The spirit of dance grabbed hold of me at the age of 16 when I first stepped onto the rave scene. "WOW, HOW MUCH FUN IS THIS?!?!" I thought as I danced hard and free, completely lost in the music. It felt like freedom incarnate.

In high school, I dove deeper into self-discovery through movement, taking dance classes and moving my body in sports (Rugby was my favorite). Around that same time, I started practicing meditation and even taught my peers in Grade 11 about it.

After graduation, I followed my then-boyfriend to Alberta, hungry to carve out my life with good habits and movement. At a local fair, I stumbled across a “Nia Flash Dance” performance that called out to me like a dare. The crowd was encouraged to join the flash-mob-style routine—and guess who was the only person to jump in?

Yep, me.

My first official Nia class, led by Lise Schulze, left me sobbing by the end, overcome with a deep, resounding "Yes." It was like my soul recognized this moment as a turning point. Dance medicine was my path.

Lise became my mentor, guide, and dear friend—a sister to my heart. For the first time, I felt truly "seen" by someone outside my immediate family.

Nia taught me to find pleasure in my movement and to reach for joy instead of pain. It gave me the gift of freedom in dance early on—freedom to roll on the floor, cry, laugh, and simply be with my feelings. Within months, I earned my Nia White Belt and was ready to share this magical experience with others.

When that relationship ended, I returned home to the Kootenays and started teaching Nia immediately. Some classes were empty, others vibrant and well-attended. The rollercoaster of teaching shaped me, teaching me resilience and how to hold space for others to emote, heal, and move with love for themselves.

At 19, my life changed again when I walked into my first partner dance class, thanks to a friend’s recommendation. That’s when I met Peter.

Peter was a mentor and a guidepost, much like Lise had been. He taught me the art of following—"Don't anticipate; wait until you feel the lead." (Great life advice, too, if you ask me.)

Peter was 65 at the time, and we formed a beautiful friendship and mentorship. Partner dance became my obsession, a direct path to connection. Creating a dance with another person, responding to their split-second decisions, and filling the movement with grace spoke to every part of me.

With my background in "dancing for pleasure" and Peter's focus on connection rather than rigid steps, I found freedom within partner dance quickly.

Soon, I became Peter's teaching assistant, co-hosting classes and social dances. Over 11 years, I dipped my curious dancing feet into East Coast Swing, Blues, Fusion, West Coast Swing, Zouk, Country Two-Step, Waltz, Bachata, Cha Cha, Salsa, Tango, and Kizomba. I traveled from Nelson to Vancouver, Kelowna, Seattle, Portland, and Calgary for training and inspiration.

Now here I am, writing this piece with a heart full of joy and inspiration, hoping to share the magic of dance with more people searching for connection, self-love, healing, community, and pleasure—YES, pleasure!

My deepest hope is that my offerings help you sink into the beautiful gift that is your body, revealing, healing, and transcending any traumas stored there. I hope to guide you toward a place of safety, comfort, and joy in your own skin.

I want to model and teach that embracing life with open arms, loving what arises, and reconnecting to your true feelings in any moment brings freedom and peace.

When you fill a space with your light, share your gifts —simply by being yourself—you make a positive impact on this world.

Thank you for reading my story.

With love and warmth,
-Krissi