Lis Addison has been dancing and singing since she was able to walk and talk. An award winning composer and vocalist, Lis began her professional exploration of electronics, vocals and rhythm while a graduate student of electronic music in the 1980’s. Her most recent CD was voted BEST VOCAL ALBUM, 2010 ZMR Awards. In addition to her CD’s, she has written music for film, video, rock bands, solo performance, dance, yoga and the concert stage. Lis discovered Nia in the late 90's and found it to be a beautiful compliment to the many other dance forms she has studied over the years which include everything from classical ballet to African dance. In addition to her work with Nia, Lis is also the originator of KiVo: the Kinetic Voice, which is a movement and vocal practice that promotes health, well-being and happiness. For further information visit her at www.allaglowmusic.com.
Kathy Bate is a Certified Nia Teacher from Walnut Creek, CA. Grounded in her purpose to express creatively, Kathy, a career designer and vocal artist with a background in Modern Dance, channels her passion for dance and music into joyful, spirit-filled cardio workouts. Kathy experienced the healing effects of doing Nia on a regular basis along with the daily practice of the 5 Stages of Healing completely overcoming 3 years of low back pain and sciatica. Her focus for her students is healing, rejuvenation, reconnection to balance of body mind, spirit and emotion while honoring the body’s own way and oneness with all. top or back to teachers
Lee Bigman I first experienced Nia in 2002. As a former aerobics instructor, I was familiar with the structure of an exercise class, but had never experienced the pleasure Nia brought to me until I took my first class. I was hooked. Now, as a Black Belt Nia instructor, my journey continues . I am committed to have every student in my class experience the joy of moving and being in their bodies. Come dance with me and discover the promise of Nia -Through Movement We Find Health - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. leebigman@comcast.net top or back to teachers
Anita Christensen
I discovered Nia in 1998 when my usual "step" class had been changed to a Nia class. After that first class I knew I had experienced something special. I walked away that day feeling complete, relaxed, and alive! Since then I have had an ongoing desire to have Nia in my life. I have participated in Nia events since that time and continue to be in awe of how "I am" with Nia in my life. I am a Nia Brown Belt and I teach class in San Jose and in Mountain View encouraging personal exploration and healing to all who participate. Please join me. top or back to teachers
Lynda Farmer Nia has changed how I move through life. That change started over 7 years ago when my first Nia class made such a distinct and lasting impression on me. I was already certified in Aerobics, Water Aerobics and Personal Training. I taught standard aerobic classes along with Step and weight training. I developed specialized group and individual programs to enhance strength and flexibility and I even expanded into more creative areas like polymetrics and tennis aerobics. Interestingly, I began to find myself moving away from strict, hard-core, regimented movements as I started to resonate with the freedom of expression and the joy of movement that Nia exudes. To my surprise, I have found new strength and flexibiliy in my body, mind spirit and emotions! Come dance with me and meet your soul! lyndafarmer@comcast.net top or back to teachers
Megan Finkeldey As a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist I had strayed from my performance background and a downright need for expressive arts in my life. One experience with Nia sent my spirit soaring and led me to a lifelong commitment of never abandoning such forms of expression again. My white belt training was initially for my own edification but, as time passed, it became obvious that teaching was the way to go. Imbued with humor, passion, and healing images, I have now begun to find my way and a way to give others a sense of greater health and Joy. MichellKawaja@gmail.com
Laura Sari Geduldig As a white and green belt teacher, I create a welcoming environment where we focus on body sensation, the joy of movement, free-dance, clarity of the 52 moves, energetic athletic Nia and a constant flow of new music to keep it fresh.
Nia is the perfect tapestry of my eclectic interests, passions and training. Since I was a little girl, I've loved to dance, choreograph moves, and listen to music. Ballet classes led to high school halftime routines, which led to formal dance study and teaching aerobics in college. I layered in DJing in clubs, distance cycling, and a constant flow of body centered classes including pilates, yoga, Anna Halprin dance, Dailey Method and more.
While developing my knowledge of body mechanics I was also building my private practice as a Professional Life & Wellness Coach and workshop leader. Inspiring others to transform their lives through a deep connection to their own bodies is the main theme of my life’s work. Teaching Nia has helped me integrate everything I love into one amazing hour. Come play… I’m looking forward to moving with you! Visit www.gotherecoaching.com for more details.
France Laude-Gohard was born and raised in Paris, France. At the age of 23, she moved to the U.S on a journey of self discovery leaving a professional path in the medical field behind her ...It is in 1989 that she met Debbie and Carlos Rosas in San Rafael, Marin County, CA and started a 9 month training ... This is when she reconnected with dance and movement as a path of Joy, Self expression, Creativity and Healing. A few years later, France-Laude became one of the first Nia Trainers...
France-Laude’s study includes Authentic Movement, different dance modalities such as the Hawkins Technique and Jose Limon ...and a Nia practice profoundly influenced by the work of “Conscious Embodiment” developed by Aikido teacher Wendy Palmer. francelaude@gmail.comwww.france-laude.com/
Gilia Haimovich I am a Nia Brown Belt certified teacher and have a B.P.T (bachelor of physical therapy) from the University of Tel-Aviv (Israel). I have been teaching Nia in the Bay Area since 2004 at the YMCA, Community Adult Education, and other locations. Working as a physical therapist in both one-on-one and group environments has helped me to understand and motivate people through their transition to Nia. The creativity, professionalism, adaptability and holistic approach of Nia have inspired me not only as a physical therapist, but as a dancer and a human. As I practice Nia, I sense a flowing, grounding, centering and energizing harmony that is reflected throughout my whole day. In Nia we move the natural way— respectfully & joyfully—gaining shape. My student’s testimonies empower my passion to share Nia. Nia is to movement as holistic is to medicine. giliadance@yahoo.com top or back to teachers
Nancy Hoebelheinrich From her first Nia class experience in 2000, Nancy was intrigued by the innovative blending of movement styles, and Nia's focus upon freeing bound hips, shoulders, head, feet, fingers, and voice by moving creatively to music. When taking Nia classes was not enough, she went on to become a certified Nia teacher in 2003 at first to improve her own practice, but later to share Nia's technique, method, and magic.
As an instructor with an athletic style, a dance background and training to teach special populations such as those with arthritis and related conditions, Nancy offers her students the opportunity to use Nia to transform themselves by developing self awareness and self healing of and through the body. Currently certified at the Nia Black Belt training level, she teach classes and workshops in Palo Alto, San Mateo and other locations around the Peninsula that are adapted to meet the needs of students of all ages and levels of experience.
Jill Hoff holds a first-degree black belt Nia certification and has been studying and teaching Nia since 1989. She shares her joy of movement through Nia and brings her many years of experience through in her instruction. Her classes combine both the athletic and classic styles of Nia. In addition, Jill has been studying and teaching Pilates since 1997, certified with the Physicalmind Institute, and owns a fully equipped Pilates studio in Calistoga where you can receive individualized, personal attention and training in either Pilates or the Nia Technique. You can contact her at (707) 396-2442 or jillybeanhoff@yahoo.com
Michell Kawaja began her professional dance career at age 17 with Oregon’s premier ballet company, The Oregon Ballet Theater. In 1998, she moved to New York City to attend The Juilliard School, where she received a BFA in Dance. Michell has also received training in the Alexander Technique, modern dance, jazz dance, yoga, and various martial arts. She recently completed a one-year program in movement based expressive arts therapy at the Tamalpa Institute, where she worked directly with founder and director Daria Halprin. Over the years, Michell has enjoyed teaching everything from cardio kickboxing to pointe; however, her true passion is teaching NIA. Michell conducts her classes with a heavy focus on NIA’s first principle: The Joy of Movement. She strives to make movement accessible to all students, encouraging them to explore their full creative potential, create awareness and energy, and above all, have fun! MichellKawaja@gmail.comwww.movementunlimited.com
Janet Kaufman I have enjoyed Nia for over five years... as a teacher since the spring of 2005. The magic and pleasure of movement inspire me to dance, and teaching allows me to share my energy, enthusiasm, and Nia's healing powers. Please come share in the joy of movement in an open and accepting environment! My classes are in Pleasanton, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek. Please contact me at janetrkaufman@gmail.com, or by phone (510) 853-9144 for more information. niajanet.weebly.com
Cheryl King-McMahon Energy, awareness, emotion, exploration, body- mind communication, joy and juiciness. This is what I love about NIA, why I love doing it and why I love teaching it.
I came to NIA teaching with a long background in dance with ballet and jazz as the primary forms in early years. Later, I discovered the healing power of the freedom of expressive movement through dancing with Gabrielle Roth. Calling on my many years of transpersonal work with spiritual teachers and my practice as an energy healer, I taught my own creation of expressive movement, “Innerspace Movement” that combined dance, art and performance for personal growth, for several years in San Francisco and Marin. Then, always looking for new ways to explore myself through movement, I finally found NIA and in it, I found a joyful blend of form and freedom to facilitate spiritual, physical and emotional healing, strength and fitness.
I bring to NIA a deep love, trust and awareness of the body, a sense of humor, an absolute joy in movement, and a deeply committed intention to help others, as well as myself, grow and heal in body, mind and spirit.
Liz Mac has a background in having fun with a BA from CSU Chico, a lifetime of playing in and out of the water, studying Martial Arts and enjoying a Vinyasa yoga practice. A Certified/Licensed Green Belt, my goals are to teach in locations where Nia can be made more affordable and available. I teach in fitness clubs where many classes are closed to the public, but would like to make Nia accessible to all people. Find my schedule of free to the public children’s classes offered through the Contra Costa library system at www.ccclib.org. Contact me to demonstrate a new class in your area. (925) 212-4349 or nializ@sbcglobal.net Even at this computer you can find awareness of your body. Move and seek comfort. Let’s bring our practice into daily life!
LeeAnn Mallorie is a Blue & Green Belt Level Nia teacher and Executive Coach, who specializes in facilitating transformational movement and conversation. Her Nia students value her precision in movement, her musicality and her playful spirit. Once a regionally renowned movement artist, she believes in the power of committed ongoing practice paired with joyful curious exploration, and is skilled at creating the right environment for genuine mind-body transformation to take place.
LeeAnn brings a lifetime of movement training to her work, including ballet, jazz, modern dance, latin dance, baton twirling, yoga and aikido. She has an MA in Social Psychology, is certified as a Somatic Coach through the Strozzi Institute, and is currently pursuing a Sound and Voice Healing Certificate at the California Institute of Integral Studies. LeeAnn also writes a weekly blog, called Living in Motion, that offers practical exercises to help students to bridge the mind-body divide. lmallorie@gmail.com • iamlivinginmotion.com/nia-technique
Alexis Mulhauser As an artist of mindful living, Alexis is passionate about healing, the creative process, and empowering people to find the life that most wants to live through them. In addition to sharing the Joy of Nia, she offers Yin/Yang yoga classes and Reiki healing treatments. “Discovering and developing these sensational tools for living in balance with nature and all beings, my life’s work is a labor of Love. “Alexis also teaches Nia at UC Berkeley and 7th Heaven Yoga Studio in Berkeley. Please email: yoginialexis@gmail.com for full schedule.
Stephanie Ross I have been in love with all forms of dance since early childhood. Sidelined for several years by lower back issues and a fusion of the discs in my neck, I believed I would never dance again. After rediscovering my strength and flexibility in regular yoga practice, I accidentally stumbled into a Nia class and knew that I had found my place. Nia has given me back the joy of living and dancing in my body, my own body’s way. I became a licensed White Belt Teacher in 2008, and completed my Green Belt Certification. I became a Blue Belt Teacher in 2010. I love teaching and look forward to sharing the Joy and Freedom of Movement that I have discovered in Nia, as I continue on my journey, Dancing Through Life. niastephanie@yahoo.comwww.niastephanie.com
Susie Schoonmaker is a certified Nia Brown Belt Instructor, an artist, and has a Master’s Degree in Expressive Arts Therapies. She has been teaching Nia for over 15 years in Boston, upstate New York and the San Francisco Bay Area.
She is also co-creator and facilitator of a new program taught nationwide that combines Nia and Expressive Arts Therapies: Embody Your Beauty (www.embodyyourbeauty.com). Susie enjoys integrating her creative spirit with the uplifting and healing energies of Nia in her classes, her workshops, and her life. She currently teaches Tuesday mornings at 9 am at Rhythmix Cultural Works in Alameda. susie@susieschoonmaker.com
Leah Taylor was drawn to Nia in both the form and the freedom that it provides. With a background in dance and a tremendous joy for the way music inspires the body to move, Nia was a natural fit. In her classes, emphasis is given to creative expression, play, and fun, while engaging in a great workout for the whole body. Her goal is to provide a healing and supportive environment for all to enjoy and become empowered in their own bodies, regardless of prior dance experience or training.
Leah brings a wonderful balance in attention to both technique, that is essential for conditioning, and the freedom and permission to let loose and express yourself, that is essential to the spirit. She finds joy in igniting others’ passion for life and there is no greater compliment to her teaching than to see someone come alive both on and off the dance floor.
Currently Leah is creating her sacred livelihood doing things that inspire her as well as others, by teaching Nia, working as an MFT intern in integrative medicine, and spending time with her young son. She has her son to thank for her rekindled enthusiasm for playfulness, curiosity, and inhibition that she brings to her classes and her life. nialeah@gmail.com
Deborah Walker slipped off her shoes and stepped into her first Nia class in 1984 to help heal a chronic lower back issue. From that day forward Nia became her passion and a major healing force in her body and in her life. Deborah has taught Nia for over 22 years throughout Marin County. Currently she teaches weekday classes at Dominican University and a Sunday class at the Bay West Ballroom in downtown San Rafael. Classes are open to the public and are perfect for every level of fitness. Women and men of all ages are welcome! Wear comfortable clothes you can sweat, move and have fun in! For more information, directions and class times please visit www.niawellness.com or email nia4ever@ymail.com. Drop-in’s are always welcome so step into Nia today! First class is Free!
Danielle Woermann Delighted by the beauty of Nia's first principle, the Joy of Movement, Danielle initially enjoyed classes as a student and then went on to become a certified teacher in 2002. Now a Nia Black Belt, she brings to class a love of movement where students are encouraged to find pleasure in their bodies. She shares with students the science, craft and art of Nia in a well-rounded program of classes providing space for self-revelation and self-healing. Taught in a non-judgmental environment, Danielle's classes are appropriate for students of all ages and levels of experience. Classes are held in Oakland, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, San Ramon and Pleasanton. 510-385-8858 danielle@niadanielle.com • [website]
Zack has been dancing for almost thirty years (sometimes on the professional stage, sometimes in the amateur clubs) and considers NIA an ideal fusion of emotional expressivity, corporeal flexibility, and overall fitness. He infuses his Nia practice with extensive movement and performance experience, ranging from Release Technique to Kathak, and from postmodern dance to Grotowski-derived physical theater. In his pursuit of the 'joy of movement,' Zack stresses the relationships among breath, the body, and laughter, allowing space, movement and other bodies to tickle him. A strong believer in the interplay between performing arts and education -- which includes physical training, after all -- Zack holds a BFA from NYU, an MFA from UCLA, and a PhD from Stanford. His original performance works have been presented in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Paris.thezackster@att.net
Lis Addison has been dancing and singing since she was able to walk and talk. An award winning composer and vocalist, Lis began her professional exploration of electronics, vocals and rhythm while a graduate student of electronic music in the 1980’s. Her most recent CD was voted BEST VOCAL ALBUM, 2010 ZMR Awards. In addition to her CD’s, she has written music for film, video, rock bands, solo performance, dance, yoga and the concert stage. Lis discovered Nia in the late 90's and found it to be a beautiful compliment to the many other dance forms she has studied over the years which include everything from classical ballet to African dance. In addition to her work with Nia, Lis is also the originator of KiVo: the Kinetic Voice, which is a movement and vocal practice that promotes health, well-being and happiness. For further information visit her at 
Liz Mac has a background in having fun with a BA from CSU Chico, a lifetime of playing in and out of the water, studying Martial Arts and enjoying a Vinyasa yoga practice. A Certified/Licensed Green Belt, my goals are to teach in locations where Nia can be made more affordable and available. I teach in fitness clubs where many classes are closed to the public, but would like to make Nia accessible to all people. Find my schedule of free to the public children’s classes offered through the Contra Costa library system at www.ccclib.org. Contact me to demonstrate a new class in your area. (925) 212-4349 or 
LeeAnn Mallorie is a Blue & Green Belt Level Nia teacher and Executive Coach, who specializes in facilitating transformational movement and conversation. Her Nia students value her precision in movement, her musicality and her playful spirit. Once a regionally renowned movement artist, she believes in the power of committed ongoing practice paired with joyful curious exploration, and is skilled at creating the right environment for genuine mind-body transformation to take place.
