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Angi: co-owner

 

Hometown? Mt. Shasta, Ca

Why do you love Divine Movement? I love it all.  The smiles, the women, the warm energy and the most fun ever!  Mostly, I love that it is a place that fosters my creativity and allows me to say things through my body that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to say.

What do you consider your teaching style? Eclectic and contagious with a little random silliness and humor thrown in.  

What music is on your “Divine” playlist right now?
Led Zeppelin: I’m Gonna Crawl
James Vincent Mcmorrow: If I had a boat
Bon Iver: Blood Bank
Adele: Set Fire to the Rain
Deb Talan: Rocks and Water
Thou Shalt Not Fall: Cry Little Sister
Awolnation: Sail

Favorite Food? Blueberries, Mexican, Pizza, chocolate (is that a food?)

What is the farthest you have been from home? In 1992 I went backpacking through Europe with a friend. We got as far east as Hungary.
When was the last time you cried? For some reason the movie Bridesmaids unleashed a strange uncontrollable crying spree intermixed with diabolical laughing.  Before that I cried during our instructor class warm up.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I was the kid who had no idea.  

Guilty pleasure?
Asked as if I only have one! Sugar in the form of chocolate in any variation and Americas Next Top Model.

Favorite article of clothing to dance in? A hoodie cause it’s dark and quiet and a scarf cause it does fun things and is amazing to interact with.

Favorite quote:

“A star danced, and under that I was born”- Shakespeare

”Great dancers are not great because of their technique,

they are great because of their passion.” – Martha Graham

“Movement without meaning is just exercise.” – Marie Brooks

 

Jennifer: co-owner

Hometown? I’m a military brat, so I’ve lived all over the world! Los Angeles, NYC, all over Virginia, Newport RI, Hawaii, Japan…and the list goes on. I guess I’ve been in Seattle long enough so that I can call it home at this point.

Why do you love Divine Movement? Dancing at Divine Movement has allowed me to truly love being me. It’s a playground for women, a place to let loose and be yourself in a totally comforting environment…surrounded by the most amazing teachers and students!  After a class… whether I teach it or attend as a student…I feel empowered, alive, centered, exhausted, confident, and  usually have a huge smile on my face.

What do you consider your teaching style? Supportive, fun, exciting, comfortable.  I simply want every woman who attends my class to see how beautiful she is…inside and out.

What music is on your “Divine” playlist right now? This changes every day….Seriously  I’ve got pretty eclectic taste in music, so it’s all over the place.  My latest playlist included, The Scorpions “Woman” and “Animal Magnetism,” “Fifteen – Alternate Version” -Marilyn Manson, “A Beautiful Mess” – Jason Mraz, “Dog Days are Over” – Florence and the Machine, “Billie Jean” – Chris Cornell (Cover), “Sometime around Midnight” -Airborne Toxic Event, “I’m Gonna Crawl” – Led Zeppelin, “A Woman’s Work” – Maxwell.   (Just to name a few!)

Favorite Food? Really good pizza.

What is the farthest you have been from home? Bora Bora, Tahiti
When was the last time you cried? I cry almost every day…I’m a sap.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A lawyer, a physical therapist, or a choreographer.

Guilty pleasure? Reality TV

Favorite article of clothing to dance in? Long stretchy dress and hoodie

Favorite quote: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to be over, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”

 

Jamie: Lead Instructor

Hometown? Seattle, Wa

Why do you love Divine Movement? I have never felt more comfortable in my own skin as I do when I am at Divine.  It took me a long time to get to this point.  Divine has always been there for me with a hand when I need a pick up, a push when I need a challenge, and a shoulder when I need to let go.  I have come to know myself in a way I never thought possible.  I am strong and free, I let go of inhibitions, and I walk out of every class sweaty and smiling.

What do you consider your teaching style? I like to incorporate a little comedy into my classes.  Having an open mind and good sense of humor is mandatory.  And the music, THE MUSIC!  I have always been musically obsessed – being an instructor at Divine gives me the opportunity to put all the great music I love into action.  I play all genres.  The common thread is how each song makes you feel in your body.  Allowing yourself to surrender to the music, and be vulnerable, unconsciously gives everyone else the permission to do the same.  And shared experiences bring us closer together.  How amazing is that!?

What music is on your “Divine” playlist right now?
Good Woman by Cat Power – A love ballad, yet sad song for a bluesy kind of night.  This song is by no means new (it came out in 2003).  But like an old friend, this one will always stick by you.
Forgive Me by Missy Higgins – This song gives me the chills almost every time I hear it.  Baby did a baaaad thing, and forgiveness is being sought.
Codex by Radiohead – It’s easy to get lost in this song, especially when life gets too heavy.  It’s my favorite track from the whole album.

Favorite Food? A perfectly ripe mango

What is the farthest you have been from home? When I was 24 I did a long backpacking trip through Malaysia and Vietnam.  Equally far was Australia.  But I have such close friends there that it doesn’t feel like I’m far away at all.  It is my second home.
When was the last time you cried? Probably yesterday.  Animal shelter commercials get me every time.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a tight rope walker.  Seriously.

Guilty pleasure? Sour Patch Kids, coffee w/Nutella, reality tv, singing outloud to old Britney Spears songs

Favorite article of clothing to dance in? A freshly washed, old, ratty, cotton, fitted t-shirt.  I like being able to smell the fabric softener and yank, twist, and stretch my clothes while I’m dancing.

Favorite quote: “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”  – Anais Nin

 

Marnie

Hometown? Etters, PA

Why do you love Divine Movement? just feel so accepted and great to be a girl

What do you consider your teaching style? encouraging fluidity, exploration and fun

What music is on your “Divine” playlist right now? Adele, Florence and the Machine,  Joan Jett, Bittersweet,
Favorite food? mango with Mexican spices

What is the farthest you have been from home? Freeport Bahamas

When was the last time you cried? Sympathy crier so when I watch SYTYCD on Thursday vote off show
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? a contortionist

Guilty pleasure: netflix and hulu – I love voices as background noise and watching TV

Favorite article of clothing to dance in:either flowy nightie or knee-high boots

Favorite quote: Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. ~ Albert Einstein

 

Jessica

Hometown? Seattle

Why do you love Divine Movement? Divine touches the lives of women in unexpected ways

What do you consider your teaching style? I want my students to feel comfortable, relaxed and cared about. I allow my students to have freedom to move the way they feel best by encouraging confidence and integrity.
I also like to provide different levels of difficulty so that every student can feel like they are able to do some level of the warm-up or spin and transition effectively.

What music is on your “Divine” playlist right now? Glitter /Pink, Skin /Rihanna, Lovesong /Snake River Conspiracy, Stupid /Sarah McLachlan

Favorite food? Rocky Road Ice cream makes everything better

What is the farthest you have been from home? Belize

When was the last time you cried? Today… I’ll cry if I’m even just talking to someone who is about to cry
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  I don’t know but I can remember twirling around and doing giant leaps and bounds across the house as a kid

Guilty pleasure: Garlic Jim’s Gluten free pizza

Favorite article of clothing to dance in: my long shear, black scarf with the gold foil threading

Favorite quote: And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.  ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Danae:

Hometown? Sacramento, CA

Why do you love Divine Movement? I love Divine Movement because it’s a dance studio that encourages individuality, confidence in your movements and freedom to express your growth as a woman without judgement.

What do you consider your teaching style? My teaching style is sporty and I’m very detail oriented.
What music is on your “Divine” playlist right now? On my Divine playlist I have a wide variety from Death Cab for Cutie to Jay-Z.  Santigold to Pink Martini.  It all depends on my mood.

Favorite Food? My favorite food is food.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? When I was growing up I wanted to be a doctor, a fashion designer, a veterinarian, an artist, a comedian, there were a couple more things, but those were the main ones I bounced around.

Guilty pleasure? My guilty pleasure is reality T.V.

Favorite article of clothing to dance in? My favorite article of clothing to dance in is big baggy pajamas.

Favorite quote: It is better to remain silent and appear the fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt–Mark Twain

Annie:

Hometown? Algonac, MI

Why do you love Divine Movement? It is like a Playground for women! It is a place to move, express yourself and be free!

What do you consider your teaching style? Nurturing and Empowering

What music is on your “Divine” playlist right now? 90s R&B

Favorite food? I LOVE Mexican food

What is the farthest you have been from home? In college I studied Art & Design in Florence, Italy

When was the last time you cried? What time is it? Everything makes me cry…happy and sad!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A Break Dancer…or a Race Car Driver

Guilty pleasure: Reality TV

Favorite article of clothing to dance in: I love to dance in layers that I can peel off and get tangled up in.

Favorite quote: “Some people Make it happen, Some people Watch it happen,
And others say, What Happened?”  anonymous

 

Susan:

Hometown? Lubbock, TX

Why do you love Divine Movement? How could I not? It makes me feel free to be exactly who I am at the present time, and safe enough to let my guard down for a moment. The confidence that builds is amazing!

What do you consider your teaching style? encouraging, flowing, precise

What music is on your “Divine” playlist right now? Agnes Obel – Louretta (Pt 1 Live in Copenhagen), Kings of Leon – On Call, The Hoosiers – Money to Be Made, Radiohead – Everything in Its Right Place, Neko Case – Maybe Sparrow

Favorite food? pad thai

What is the farthest you have been from home? Riga, Latvia

When was the last time you cried? not too long ago; fortunately, I was alone!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I told people I wanted to be a doctor, but I think I really wanted to be a singer or an artist.

Guilty pleasure: donuts!

Favorite article of clothing to dance in: a long scarf

Favorite quote: “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” (Thanks, Army Rangers)

 

Rebekah

Hometown? I moved around for my entire childhood (my parents spent time both as missionaries and in the navy), but for most of my adult life I’ve lived here in the Seattle area and I consider it my home.

Why do you love Divine Movement?   So many reasons!  I love this style of movement– from the first stretch in the warm up, my body gets to move in a way that feels amazing and restorative.  I love the camaraderie with other women, and the support and encouragement that I get from all of the amazing students and instructors.  I love the fact that I get a great workout without even noticing it.  I love that I always feel better after class than I did before.  I’ve arrived at class with a headache, and by the time the warm-up is over, it is completely gone.  It’s like my whole body gets de-stressed.

What do you consider your teaching style?

What music is on your “Divine” playlist right now?  Christina Perri: A Thousand Years, Citizen Cope: Sideways, Jihae: Do I Move You, Gym Class Heroes/Adam Levine: Stereo Hearts, Cake: Short Skirt, Long Jacket, Morcheeba:  The Sea, Macy Gray: I Try

Favorite food?  Potato gnocchi with pesto and cherry tomatoes.

What is the farthest you have been from home?   Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

When was the last time you cried?   Last week before I had to go to the dentist.  I’m a huge baby when it comes to the dentist, I drag myself there kicking and screaming!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  A stage actress and singer.

Guilty pleasure: Girly magazines.  Tim’s Cascade Jalapeno Chips.  Josh Groban.

Favorite article of clothing to dance in:  Snuggly soft leg-warmers.

Favorite quote:  ”Don’t do nothing because you can’t do everything.  Do something.  Anything.”  - Colleen Patrick-Goudreau.