Introduction to Ballet

My Story

IMAGERY AND ENERGY CREATE ALIGNMENT AND STRENGTH

​

Karen Michaels has been a licensed massage therapist for over 35 years, is a Movement Educator, certified Embodyoga teacher, and the developer of Dynamic Balanced Movement.  Trained originally as a modern dancer, Karen has studied ballet extensively and holds a BFA from the Boston Conservatory of Music.  Karen has been teaching dance/movement to all ages in the Pioneer Valley area since 2004.

Once Karen began teaching adult beginning ballet, she realized that most classes for adult beginners assumed students had experience/knowledge that they do not have. 

Additionally, because of Karen's other trainings, she is aware of how confusion and uncertainty influence learning and the creation and execution of movement patterns.

As a result, Karen has devised an approach to teaching beginners that is different from typical adult beginner classes.​​​​

​​

Individual attention and support is given to each student, encouraging focus and presence, and creating an environment where students feel safe to explore and challenge themselves.

​

All movement classes, functional movement, and postural re-patterning sessions are taught from the perspective of Dynamic Balanced Movement, with attention to musicality (when applicable) and incorporating imagery and practicality within the modality of the class/session.

​

Karen continues to take classes in dance, movement, and bodywork techniques/therapies on an on-going basis, and brings these concepts/practices into all of her work with clients/students.

​

For more information: On this website, see pages:​

"Classes and Presentations", "About", "Movement"

​

​