Anna began dancing ballet at age three and has been dancing ever since. She was thrilled to find Nia as a new way of moving. She earned her White Belt in 2011, her Blue Belt in 2013, and her Green Belt in 2015. For Anna, Nia brings back a childlike, joyful, and uninhibited love of movement, and she enjoys sharing the delight of Nia with students. Her classes are athletic, playful and fun. She believes that students of all abilities, ages, and stages of fitness can benefit from Nia, and explore their body's potential. Come share the Joy of Movement!

Beth O'Neall, M.Ed., is a certified Nia black belt who has been teaching Nia since 2000. She brings experience, humor, emotion, and power to her classes. Her style includes athletic Nia; some classes may include optional interval training, strength work, and small hops. All classes include a variety of outrageously good music. We practice precision in technique so that we can move safely, effectively, and with joyful enthusiasm. Our focus is on connecting with the music, each other, the movement, and our lives. 

Music and dancing have been vital parts of my life for the past 40 years. In the decade-plus since I have been dancing Nia religiously, they have also become actively therapeutic. Earning my White Belt in Nia in 2017 and, more recently, participating in Ecstatic Dance at Studio Sway have opened me up to the truly profound changes dance can inspire. Friday Night Freeform comes out of my desire to share more fun and moving dance experiences with others in this great community!

Free flowing spontaneous heart centered movement is my sacred movement practice. I began teaching NIA in 2007. As my movement practice expanded, my heart was drawn to free-form movement expression, known as conscious dance. Both 5-Rhythms and Souldance served as inspiration for dance facilitation as it is expressed through me today. I began facilitating Souldance in April of 2009 and established Ecstatic Dance ABQ in 2010. If you want a safe place to move and be moved - join us. 

Elyse is a professional dancer and independent choreographer who took ownership of Studio Sway in 2018. She has trained extensively in multiple dance and movement disciplines for 33 years, and enjoys continued study through rigorous class-taking, teaching, and performing. Elyse is passionate about collaborating with other professional artists throughout Albuquerque to produce quality dance experiences for the community to enjoy. She is also a core organizing member of ABQ Dance Connect, and a Certified Rolfer®. 

-LMT, Nia Black Belt-

I enjoy guiding people to find joy in living life in a body. For 11 years, I've shared Nia with hundreds of students, including eight years as adjunct faculty in UNM's Physical Education Program. Through my work as a movement facilitator and massage therapist, I encourage people to find dynamic ease, relaxation, and a captivated sense of gratitude for their body. I hope my education and experience can nurture others' sense of curiosity and how to heal with movement. Come enjoy great music, fun and movement exploration!

Hi! What to say about myself here? Well, when it comes down to the essential truth, I am LOVE.  And SO ARE YOU! We are here to experience that Love in a physical body. My favorite ways to do so are through travel, taking beautiful walks un nature, creativity (dance, painting, singing), and breathing. I found Breathwork (Breathwork found me!) several years ago, and I discovered it was a deeply powerful and very physical way to embody Love, Love for myself, Love for others, Love for this planet, and the Love that I AM (and you are too!)

Kate has been dancing since childhood and has studied modern, jazz, tap, and aerobic dance. In her first Nia class in 2005, she was inexplicably brought to tears, and knew she had found a fitness practice that offered her much more than physical conditioning. She earned her White Belt in 2007 and has been teaching ever since, earning two more belts along the way. Kate is a playful and enthusiastic teacher committed to helping students move safely in their body's way. Her classes are appropriate for any fitness level. Kate is also certified in Nia FreeDance. 

Kayla has been teaching dance for fun and fitness, for the past two decades. She grew

up dancing and has studied jazz, modern, hip hop, belly dance, ballet, African dance,

and most partner dances (country, ballroom, Latin, and swing). She enjoys sharing her

favorite music, providing a safe space for expression, and helping students discover

they can move in ways they never thought possible! Her lighthearted and patient

approach to teaching focuses on having fun first, learning dance techniques along the

way, and helping each individual get what they need out of class, whether it be

cardiovascular endurance, building confidence and love for their bodies, or engaging

with the community in a meaningful way.

Toni Black (M.Ed.) is a dancing machine who has been practicing Nia since she discovered it in 2010. Since that time, she has earned her Nia black belt certification and spent a few years teaching the practice in Germany. She has an insatiable love of learning (pretty much everything), yet has discovered that the greatest wisdom she has access to is the wisdom that is communicated through the movement of her body. As an educator, life coach, and counseling student, she has studied the ways in which physical movement is instrumental in helping us find meaning in the challenges we experience in life. For her, Nia is a playground where we get to really know the subtle messages our body is always communicating with us, and it is through playfulness and curiosity that she encourages her students to explore life’s meaning through movement.