Today we’d like to introduce you to Aubrey Van Benthem.
Hi Aubrey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I fell in love with dance long before I knew the journey it would take me. Dancing offered me a space to find myself amid my day or whatever chaos was around me. There was something so centering about the first moments at the barre for plies. As the music began, I would be swept away into my rhythm, where everything in the world was set right. But somewhere along the way, I lost touch with why it brought me joy, carried away by the pressures and blinding perfectionism that can accompany the dancing world. I lost my joy in it, and I lost the connection to myself in the process. But thankfully, that wasn’t the end of my journey. After leaving the company and the training program I was in, I took college classes and completed my education degree. My professional studies lead me to leave the world of education and commit my time and energy solely to dancers. I’ve played many roles in the education world while teaching dance at various studios across the country. I used my skillset as a classroom educator, curriculum designer, and instructional trainer around the globe to bring new ideas to the dance world. I traveled and studied different wellness approaches like yoga, bio-functional movement, physiotherapy, personal training, and many other conditioning styles. I began adapting them to help dancers in pre-professional and professional communities. I fell in love with helping studios set up successful curriculums and programs, assisting dancers in effective cross-training, and improving their technical performance.
Through helping others avoid many of the pains and pitfalls that I knew so well, and through God’s beautiful handiwork, I again fell deeply in love with dance in my own body. The process for myself challenged and reshaped so many false ideas that dancers often believe about themselves or what dance can be for them. A large part of my personal growth and healing came through yoga. It taught me how to create space in my body and mind for the stillness that brought truth and peace. I began practicing listening to my body and respecting and respecting my body and mind. Wellness became a sort of rhythm or dance rather than an oppressive expectation of myself, and I fell in love with helping others find that rhythm in their lives. My passion in this next season of my life is to create a space for people to experience movement that awakens them in body, soul, and mind, whether in a dance class or a yoga class. As we dance and move mindfully, we can embrace the pure simplicity of who we are, and in that realization is so much freedom and peace. In creating NOVA, I pray that the space brings you peace and restoration while you take the bold step to move and dance, awakening a part of you that you might have thought lost. NOVA is an Academy that focuses on developing all our students as healthy and well-equipped athletes while also nurturing them as artists in their creative endeavors. My unique journey of twists and turns has led to the culmination of NOVA, and I can’t wait to see as the pieces come together in the unfolding of it.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been fairly smooth?
Although much of my pain as a young person came from the environment of my dancing world, God has used dance in its pure and simple form to bring healing, joy, and purpose to my life. The pressures, harsh criticisms, and unfriendly and competitive environments in some of the dance world were brutal to endure as a teenager. Body shaming and struggles with depression, anxiety, and eating disorders were very real. Many physical pains and challenges accompanied my journey as a teen and young adult, with injuries and health challenges. With such a wealth of research and knowledge available today, so many of those injuries, aches, and pains of adulthood are preventable. I am passionate about equipping people to be well in body, mind, and soul!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about NOVA Dance and Wellness Academy?
We believe movement can awaken and bring life to anyone of any age! We offer high-quality dance and wellness classes that equip our students to be healthy in body, mind, and soul. We specialize in ballet for ages 3.5-adult with a unique program focused on holistic athletic training and developing personal artistry. We also offer modern acro and various other unique styles. One of the unique features of our studio is our Athletic Training for Dancers, a program that provides personal training, nutrition coaching, and health coaching to advanced dancers locally and all over the world.
We want our space to serve the whole family, so we have lots of classes for mamas, where they can bring their babies with them or take a yoga class at the same time as their child’s dance class. We have an acro class for Dads and their kiddos and classes for prenatal and postpartum. Our yoga classes are non-heated and focused on mindfulness, meditation, and functional movement for all ages and levels. We desire to provide resources to the community that helps you find your rhythm of wellness. For adults, we also offer personal training, nutrition coaching, wellness coaching, and on-site and at-home yoga therapy.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
One of the helpful things that came out of Covid is a re-centering on family and wellness. At NOVA, we desire to support families and individuals in finding their balance amid life’s demands. Covid also awakened to the at-home workout. Many of our wellness services are virtual for the exact purpose of helping you to take advantage of being able to pursue wellness in your own home and on your own time.
Pricing:
- Student Dance classes start at $79/mo with flexible pricing and cancel anytime
- Yoga/adult dance: $22 drop in, $160 for 10class card
- 10% family discount for all classes, services
Contact Info:
Website: www.novadanceandwellness.com/coming-soon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novadanceandwellness/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NOVAdanceandwellness
Image Credits
Djaheda Richers, Kristina Paukshtite, Gustavo Fring, @cottonbro, Vlada Karpovich, Yan Krukov, Kaitlin Williams, Albert Moreno
