Amelia Sunrise's Profile

From 2002-2004 Amelia directed her own dance company, The Circle Dance Theater, choreographing and directing original works such as The Memories, which premiered in May 2004 at the Center House Theater in Seattle in combination with the theatrical production, The Hymn of the Pearl. Amelia also acted, sang and danced the lead role of the Seeker in the Hymn of the Pearl and also was the Associate Choreographer under Susan Evans, director of the production.

Aside from being a dancer and actress, Amelia is also a gifted singer, and has been a background vocalist and percussionist for Children of the Revolution since 1999. This love and understanding of music and rhythm is a strong influence in her dance and teaching.

YOGA AND TEACHING BIOGRAPHY

She holds a Yoga Instructors Certificate from 8 Limbs Yoga Centers in Seattle, a BA in Spanish Language and Literature with a Minor in Dance from the University of Washington, as well as a Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language. She has participated in several silent Chan (Chinese Zen) Buddhist retreats and draws upon 8+ years of personal meditation practice in teaching her yoga and dance classes.

She is eternally grateful to her teachers, Melina Meza, Chiara Guerrieri, Troy Lucero, Jenny Hayo, Greg Owen and Richard Freeman for their continuing inspiration.

As a student and teacher, she believes that we are all perpetual students and will never be finished growing and learning until our last breath. This knowledge gives us a strength, humility and above all a sense of humor. Her experience in both an academic as well as informal setting make her teaching styles effective, diverse and fun.

As a teacher, she has a reputation for her approachable, encouraging and inspirational teaching style, which incorporates many different methods and approaches. She draws out each student's personal best while encouraging the growth of each student’s unique gifts. Students develop a deep understanding of their body, heart and mind while building strength, flexibility, focus and balance. As dancers they learn and expand movement vocabulary, ethnological knowledge, movement transitions and the essential qualities of musicality, rhythm and expressive improvisation.

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