CLASSICAL 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, contemporary, and neoclassical ballet and performance art; transitioning into an interdisciplinary career focused on choreographing experimental and community oriented work. I have been working as a dance educator since 2004 and have studied extensively; training in diverse pedagogies ranging from classical ballet lineages to contemplative and indigenous 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. I believe it’s important to acknowledge that much of what we understand the contemporary field of somatics to be - this includes western psychology - is rooted in indigenous wisdom and dance traditions. My approach to somatics reflects my studies in both classical dance as well as eastern embodiment traditions. In recent years, I have begun to focus my work on healing from stress and trauma through dance practice. In 2023 I earned an MFA in Interdisciplinary Art & Regenerative Culture from University of New Mexico where I committed my thesis research towards this complex intersection.

DAOIST YOGA

My interest in the embodiment arts of Japan, China, and India began in my early professional career as a dancer 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 under the guidance of her teachers.

ZEN BUDDHISM

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. 

YOGA

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 was also a student of Krishnamacharya and my Yoga practice was formed and shaped by the benefits of long holds buoyed up by props and the emergent therapeutic nature of B.K.S Iyengar and his family's teachings.

AYURVEDA

I am certified in 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. I also trained with Dr. Aviva Romm in Botanical Medicine for Women's Health. Ayurveda, often translated as “the science of life,” is a comprehensive system of medicine and philosophy that originated in India over five thousand years ago. Grounded in the principles of interconnection between body, mind, spirit, and environment, Ayurveda seeks to sustain health through balance rather than treat illness in isolation. Rather than prescribing a universal regimen, Ayurveda emphasizes individualized care and preventive practice. It views well-being as a continual process of alignment with natural rhythms—an adaptive, relational approach to the changing conditions of both the inner and outer worlds.

TANTRA VINYASA & YOGA NIDRA

I have been practicing and teaching Tantra Vinyasa and Yoga Nidra under the mentorship of Jeremy Wolf since 2013. Vinyasa is a dynamic practice of asana and pranayama that weaves breath and movement into a continuous, dance-like flow. Rooted in the philosophical depth of Tantra, it invites a holistic experience that unites body, mind, and spirit. Jeremy’s teachings have also profoundly shaped my meditation practice through Yoga Nidra, awakening a deeper curiosity about my own ancestral lineages of dreamwork and journeying.

AERIAL SLING, PROPS & FOUND OBJECTS

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; emphasizing play and creative exploration in community. My approach to the Aerial Sling is heavily influenced by the use of straps in Iyengar Yoga and I am interested in the relationship between found objects, sculpture, and materiality in Yoga practice and continue to pull this thread. 

With endless love and gratitude…