“Joanne is a wise witness, a weaver of magic between the worlds, and a true artist of the deep.” — Layah Singer-Wilson, 5Rhythms Teacher, Toronto ON

Joanne is skilled at grounding, tracking, and transforming the energy of a group. A natural catalyst, she uses evocative music and language, clear intention, good humour – and her spidey-senses – to consistently create a field where energy moves and healing happens. Her teaching is rooted in a lifelong engagement with her own personal work. Joanne continues to deepen and refine her work through ongoing practice with teachers, mentors, and colleagues from a range of modalities and traditions.

“Joanne’s teaching style uniquely combines both gentleness and fire: nurturing us where we’re at while also challenging our growth.”
— Tamara, student

In Victoria, Joanne’s classes and workshops provide a place of nourishment, connection, and steady practice – a local watering-hole – for activists, counselors, parents, healers, gardeners, students, artists, craftspeople, meditators, guides, service-workers, community contributors and soulful seekers of all stripes. She considers it her job, her joy, and her great good fortune to hold space for people whose presence, good work, connection and well-being enlivens and sustains our community.

“Week in, week out, Joanne holds a space for 5Rhythms® with passion, patience, clear intention, great eclectic music, a sense of humour and, above all, deep respect for the transformative nature of this work.”
— JB, student

Trainings, Mentors, and Teachers:

• Fascinated with dance, gymnastics, yoga, poetry, music, dream, story, art, and other ecstasies from the start
• Modern dance and performance with Lynda Raino, 1985 to 2005
• 5Rhythms® movement since 1996, intensive study/immersion with Gabrielle Roth and Moving Center School faculty (Kathy Altman, Lori Saltzman, Andrea Juhan PhD, and Jonathan Horan) from 1999 to 2013. First teachers: Zoe and Gordy Ryan and Jill Abrahamse
• Organizing workshops and events in Victoria BC with local and visiting teachers, colleagues, and mentors since 2000
• Weekly 5Rhythms® practices and classes in Victoria BC, with support and permission of Gabrielle Roth, since 2001
• Community events and fundraisers to benefit a range of causes including Power of Hope, RAVEN, 5Rhythms Reach Out, and others since 2000
• Mentorship with Kathy Altman and Andrea Juhan, PhD: curriculum design, supporting and facilitating various workshops, ongoing groups, writing and creative projects from 2004 to 2017
• 5Rhythms Teacher Trainings: 2004–2005 (‘Waves’ level with Gabrielle Roth and faculty) and 2014–2015 (‘Heartbeat’ level with Jonathan Horan), currently apprenticing to lead Mirrors
• Dreamwork, Jungian psychology, mythic imagination, Shaivism, ritual, and initiation with Clarissa Pinkola Estes PhD, Michael Meade, Michaela Boehm, Stephen Aizenstat, and others since 2000
• Ego patterning, structures, and defense: Diamond Approach with Jane Hill-Daigle (2013-15), Enneagram with Russ Hudson (2019 and 2020), Carly Forest (2020 and 2021), Mirrors-level work with Gabrielle Roth (2000 to 2012) and faculty (2000 to present).
• Creative Coaching and Consulting: Art and Science of Coaching (TASC), led by Marilyn Atkinson, PhD and Erickson College faculty, Vancouver BC, 2010
• Orphan Wisdom School with Stephen Jenkinson in Deacon, Ontario from 2014 to 2017; ongoing study to date.
• INELDA: end of life Doula Training with Henry Fersko-Weiss in Seattle WA, 2017
• Anti-racism and decolonizing work — multiple teachers and ongoing learning through BC Public Service and UBC public trainings (Wedlidi Speck, Bradley Yuxwelupton Dick, Jaime Morais, Daniele Behn Smith, Stephanie Papik), White Awake, Karine Bell/Rooted community.
• Ancestral Medicine with Daniel Foor, PhD: Practitioner Training completed in 2018. Ongoing study, group facilitation, and ritual support since 2018, currently completing practitioner certification.
• Trauma-informed Grief Support, ritual, ancestral connection and tending with Shauna Janz, MA. Trainings completed in 2021 and 2022 (trauma-informed grief support), periodic  ancestral lineage healing and emergent ritual support since 2019.
• Embodied Ethics with Christiane Pelmas, MSW, 2022.
• Community Counsellor Training through Esquimalt Neighbourhood House: Training completed in 2023. No-cost, low-barrier supportive counselling by referral through Esquimalt Neighbourhood House counselling services.
• Relational Somatics with Mariah Moser, MA: Current student, training completes in Spring of 2024.

Want to organize a workshop in your community? You can!

To find out more about hosting a workshop – or about mentoring, coaching, and other 1:1 offerings – please email joanne@danceherenow.ca.

Short bio:

Joanne teaches 5Rhythms with a deep respect for the transformational nature of this practice, for the insight that these maps can bring to our daily lives, and for the unique discovery process of each participant. Her teaching is rooted in a lifelong engagement with her own study and personal work. Since 2001, she has held a steady space for the growth and evolution of a robust dance community in Victoria BC, has supported students and colleagues with their own teaching path, and has shared her love of this practice with communities in Canada, the US, and Europe.