Director of The Radiant Dancer and
The Radiant Dance Teacher
Mariah-Jane Thies
My Short Bio:
There is a lot of detailed information below for those of you who wish to get to know me and my background better but in short:
I am a dance and movement educator for the past 37 years. I was a studio owner for 10 years before closing and focusing on all the additional complementary training that now informs my teaching practice.
I am passionate about elevating the dance industry I love so much and while I have created numerous online courses, I still in my happy zone when I am in the studio teaching either eager to learn students or teachers.
Big Highlights
I am not one to want to brag, but if you are checking me out to see who I am and what I've done then I guess it is only helpful to share some of the big highlights of my professional career to date.
Innovation in Dance Teacher Award
To be honoured by fellow ballet teachers specifically for working to bring my new ideas into the dance community to elevate the industry I love so much really couldn't be a better fit.
TEDx Talk
To speak on the world's biggest stage and to share a message I so deeply believe in, is an honour and a responsibility. I am proud of my performance and hope many listen and learn.
Presentations around the World
I love to both travel and teach. Combining these loves with presentations at some of the biggest dance teacher conferences around the world has been an ongoing honour and a great joy.
Learning from the Best
I always seek out the teacher's who are the top in their field. This has led me to travel extensively to work with the creators of their methodology. See below for details.
Woman of Worth Award
As a finalist for the Success, Spirit and Soul Award came at just the right time to support me in my journey back to health. I know what it is like to go through extreme hardships, challenges and illness. AND, I know how to come back from that!
Being in Community
It is so important to me, to feel part of a supportive community that I have been building with The Radiant Dance Teacher (now almost 3000 members). I have had the gift of the wonderful BETI (Bill Evans Teacher's Intensive) community for 25 years!
Content Provider on a New Worldwide Platform:
The Library Aesthetic Dance Media
I am an invited content provider on the unique new platform serving dancers and dance teachers.
I am under the heading of health and wellness for my work with Brain Gym and the Reflexes.
You are encouraged to start your 14 day trial, then subscribe for $5.99 USD/month and of course...to share with other dancers/dance teachers who are looking to have an easy way to find the most reputable and credible dance education available online.
TEDx Talk: Your Movement Habits Create Your Life
In 2021, I fulfilled a true bucket list item of being able to share a portion of my story and passion by presenting my "Idea Worth Sharing" on a TEDx Stage.
Please follow the link below if you wish to hear about how ballet had limited my life and then how modern (specially Bartenieff/Laban) helped to expand it again.
As a ballet lover, I am focused on ensuring that ballet students do not go through a similar limitation due to their love of the arts form that is ballet.
Youtube Channel
I have been working on sharing videos with interested dance teachers since 2022.
Please enjoy the selection available to you. If you like video please do give it a like click and of course...please subscribe!
Click the photo to go to the channel.
Conference Presentations
- RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Melbourne 2020, Online 2022, Sydney 2024
- IADMS (International Assoc. of Dance Medicine Science) Helsinki, Finland 2018
- NDEO (National Dance Educators Organization), New York City, 2019
- WAEF (World Arts and Embodiment Forum), Online, 2023
- DSSE Dance Science and Somatics, Buffalo, NY 2018
- International Educational Kinesiology Conference Damme, Germany, 2018
- Breakthroughs International Conference San Diego, California, 2018, online 2023
- Healthy Dancer Canada Toronto, Ontario & Vancouver, BC, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2021
- Body-Mind Centering North American Conference, Montreal, Quebec, 2016
- World Congress of Dance Whistler, BC, 2015
- International Somatics Conference New York & New Mexico, 2013, 2017, 2023-24
- CANASK International Conference (Canadian Association of Specialized Kinesiology) Banff, AB, 2015
- BC Teachers Federation Conference Vancouver, BC, 2014
- Toastmasters International: District Conference presentation 2020, 2021, 2022
Experience & Credentials Highlights
- Dance Educator & Choreographer, 37 years
- International Speaker and Presenter
- Masterclasses, Seminars and Workshops Worldwide
- Best Selling Published Author
- Dance Genres: Ballet, Modern, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Creative Dance: ALL Ages
- Studio Director, 10 years; Prism Dance Centre in Port Moody, BC, Canada
- Registered RAD Ballet Teacher since 1997
- RAD Teacher’s Supervisor & Mentor, since 2002
- Evans Laban-Based Modern Technique Certified Teacher, 2006
- Brain Gym-Licensed Instructor and Consultant, 2014
- Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Training, Certified Instructor, 2015
- GMCC Dance Teacher Degree, 1993
- Brain Dance trained with creator Anne Green-Gilbert
- Franklin Method Level 1 Educator
- The Library Aesthetic Dance Media Content Provider
Teacher's I have had the Honour and Pleasure of
Personally Studying with in Person!
Although I am always working to learn more via many online channels, I treasure greatly the in person studies I have had with so many dance legends and leaders/creators in the Educational Kinesiology field (Brain Gym and Reflex work).
Master Dance Teachers
- Bill Evans
- Don Halquist
- Kitty Daniels
- Debra Knapp
- Lynn Wallis
- Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen
- Peggy Hackney
- Eric Franklin
- Donna Krasnow
- Irene Dowd
- Beverley Spell
- Anne Green Gilbert
Teachers for Brain Gym and Reflex Integration
- Paul Dennison
- Gail Dennison
- Dr. Carla Hannaford
- Harald Blomberg
- Claire Hocking
- Carol Ann Erickson
- Lisa Marcovici
- Moira Dempsey