Teaching Staff

While highly trained in many forms of dance, it wasn't until Kathy's catalytic meeting with Gabrielle 30 years ago that her true calling found her. As Co-Director of The Moving Center School, Kathy was the first person asked to help Gabrielle bring her work out into the world. Over the past 20 years Kathy's teaching has brought thousands of people back to the joy of their own, original movement.

Since stumbling into a 5Rhythms workshop 25 years ago, Lori's full-time devotion has been helping people to recover the spirited dance they left behind or discover the dancer they never met. Co-Director of The Moving Center School, Lori's natural persistence and humor coaxes even the most reluctant people to let themselves move, shed tired old patterns that don't work anymore, and glimpse themselves with clear yet compassionate eyes.

Gabrielle Roth is an internationally renowned theater director, philosopher, and recording artist who has created her own form of ecstatic dance. She is the best-selling author of Maps to Ecstasy: A Healing Journey for the Untamed Spirit, Sweat Your Prayers: Movement as Spiritual Practice and Connections. Her teachings, for the past forty years, have permeated many areas of the culture and included many diverse settings such as schools, hospitals, corporate offices, theaters and growth centers.

The start of my journey in the field of movement and therapy began when I arrived at Esalen Institute in 1977. As a community member there for the next 12 years I had the good fortune to study with an amazing array of teachers.

Jonathan Horan is Gabrielle Roth’s son and closest collaborator. He has been immersed in the 5Rhythms™ practice throughout his life and continues to be a key catalyst in its evolution. He is also a Strozzi – certified Somatic Coach. As well as leading workshops throughout the world, he has taught at Vassar College and currently teaches for a variety of institutes such as Omega, Esalen and Naropa.

Sylvie Minot has a BA in Dance from San Jose State University, exploring both dance and choreography. She took a 5Rhythms™ class in 1994 at the age of 29, fell madly in love with the practice and has not stopped since then. She is now teaching the 5Rhythms at the Moving Center School in Mill Valley.

She has also studied with Shakti Gawain, Angeles Arrien and various other teachers in different aspects of healing. Through working with a variety of modalities incorporating spirit, mind, and body, she is dedicated to the transformation of one's life and living one's passion.

Claire began practicing the 5Rhythms^® in 1991. The profound changes she experienced ignited a passion for sharing this work with others. Claire is adept at creating sacred space where dancers are invited to discover and express themselves with authenticity. Her open, intuitive teaching style encourages students to deeply engage with the transformative nature of this practice, while her gentle humor helps keep it all moving.

Davida has a diverse background in the creative arts and body-centered therapies.  She is a certified  instructor of  Watsu®, Waterdance®, Yoga, and the  5Rhythms® movement practice, in both the Waves and Heartbeat Maps.  She is forever touched by her many years as a professional Doula, caring for mothers in labor and birth, and is awed by the power and radiance of the human heart.  Davida enjoys  her  on-going private practice in Watsu® and serving on the teaching faculty of the Moving Center School.

Gary is a long-term student and teacher of the 5Rhythms. In 1999 he started our first Sweat Your Prayers session with 11 students (mostly friends!). Through Gary’s enduring passion for the practice and his extraordinary DJ skills, our Sunday sessions have become both a local and international destination for hundreds of people to come and sweat their prayers.