comments
from my alexander technique students
“Ally is a highly intuitive and compassionate bodyworker who pulls from Alexander Technique and years of obviously conscious and curious embodiment. In our private lesson they listened carefully not only to my words, but the truth of my experience that was expressed through them, and the ways that experience translate through the alignment and muscle tension patterns in my body.
They expertly facilitated my specific requests for sensation that allowed me to integrate several aligned patterns of Being. Notably, with their gentle touch and deeply resonant words, I was able to find and name a specific and nuanced pattern of holding my pelvis that I realized was the primary source of discomfort when I was having chronic pain and fatigue in the past. Learning a route to choose differently brought grief for the past and a strong sense of personal empowerment, freedom and hope for deeper wellness in my future. Ally is wise, patient, safe, and so powerful in improving a person's relationship to their body.”
August
“Getting an Alexander Technique lesson with Ally is such a profound shift in my relationship with my body, every time. PDX, I recommend them to everyone who hopes to cultivate a curious, conscious relationship to their home (their body).
They have magic hands!”
Hawk
“I feel incredibly lucky to get to work with Ally. While our Alexander Technique lessons have been through the lens of dance, I feel it's impact rippling out through my life. I have many physical practices, yoga, my business of massage therapy, exercise, even the simple acts of folding my laundry give me opportunities to practice what I've been working on with Ally. I feel more grounded in my body and capable of doing all of the things I love, and even some of the things I hate (looking at you, laundry). There's also the unexpected benefit of some of the self-awareness realizations that have come up throughout the work. My partner is also taking privates with Ally, and we regularly discuss how we continue to incorporate our takeaways into our daily life. I recommend Ally to my own massage clients as a way to tackle some of the overall holding and movement patterns that contribute to the reasons why they come to see me in the first place. I can't think of anyone that wouldn't benefit from the kind of focused, thoughtful, and customized instruction that Ally brings.”
Stasha
comments
from my dance students
"Ally is a skilled and engaging dance instructor with an excellent grasp of body mechanics. She has a friendly, approachable style that keeps her classes fun. I also know several dancers who have greatly improved their movement through private instruction with her."
Daniel B-B
Instructor Coordinator
Portland Blues & Jazz Dance Society
"Ally combines philosophy, body mechanics, and dance technique in a way that leaves you walking away from her lessons with your brain spinning and body itching to try new things. Hers is a truly holistic dance practice that gives dancers of any experience level something personal to chew on. I actually felt inspired to practice on my own after her lessons - something I continuously struggle with - because she reminded me that play and experimentation and being in my body are just as if not important than 'looking good' in my movement."
Rheanna M.
"Few of my decisions have been as wise as taking dance lessons with Ally. My background as a dancer was scattered, and composed of a handful of vocabulary and bad habits picked up from years of beginner lessons and social dance. Ally took this foundation – shaky as it was – and rebuilt it into a much stronger base upon which to build my skill.
Her passion is incredibly infections. She balances encouragement and drive, knowing when to push to new territory, when to let something rest, or when to visit something easy to build confidence. This makes her not just a good teacher, but a good coach as well.
All this would be for nothing without skill. Her background in multiple dance styles – both solo and partner, interest and knowledge of body mechanics, and experience with teaching combine into a formidable toolset. The best teachers are always learning themselves, and Ally is no exception. She constantly works to improve her own foundations, and readily accepts and integrates what her students bring to the table to further both of their development.
Or, in other words: 'YOU ARE THINKING OF TAKING LESSONS WITH ALLY WHY ARE YOU STILL THINKING DO IT SHE'S AMAZING"
Sawyer N.
"Through my life I've never been a dancer. 4 years ago I decided to try dancing and began taking dance classes and dancing regularly, mostly with 'Tuesday Blues' and 'Barefoot' in Portland. OR.
I attend 1 or 2 dance lessons every week. Ally has been teaching with Tuesday Blues and Barefoot Blues in Portland Oregon as long as I have been dancing.
Ally has been the designated instructor for many of the dance classes I've taken in Portland. She is very fun to take dance classes from. She knows and understands the class subject and communicates it to her students well. Yet she also keeps us dancing / practicing the material she is teaching us. I always find it easy to learn from and understand her demonstrations of the class material. Ally has a good ability to notice less than desirable movements in individual students and offers quality suggestions to improve her student's movements when needed, without making her students feel inadequate. I'm glad the dance follows the classes because I always feel motivated to dance and practice what I've learned in her class! Ally is an excellent dance instructor and I would recommend her to anyone (and I have!)."
Chris W.