Hi! Hello! My name is Annika and I'm really excited to start this community space for my colleagues in the dance industry. I work as a dance educator and consultant currently based out of the Pacific Northwest (previously LA), and after years of in-person dance teacher trainings, community gatherings, and dance consulting, I wanted to provide a space for people to connect and learn and feel supported. So many of us feel like we're alone on an island doing this work and I'd love to change that. We don't have to do this alone, we can help each other thrive, and that kind of community support helps prevent against burnout which is super prevalent in our industry. Though I live in Portland, Oregon, I teach across the country but predominantly on the west coast. I train dancers in both the competitive and non-competitive dance space, and I work with all members of the dance community to navigate stress, burnout, confidence, and overwhelm. I'm a somatic educator and therapist, as well, and love to share my knowledge with dancers and dance educators and studio owners to speak the language of community care and support. I'm a public speaker who advocates for a more balanced dance year by sharing supportive tools to make it through the year *without* burning out along the way. Outside of dance I am married to a musician, am obsessed with our ginger cat, Charley, and love being outside in the nature that surrounds me in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Originally from San Diego, CA, I went to school in Long Beach, CA and worked in Los Angeles as a dance educator to children, teens, and adults. I believe that dance is the greatest gift of my life, and because of that I want to share my passion with other like-minded community members! When you join, I'd love to hear from you! Introduce yourself, share your dance story and your role(s) in the dance industry, and share anything you'd love for us to know about you! Thanks for joining, and welcome to The Dance Professionals Hub!