"The Dance will always bring us back to the heart."
Stefanie Masters
An Award-Winning Belly Dance performer and a true embodiment of
the dance, Stefanie comes to us from Anchorage, Alaska where she has
shared the dance with many women. Featured in Time Magazine and
the Wall Street Journal, Stefanie is a much sought after professional
performer and instructor.
She has performed in Alaska, Wisconsin, and Illinois for staged shows and events, corporate functions, traditional
weddings, convention centers, benefits including Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, The Breast Cancer Awareness
Benefit, both Alaska and Wisconsin State Fairs, The 2007 Midwest Belly Dance Challenge in which she was awarded
2nd place, performed weekly for Shiraz Persian Restaurant, performed on stage with The Mutaytor at Summer Fest in
Wisconsin, and performed at Adria Bistro in Sheboygan.
Though she has performed at several events throughout Alaska, Wisconsin, and Illinois, her true passion is sharing
and teaching the dance to other women. By teaching self-confidence through posture, breathe and technique, she
helps women realize the beauty and power they hold within themselves. She has taught specialized workshops and
classes at Sonja’s Studio of Dance, The Alaska Club, Gatekey Center for Health & Learning, Bodylite Studio, Le
Club, YogaLoft, Destination Maternity, Trillium Studio, and Take My Hand. One of her most heartfelt moments in
Alaska was being able to share the dance, through a workshop she taught, with the residents of the Abused Women’s
Aid in Crisis Shelter early in 2005.
Stefanie is a Certified and Licensed Massage Therapist, also Certified in Prenatal & Postnatal Massage, as well as a
Certified Yoga Instructor, registered with the Yoga Alliance, and a Certified Birthing Doula, registered with the
Massage Doula Network.. Stefanie holds a diploma in fitness from PCDI, and is pursuing her training as a holistic
psychology practitioner. Continuing her own education in different styles of dance, she received her Level One
Certification in Kajira Djoumahna's American Tribal Style Belly Dance Format this year in February. Stefanie started
her holistic training through the Upledger Institute for Cranial-sacral Therapy in 1993. As a graduate from Gatekey
School for Health and Learning, she has over 10 years of experience, and training in Yoga, T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Cortico
Re-education, Inner Child Psychology for the Professional, Business Principles, Ethics and Community, Anatomy and
Physiology, Reflexology and Kinesiology. Stefanie has certificates in Touch for Health, Lymphatics Massage, Berry
Method, Reiki, Zen Shiatsu, Massage I with Human Sciences, CPR training, Massage and Bodywork Sciences with
State of Alaska Certificate being awarded for a 1200 hour Apprentice Program.
Through her extensive holistic background, Stefanie is able to help others facilitate healing in a very safe and
supportive environment, as she combines both healing techniques and the power of movement through The Dance.
See *Healing Techniques & Therapies page for more details.
In Wisconsin, Stefanie is currently offering Yoga & Belly Dance, both private and group lessons in Port Washington.
She offers Pre-natal Belly Dance, Pre-natal Yoga, Massage, Meditation and Couples classes at Destination Maternity
in Brookfield, weekly classes for beginning, and intermediate Belly Dance students at YogaLoft in Sheboygan as well
as Yoga For Dancers. Stefanie also holds specialized workshops every month, in the Milwaukee and Sheboygan
areas.
See *Belly Dance & Yoga Classes and *Local Events & Workshops
Stefanie is expert in all aspects of the dance including the beauty of veil work, zills (finger cymbals), floor work, and
the very demanding sword dance. Stefanie has always had a love for music, and played the violin for 15 years.
Stefanie quickly learned that to really understand and appreciate The Dance, a dancer must embrace the instruments
and the music. She has studied middle eastern drumming, rhythms and zills for 8 years and believes strongly in
teaching her students the important role both music and instruments play in learning The Dance.
The Dance is very personal and 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 The Dance. Stefanie gladly shares her
own personal story of how a young women from the wilderness of Alaska embraced the dance to realize a dream. A
dream fueled by the self confidence and inner knowledge the dance helped her achieve.
Belly dancing is for everyone. All are encouraged to come and dance. Regardless of your level of fitness, belly
dancing is for you. It is the perfect aerobic exercise to increase your endurance, strength, flexibility and build self-
confidence. You will gain a deeper understanding of self, facilitating the internal healing process thus becoming free
from negative cycles. Let the dance help you realize the joy that life brings.
Looking forward to dancing with you all.
- Stefanie
Stefanie Masters ~ Holistic Therapist & Professional Dancer
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Dance for the Soul