners who address both body and mind, and multilingual resources accessible to anyone.
The art we treasure depends entirely on the artists who bring it to life. Every artist is a singular voice — irreplaceable, unique, existing only once in the world. When an artist is injured or burned out, we lose that one-of-a-kind creative force. The art they carried stops, and cannot outlive them. To sustain the art, we must first sustain the artist.
SUSTAIN.ART is a non‑profit organization dedicated to transforming the way performing artists are trained, supported, and sustained. We address four systemic gaps — information, pedagogy, isolation, and access — that cause high rates of physical injury and mental health struggles among artists.
Information Gap
Research in performance science, biomechanics, and psychology remains siloed in journals, never reaching practice rooms.
Pedagogy Gap
'This is how I was taught' passes down harmful habits. Without an evidence-based, somatic foundation, problems are inherited, not solved.
Isolation Gap
Artists navigate pain, plateaus, and mental challenges alone — there is no integrated community of support.
Access Gap
Specialized wellness support is often geographically limited, cost-prohibitive, or discipline-specific, making it a privilege rather than a standard.
These gaps are not inevitable. They are symptoms of a system that has neglected the internal instrument — the body, mind, and spirit of the artist. SUSTAIN.ART exists to close them.
develop playing-related musculoskeletal disorders — a rate comparable to professional athletes.
Performing artists are twice as likely to experience depression as the general population.
report suicidal ideation — more than double the general public rate.
Who We Serve
Built for Everyone in the Performing Arts Ecosystem
Our People
Built by Artists Who Have Lived the Crisis
SUSTAIN.ART was founded by performing artists and educators who have lived the crisis firsthand, and who refused to accept that injury, burnout, and isolation are simply part of the job.
Anna Tse
Founder
Certified Alexander Technique Teacher (ATI), MMus (UdeM), BA (Hons) HKBU
View Bio →- —Classical-trained pianist and certified Alexander Technique teacher
- —Faced performance-related pain and 2 episodes of tendinitis in the wrist
- —Overcame the injury cycle and broke a technical plateau through the Alexander Technique
- —Named to the First Honor Roll of Teachers by the Royal Conservatory of Music (2024/25)
Ariana Pedrosa
Founding Team Member
Certified Alexander Technique Teacher (CanSTAT), DMA & MMus (UdeM), BMus (UFMG)
View Bio →- —Orchestral bassoonist, certified Alexander Technique practitioner, certified Body Awareness for Musicians practitioner
- —Bassoonist and contrabassoonist with the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra
- —Faculty member at the University of Toronto (2019–2021)
- —Joined the Music and Health Research Institute (MHRI) in Ottawa in 2023
Félix Dallaire
Founding Team Member
Certified Alexander Technique Practitioner (CanSTAT), MMus & BMus (Conservatoire de musique de Gatineau)
View Bio →- —Guitarist and certified Alexander Technique practitioner
- —Overcame a career-threatening injury through Alexander Technique training
- —Soloist with the Orchestre symphonique de Gatineau (2017)
- —First-prize winner, Guitare Montreal International Competition (2019)
Emily Au
Founding Team Member
Body Mapping Educator (ABME), PhD candidate in Music: Piano Performance Practice & Pedagogy (HKBU), MMus & BMus (Wright State University)
View Bio →- —Pianist and Certified Body Mapping Educator
- —First and only licensed Body Mapping Educator in Greater China (2024)
- —PhD candidate in Music: Piano Performance Practice & Pedagogy at HKBU
- —Vice-President of Macau Art Development and Promotion Association
Eiji Tanimura
谷村英司
Master Specialist
ATI Certified Alexander Technique Master Teacher, Founder & Director, Japan Alexander Technique Center
View Bio →- —Alexander Technique Master Teacher (authorised by Rika Cohen, 2012)
- —Founder and Director of the Japan Alexander Technique Center
- —Advisor to the International Yoga Association since 1985
- —Founder of the Japan Bodywork Research Association
Junko Nakashiro
中白順子
Master Specialist
ATI Certified Alexander Technique Teacher, ATI Sponsor
View Bio →- —Dancer and certified Alexander Technique teacher (ATI), ATI Sponsor
- —Began studying dance in 1980; chronic back pain made it impossible to continue by the mid-1980s
- —Recovered through the Alexander Technique and returned to dance
- —Training course teacher at the Japan Alexander Technique Research Institute
What Artists Say
Real Experiences from the Artists We Work With
"Professor Ariana brings lightness in her teaching and strength in her example, transforming the Alexander Technique into a true path of art and life."
Jose Roberto Silva, Principal Flutist, OSRN
via Ariana Pedrosa
"Anna's Alexander Technique lessons completely changed the way I approach the piano. After years of tension and discomfort, I finally understand how to use my body efficiently. Her patience and deep understanding of both music and movement make every session transformative."
Jenny L, undergraduate piano student
via Anna Tse
"What sets Anna apart is her holistic approach to instruction. She doesn't just teach you how to play; she teaches you how to move. Her ability to show how somatic principles apply to your specific instrument and your body's natural mechanics is transformative! Every lesson with her is truly inspiring and therapeutic at the same time."
Hiba Baroudi, adult piano student
via Anna Tse
"Ariana is an outstanding teacher: her explanations are clear, engaging, and accessible, and she shares her knowledge with warmth and generosity. Each session was a true moment of discovery and grounding."
Christine Séguin, pianist and anthropologist
via Ariana Pedrosa
"Ariana is a teacher with an excellent teaching approach. She combines a strong sense of professional responsibility with the ability to make the learning environment welcoming, safe, and joyful."
Mariana Holschul, violinist and Body Awareness teacher
via Ariana Pedrosa
"Professor Ariana brings lightness in her teaching and strength in her example, transforming the Alexander Technique into a true path of art and life."
José Roberto Silva, Principal Flutist, OSRN
via Ariana Pedrosa
"My Alexander Technique sessions with Felix Dallaire were eye-opening. He was able to present me with incredible insight on the foundations of my posture and movement, making a strong impact on the way I go about my daily activities both with and without my instrument."
Guitarist who overcame tendonitis
via Felix Dallaire
"With great patience and respect, Felix helps us discover a new way of moving—a new sense of body awareness. His explanations are clear, simple, and full of vivid imagery."
via Felix Dallaire
"A very tangible result for me was being able to eliminate the knee pain I had suffered from for several years, thanks to my lessons with Felix."
via Felix Dallaire
Programs
Support for Every Stage of the Career
Performing artists face specific physical and psychological demands that general healthcare is not designed to address. Our three programs are built around that reality.
Our Roadmap
What We Are Working Toward
SUSTAIN.ART is a new organization. We don't have years of impact data to report, and we think it would be misleading to pretend otherwise. What we can offer is a clear, time-bound set of goals and a public commitment to reporting our progress every year.
Build the Network
By 2028: 500 vetted practitioners across 50 countries
Educate at Scale
By 2028: Deliver resources and webinars to 50,000 artists worldwide
Fund Access
By 2028: Subsidize specialized care for 500 artists in underserved regions
Advocate for Change
By 2028: Publish annual State of Global Arts Health report
Join Our Movement
Stay informed about our work to build a global network for performing arts health and wellness.
