I remember my first dance classes as a small child at "Miss Katherine's" dance school in New York. And then there was the 70's and the 80's and into the 90's, and we danced... 
I am continuing formal teacher training over the next 12 months with my primary dance teacher, Amara Pagano and the Path of Azul. Amara was one of my early teachers here in the Pacific Northwest. Previously in Maui, she is now based in Europe and teaches internationally. https://pathofazul.com/
I am continuing this campaign to raise the additional needed funds for the teacher trainings along with travel expenses and accommodations. I am so grateful for the generosity of so many that have believed in this vision and have helped make it possible so far. This will also seed the funding to initiate dance offerings as an ally within marginalized communities that I have the privilege to work within. (i.e.,community health centers, in jails, recovery centers, hospitals, shelters, elder and memory care facilities, refugee centers and in schools).
https://www.gofundme.com/om-8wp38-dance-your-medicine
Early in 2018, I completed an Outreach Facilitator training with the Syzygy Dance Project, with Sylvie Minot. This was an intensive 5-day training, where I learned tools to work as an outreach dance facilitator with populations that are often marginalized (i.e., in jails, recovery centers, hospitals, shelters, elder and memory care facilities, refugee centers and in schools). The power of the dance within these diverse groups of people is beyond profound. It is my intention to bring a dance project here to the PNW similar to the Syzygy Dance Project. https://www.syzygydanceproject.org/
I will also continue to attend additional trainings as well that include research in movement, somatic psychology and interpersonal neuro-biology that explores techniques, methods and approaches for use with diverse populations and groups.
A bit of my story....
It was close to two decades ago when I stumbled across conscious dance, specifically 5 Rhythms Dance, the work of Gabrielle Roth. I have danced with many amazing teachers and communities of dancers over the years and conscious dance continues to be a supportive and ongoing healing practice ~ nourishing my body and feeding my spirit. Dance is a cross-cultural experience and human beings have gathered all over the world to dance since the beginning of time. There is a common ground that we share as dancers on the dance floor and anything is possible when we utilize the intelligence of the body.
I have been a healer for close to 4 decades. As a nurse, I had the privilege to assist women for 10 years as their advocate supporting a sense of normalcy as they brought their babies into the world. And as a Nurse Practitioner for 25+ years, I have practiced Integrative Medicine working primarily in community and public health with immigrants, migrants, refugees and marginalized populations. I have integrated "movement and dance as medicine" along with "food as medicine" in my medical practice and I have seen the profound healing that this has had on the lives of so many people.
Working as a Health Care Provider, I have the opportunity to offer conscious dance and embodied movement practices as a healing modality, "a prescription" to the people that I work with. Over the years, I have seen movement and somatic consciousness serve deeply all healing processes. We are living in challenging times, and it is my intention to continue to be a change-maker and a catalyst in breaking down barriers and being an ally within the communities that I serve - people from all walks of life, immigrants, refugees, women, men, teens and elders.
Creating and holding space, a place of inclusivity on the dance floor. A place where everyone is welcome and everyone is safe to come as they are ~ all bodies, aging bodies, those with injuries, chronic dis-ease, immobility and otherly-abled. Offering guidance to find a way to move with their bodies just as they are. Dancing to learn how to break out of old habits and patterns of behavior that have perhaps been carried an entire lifetime. This re-patterns neuronal pathways and can facilitate healing of the body, the mind and the spirit.
I am so deeply grateful for the generous offers of financial support from so many of my friends, beloveds and community. Some of you have also asked how to contribute anonymously as well as offline. Any donation of support is so appreciated. If you feel called to share this fundraiser with your community, I would be incredibly grateful. Please contact me directly if you have further questions.
https://www.gofundme.com/om-8wp38-dance-your-medicine
Here are just a few links of interesting discussion on the healing capacity of dance.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170825124902.htm
https://psychology-spot.com/dancing-makes-me-happy/?fbclid=IwAR02sJjzuJbQFYsMjcWUSlHw6vY0PtUdfMdw3Lls02dSVXnPf6flTtYmVBA
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/d35y37/womens-prison-ptsd-dance-program-dance-to-be-free?utm_campaign=sharebutton&fbclid=IwAR1-QrHMVPmy6c9LV75jivZKRIDrwnY6XWcZTtMk64zfcCnfCihkf2p3gZc
https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/science-of-dance-healing-jayachandran-palazhy-interview-1290055-2018-07-19?fbclid=IwAR0fv1liIBUKIsNiiJMkQhvCpUbMSmWV7Qe6YFNetbK4ld99Dx9dCenL3jU
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201310/why-is-dancing-so-good-your-brain
http://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/2018/3/5aa666c14/congo-dance-project-helps-refugees-steps-towards-rebuilding-lives.html
https://neuro.hms.harvard.edu/harvard-mahoney-neuroscience-institute/brain-newsletter/and-brain-series/dancing-and-brain
http://socialdance.stanford.edu/syllabi/smarter.htm
https://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2017-08-reverse-aging-brain.html
https://fractalenlightenment.com/37363/culture/the-spiritual-and-healing-power-of-dance?fbclid=IwAR0bSWNGK-Fz3L8QTUT2H4ibD1Py-_944IVIPpPTqrH_Uuw_n-o_6sw6upI
"Dance is the hidden language of the soul"
~Martha Graham~
Testimonials:
" In 2014 I lost everything most dear to me: my health, my energy, and my desire to embrace life. I could barely get out of bed in the morning and had to leave work because my body had given up. I had completely divorced my body while doctors and nutritionists were at a loss as to how I could heal. Then I began to work with Judi in her Integrative Medicine practice. She maintained a steady patience and gave me the tools I needed to heal. A few months into working with her, Judi suggested I attend a dance gathering called Movement Medicine. I'll admit, the first day in and among dancers incited my anxiety. It wasn't comfortable, but it was true healing, in a very deep and holistic way. Not long after, my body began to respond. Unlike any fitness regimen or yoga routine, I moved only how my body was ready to move. In dance, my body began to express what it needed, and I could respond. As I began to heal, I found myself overwhelmed with appreciation for my body and its innate wisdom. I have so much gratitude for Judi’s sense of intuition and her guidance on my healing path". ~Rebecca H., special education teacher, yogi and dancer
"I have done all kinds of purely physical activities over the years including running, skiing, cycling, backpacking and racquet sports. I also have a longstanding yoga and meditation practice as well. All of these activities often bring me a sense of exhilaration, inner peace and clarity. Since Judi introduced me to the grounding magic of embodied dance, I have discovered an inner muse that likes to move in ways I never imagined, connecting me to the Divine through my body! For this, I have so much gratitude and I thank you Judi for bringing the gift of conscious dance into my life". ~ Penney S., integrative physician, mama, yogi and dancer
**photo credit- the magnificant Nicole Mangiola **
https://www.nicolemangiola.com/
"Our dance is the living sculpture of ourselves." ~ Ruth St. Dennis
"Set the body in motion and the psyche will heal itself. Movement is the medicine." ~ Gabrielle Roth
"Move your body, free your mind, open your heart ... heal your life...." ~Trevor Hall