I’ve been a mover all my life and I’ve never been able to sit still. Injuries were a constant and slowing down meant missing out on an opportunity to be hired as a professional dancer. Over the years I developed body dysmorphia and became depressed. I was no longer seeking opportunities to audition because I had lost my joy for movement. I worked in the service industry to support myself until 2020 when I lost all of those jobs. This full stop allowed me to slow down and find a healthy way to move forward. With my years of dance experience, I began studying several forms of healing methods; pilates, meditation and reiki. This is what led me to create ENERGY SPACE® – a hybrid wellness center where I guide people along their journey to HEAL & ALIGN the connection between the body, mind, soul & spirit.

I have been training in the St. Louis dance community since I was 2 years old. I travelled for summer intensives and graduated with a BFA in Modern Performance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. I danced professionally and worked in the service industry to support myself until 2020 when COVID shut down the industry. I went back to “school” and began studying a variety of certifications. In 2021, became a certified Pilates Mat Instructor, an internationally certified Meditation Teacher (specializing in Pranayama and Third Eye Awakening Techniques) as well as Usui Holy Fire® III Reiki Master Practitioner. I moved back to St. Louis in 2021 and opened ENERGY SPACE® in 2022. It’s a hybrid wellness center where I travel to studios to teach group sessions in person as well as virtually. Currently I instruct ENERGY SPACE® sessions to trainees in the Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program in Chesterfield, the DPU Company at Dance Productions Unlimited in Arnold as the Head of the Modern Department and with STL Rhythm Collaborative at St. Louis Academy of Dance in Olivette. Recently, I completed my Pilates Equipment certification to become a Comprehensive Pilates Instructor at St. Louis City Fitness in Brentwood, where I’m also the Media Marketing Manager. As a business owner, I enjoy being on the go and the flexibility to wear many hats! I was welcomed back by the St. Louis arts community and the journey home was a blessing in disguise that I’m so grateful for!

The shutdown in 2020 due to COVID led to a new idea – a virtual world. Initially this was a very new concept and those in the arts community I believed navigated that transition very well. In fall of 2020, I began studying pilates, meditation, and reiki all from the comfort of my home. Learning in this way helped to train my eye in giving detailed cues for movement as well as choosing my words carefully in a way that was precise, but also flexible to match different learning styles. Even after the world opened up to in person sessions again, I still continue to offer virtual options in order to make my hybrid business accessible to all!

I am unlearning what it means to be productive in this modern world. Burnout is a huge problem in this consumer society where deadlines are more important than making time to live your life. We are missing the balance between working to provide for yourself and loved ones as well as being able to make plans to go on an adventure or have quality down time .. even just making time for yourself. I’ve learned that self care isn’t selfish – it’s an act of self love to make time to not only live your life, but to enjoy living in the moment!