ONCE UPON A TIME…
a movement weaver was born, surrounded by ocean, in the last day of an April’s storm.
I began my movement journey at the age of 6 years old, taking Ballroom Dance classes for over 11 years. Each class I was more and more amazed by the choreographies I learnt - the playful footwork of samba, the harmonious shape my fingers would stretch, the high-heels on older girls… Dance caught my heart since the 1st class. A shy petit girl in her reading glasses and rainbow converse, I would put my dancing shoes and and dive into empowering sequences of what it felt ‘a different me’.
After feeling the magic of performing on stage and the adrenalin of dance competitions, I dare to choose Dance as my professional pathway. Soon my afternoons were filled with Ballet intensives to support my professionalization and Contemporary Dance became my new obsession.
Wild island girl at her sweet 17: swapped Madeira’s waves for Lisbon city to complete a BA in Dance (ESD, PT). and then continued my studies with Masters in Performing Public Spaces (Fontys University, NL).
Throughout the following years I’ve worked as a dancer & performer for a variety of Dance Companies and choreographers, from stage to rehearsal, rehearsal to audition, auditions to side jobs, photoshoots, teaching classes, taking more classes and more classes… Eventually the exhaustion of my own perfectionism and the pressure of the dance world business, peaked into a deep period of doubts, insecurities, existencial crisis and financial fears.
Chapter ‘What now?’
The chaotic schedules and high pressure of a dancer career started to weigh on me. Stress, lack of structure, competition and fears led to change my route. It was a tip point that felt like giving up and simultaneously saving my self.
[Can I still make my life around expressive movement?]
After a traumatic phase from the burn-out of dancing years, I was in the midst of a depression, an eating disorder and constant panic attacks. I didn’t know who I was without labeling myself as a dancer but also, had no idea what I actually enjoyed outside of dance classes.
I had no other option than redefining my relationship with movement and with myself - so I did…
I explored; Yoga and Mediation appeared, alongside I’ve studied Ayurveda and Macrobiotics for my personal health. I’ve learnt how to organize and produce small events in hopes one day I would take the rails of what I want to create and how I give to the world. In sum: I change the route to the unknown, trusting that art was a way of living and less ‘a way of making a living’.
Embracing another perspective on Dance and movement without the spotlights was an ego meltdown but a kinder and freeing pathway towards myself. My Yoga practice took over and I opted to commit with a 200HR Yoga Teacher Training (Lisbon Yoga Institute). This course opened the first steps into my holistic purpose filled with new discoveries and an amazing community.
CHApter ‘next’
So, I switched off the stage lights and the dance company rehearsals to take the opportunity of guiding people in their own movement journey.
The blissfulness of sharing movement without a technical expectation, an aesthetic pressure or a ‘perfectionist’ mindset made me fall in love again for organic movement - the celebration of a moving body that is able to express, to feel and intuitively heal.
Now it wasn’t just me… It was a whole community moving under the same beat.
I have worked in 10 different studios, having taught more than 2000 presencial classes as a movement weaver - Barre, Yoga, Pilates, Dance. I can truly say: this is what I came here for: to move and be moved. To dance.
Moving as a way of feeling, expressing and healing - more than any excellent performing skills, it became a ritual.
This is just part of my story and I’m aware more chapters are yet to come…
But I would love to know your story as well. Maybe help you on re-writing it.
We don’t have to share words, maybe we can just move together.
Qualifications & Experience
2025:
Currently working as a freelance movement instructor at Lisbon studios, namely: Amplify, Kyndspace, Leela.
Organizing events and collaborating as a host in retreats.
Facilitating workshops and movement sessions for companies, such as: Frederica, OYSHO, Clarins.
2022-2024:
Completed a California Barre certification.
Completed Reformer and Mat Pilates certification with Voll.
Completed a course on events/ shows production and management with World Academy.
Completed 200 hours of Yoga training and became a certified yoga instructor.
2015-2021:
Freelance Dancer and Perfomer in a variety of dance companies: Diana Niepce, Company Lavrar o Mar, CiM, Vortice, etc.
Completed a Masters in Performing in Public Spaces, at Fontys University (NL).
Completed a BA Hons in Dance. at ESD (Pt), with Erasmus+ programe at Chichester University (Uk).
Teacher for kids ballet and contemporary dance classes at Galo Resorts Gym.
Ballroom dancer for a variety of dance shows in Hotels (Madeira island).
Completed a high school of Dance at Madeira’s Conservatoire (Pt).
