Biography
Stefanie is the owner of Dance for the Soul, focused on healing the whole individual: body, mind, and spirit.
She is the creator of the DFTS Masters Method for Health, Healing, & Living™ and the DFTS Format of Improvisational Belly Dance. She is certified in Health & Nutritional Coaching, Massage Therapy, Meditation, Yoga, and Breathwork.
She is a professional and award-winning Belly Dance performer, and has been featured in Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Journal Sentinel, M Magazine, and Belly Dance: A Raqs Sharqi Magazine.
She developed the Dance for the Soul (DFTS) teacher training format and was one of the first Belly Dance schools to have been approved at the State level by the Educational Approval Board.
Stefanie has been practicing holistic modalities in health and healing for over 30 years, and with this experience brings a very unique and holistic approach to all her classes, workshops, and one on one coaching sessions. She is very passionate about teaching her students and clients the benefits of integrative nutrition, lifestyle change, meditation, yoga, dance, and traditional fitness. She helps them understand and redesign the way they think in order to create a life that is balanced, magical, and filled with joy!
Stefanie has been featured in staged shows, weddings, benefits, and events throughout Alaska, California, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Having participated in the 2007 Midwest Belly Dance Challenge and awarded 2nd place she returned the following year as a judge. She performed weekly at Shiraz Persian Restaurant and at the Wisconsin and Alaska State Fairs, as well as graced the stage with The Mutaytor at Summer Fest.
In 2007 while working on a special project with the ladies of Trillium, Jennifer Nolan, Marie Kaplan, and Traci Roberts, Stefanie was introduced to FatChanceBellyDance. She fell in love with the aspect of group improvisational dance and began her search for a teacher. After pursuing her own continued education, she received instructor certification in Kajira’s Djoumahna’s BlackSheep Dance, SGI Format. She was also invited to be featured in Kajira’s Level One and Level Two Instructional DVD’s, that are sold internationally. Stefanie continues to maintain a high level of integrity and continuity for the format, allowing her to help her students delve deeper into the aspects of building a connection to each other, and ultimately allowing healing and joy to manifest in the body and heart through dance.
Although a professional performer, Stefanie’s true passion is helping individuals facilitate their own healing by creating a safe and supportive environment and combining healing techniques with the power of movement. By teaching self-confidence through posture, breathwork, and movement, she helps individuals realize the beauty and power they hold within themselves to make positive, and lasting change.
The dance is very personal & spiritual for Stefanie.
Her philosophy is “The dance will always bring us back to the heart.” She believes deeply in the healing power of self-expression through movement.
The Journey
Stefanie’s journey to helping others started with her own need to find help. Experiencing debilitating and chronic pain since early childhood, her parents sought out traditional medicine first. Seeing none of this succeed they shifted gears and took a different route through nontraditional holistic healing. Starting with chiropractic care and massage therapy, then moving on to Craniosacral Therapy and even healing through Shamanism. As an adult Stefanie continued her education in holistic healing to find her own answers. This led to discovering Middle Eastern Dance and its many health benefits.
With 18 different certifications in health and healing modalities Stefanie is dedicated to helping you reclaim your inner spark and passion for life, through personalized programs using lifestyle change, integrative nutrition, meditation, yoga, dance, breathwork, and traditional fitness.
Utilizing her unique talents to get to the heart of any challenge, she helps you gain a clear understanding of where you are and where you want to go, then helps you build your success plan, and holds you accountable. Stefanie’s journey to a pain free and joy filled existence took many roads. Each one valuable in its own right. Let her help you find yours.
Education
Studying at Robbins-Madanes Training
BA in Psychology, South University Online, Milwaukee, WI, Target graduation date - 2024
Health & Nutrition Coach, Institute For Integrative Nutrition, New York, NY - 2021
Whole Food Plant Based Cooking Certification, Forks Over Knives, Milwaukee, WI - 2020
Image Consulting Certification, Fashion Stylist Institute, Milwaukee, WI - 2015
Meditation & Prana Teaching Certification, Transformation Meditation, Milwaukee, WI – 2013
Teaching Certification Level One & Two, Kajira Djoumahna Continued Education in Dance & Music, Sebastopol, CA - 2008
Pre & Postnatal Massage Therapy Certification, The Somatic Institute, West Bend, WI - 2006
Massage Birth Doula Certification, The Somatic Institute, West Bend, WI - 2006
Certified & Registered Yoga Teacher, Feel Your Best Yoga Studio & Teacher Training Facility, Mequon, WI - 2006
University of Alaska, Business Course, 1999
AK Certified & Licensed Massage Therapist, Certificates Awarded - Lymphatic Massage, Zen Shiatsu, Touch For Health, Reiki I & 2, Massage & Bodywork Sciences, Reflexology, Inner Child Psychology For The Professional, Business Principles & Ethics, Community Outreach Program, Gatekey Health & Professional Center, Massage School 1200 Hour Program, Anchorage, AK - 1996
Massage I With Human Sciences Certification, Gatekey Health & Professional Center, Anchorage, AK - 1993
Cranio-Sacral Therapy Level One Certification, AK Licensed, 1992 Upledger Institute for Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Anchorage, AK - 1992