A delightful mixture of dance arts, martial arts, and mindfulness, Nia is a holistic movement and wellness practice for your body, mind, and soul. Practiced barefoot, (but you can wear shoes!) Nia is a somatic practice that is non-impact and adaptable to individual needs and abilities. Nia encourages people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities to dance at their own pace, listen to their bodies, and welcome in pleasure.
Nia with Susan Tate
Nia Moving to Heal Classes at
University of Virginia Cancer Center
Our classes are love-streamed on Zoom Wednesdays and Fridays at Noon EST
Our once a month in-person classes will continue. Learn more.
The dynamic precision of martial arts ~ T’ai Chi, Aikido, & Tae Kwon Do
The expressiveness of dance arts ~ Jazz, Modern Dance, & Duncan Dance
The self-healing potential of ~ Yoga, Feldenkrais, & The Alexander Technique
Nia is:
“I felt so good after the BEAUTIFUL class today. I am DEEPLY grateful for having been able to attend, your every choice and lead was exquisite and powerful. It’s hard to put in words the magic your class accomplished last night because it is all encompassing and beyond words.”
It was truly a joy to discover Nia in 1997 while I was the Director of Health Promotion and assistant professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia. As a black belt Nia master teacher, Nia Moving to Heal master teacher, and certified Nia 5 Stages of Self-Healing instructor, I’ve taught thousands of classes across the U.S. and many workshops internationally since I began teaching Nia in 1999.
When I moved to Seattle in 2000, I found myself adding Nia to my wellness workshops. It’s been a sweet complement to my wellness coaching, writing, and speaking engagements. Nia students and teachers in Seattle, New York City, Washington DC, Toronto, Antwerp, Kailua-Kona, and cities in between have been moved by my signature workshop: Igniting the Power of the Pelvis. It combines the best of my experiences as a sexuality educator, health educator, nourisher, and Nia teacher.
In 2016 I moved back to Charlottesville, where I danced my first Nia steps over two decades ago. I had no idea what I was going to do when I moved. After months of exploring, trusting, praying, and moving my feet, it seems I was led back to the University of Virginia but with different clothing than I wore when I was working there in the 90s. This time, I’m wearing my dance clothing. I’m excited and privileged to be teaching Nia Moving to Heal for the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center at UVA.
I’m the ecstatically proud mother of two amazing adult children, and I delight in being a dancing grandmother—oh wait! As of October 2024 I am a dancing great grandmother!!! Gratitude fills my days.
Do you want what I’m having? Come dance with me!
Check out the YouTube video below to see this song shared at our Nia Seattle group dancing Break the Chain at the One Billion Rising event back in 2013.
Photo of Susan by Walter Zamojski
Nia dancing photos courtesy of The Nia Technique.