JONATHAN “JOJO” FLEITES, PRIVATE STUDENT, “THE WINCHESTERS” SERIES REGULAR “Working with Natascia has been one of the most transformative experiences of my artistic life. As both a mentor and acting teacher, she has a rare gift…not just for guiding performance, but for helping you rediscover your truth as an artist and human being. Her approach is equal parts rigorous and nurturing. She doesn’t just teach technique; she teaches courage, honesty, and presence. Every note, every exercise, every conversation is laced with care and clarity. Natascia sees you , not just who you are, but who you could be and she challenges you to rise to that potential with integrity and heart. I’ve grown more under her guidance than I ever imagined possible. I carry her lessons with me in every room I walk into. If you’re lucky enough to work with her, take it. Your craft will thank you for it.” RILEY CRUICKSHANK, STUDENT AT ACTOR CENTER, DC "My monologue session with Natascia was a workout! Natascia helped me strip down the monologue to its core elements and then layer the complexities back in. With an emphasis on the psyche of the character, the tools she gave me helped me with my problem of overthinking while acting. I've been able to carry over her strategy to another monologue I'm working on, and it's already making a world of difference. And she is a passionate teacher. I highly recommend working with Natascia!" MEL, STUDENT AT ACTOR CENTER, DC "As it is something she directed us on how to get as much out of class by watching others work as when it's our turn to present, I ended up learning sooo much just watching others work! I actually arranged for a private coaching lesson with Natascia the following day and I found it every bit worth the money. Honestly, of various classes and teachers, she is brilliant and has so much to offer others won’t in training. I would make certain she continues to be on the Center’s line up of coaches. She was just wonderful, both in technique and in spirit. She was a gem to find!!" SEAN BALICK, STUDENT AT YOUTH FILM ACADEMY "I had the privilege of working with Natascia for six years, and I could not be more grateful. I first started working with her at The Youth FIlm Academy. I had two other teachers in the program, but they were incomparable to Natascia’s skill, attention and dedication. She worked us children tirelessly on short monologues until we were able to reach our fullest potential. Natascia opened up my mind to a new world in theatre that I had never known. After the program was over, Natascia made sure to maintain contact with me, even attending some shows that I didn't even ask her to attend. All the while she would send me links to auditions for professional theatres, other programs and even a job opportunity. Then the time came that I was looking at colleges, and Natascia took the time out of her busy schedule to discuss with my Mother and me going into great detail about what colleges she thought may fit me well. I was overwhelmed by the amount of information and attention she gave me and I am so grateful she was there to help me through such a confusing time. Both as a teacher and performer, I do not know of anyone better than Natascia Diaz. I am eternally grateful to have been blessed with such an amazingly caring and passionate mentor." MARK A STUTZ, DIRECTOR OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, ALLENTOWN, PA "I have had the privilege to know Natascia Diaz for almost 10 years and have seen first hand what it meant to my students to have her run a Master Class for musical theater. For the students who were lucky enough to work with her, it was a truly special moment in their education and growth as young performers. Many of them are currently pursuing their artistic dreams and when I speak with them they almost always mention the time they spent with Natascia. Her talents are undeniable. What really sets her apart from some of the other instructors we have had is the way she connects with the students. No matter how large the group, each student felt like they had just been given a private lesson with Natascia. Her ability to work with an individual while still remaining connected to the group as a whole is an incomparable talent she brings to the process. Each year I bring in new professionals and there are ones that, if they are available, we repeat as much as possible. Natascia is on the top of our list. Each new group of students who have heard about her Master Classes are anxious to meet her and learn from her. As an administrator, it is no secret that having any experienced professional teach for you is not the same as having a professional who can connect and communicate with students at the level she does. You will be more than pleased with your decision to bring Natascia on board." ANONYMOUS MASTERCLASS STUDENT "Hi! I just wanted to say thank you. Seriously. I’ve been acting for like 8 years and it’s been my favorite thing in the world for so long and I’ve never felt so impacted in my life. I’ve had amazing teachers but I feel like I see things so much differently now. I was working on a monologue and I was listening to songs and the way my mind was processing was so much different. Thank you for pushing me, thank you for your time, and for really genuinely caring about us and about our ability, and for creating a space for us to just let go and really just go for it. It would be easy for someone to just look down because we’re younger or in college and just say eh that’s good enough for them. But you pushed us and made us think outside of what we’re all used too, and I can’t tell you how much the means to me and how much it’s affected me. So thank you again, you really have changed everything." BRIAN SELCIK, STUDENT AT METROPOLITAN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS “Natascia is the perfect teacher. She is able to communicate her thoughts and ideas in an understandable, yet efficient way. Her passion for the arts and helping students is undeniable, as she is one of the most present teachers I have ever worked with. Natascia was able to help me strip away any confidence issues I had with my performance so that I could work on the material effectively. She rebuilt my confidence because I was able to look at my material from a new perspective that felt natural to me. It’s clear that she wants the next generation of performers to be as strong as the legends that came before us, as her commitment to each student is undeniable.”