Be Well with Dr. Michelle Greenwell

Creating the Radiant Dancer and Dance Educator with Mariah-Jane Thies

August 18, 2022 Michelle Greenwell with Mariah-Jane Thies Season 2 Episode 2
Be Well with Dr. Michelle Greenwell
Creating the Radiant Dancer and Dance Educator with Mariah-Jane Thies
Show Notes

With Season 2 we are exploring how the BioEnergetic Wellness tools from Touch for Health, Brain Gym, Therapeutic Touch, NeuroReflex Integration, etc., transform how we engage in our favorite activities.  Dance and dance tradition has been an interesting exploration as the tools that were used to create perfection in movement required repetitive learning, effort, and sustained positions.  Mariah-Jane Thies, ballet and modern dancer and educator has been turning dance training on its head with her connection of brain integration, creative imagery, dynamic movement, and passion for dancing.  Her current project, The Radiant Dance Teacher, is exploring the integration of BioEnergetic Wellness techniques with creative dance explorations.  Her goal is to provide a well-being environment for dancers and educators that continues to build energy and vitality throughout the class or rehearsal.  Her approach pulls some of the most profound tools from BioEnergetic Wellness to transform effort, memory, muscle integrity, flexibility, pattern building, and more, with ease and grace.  If you are an educator, a sports enthusiast, a wellness coach, person who moves every day (yes, I am being cheeky - that includes all of us), this talk will have a little something for everyone, including a few techniques and how to use them.

To learn more about Mariah-Jane Thies and The Radiant Dance Teacher
please check out her TEDxTalk: https://youtu.be/xKwK4pXvGTc - "Your Movement Habits Create your Life."

The 3 pillars of her philosophy for teaching dance include INTEGRATION (brain), EMBODIMENT, and EXPRESSION. The other foundational principles of teaching dance can be incorporated into how you feel is appropriate, including training for strength, flexibility, and coordination. There are a lot of fantastic resources for the development of these areas. Please check my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi7l...,  for a new approach that is very unique and also essential. Without Brain Integration, your students cannot learn. Without Integration your students cannot become truly Embodied and develop strength, flexibility, and coordination effectively and safely. And without a focus on Expression...what are we doing here as teachers of an art form?

The Radiant Dance Teacher is also a group on Facebook


Special shoutout to our sponsors at Tea with Intention from Intend2RaeD8 (

Dr. Michelle Greenwell, BA Psych, MSc CAM, Ph. D CIH (Complementary and Integrative Health). Striving to support the public to choose self-care and well-being options that create ease and flow in their lives, Michelle specializes in using movement to heal the body. Her BioEnergetic Formula for Success provides a means for everyone to set their intentions and create support and action for flow and ease to the goals. Learn more at www.dancedebut.com. Follow her YouTube channel and specialty playlists. Find her full resource list here. She highlights her Tea Company: The Cape Breton Tea Company which you can find at https://cbteacompany.square.site. Included is the specialty line of Tea with Intention, and the focus on high quality organic black tea. Including tea with your podcast listening is a unique way to explore tea, create healthy habits, and have great conversations with friends and colleagues.