DANCE

I began my formal dance training at the age of 4 at Parker Dance Academy under the direction of Kim Kinnear, Julie Curley, Beverly Pinkerton, and Nicolle Ament. After high school I went on to complete a BFA in Performance at Chicago College of Performing Arts and received a scholarship to continue my dance studies at Hubbard Street. During this time I developed a love for postmodern dance and performance art and transitioned into an interdisciplinary career focused on choreographing experimental and community oriented work. I have been working as a dance educator for 20 years and have studied extensively; training in diverse pedagogies ranging from classical ballet education to contemplative dance practices.

SOMATICS & TRAUMA HEALING

Somatic movement is a field of research developed by dancers and therapists, and my work contributes to the web of inquiry taking place at the intersection of psychology and movement. It’s important to acknowledge that much of what we understand the contemporary field of somatics to be, is rooted in indigenous wisdom and dance traditions. My approach to somatics reflects my studies in Japanese Dance, Yoga, and Daoyin as well as my western classical training as a dancer. In recent years, I have begun to focus on somatic approaches to healing from stress and trauma. In 2023 I earned an MFA in Interdisciplinary Art & Regenerative Culture from University of New Mexico where I focused my thesis research on embodied approaches to healing intergenerational grief and trauma through embodiment. 

DAOIST ARTS

My interest in the embodiment arts of Asia began in undergraduate art school where I studied and performed in the Japanese Dance mediums of Noh, Kabuki, Kyogen, and Butoh. I went on to learn about Daoist Cultivation Arts and Classical Chinese Medicine and developed a personal healing practice based in the wisdom of Chinese Medicine, Qigong, Neigong, and Daoist Yoga. My teachers include June Compton, Mike Ninomiya, Yoshi Nakano, Tias and Surya Little, Mimi Kuo Deemer, and Peter Deadman. 

ZEN

I began my meditative journey as a student of Engaged Buddhism (Mahayana based Zen) with The Order of Interbeing and Plum Village as pioneered by Thich Nhat Hanh. My Dharma name is Pure Aspiration of the Heart and my mentor is Gurupriya Beth Sanchez. The monastics at Plum Village have not only deeply influenced my spiritual life, but also my artistic practice. 

YOGIC PSYCHOLOGY

Yoga touched my life through the writings of J. Krishnamurti and teachings of BKS Iyengar as shared by my first teacher Meera Sanghani in 2005. I do not identify with a specific guru or lineage as a student of Yoga and that is a reflection of J. Krishnamurti’s impact on my practice. Krishnamurti advised against following any doctrine, discipline, or guru. However, he was a student of Desikachar and therefore Krishnamacharya. His pedagogy has greatly influenced my teaching practice; centering a global outlook, concern for people and the planet, as well as a balancing of the religious spirit with scientific temper. 

IYENGAR & AYURVEDA

I was introduced to Iyengar Yoga while attending Art School in Chicago in 2005 and have been a devoted student ever since. I enjoy the benefits of long holds buoyed up by props and the emergent therapeutic nature of B.K.S Iyengar and his family's teachings. I have also studied Vedic Counseling, Ayurvedic Herbalism, and Yoga Therapy with Dr. David Frawley through the American Institute of Vedic Studies. My focus as an Ayurvedic practitioner is on the trauma informed diet emphasizing herbal medicine.

TANTRA VINYASA

I have been practicing and teaching Tantra Vinyasa under the mentorship of Jeremy Wolf since 2013. Vinyasa is a dynamic style of asana and pranayama characterized by linking breath with movement to create a dance-like, fluid, continuous experience. The practice integrates the philosophical depth of Tantra with the physical practice, to create a holistic experience for the practitioner. 

AERIAL SLING

I utilize an aerial sling, also known as a hammock or silk, as a prop in my Yoga practice. The sling can assist the beginner in learning Yogic techniques and the advanced practitioner in cultivating expanded embodiment. I have been teaching this medium since 2017 and have since developed a more experimental and exploratory approach to the work that I call Cloud Lab; integrating contemporary and aerial dance practices into the practice and emphasizing play and creative exploration in community. 

With endless love and gratitude…