Teachers

Associate Teachers

 

Former Teachers and Associates
In Memory: Robert Frey, M.A.
In Memory: Larry Becker
In Memory: Rainbowheart

 

 


Lori Grace StarLori Grace Star, MA Psych. LMT
Founder and Director of Celebrations of Love

Lori Grace Star, MA Psych. LMT, has been studying and teaching approaches to communication and conflict resolution for nine years and Compassionate Communication for five. Compassionate Communication is an essential part of the skills she uses to connect compassionately with others and herself; to feel peaceful and inspired in daily life.

Lori maintains a private practice teaching people Tantra for over ten years and has been leading workshops in Tantra for fifteen years. She is also an anti-aging specialist. She has helped many couples and individual women overcome a wide variety of difficulties with their sexuality. She helps people expand their ability to communicate with their partners, feel compassion and understanding for each other, and experience profound levels of Tantric connection.

Private Practice Announcement:
I am maintaining my private practice to work with a limited number of couples and women using Tantra, communication work, hypnotherapy and Sexual Energetics. I can be of particular assistance to couples who wish to:

  • Enhance their lovemaking with the use of Tantra and Sexual Energetics
  • Expand passion in their lovemaking using Sexual Energetics
  • Learn how to channel sexual energy and to meditate with it, using Sexual Energetics
  • Learn how to integrate Tantric ritual into their lovemaking
  • Greatly enhance their ability to communicate with each other in both sexual and non sexual situations
  • Bring more Spirit and Love into their lovemaking and into their relationship in general
  • If you and your partner are wishing to grow in these particular ways, feel free to call me at
    415-435-2583. We can then talk and design a short course together to help you accomplish your goals.

And if you are a woman seeking to enhance your experience of your own sexuality and your ability to communicate with a partner about your sexual needs, feel free to call me as well, and we'll talk about a program to help you expand in both of these areas.

Listen to Lori's interview with COL teacher and internet radio host, Francesca Gentillé, at PersonalLifeMedia.com.
You can also hear Lori and Scott Catamas interviewed about Compassionate Communication at PersonalLifeMedia.com by internet radio host, Patti Taylor, PhD.

Return to top of page.

Carla Tara

Carla is a well known and respected Tantra Instructor, who many have said is one of the best teachers in the country and perhaps the top teacher on the East coast. She has studied with Eastern Masters, as well as with Western teachers. She's known for her ability to integrate several tantric approaches and to add, with great simplicity, her original insights and wisdom to her teachings. For the past eighteen years Carla has run a successful private practice in New York City where she offers couples counseling and body-oriented psychotherapy using tantric principles to stir up the high energy necessary for healing possible sexual traumas or wounds.

Throughout the many years of her practice she has observed that Tantra can produce the fuel for healing relationships. You will enjoy being led to the most ecstatic and fulfilling journey into your senses, into your heart, and your spirit by tapping into your own innate ability to celebrate your sexual vitality by surrendering fully to her wise and strong guidance based on many years of experience as a psychotherapist, sexual healer, yoga teacher and temple dancer. As one of the most creative and experienced Tantrika she thrives in performing the noble task of initiating and guiding men and women into their most secret and deep places where body, mind and spirit connect to give you the most complete experience of bliss. She sees clients and presents workshops in New York, Boston, Chicago, Maui, San Francisco and Washington, DC. Carla is known for her spirituality, integrity, vitality, friendliness, sense of humor and keen intuition. Clients say she is a combination of laser-beam therapist and geisha.

Carla recently published her stunning book on rejuvenation through Tantra, Lessons From A Tantric Tango Dancer. It explores the dance between consciousness and energy that inspires us to achieve our fullest potential. "There are many priestesses of love, but only one Carla. Her uniquely sensitive approach will guide you to the next level of intimacy as she reveals the good news about orgasm and the healing power of pleaure." — Betty Dodson, PhD, author of Sex for One and Orgasms for Two.

Listen to Carla's interview with COL teacher and internet radio host, Francesca Gentillé at PersonalLifeMedia.com.

Carla's web site is at www.1Tantra.com. She can be e-mailed at Carla@TantraNewYork.com and phoned at 917-513-2500.

Return to top of page.

Don Strachan

Don Strachan studied Watsu, Wassertanzen and Healing Dance under their respective creators, Harold Dull, Claudia (Arjana) Brunschwiler and Alexander Georgeakopoulis. He taught Watsu before branching off to teach his own version, which he calls Wassage, and founded the Wassage Institute. He has also created Water Tantra, an erotic version of Wassage for couples, and co-led workshops in Water Tantra in Hawaii and California. He resides at Harbin Hot Springs, where he is an intern for HAI (the Human Awareness Institute), producers of the "Love, Intimacy and Sexuality" workshops.

Don is probably best known as the creator of the popular massage tool called "Bongers." A former journalist-editor (Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Free Press, national magazines), he lists his favorite writing gigs as being Press Secretary for Marty, the marijuana-munching mouse and co-editing a little magazine called Light Times, "the black hole in the Gutenberg galaxy." He was an environmental activist with Zero Population Growth and Earth First!) and created two games, The 7 Famous Buddha Minds Dope Game and Save the World, "the cooperative environmental board game." He authored King of Diamonds, "a light-hearted fable about sexual healing, baseball, frogs and biodiversity," set in a parallel universe. His current top priority is importing kapomo, a nutritionally complete food, from the Central American and Mexican rainforest.

You can reach Don at bongerdon@earthlink.net. He invites you to view all his web sites: bongers.biz, wassage.org, king-o-diamonds.com and kapomo.com.

Return to top of page.

Francesca Gentillé and John Mariotti

A Personal Letter to our future participants from John & Francesca:

Dear Ones,

A life is made of moments, of mistakes, of risks, of opportunities taken and options passed by. I am in wonder how the soul leads us into our learnings. Some of our learnings are through sweetness, others through pain. In our journey as a Sacred Loving couple we began in separate harmony, living oddly parallel lives in two "W" states; Wisconsin & Washington. Over 25 years ago, just after completing our BA’s at two delicious Jesuit Universities (Gonzaga University - English/John, Marquette University - Psychology/me), we experienced a deep longing for the Sacred in a way that conventional religions just weren't fulfilling. John became initiated as a Dzog Chen Tantric Tibetan Buddhist. I became initiated as a first degree Wiccan Priestess of Native European Shamanism.

We married and divorced twice. Had children. We experimented with sex, conscious relationship designs, and cheating. It wasn't enough. All the sex, love and addictions didn't fill the pain. I explored the expressive arts of theatre, poetry, dance and song. I had my own TV show, starred in plays, had my own band and won poetry contests. Something was missing. John was a financially successful stock broker and restaurateur. Something was missing.

We entered into a journey of learning, growing, healing and releasing old patterns. Out of a longing to make a positive difference in the world, John entered the path of the Martial Arts and over 15 years became a head instructor and 4th degree Black Belt. I received my 2nd degree Initiation as a Wiccan Priestess, and over 20 years garnered my initiation as a Daughter of Yemaja, a High Priestess of Inanna/Ishtar and a became a multi-cultural minister & Holistic Life Coach.

We both studied personal growth paths such as Landmark Education. I attended the University of Creation Spirituality. We both studied expanded pleasure techniques of the Kama Sutra techniques, Neo-Tantra & Taoism. Some of my favorite Sacred Sexuality teachers are right here at Celebrations of Love; Lori Star, our revered Robert Frey, and Phil Willcher. Also, Body Electric (Women’s Only Courses), True Fellows, and Deborah Anapol. As we learned, we wove our own unique version of spiritual pathwork, and courageous-compassionate heartwork. Each persons path is unique. Yet we can be supported and nourished by others. When we discovered the work of Nonviolent/Compassionate Communication 3 years ago, we felt connected and supported in new ways. Our very favorite NVC instructor is our own Martine Algiers.

Each of us is earthy, passionate, depthful, dark, light, soulful, playful, compassionate, serious, courageous and reverently irreverent. Through wounds of childhood, culture and relationships, it is easy to create patterns that defeat intimacy. Love takes great courage. Through the healing and learning we have done, today we challenge one another to love more, be more, feel more, reveal more and live more fully our soul's in the world. We find love to be shattering, uplifting, surprising, healing and transformative.

To us Life Is A Dance of energies, ideas, possibilities, darkness and light. We dance while cleaning, shopping and making love. We make love while dancing. We seek greater and greater wholeness, holiness, harmony and integration in all our lives. We call it Sacred Living. We practice the arts of gratitude and appreciation.

We invite you to join us, explore with us, create with us, learn, heal, inspire and transform with us. We are all here on the path together. We are delighted to teach you, learn with you and learn from you. "To the Buddha, each one is a Buddha." "To the Goddess, all acts of Love and Pleasure are Her rituals." Together we make our dreams come true.

Together we are nationally recognized relationship coaches and sacred dancers. Together,we have over 20 years in dance/Theatre/Movement (ballroom, tap, jazz, modern, middle eastern, Irish, Scottish, Flamenco, Bhangra, Continuum, Erotic Dance), and an extensive background in psychology, spirituality, martial arts, addiction recovery and sacred sexuality. We carry a deep sensitivity and compassion for the journey of life toward wholeness. We bring a ground of being founded in their own personal growth, deepening sacred self-expression, loving joyous relationships and commitment to family. LifeDance is a holistic philosophy of being. We believe that the heart, body, mind and spirit are designed to be in alignment. When we can unblock fears, negative messages, traumas, and constrictive patterns we can open up to more joy, better health, vitality, richer relationships and success. LifeDance seminars, workshops and coaching provide intellectual, spiritual, as well as somatic training and practice.

Presentations, Coaching & Workshops on:

  • Conscious Flirting
  • Romantic, Passionate and Sensual Living
  • Empowered Aging for Women of All Ages
  • Tantra: Extraordinary Loving for Everyday People
  • LifeLong Romance for Couples
  • Revitalizing Harmony and Sensuality for Busy Women
  • Reclaiming the Goddesses of Love & the Way of Beauty for Women
  • Sacred Sensual Dance:The Art of Intimacy for Women & Men.

To speak directly with Francesca Gentillé:
Phone:
510-759-3839.
E-mail address: info@LifeDanceCenter.com
Articles, E-group, and Testimonials. Calendar available at: www.LifeDanceCenter.com

Podcast/Internet Radio Show: http://personallifemedia.com/podcasts/225-sex-tantra-kama-sutra

To reach John Mariotti directly:
Phone: 775-338-2412
E-mail address: jmariotti@gbis.com
Web site: www.nvcama.org

Return to top of page.



Gabriele "Shuchi" Phipps

~ Certified WATSU Instructor
~ Certified Watsu and Massage Therapist
~ Certified WaterDance Practitioner

Gabriele Shuchi began studying Watsu and Massage at Harbin Hot Springs in 1988 with Harold Dull the creator of Watsu and returned in 1993 to continue her studies, adding different modalities and styles of teachers at Harbin.

She is now a Watsu therapist and instructor, as well as a WaterDance practitioner.

Over the years she has been part of over 1500 hrs. of classes in Harbin Hot Springs, both as a student and an assistant and has been the staff Aquatic Bodyworker during workshops in Harbin.

Her home is in Marin County, where she maintains an Aquatic Bodytherapy practice. Gabriele Shuchi's sessions are filled with with graceful movements to deeply nurture one's sense of completeness and harmony with existence. She integrates stretching, Massage and Shiatsu, as well as poetic movements and moments of flowing silence.

"Receiving a session you will feel deeply relaxed, rejuvenated and experience an increased awareness and flexibility in body, mind and soul."

"Gabriele is a superb artist, an inspired Watsuer- no doubt."

Gabriele Shuchi has a rich background in various therapies. Born in Germany she begun traveling in her teens and explored the mysteries of India, where she exposed herself to the Eastern and Western approach to Meditation and healing modalities.

In the last 20 years she has experienced the works of:

• Osho • Arjana Brunswiler
• Poonjaji • Alexander Georgeakopoulos
• Paul Lowe • Jahara
• Alan Cohen • Jahara
• Gabriele Roth • Minakshi
• Harold Dull  

and participated in:

• Zen Meditation • Nonviolent Communication
• Mystic Rose • Awakening the Goddess
• Tantra • Reiki
• Primal Therapy • Massage
• Neo Reichian Breathwork • Watsu
• Tibetan Healing Intensive • Water Dance
• Miracle of Love Intensive  

Currently she combines her practice as a Aquatic & Massage Therapist and her passion of guiding visitors through the natural wonders and cities of the Western USA.

She travels with and accompanies groups throughout the year.

Her love for dancing, nurturing and love for tender healing has brought her to understand the healing powers of Aquatic Bodytherapy. Her deeply poetic soul finds itself expressed in the beauty of movement in water, in holding another human being to guide and allow a profound sense of peace and oneness with existence.

Return to top of page.

Kelly Bryson MA, MFT,
author of the best selling book, "Don't be Nice, Be Real - Balancing Passion for Self with Compassion for Others, has been featured in Elle magazine, appeared on many TV and radio shows, lived in an ashram many years, is a humorist, singer, & licensed therapist in private practice. He keynotes conventions (National Montessori), has been an authorized trainer for the International Center for Nonviolent Communication for 20 years, and has trained thousands in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. He trains, presents and consults with groups, corporations (Tony Robbins, Paul Mitchell Salons), churches (all flavors), schools, (U.Cal.L.B, Body/Mind College), clubs and all organizations.

Kelly's web site: www.LanguageOfCompassion.com
Kelly's Phone: 831-462-EARS (3277)
Toll free # 1-877-NO-FEARS(663-3277) for info. or Phone Sessions. (Most insurance accepted.)
To Reg. for any event or contact Kelly by email: kelly@LanguageofCompassion.com

To Purchase Kelly's book "Don't be Nice, Be Real" or other related CD's, audio tapes & books, or to read chapters from his book, go to www.languageofcompassion.com/Publications.htm.

Return to top of page.



Martine Amita Algier

Martine is a Certified Trainer for The Center for Nonviolent Communication, cnvc.org, and a founding member of the West Marin Community Mediation Board. She teaches and consults with families, business groups, schools and other organizations internationally. She is a grandmother, has taught in both public and private schools, continues to be delighted by working with parents and children and is passionate about community building and creating a Culture of Peace.

Since the mid 1960’s she has been an explorer and innovative educator in the human potential movement. Her background in includes training in Reichian and Gestalt therapies, Neurolinguistics, Bioenergetics, deep tissue bodywork. martial arts, contact dance and meditation.

Her devotion to conflict resolution education and mediation during the last 2 decades, stems from a deep conviction that these skills and the consciousness shift underlying them form an essential element in community building which is in turn, one of the most vital aspects of creating a healthy, sustainable Culture of Peace.

Education and parenting have been a central interest since the 60’s Her own children were born at home in 1967 and 1970 and she is now a grandmother. In the 70’s she created The Rainbow Preschool in her home in San Francisco and later facilitated art classes in her children’s public primary schools in San Francisco and Marin. She was a Teacher’s Assistant in the Bolinas alternative school, Pine Gulch and and taught at the BPUD pre school in Bolinas in the 80’s.

In 2007 she enjoyed working with Five Families Homeschool parents and children in Mill Valley, CA.

Working with groups whose focus is spiritual development and body/mind/ spirit integration is of special interest to her. As a Trainer for CNVC she has worked with Vipassana monastic communities in California and England and served on the trainer team for the NVC training with the Siddha Yoga Foundation. In 2005 she began working with the staff of Esalen Institute as a Visiting Teacher introducing NVC. She presented a five-day NVC Intensives at Esalen in 2005, '06 and 07 and will be offering another 5-day in May of ’08.

Martine is available for and individual, family or couples sessions in person at her offices in San Anselmo, San Francisco or by phone and for speaking engagements and trainings designed for special groups.

You can view her original portraits of Spirit Guides, other Interdimensional Beings and Visionary paintings at www.martinealgier.com. Soon to be added will be Giclee prints of the paintings (available to purchase) and SongPrayers written for Ceremonial occasions.

Martine may also be reached via 415-868-9036 or martinealgier@earthlink.net.

Return to top of page.

Meganwind Eoyang, certified NVC Trainer

Meganwind Eoyang is an associate trainer at BayNVC. She graduated from the inaugural BayNVC leadership program in 2002, and has since led teams of training assistants in that program. She is a founding member of the BayNVC Restorative Justice project through which she co-teaches NVC to inmates in San Quentin prison and in the county jail in Santa Rosa, and helped develop curricula to use with prisoners. She teaches classes based on Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication (NVC) on both coasts, and relishes the aliveness found in working with individuals, couples, and in mediations. She also leads practice groups across 3 counties. She shares inspiration from many years' study of and participation in cross-cultural and Native American spirituality.

Meganwind originally approached NVC with skepticism and doubts based on early inner-city street gang experiences. Now she delights in sharing what has grown into a felt trust in the promise and values of NVC, and the profound inner changes that can bring personal peace and make world peace a real possibility. Her fondest wish is to teach NVC to people who will go out and spread NVC wherever it is needed in the world.

Return to top of page.

Michael Lotter
has been working with Celebrations of Love for many years after having received his Watsu training at Harbin Hot Springs in 1992. He trained in sports massage at Heartwood Institute of Massage in Garberville, California in 1988. He currently uses both of these techniques in his personal body work practice. He offers a Tantric style Watsu that is somewhat sensual, especially for women, but not sexual. His style is simple yet effective and has worked with both couples and singles. His intention is to help his client's access a more sensual massage experience and learn a few water technique they can then practice at home. He also is a certified fitness trainer and is currently focused on building up a clientele. In his own words: "I like to work with people in an integrated, holistic way toward a goal of optimum health."

He lives in Corte Madera.
Home phone: 415-927-2121 and cell: 415-497-1499. Feel free to contact him if you have further questions or to schedule an appointment.

Return to top of page.

Phil Willcher, MH, CHT
is a gifted, certified hypnotherapist, N.L.P. practitioner and life coach.

He is passionate about offering tools for self-empowerment so that people can learn to be more response-able; i.e., make better conscious choices to life situations, instead of being reactive to them, or feeling like a victim.

Phil was one of the first Sylva Mind Control Instructors in the Sixties. Over the past thirty-five years, he has been been involved in human growth potential, Yoga, Martial Arts, and studying and teaching Tantra, Meditation, NVC (aka Compassionate Communication), and other models of communication.

Phil has a private practice in Marin County and is available for groups, couples and singles. For an appointment with Phil call 415-203-8277.

 

 

Return to top of page.


Ritch Davidson

Ritch Davidson began his study of Tantra with Celebrations of Love in 1986. He quickly developed a strong connection with the teachings, the teachers and the COL community and has been a regular participant and contributor since that time. Since 2000, he has been Sunrise Center's Senior Junior Executive Assistant in Charge of Something Sometimes Office Guy. He absolutely relishes the daily opportunities to serve and to be in connection with the larger COL community via his role there, be it answering phones, sending e-mail announcements, graphic designing flyers and newsletters, or creating pages and maintaining this Celebrations of Love website.

Ritch has been studying Nonviolent Communication since 2002 and in 2005 completed the nine-day International Intensive Training (IIT) led by NVC founder, Marshall M. Rosenberg, PhD and other NVC certified trainers, including Robert Gonzales (see his bio in this section). In 2007 he completed Robert Gonzales' week-long training on the Embodied Spirituality of NVC. Ritch has been co-teaching Growing More Loving with Compassionate Communication with Lori Grace Star, co-facilitating COL's Practice Groups and Conflict Improv evenings with Lori, Phil and Scott since 2005.

Ritch has been one of the Core Teaching Team members at COL's residential weekend workshops, (Celebrating Intimacy: Into the Heart of Love and Opening to Love, for example) as well as various other classes and events, including our 2007 Sacred Puja Ritual for Friends and Lovers.

Additionally, Ritch Davidson is the Senior Vice Emperor of Playfair, Inc., an international consulting company that offers keynote presentations, management seminars and playfulness trainings to over 100,000 people every year. He is an innovator in the design and presentation of programs that focus on the value and impact of humor in team building, stress management, and living a healthier worklife. Additionally, he helped conduct research for Playfair Emperor, Matt Weinstein's, best selling business book, Managing to Have Fun (Simon & Schuster, 1997).

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Ritch graduated from Kiddie Haven Nursery School in 1955. He has a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Humanities and completed a four-year training program in organizational development consulting. Ritch is a published photographer and, each summer since 1979 he travels to Oregon for a five-day river rafting trip to which he has pledged to continue every year for the rest of his life.

Ritch can be reached personally at: RitchDvdsn@aol.com or through Celebrations of Love at 415-924-5483 and info@celebrationsoflove.com. Please also visit him on Playfair's website: www.Playfair.com where you can send a friend a Standing Ovation!

Return to top of page.


Robert AlexanderRobert Alexander

Instructor Robert Alexander has been an exercise aficionado since he was twelve. At fifteen he performed 1,300 situps to win a $25 Savings Bond at the Texas State Fair. In 1990, he won a World Martial Arts Championship and, in 2001, he competed in a bodybuilding tournament.

Robert maintains a body fat percentage in the single digits. He can do more pushups with one arm than you can with two. He considers
93-year-old Jack LaLanne one of his role models.

Robert Alexander
Expert Therapeutic Massage
Medical Chi Gung(Energy Work)
Yang and Wu T'ai Chi
Push Hands Instruction--World Champion
Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
Nutritional Consultations
Wellness Lectures and Seminars
Proofreading

Return to top of page.


Robert Gonzales

Robert Gonzales received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1989. He met Marshall Rosenberg and Nonviolent Communication in 1985, and has been offering Nonviolent Communication training in some form since 1986. His original training is as a licensed psychotherapist. He has offered Nonviolent Communication training for community colleges, high schools, churches, social workers, pychologists, mediators, teenagers, and public groups. He has taught psychology, counseling and communication at Prescott College, a local liberal arts college. Robert opened the Prescott Center for Nonviolent Communication in Prescott, Arizona in June, 2000. The Center is a non-profit educational organization that offers training, practice groups, private consultations and coaching in NVC. He has been a trainer at NVC Intensive International Training's and is currently one of three assessors in North America for certifying trainers for the Center for Nonviolent Communication. He is also one of a team of four NVC trainers, the NVC Training Institute, offering in depth and continuing training in the United States and Europe.

NVC as a Spiritual Practice Click Here

Return to top of page.


Scott Catamas
Scott Catamas has devoted his adult life to consciousness, communication and education. For fifteen years, he was the founder and president of a successful multi-media company that reached millions of children & teenagers with socially responsible messages. During this time, he wrote and/or produced over 100 original stage & television shows on a wide variety of subjects. Scott won multiple EMMY awards for his PBS television shows, and also produced informational/educational programming for HBO, Showtime, NBC, FOX, and other national outlets. Scott co-founded an Exploration Arts Camp at Jane Fonda's ranch in Santa Barbara, that successfully transformed the lives of thousands of young people.

In the year 2000, Scott was introduced to NVC by Lori Grace. He has embraced NVC as a lifelong practice, and has been actively studying and facilitating NVC. Scott has produced video and DVD projects for Dr. Marshall Rosenberg (the founder of NVC), and most recently with Robert Gonzales (a popular NVC teacher). Scott also facilitates classes, workshops and practice groups in the area of COMPASSIONATE COMMUNICATION, which includes his understanding of NVC. His workshops have been well attended throughout the Hawaiian Islands, Southern and Northern California, and several other states.

In 2005, Scott was invited as a guest to the UNIVERSITY OF ONENESS in India, where he was trained in the art of giving "DEEKSHA". This energy transmission helps people to relax their mind, open their heart and move into higher states of consciousness. Scott appreciates the non-denominational nature of both NVC & DEEKSHA, while recognizing both as profound & practical paths to spiritual awakening.

In January of 2007, Scott and Lori Grace were invited to become part of Al Gore's CLIMATE PROJECT PRESENTER's team. They attended a private training in Nashville with Mr. Gore and several leading scientists and researchers, and 200 other Environmental activists and leaders. During this time, they learned all about the dramatic effects of climate change. Since becoming an official "Climate Project Presenter", Scott has given presentations at conferences, conventions, fairs, high schools and colleges. He was the Keynote Speaker at the L.A. Conscious Living Expo, and has also co-moderated several panels on Global Warming with Lori.

You can also hear Scott and Lori Grace interviewed about Compassionate Communication at PersonalLifeMedia.com by internet radio host, Patti Taylor, PhD.

Return to top of page.

Sophia

Since 1978, Sophia has produced ten luscious, inspiring recordings for healing, meditation, massage, love/tantric ecstasy, life transitions and rituals. Her latest, Chakra Healing Chants, invokes the Goddess in her many glorious forms.

This powerful and hauntingly beautiful extended musical journey features exquisite arrangements virtuoso accompanists and guest soloists. Creating a deep and sacred tapestry of sound on which Sophia's golden voice soars and seduces. You can learn more and hear music samples at www.songhealer.com.

Testimonial
"
Sophia continues to bring a magic to the world of music, sense and soul. She wraps us in a refined mystery of beauty. No matter your musical tastes, this is a splendid journey through East and West, voice and heart."
—Don Campbell, Author of
The Mozart Effect and The Roar of Silence.

Return to top of page.

Sundra and Lee Coleman
When Sundra and I (Lee) met in the summer of 1989, Sundra was quite experienced in dance: ballet classes starting at age thirteen, which she pursued into her 30's until a major knee injury; tap, Charleston, jazz, modern, Samba, and belly dance were all in her repertoire. One significant omission was partner dancing.

My dance experience was more limited: some classes at the 1981 summer school of the Naropa Institute in Boulder, otherwise just an inclination to dance around wildly.

Sundra and I started taking dance classes together, ballroom, swing ... but we both struggled with feeling restricted and oppressed by rules. We just wanted to fly! An opportunity arose after we hung a string hammock from the rafters of our huge bedroom. Sundra started dancing with the hammock and in it, doing wonderful, angelic spirit dances. Hammock dancing was born! It was a marvel to do yoga dances together in and around the hammock.

We lost the use of that space, but were able to resume something like hammock dancing with the low-flying trapezes in Terry Sendgraf's classes. Round about this time I fortuitously recorded a TV show of a dance cabaret competition: couples were doing amazing lifts and we wanted to do that too! By playing the tape in slow motion over and over, we were able to extract the mechanics of some of their moves. Now all Sundra wanted to do was to be able to climb on me!

We discovered NCDC with Barefoot Boogie in SF and Dance Jam in Berkeley. We were amazed: so this was where the aerial dancers danced! We took some Contact Improv classes and then some aerial classes from Ken Martini to learn the fundamentals of lifts. Acrobatic classes with Gitta Sivander taught us some cool and not-too-hard acrobatic skills. Our explorations even took us into the dark underworld of San Francisco's lap dancing clubs to learn erotic "snake dancing" skills.
We decided that what we were doing was cool enough (or was it "hot?") to share, so we started putting together choreographed performance pieces. We started off at Francesca Gentille's performance parties and then at other parties. The response was very encouraging.

About 2006 we started tap lessons; our teacher loved our partnership and asked us to perform as a couple at her company performances. At her instigation we put together a piece based on Fred Astaire and Ginger Roger's famous "Cheek to Cheek" routine and performed that. Recently, our tap teacher pushed us into entering a ballroom dance contest - we were reluctant, not really knowing ballroom, but we won! We felt that it was the creative flow that we have learned in all the different arenas that did it for us. It feels like new horizons of dance are opening up for us, a very exciting process. The class we have put together for Celebrations of Love represents a quest for the essence of our dance journey. It is a profound and wonderful experience, one that we love to share!

Return to top of page.


In Memory of Robert Frey, MA
March 2, 1946 - June 15, 2004

Robert Frey, MA, was an exceptional group leader, therapist, psychic and author with twenty-five years of extensive background in Tantra, holistic health, hypnosis, counseling, relationship work, rebirthing, bodywork, psychic healing, Tai Chi, vision quest and shamanism.

Robert created many inspirational songs and Sufi circle dances and produced five albums, including the CD "Opening to Love". He is the on-camera host on the best-selling video "Ancient Secrets of Sexual Ecstasy". He drew from Hindu, Tibetan, Kriya, Taoist Chinese, Sufi, Western Psychology, and Breathwork. He led hundreds of events, seminars, and retreats and presented at conferences.

Robert was a naturally gifted healer, counselor, and coach facilitating powerful healing sessions for individuals and couples in person and via phone sessions. He was known for his special ability to create safety and a loving, spiritual atmosphere for clients and students while inviting and guiding them through limiting blind spots into clarity, self-esteem, relationship harmony, and personal power. His sessions and classes have permanently enhanced thousands of lives.

Return to top of page.

 


 



Calendar · Events · Register · Teachers · Store · Resources · Directions
Cancellation Policy · About Us · Contact · Home