Kelly Douglas

A.R.A.D., RAD RTS

Examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance

I have known Mariah-Jane for many years and have always found her tenacity to find answers to many of the common dancer challenges impressive. Her studies include the prevention of chronic injuries and what it takes to perform well even under the stressful conditions of auditions and performances.

Mariah-Jane has always had a different approach to teaching ballet and the dancers are continually enthused to work with her and experience her new ideas. In the last few years her focus has become working with dancers to introduce new ideas in the area of how to stay focused and coordinated even when nervous or stressed. She has also recently worked with the dancers to shift negative perfectionism and self talk by showing them how this behaviour is stressful to the mind and affects the body’s coordination and strength.

I understand that this approach is drawn from her training and certification in Brain Gym. It is fascinating to see the profound changes that are made by the dancers with just a few key ideas and movements shared by Mariah-Jane. I find this information to be intriguing and important for the dance community. I have every confidence that Mariah- Jane will continue developing paradigm shifting methods to help dance performers to excel and stay healthy and thriving.

As an examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance, I have witnessed how nerves and stress can effect certain candidates. I know that there is very good chance that the young dancer in front of me dances with greater coordination, strength, artistry and musicality when she is in her studio and in a less stressful situation. I understand the idea of lack of brain integration due to stress contributes to the cause of some of the limited performances I have seen. I would love to see Mariah-Jane’s work become part of the CPD (Continuing Professional Development) courses for RAD teachers as well an an integral part of every performers daily pre-performance regime. This work is new and important and could positively affect thousands of dancers to reach their potential beyond the studio and share with the public on stage and is deserving of international recognition.   She has shown dedication not just to her professional development, but to the immediate application to the dancers and teachers she works with. Mariah-Jane is a true pioneer and I fully support her goals and her purpose.

Kara Robinson

Graduate of the National Ballet of Canada Teacher Training Programme

Mariah-Jane, your knowledge never ceases to amaze me!  Thank you for opening my mind once again to new concepts and ways of thinking about ballet development.   Now I just hope I can remember and regurgitate well enough to actually have it make a different to my students in the current and future classes.

Natalie Doyle

Graduate of the National Ballet of Canada Teacher Training Programme

I have had the pleasure of attending teaching seminars as well as private lessons with Mariah-Jane.  I learned more from her in one hour than in many months of training with other teachers.  She cuts to the chase and knows how to speak the root of what teaching is all about and talks about the real life teaching scenarios and how to really help students with the common problems all teachers encounter.

Her wealth of knowledge is stunning and it is a shame that it remains still somewhat untapped by other teachers. I am glad she is sharing this knowledge with teachers and studios around the world and support her fully in this endeavour.

Mariah-Jane’s understanding of anatomy and kinesiology and a depth of how this knowledge informs the training of students of all ages is truly inspirational.

I feel so validated working with her because I have always known that really training dancers requires an acknowledgment of their mental and emotional state, rather than just addressing their bodies and this is the approach Mariah-Jane has and shares with me.

Mariah-Jane knows how to teach the whole person and I have no doubt that she is therefore able to draw out talent that often remains hidden in the hands of teachers who do not have the skills to know how to create the right environment for it to flourish

She knows that students require knowing why they are doing what they are doing in order to take ownership of their bodies and their technical and artistic development.  All teachers and students would benefit from some time with her!

Jennifer Cole

RAD RTS
BFA York University

Mariah-Jane Thies is my mentor for the Royal Academy of Dance Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies Certificate Program. She shares her knowledge of ballet teaching generously, and skillfully guides all her students through the particular expectations of the RAD. Mariah-Jane’s direction is also rich with her expertise in creative movement and BrainDance: a brain-compatible movement learning curriculum that has not only improved the way I teach dancers, but how I teach in general. Her extensive study in movement patterning, imagery and how the body optimally moves, has been invaluable to my work and countless others who have benefited from knowing and learning from her. Her professional and kind demeanour makes the process of in-depth training extremely enjoyable.

Codi Dalen

RAD RTS

I was first introduced to Mariah-Jane Thies’ approach to teaching dance back in 2007. She was my Practical Teaching Supervisor throughout my courses to become a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D.). Throughout the first evaluation I had with her I realized her approach was so completely different than any other teacher I had worked with previously. Having now had the opportunity to work with her more and more over the past decadears I understand and embody her values and work ethic more and more every day.

The biggest experience that changed in me after our first meeting shifted my thinking entirely. It was to really look at the environment I was creating for my students. She passed on knowledge of anatomy and purpose of movements so that I was connecting inside my body rather than externally looking at how a movement visually looked. Now in my teaching visual evaluation is just a lovely by product of the movement but not the reason to move. This is causing my relationship with my students to change as they are so keen to learn about their bodies and I find their confidence is so strong executing movements now as they can feel change through their bodies. This approach enables the mover to fully connect their mind and body and experience that thought creates action.

Overall teaching Ballet has become so fulfilling for me. My students respect the art form of Ballet so much more. They are finding Ballet does not need to hurt it is a language of expression. Most importantly they are finding it fun! Mariah-Jane showed us that lessons about Ballet also continue out into our everyday lives. Some lessons that resonate with me are: “movement is change and change is movement” and “movement rides on breath.”

Mariah-Jane also encouraged me to stop looking at parts of my students’ body but rather the whole picture they are creating and prioritize my feedback accordingly. I think her knowledge of basic fundamental movement patterns and the patterns in the “Brain Dance” that she has passed on to me enable me to provide feedback to aid my students in organizing themselves efficiently and energetically.

I have so enjoyed studying under Mariah-Jane with the R.A.D. and through continued workshops and private sessions. She has limitless knowledge as she returns to her body having the knowledge to know that the body is all knowing and carries the answers to movement efficiency. I think the integration of her Modern dance knowledge to Ballet has made her approach to movement unique and very valuable to the Ballet world!

Shannon Valle

RAD RTS
CDTA Associate Ballet and Acrobatics, CDTA Licentiate Jazz and Tap Royal Winnipeg Ballet Teacher Training Programme Graduate

Mariah-Jane’s approach to my students was wonderful. She was able to articulate sections of the work in a way I could not and proved to be a huge proponent of building their self-awareness and responsibility for their work. She managed to present exercises in a very kid friendly manner without having to condescend in the least. The girls’ very much enjoyed Ms. Thies and her manner as well as her approach to technique and body awareness and movement.

MJ’s unique movement background, in the Bartenieff Movement Fundamentals, allows her to assess the students and correct their technique in a distinctive way. She has a unique ability to make ballet technique make sense to the young mind. I found Mariah- Jane to be especially helpful in her approach to the Free Movement section. The way in which she explains and demonstrates these movements made my students and I understand the Free Movement in a whole new and improved way.

Finding Mariah-Jane weeks prior to our exam session was opportune. She got the students thinking and approaching the work in a self-responsible manner. She presented exercises from a singular perspective that grasped the students’ imagination due to her Bartenieff training. I saw a change in my students after Ms. Thies worked with them and I came away with many new concepts and approaches. Mariah-Jane Thies was most helpful in our advance to the exams.

Mariah-Jane Thies proved to be an excellent coach prior to exams for my students. She is knowledgeable and friendly and the students still ask after her. Ms. Thies was able to present the work in a fresh light for the girls’ and the response was instant and lasting.

Trevor Klushin

GMCC Performance and Teacher Degree

I have had the privilege to work for Mariah Jane Thies as a Creative Dance Specialist. She is one of the most inspirational dance educators I have ever met. Her knowledge of the "whole working dance body" is sound, precise, and accurate. She has the ability to educate a potential dancer to become higher than they can be, with ease and confidence. It is her desire to be in the "Now" with new educational advancements in the Art of Dance that sets herself apart from others in her field. Mariah-Jane is a passionate, driven, and nurturing woman.  She is a team player, and a person who truly loves what she does.   She is an amazing asset and will do wonders for you.

Lily Ashton

RAD Intermediate

I spent 5 months doing private coaching with Miss Mariah-Jane to prepare for my RAD Intermediate exam. She really helped me overcome some habits and improve my technique.  With her, I learned to tap into my performance element of dance and tell a story through my movement. This went from being a weak point in my capabilities to one of the strongest elements of my dancing and my exam scoring. Thank you Miss Mariah-Jane, helping me to become a better dance though using my entire body and mind.

Kaia Shukin

BFA Dance Major, SFU

Mariah-Jane was my dance teacher from childhood until I was nearly an adult. In that time she guided me in not only the technique of my dancing but the fundamentals of how my body worked so I could truly understand what it meant to engage my turnout or correct my posture. I have had a love of dancing for as long as I can remember and Mariah-Jane has always encouraged my passion, even as an adult she has helped guide me in continuing to pursue dance as a career. In her classes directed focus and respect was expected of both teacher and student, an invaluable trait to develop as a child, and every question asked was always greeted with a thoughtful response. Even now I am still impressed watching her teach and share the knowledge she is continually accumulating, she continues to attend seminars and conferences, always expanding her catalogue of knowledge. Mariah-Jane was an integral part of my life for many years in and outside of dance class.

Anna Hittrich

Mariah -Jane Thies is a wonderful dance teacher. She can describe movement in terms that are directly connected to each muscle. It is clear instruction that guides the dancer to have a very conscious control in movement. At the same time she inspires joy in the movement; the technical instruction does not dissect the fluidity of motion required to truly dance. Her manner is gentle and encouraging. It is a pleasure to be in a class with her.

Susan Bensmiller

Fellow CSC-CICB,  CDTA BC Branch Associate Member in Ballet and Stage/Jazz

National Ballet of Canada Teacher Training Programme Graduate

August 18 2013, I hosted a workshop taught by Mariah Jane Thies. I knew we would walk away with information, but was amazed at the amount of detail we were given! Mariah Jane had given us information so relevant to our own bodies, and information relevant to many challenges faced by dance students. Logical build up; linking of ideas and concepts to create greater understanding; clear discussion on the reasons and purposes of movements made it easy to digest and apply the information.

I look forward to attending more of Mariah Jane’s workshops!

Melena Rounis

Working Professional Dancer & Choreographer

Working with Mariah-Jane in my formative years as a dance built me up with a steadfast foundation.  Deepening my eye for detail by learning to see through her detailed lens truly developed my technique and understanding of intention being the movement.

She has the ability to explain and see what the proper progressions needed to to elevate you and your body.  She helped with with flow and transitions, weight placement and turn-out.

Specifically speaking with regard to foot work, the stretch and strengthening components of training with Mariah-Jane gave my feet the polished pointe that you think of when you see professional dancer’s feet.  She has the ability to truly change feet!

In developing that tool, it furthered my confidence and affirmed that I do have all of what it takes to go after my dreams.  I am forever grateful for her sometimes quirky and unconventional, but always smartened definitely elevated and highly specialized detail oriented training.   If she ever offers to ‘pull on your feet”, don’t miss the opportunity; I would take it in a heartbeat!

Sarah Ashton

Our experience with having Miss Mariah-Jane coach our 14 year old to prepare for her Intermediate RAD exam was amazing. She considered all areas of her preparation and helped her achieve her goals. Mariah-Jane’s attention to some long-standing issues (curling toes, chronic hip impingement and knee extension) helped immensely. Her approach of going back to basics to get to the root of these issues to resolve and work through these barriers was a breakthrough for our child. Mariah-Jan looks at the whole of the dancer: body, mind and spirit and supports a healthy and progressive dance journey.

Thank you for helping our girl reach her full potential!