A Summer of Yoga & Dance
We would like to welcome Joanne, who joins Bermuda's community of Yoga Teachers for the summer!
Joanne Ball – Burgess (B.A., M.Ed) , a resident of Nairobi, Kenya & citizen of the world was born and raised in Bermuda.
Joanne returns to Bermuda for the summer of 2019, and will be hosting classes and workshops that offer a creative blend of DANCE and YOGA!
Joanne’s journey towards yoga began with dance. She has formal training in West African Dance, Modern Contemporary dance, Lyrical & Ballet coupled with East African traditional dances, Hip Hop & Dancehall as well as some dabbling in Musical Theatre.
Joanne believes that dance for her is a gift and that her gift of freedom through dance helps to liberate and bring healing and health to others.
Joanne returns to Bermuda for the summer of 2019, and will be hosting classes and workshops that offer a creative blend of DANCE and YOGA!
Joanne’s journey towards yoga began with dance. She has formal training in West African Dance, Modern Contemporary dance, Lyrical & Ballet coupled with East African traditional dances, Hip Hop & Dancehall as well as some dabbling in Musical Theatre.
Joanne believes that dance for her is a gift and that her gift of freedom through dance helps to liberate and bring healing and health to others.
It wasn’t until severe back pains from scoliosis and a hernia repair after two C-sections threatened to stop her from dancing that Joanne found yoga and began practicing 6 days a week. She discovered after the 4th consecutive day of practicing yoga that her back pains were gone.
Joanne completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification through Yoga Zanzinbar. Joanne is certified through Yoga Alliance and is certified to teach Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga-based Flow and Yin Yoga along with Yoga Nidra. She has recently completed the first level Pranic Healing Training. Joanne teaches yoga three times a week at Acacia Studios in Nairobi and is an active member of Yoga for Wellness Africa. In addition Joanne teaches bi-weekly classes in Karura Forest as well as private classes for those who would like specific attention to advance their practice.
Joanne brings a unique approach to her Vinyasa Flow practice where one is able to explore dance-integrated fluidity throughout the practice. This unique approach provides the space for moving meditation of exuberant joy and expression.
Better known by her stage name Judge Jo-1, she is a multitalented dancer in jazz funk, hip hop afro-fusion, dancehall and dance fitness. She is also a choreographer, singer, songwriter, author and educator.
Jo-1 has participated as a member of several dance companies in the US. She has taught dance & performed in the USA, Israel, Cyprus, Egypt, Bermuda, Uganda & Kenya. Coupled with performance, Jo-1’s main goal has always been to bring health, clarity and healing through dance to the observer and the participant.
She earned her Master’s in Education in 2008 where her research was based in understanding how dance, music and drama can enhance the learning model in school curricula. This led her to found The Cottage School which is an alternative learning space for students in Nairobi back in 2015.
As the longest serving female judge for East Africa’s widely acclaimed dance competition show “Sakata Mashariki” on Citizen TV, Jo-1 emerged as the unparalleled breath of fresh air the dance industry lacked thus generating her a beloved fan base.
In addition to the regular yoga classes where Joanne is certified, her unique approach to yoga-dance integration can be seen in the following classes taught regularly in Nairobi and during the Lamu Yoga Festival for the past 4 consecutive years.
Jo-1 teaches Freedom Dance offering yogis and other attendees new levels of self- expression through the grounding, sweaty intensity of dance in many forms. Freedom Dance is the space where wild, spontaneous, creativity of movement and outward exuberance happens. It is also a space where inner healing through outward movement can be an intention.
Jo- also offers Vinyasa Dance Flow where the asana are used as the vehicle to move into dance combinations as a moving celebration of the whole person by releasing into yoga dance.
Jo-1 also leads Yin Dance, which is a slow-paced flow that leads into the stillness of the yin poses.
Joanne brings a unique approach to her Vinyasa Flow practice where one is able to explore dance-integrated fluidity throughout the practice. This unique approach provides the space for moving meditation of exuberant joy and expression.
Better known by her stage name Judge Jo-1, she is a multitalented dancer in jazz funk, hip hop afro-fusion, dancehall and dance fitness. She is also a choreographer, singer, songwriter, author and educator.
Jo-1 has participated as a member of several dance companies in the US. She has taught dance & performed in the USA, Israel, Cyprus, Egypt, Bermuda, Uganda & Kenya. Coupled with performance, Jo-1’s main goal has always been to bring health, clarity and healing through dance to the observer and the participant.
She earned her Master’s in Education in 2008 where her research was based in understanding how dance, music and drama can enhance the learning model in school curricula. This led her to found The Cottage School which is an alternative learning space for students in Nairobi back in 2015.
As the longest serving female judge for East Africa’s widely acclaimed dance competition show “Sakata Mashariki” on Citizen TV, Jo-1 emerged as the unparalleled breath of fresh air the dance industry lacked thus generating her a beloved fan base.
In addition to the regular yoga classes where Joanne is certified, her unique approach to yoga-dance integration can be seen in the following classes taught regularly in Nairobi and during the Lamu Yoga Festival for the past 4 consecutive years.
Jo-1 teaches Freedom Dance offering yogis and other attendees new levels of self- expression through the grounding, sweaty intensity of dance in many forms. Freedom Dance is the space where wild, spontaneous, creativity of movement and outward exuberance happens. It is also a space where inner healing through outward movement can be an intention.
Jo- also offers Vinyasa Dance Flow where the asana are used as the vehicle to move into dance combinations as a moving celebration of the whole person by releasing into yoga dance.
Jo-1 also leads Yin Dance, which is a slow-paced flow that leads into the stillness of the yin poses.
“Yoga did so much more for me than allowing me to dance again. On and off the mat I’ve become a more open-minded person.”
Jo-1 is both ambitious and charismatic evidenced by her favourite quote;
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to
make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to
make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Quote by Marianne Williamson
HOW TO JOIN A CLASS:
The summer beings with classes at Lucky Elephant
visit luckyelephantwellness.com/workshops for details and to book online
Details of more classes throughout the summer will be continue to be posted on the Bermuda Yoga Teachers Association Facebook page.
You can see more of Joanne on social media...
Instagram : jo1yogini
Facebook : Empress Jo-1
Joanne is also be available for private and group classes as well as nutritional coaching.
Email: [email protected].
The summer beings with classes at Lucky Elephant
visit luckyelephantwellness.com/workshops for details and to book online
Details of more classes throughout the summer will be continue to be posted on the Bermuda Yoga Teachers Association Facebook page.
You can see more of Joanne on social media...
Instagram : jo1yogini
Facebook : Empress Jo-1
Joanne is also be available for private and group classes as well as nutritional coaching.
Email: [email protected].
Joanne Ball Burgess, June 2019