Mariane Karou is the founder of Dance Alive, Inc. and has been teaching movement for over 45 years. She is a formative leader, master teacher, innovator and pioneer in the field of movement, somatic education, and life training.
To read more see Meet Mariane or Founder Letter.
Hi, I’m Kristi!
I am motivated, exuberant, and have a passion for helping others learn to team play.
I am the Dance Alive Office Manager and help keep the office running smoothly! I respond to things as needed, and welcome new students that come to Dance Alive... and am happy to do it!
Working at Dance Alive has given me the opportunity to continue my growth in a learning environment because as a staff member we are expected to use the Dance Alive tools to handle all work matters.
I have been living in the Dance Alive training for the past 23 years and continue to delve into the teachings of the Dance Alive system. Dance Alive has not only taught me practical tools for living but also how to be connected to my body and mind and make all decisions from a place of deeper knowing. It is through the Dance Alive training that I found my passion for working with children and families as I saw the immense impact I could have on them.
I graduated with honors and a B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development from California State University Northridge. Throughout high school and college, I worked with children and families. I was the manager of a surf camp for 7 years, leading outdoor adventure programs, and worked in after school tutoring programs. It was through these work experiences, through my college education, and through my training in Dance Alive, that I found what I love to do:
Teaching individuals and families, through the Dance Alive system, to balance their life, and function and excel in all areas of their life.
In addition to running the Dance Alive Office, I have my own business, Kristi Karou Coaching where I help individuals and families bring teamwork, cooperation, and enjoyment into their lives, and to approach life as a learning adventure. I work with all ages, from 2 to 75 years old, and have been working with clients for a year and a half. Everything I teach is a direct result as how I live my life, which is practical and fun!
I love what I do, and plan to continue to learn, grow and work as a team with everyone in my life!
I am motivated, exuberant, and have a passion for helping others learn to team play.
I am the Dance Alive Office Manager and help keep the office running smoothly! I respond to things as needed, and welcome new students that come to Dance Alive... and am happy to do it!
Working at Dance Alive has given me the opportunity to continue my growth in a learning environment because as a staff member we are expected to use the Dance Alive tools to handle all work matters.
I have been living in the Dance Alive training for the past 23 years and continue to delve into the teachings of the Dance Alive system. Dance Alive has not only taught me practical tools for living but also how to be connected to my body and mind and make all decisions from a place of deeper knowing. It is through the Dance Alive training that I found my passion for working with children and families as I saw the immense impact I could have on them.
I graduated with honors and a B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development from California State University Northridge. Throughout high school and college, I worked with children and families. I was the manager of a surf camp for 7 years, leading outdoor adventure programs, and worked in after school tutoring programs. It was through these work experiences, through my college education, and through my training in Dance Alive, that I found what I love to do:
Teaching individuals and families, through the Dance Alive system, to balance their life, and function and excel in all areas of their life.
In addition to running the Dance Alive Office, I have my own business, Kristi Karou Coaching where I help individuals and families bring teamwork, cooperation, and enjoyment into their lives, and to approach life as a learning adventure. I work with all ages, from 2 to 75 years old, and have been working with clients for a year and a half. Everything I teach is a direct result as how I live my life, which is practical and fun!
I love what I do, and plan to continue to learn, grow and work as a team with everyone in my life!
Hi, I’m Syndee!
I'm the Manager of Enrollment, it’s an honor for me to be able to help students create a customized Dance Alive program that fits your unique needs based on your goals, intentions and the balance of your life. I’m here to assist you to integrate everything you learn in classes and workshops so that you can apply it all to your daily life and get the results you so deeply want!
I have a BA in Holistic Health, Nutrition + Dance, a MA in Communications and Indigenous Studies, I’m a certified Herbalist and I’ve been a student of the Healing Arts for 20 years.
As a direct result of participating in this accelerated learning environment since 2007, my life has completely transformed. I have deeply fulfilling work as a coach and mentor in my thriving business, Deeper Ground. I have communicative, growing relationships, a beautiful home, and a family of my own. I view challenges as opportunities and have learned to use my feeling nature as a tool to gather information rather than as an excuse to act out or run away. The more I learn to move with every situation in front of me and take 100% responsibility for everything in my life, the more humbled I am by how awesome life can be. It just keeps getting better and better.
It wasn’t always this way. I grew up in a very challenging household where I was not prepared for how to navigate my life. I was trained in how to avoid conflict and run from pain. And that running took me across the planet to Australia where I spent a lot of my 20s. After much hardship, I finally gained the courage and built the strength to leave, I returned to LA. and found Dance Alive, which was exactly what I needed to build my confidence and live in the world with my connection to my internal strength.
I bring my fullness to everything I do. I’m all about riding my learning edge and discovering who I really am underneath all the snake skins that are ready for shedding. I use everything I learn and everything I know, in the bounds of my belly and the buzz of my bones, as a compass, guiding me always home to the deeper ground of my being. It rocks my universe to participate in guiding you home to yours!
I'm the Manager of Enrollment, it’s an honor for me to be able to help students create a customized Dance Alive program that fits your unique needs based on your goals, intentions and the balance of your life. I’m here to assist you to integrate everything you learn in classes and workshops so that you can apply it all to your daily life and get the results you so deeply want!
I have a BA in Holistic Health, Nutrition + Dance, a MA in Communications and Indigenous Studies, I’m a certified Herbalist and I’ve been a student of the Healing Arts for 20 years.
As a direct result of participating in this accelerated learning environment since 2007, my life has completely transformed. I have deeply fulfilling work as a coach and mentor in my thriving business, Deeper Ground. I have communicative, growing relationships, a beautiful home, and a family of my own. I view challenges as opportunities and have learned to use my feeling nature as a tool to gather information rather than as an excuse to act out or run away. The more I learn to move with every situation in front of me and take 100% responsibility for everything in my life, the more humbled I am by how awesome life can be. It just keeps getting better and better.
It wasn’t always this way. I grew up in a very challenging household where I was not prepared for how to navigate my life. I was trained in how to avoid conflict and run from pain. And that running took me across the planet to Australia where I spent a lot of my 20s. After much hardship, I finally gained the courage and built the strength to leave, I returned to LA. and found Dance Alive, which was exactly what I needed to build my confidence and live in the world with my connection to my internal strength.
I bring my fullness to everything I do. I’m all about riding my learning edge and discovering who I really am underneath all the snake skins that are ready for shedding. I use everything I learn and everything I know, in the bounds of my belly and the buzz of my bones, as a compass, guiding me always home to the deeper ground of my being. It rocks my universe to participate in guiding you home to yours!
Hi, I'm Tierra!
I am spirited, vivacious, and committed to moving and creating the best life possible for myself, my family, and my community.
I work in the Dance Alive Office, doing Marketing, Social Media, and Student Outreach.
You may hear from me on the phones checking in with you, sharing with you about the Dance Alive programs, and helping you find your next step on your path to greater movement in your life!
I grew up on an 100 acre Organic Farm in Northern California. This is where my movement and nature studies began! I continued my education and graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz with a degree in Holistic Health Studies.
When I found Dance Alive, shortly after graduating from college, I knew this was what I had been searching all my textbooks in college trying to find! In integrated system of movement that feeds the body, trains the mind, and deeply nourishes the soul. A place where I could move, and connect to my true essence, the nature that I am... a place where I could continue to grow and expand myself, my skills, and my range of movement, and a community of people choosing to learn, and to life their lives FULLY!
Ever since my first Wednesday night class 6 years ago, I continue to be amazed at the high levels of intelligence, creativity, and structure, that unfolds in every class and workshop (and in the office every day).
I now live in Laguna Beach with my husband of 3 years (a wonderful man who I met in my first Dance Alive class). I come up for all Saturday Take Charge Now, Sunday Movement Workshops, and Intensives, and participates in Focus Pods from our home in Laguna.
I look forward to meeting and moving with you!
Hi, I'm Scott
I provide administrative support and insight to the wonderfully diverse and dynamic Dance Alive team. I specialize in bookkeeping and all things related to Mind Body Online.
I was born in Australia to American parents, which has given me the gift of dual citizenship. I grew up in a rural Northern California town and drove a tractor in the pear orchards as a summer job.
After high school I attended UCLA and earned a degree in communication studies while enjoying the newfound freedom of university life. Traveling abroad further expanded my horizons, and the relationships and experiences I enjoyed during my early twenties helped guide me to a job at a healing arts studio in LA called the Hub, where I was the manager from 2010-2014.
The time in my life connected to the Hub provided fertile ground for an accelerated period of self-discovery and has helped to shape the current trajectory of my life's journey. It was there that I initially became involved in Dance Alive. Of all the healing arts that I have studied, the Dance Alive System has provided me with the set of tools, principles and experiences that I draw upon most often in my daily life. It continues to help me navigate both my personal and professional relationships efficiently and with integrity, which I am incredibly grateful for. It is extremely refreshing and inspiring to participate on a team that is thoroughly committed to functional relating, growth, and movement.
Now that the Hub's physical incarnation in LA has completed, I am enjoying my life in Santa Fe with my partner Lauri, our two dogs Pacha and Wink, two cats Meepers and Guapo, chickens and bees. We are continuing the work from the Hub in a non-physical format, utilizing technology to facilitate groups remotely. We are planning to expand into hosting retreats as well.
I provide administrative support and insight to the wonderfully diverse and dynamic Dance Alive team. I specialize in bookkeeping and all things related to Mind Body Online.
I was born in Australia to American parents, which has given me the gift of dual citizenship. I grew up in a rural Northern California town and drove a tractor in the pear orchards as a summer job.
After high school I attended UCLA and earned a degree in communication studies while enjoying the newfound freedom of university life. Traveling abroad further expanded my horizons, and the relationships and experiences I enjoyed during my early twenties helped guide me to a job at a healing arts studio in LA called the Hub, where I was the manager from 2010-2014.
The time in my life connected to the Hub provided fertile ground for an accelerated period of self-discovery and has helped to shape the current trajectory of my life's journey. It was there that I initially became involved in Dance Alive. Of all the healing arts that I have studied, the Dance Alive System has provided me with the set of tools, principles and experiences that I draw upon most often in my daily life. It continues to help me navigate both my personal and professional relationships efficiently and with integrity, which I am incredibly grateful for. It is extremely refreshing and inspiring to participate on a team that is thoroughly committed to functional relating, growth, and movement.
Now that the Hub's physical incarnation in LA has completed, I am enjoying my life in Santa Fe with my partner Lauri, our two dogs Pacha and Wink, two cats Meepers and Guapo, chickens and bees. We are continuing the work from the Hub in a non-physical format, utilizing technology to facilitate groups remotely. We are planning to expand into hosting retreats as well.
Additional Team Members!
We have an additional staff of wonderful people who work the Dance Alive doors, who help with Tech, R&D, and who give additional support.
We are grateful for all the committed students who continue to show up, participate, and contribute to the team's movement and growth!
We have an additional staff of wonderful people who work the Dance Alive doors, who help with Tech, R&D, and who give additional support.
We are grateful for all the committed students who continue to show up, participate, and contribute to the team's movement and growth!