VERYNICA
Movement. Breath. Creativity. Freedom
YOGALIFE

AS DANCER~

From a very young age, Nica has always been enamored with dance and movement. She began ballet training with The National Ballet of Canada and studied Asian traditional dances with The Beijing Song and Dance Company in Beijing, China. She perused her passion and received her B.A. degree in Dance from The American University in Washington D.C. She was awarded the Darmasiswa Fellowship from the Indonesian Embassy to study Balinese dance and music in Bali and a scholarship from Jacob's Pillow with Mark Morris.

Throughout her professional career, Nica has worked with Bessie award winner David Rousseve, Placido Domingo of The Washington Opera, The Spanish Dance Society, and at temple ceremonies in Bali among others. Nica currently teaches choreographs, and performs with The Nomad Dancers, at Saffron Dance and the Lee Arts Center.

As a belly dancer, mesmerized by the music and dance of the Middle East, Nica immediately fell in love with the art form and continues to study belly dance extensively. She is thrilled to have studied with Amir Thaleb, Yousry Sharif, Raqia Hassan, Tamra El Henna, Ansuya, Bozenka, Faten Salama, Yasmina, Rachel Brookmire, and Elysa. Nica thanks Saphira of Saffron Dance for being one of her first teachers! Inspired by her yearly trips to Morocco, Nica bought a doumbek (drum) and studies with Brad “Sidqi” Sidwell, Souhail Kaspar, and Issam Houshan of the BellyDance Superstars .

To further her philosophy of holistic mind-body practices, Nica has also founded a non-profit, Circle of World Arts. The mission of Circle of World Arts has been to teach individuals some of the tools necessary to achieve personal peace and lessen the probability of conflict through group cultural efforts based on dance, movement, artistic expression, and sports.

AS YOGINI~
As a yogini, she is honoured to have studied with instructors at top yoga centers in the world including the Jivamukti Yoga Center and Integral Yoga, both in New York City; Eden Yoga in Virginia and O2 in Aspen. Nica further enhances her experience nationwide through workshops by leading teachers such as Shiva Rea, Simon Park,and Michelle Renfield. Nica represented Eden Yoga at the First Annual World Culture Open in Washington DC .

With over 20 years of performing, learning and teaching experience, Nica ’s teaching reflects her global training in movement and philosophy of the Hatha, Ashtanga, and Vinyasa traditions of Yoga, as well as dance traditions from around the world.

Fellowships:
Jacob's Pillow for Mark Morris Summer Program
Darmasiswa Award from Indonesian Government

Member of :
Yoga Alliance (RYT-500, E-RYT-500)
IDEA Health and Fitness Association
WANGO- World Association of Non-Governmental Organisations
Enthusiastically awaiting final confirmation to Unesco's International Dance Council