About Kate

 

I love dancing and sharing the joy of movement with others. I believe we are meant to dance from a deep cellular level. We are also meant to howl, to laugh, to sing and rejoice vocally! We ARE connected to the mystery and geometry of the world as ONE and that’s something to celebrate!

I took a Nia class in 2000, but did not go back.  I loved it, but I just wasn’t ready for the transformation at that time, I had a little more suffering to go through!  In December 2004, after two frozen shoulders, 20 extra pounds, chronic pain in my joints, years of physical therapy, a battle with constant exhaustion and a compromised immune system, I received a call from my dear friend Jennifer Terrell in New York, proclaiming the wonders of Nia.  As if a lightning bolt had struck, I knew that this was my calling.  Jennifer had told me about the www.nianow.com website, and that very night, I found a class only 5 minutes from my home.  It was taught by Black Belt instructor Marty Broda, the same teacher I had taken a class from at another location five years previously.  I walked in, the music began, as did the tears, and I have been healing, laughing and dancing ever since. The best part about Nia is that the natural high I experienced on that fateful day never ended. (Kate’s story was featured in an article written by Valarie Schwartz in the Chapel Hill News Advocate.) 

In April of 2005, I started my journey as a Nia instructor after training for my White Belt with Nia trainer Stephaney Robinson. I have gone on to receive my Green, Blue, Brown and Black Belts from Nia founders Debbie Rosas and Carlos AyaRosas as well as Nia Five Stages certification.

My joy has only increased as I’ve allowed myself to feel more connected with my body. Now I freely explore the multidimensional movements of Nia’s gracious blend of Tai Chi and yoga with the energy and spontaneity of Modern and Duncan dance, the spice of Jazz and also the energy and explosiveness of Tae Kwon Do with just enough of my own, authentic self mixed in!  

As Nia strongly connected me directly to my source of Joy, I naturally began to apply the transforming concepts of healing movement to other areas of my life and my happiness expanded! Nature Nia is my very special way of honoring how Nia helped me to find health — physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. It is with great happiness and joy that I share, as a certified Black Belt Nia instructor, the fruits of my passion for nature, my love of dance, children and acting. I was a certified  Environmental Educator for the state of North Carolina for over ten years and led hikes, live animal programs, nature camps and trips for the local Audubon society, Carrboro Recreation and Parks Dept. and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.

As an Acting and Nia instructor, I draw upon over 30 years of experience as a professional actor, including a ten-year stint in Los Angeles.  Even though my acting resume is filled with roles in feature films, sitcoms, dramas, and TV movies, I’ll admit to having a blast as a go-go dancer and appearing as a contestant on several game shows. However, when it comes to performing, live theatre will always be my first love. I am the recipient of two Los Angeles DramaLogue awards in Performance  and I have been an acting instructor for Duke Drama Workshops in Durham since 2001.

I have lived in Texas and California and recently left the majesty of  North Carolina for the Gulf Coast near New Orleans. Here I am visioning bringing the healing of Nia across the deep South. I am on the path to becoming a Nia Next Generation trainer in 2012 and look forward to growing a vibrant Nia community here like the one I left in North Carolina.

I appreciate every opportunity I am given to introduce the beauty and marvel of nature to children and reawaken nature’s sense of wonder in adults. I have led Nia trips to Nicaragua, dancing on a rainforest mountain and to Greece, shimmying on the Aegean Sea . I continue my Nature Nia vision to lead trips to exotic places connecting Nia and nature with Nia Brazil coming in 2012! I was honored to share Nia with Brazilians in May and November 2010 and look forward to dancing again at Ipanema Beach and in the mountains of Itaipava.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge my husband, Chris Canfield. Without his loving support of my process, I could never have made the strides I have to realize, grow into and express the essence of who I am. Chris and I share an abiding love of nature and I’m proud of his commitment to wildlife and the environment through his work with Audubon North Carolina and now as National Audubon Society’s Vice President for Gulf of Mexico Conservation and Restoration.

I would like to thank from the bottom of my soul the  beautiful Triangle Nia community-Teachers and students who consistently balanced the energy given and received into a healing web of love and support.

Bountiful gratitude for Debbie and Carlos for bringing Nia to the world.

I also thank Vincent Bridges for his deep kindness, patience and wisdom and Jeff Wells for his powerful healing and love.  I would also like to thank my other healers through the years for sharing their gifts and for showing me the way :   Arturo Presas, Bruce Buley, Kim Keyser, Vinny Marra, Jean Templeton, Cameron Nims, Cory Annis, Tracy Bogart,  Zuzanna Vee, Scott Campbell and Lynda Heymen. Thanks to AndiSites, Darlene, and Cece for the NatureNia web design and Darlene for her gorgeous colors and beautiful artwork.  Thanks also to the Angel on Earth, Angela Shelton for showing me how to THRIVE and to the Angel in Heaven, Shari Lewis for giving me a voice in Lamb Chop.