The Teachers


Alejandro DeMaio devotes a lot of his energy as an environmental economist, discovering the world of movement and doing household chores. It wasn’t until early into adulthood that he discovered that movement was available to everyone. Since then he has embarked on a journey that has taken him to contact-improvisation, dance improv, body-mind centering and authentic movement.

Alexis Andrew is a dance artist and teacher who focuses on contact improvisation as well as multidisciplinary performance. She has trained in dance forms such as ballet, contemporary and release technique and somatic and alternative movement approaches including Body-Mind Centering, experiential anatomy, Klein, Feldenkrais and yoga. She is the co-artistic director of collective (gulp) dance projects and the managing partner of Movement Arts Ottawa.

Anne Pitman celebrates life through movement; from the rhythms of the seasons to our own unique body-rhythms. Anne created Empower Dance, a juicy exploration of music and movement and teaches Shanti Yoga, a somatic practice inspired by Vanda Scaravelli. www.annesyoga.com

Bob and Marlene Neufeld are transformational body-centered coaches. They bring balanced male-female energy with a sense of wonder, curiosity, play, fun and laughter. Together they are geniuses at facilitating rapid transformation. They are certified leaders of Dances of Universal Peace and Walks.
www.marleneandbob.com

Christine Graves graduated from UBC School of Rehabilatation Medicine (Occupational Therapy). She became a professional singer, released four Cds, toured internationally solo and with Malaika and performed on TV and radio. Her own back problems in part led her to complete a four-year training I the Feldenkrais® Method. Se is also trained in cranial sacral therapy and Reiki 1.
www.christinegraves.com

Elizabeth MacKinnon is an independent dance artist and teacher. Co-artistic director of collective (gulp) dance projects, she has performed and studied extensively in a variety of dance forms, improvisation, Body-Mind Centering ® and experiential
anatomy. She currently co-teaches a contact improvisation class and teaches modern dance.

Jeremy Sills is a gifted Sound Shaman and Songwriter. His mystical healing voice inspires us to remember the deep and silent space within. As spontaneous co-creations, his crystal bowl concerts weave a tapestry of high vibration frequency, in which profound awareness, transformation and healing can occur. A trained multi-instrumentalist, Jeremy’s cast includes crystal singing bowls, tibetan metal bowls, eclectic vocals, overtoning, gong, drum, guitar & piano. He conducts Lunar Vocal Toning Sessions, Kirtan Circles, and Sacred Sound Workshops.

Judith Kerridge is a fibre Artist with experience in Contact Improvisation, Body-Mind Centering, and authentic movement practices which she blends with her experience as a Re-Evaluation Counsellor.

Judith Miller is a Registered Ortho-Bionomy® Advanced Practitioner and Associate Advanced Instructor (www.ortho-bionomy.ca). She has also trained in and taught Qi Qong, Tai chi, Quantum Touch and yoga. She is intrigued by the ease and balance that flow from the integration of mind, body and spirit and from attention without an agenda. Judith can be reached at ob@magma.ca

June Watts is an English-born international leader in Sacred Circle dance, with over 30 years of experience, grounded her training at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland, where Sacred Dance originated. She is the author of "Circle Dancing: Celebrating the Sacred in Dance" (2006). She explores the deep meaning encoded in the dances, the movement of energy, the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual effects of the dance, and awareness of the cycles of the Earth, Moon and Sun. She will be accompanied by Bob Minney, gifted British composer of concept albums and music for Circle Dance.

Kathy Armstrong and Rory McGill are the founders of Baobab Tree Drum Dance Community, a non-profit arts organization dedicated to the study of Ghanaian arts. They have contributed greatly to drumming and dancing in Ottawa over the last 14 years. Their studies of music and community life in Ghana have informed the many other projects they are currently involved in. www.baobabtree.org


Kristine Karpinski is a registered massage therapist, yoga therapist and certified yoga & yogadance teacher. She has collectively trained in, and taught various healing modalities, movement methods and dance styles for over 20 years. Her love of continuum movement is a growing addiction!

Marie-Lynne Sauvé is a singer, flustist, pianist and voice movement therapist with a creative edge. She teaches music and has a Voice Movement Therapy practice. She also sings with Anahat Shabd, a chanting group that uses voice and song to raise consciousness
http://pages.videotron.com/mlsauve

Naomi Sparrow is a life-long dancer, certified teacher and practitioner of Body-Mind Centering. She has studied and taught Modern dance, Contact Improvisation, Voice and Movement Improv and fine arts. She currently teaches a weekly class at Movement Arts Ottawa in Body-Mind Centering, and maintains a private practice.

Pierre Huot has been involved in the world of the body and movement for the greater part of his life as a physical actor, dancer, and voice student. Pierre now teaches taiji and qigong professionally on land and in water. He has his own school and publishes a monthly electronic bulletin on these arts (go to: http://deepmovement.blogspot.com). Pierre can be reached at: pierrehuot67@yahoo.ca

Sandra Yanover is a certified Trager® practitioner and tutor, with many years of movement education experience. She has helped many people to move more freely and find a peaceful, easy feeling in their bodies, minds and spirits.

owen tuf works as an artist, gardener and movement teacher. Much of owen’s work focuses on community development and individual transformation with an emphasis on cultural restoration and personal story as a healing tool.

Wendy Philpott is a MassageTherapist and Facilitator for Authentic Movement. She has been exploring how the body's wisdoms evolve and move us, for most of her life.