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Rita Rivera Alexander Technique
​Rita Rivera​

 

 

Originally from New York, I am an accomplished dancer, teacher and choreographer who ran my own company, Rita Rivera & Dancers from 1983-1996. I was the founder and artistic director of the Santa Cruz Dance Gallery from 1993-2000, the first independent dance performance center in Santa Cruz, California.​ I have been a guest artist at Cabrillo College, Theater Arts faculty at San Jose State University, University of California Santa Cruz and Sonoma State University.

 

My dance training in New York was greatly influenced by dancer and choreographer Erick Hawkins. Erick was the master of natural and fluid movement and was an important voice in the development of contemporary dance in our country. My work with Erick Hawkins lead me to study with Andre Bernard at NY University in the early 70’s with a focus on experiential anatomy and continued studies with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, the acclaimed founder of the School of Body Mind Centering.

 

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The opening of the Santa Cruz Dance Gallery was an exciting time for me, the dancers of my dance company and our dance community at large.

 

Opening the Dance Gallery at 418 Front Street was spear-headed my myself and the late Ronn Reinberg, who was instrumental with his support in creating an independent dance/performance studio in Santa Cruz.



 

My desire to deepen into the field of movement awareness lead me to study the Alexander Technique

for several years before I entered the teachers training program, completing my certification in 1993.

I have completed certification in "Healing the Light Body" through the Four Winds Society, founded by Alberto Villoldo. The Four Winds Society is dedicated to preserving the Incan shamanic traditions by exploring

the realms of the soul, of nature and ancient shamanic rites of passage.

 

My investigation has taken me into the high Andean mountain passes and to the shores of Lake Titicaca visiting and sitting in ceremony at sacred sites and temples with extraordinary medicine men and women.

I have completed six levels of Visionary Cranio-Sacral training through the Milne Institute in Big Sur, California with Dr. Hugh Milne.​

In 1996 I traveled with Luke Chan, who is a master Chi-Lel Chigong practitioner to Qinhuagdao, China. I have received first level certification in Chi-Lel Chigong through the "Medicineless Hospital" founded by Dr. Pang.


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Rita Rivera

Marisa Schmidt

Amy Sugar

Sara Wilbourne

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Photo Shoot at the Dance Gallery

before renovations began.

On-going weekly classes
Chigong & Restorative Movement
Balls, Soft Rolling & Restorative Movement

My life long dance training and passion for the healing arts has been my foundation for developing classes that use movement and awareness to facilitate insight, transformation and integration in the Body Mind Spirit.​


The focus of my classes are to:

Keep the body moving by exploring micro movements to pedestrian movements to extended movements

Honor the body, even with perceived limitations

Develop a keen sense of awareness about posture and our use

Open and allow insights that support integrating our structure

Become conscious of the impact of the mind and our thinking

Discover how the mind is reflected back to us through our body

 

Breathe, be present…​

 

With affection,

 

Rita

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​               Testimonial
 
"I scheduled my first sessions with Rita when my oboe teacher recommended Alexander Technique to help me with tension related problems in my oboe playing. Rita made observations, asked questions, and worked with me, with and without my instrument, to gently release unnecessary tension in my breathing, posture, and patterns of use, allowing for more freedom and expressive range. My oboe teacher confirmed the accuracy of her observations and I could feel and hear the improvement in my playing".
 
Lorna K., professional musician
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