​​Hi, I'm Annika: the creator of Carve Lab.

I’ve spent most of my life in dance studios, as a trained classical dancer, dance educator, teaching artist, teacher trainer, choreographer, studio manager, and dance franchise manager. In each of these roles, I experienced burnout consistently throughout the year, between recitals, competitions, conventions, workshops, and events.

And each year, I witnessed dancers of all ages experience panic and overwhelm, parents struggling to manage the intense expectations of the dance world, instructors who were burnt out, and studio owners needing various forms of support.

 

Following a personal burnout in 2018, I embarked on a journey to heal myself. After years of therapy, somatic education, nervous system education, mindfulness and meditation, trauma training, and becoming a Somatic Movement Educator and Therapist (RSME/T) and Expressive Arts Therapist, I created Carve Lab: a space to slow down, pull back, and intentionally explore how to carve out a new path for safety, connection, and fulfillment.

 

I've been training dance educators since 2012, leading empowerment workshops and retreats for dancers since 2016, and speaking publicly since 2021. I am proud to advocate for a safer, healthier dance community and it is an honor to be able to serve my community members.

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My Background

-Registered Somatic Movement Educator and Therapist (ISMETA)
-Embodied Expressive Arts Therapist (Expressive Arts Institute of Oregon)
-Dance Educator and Teacher Trainer (20+ years)
-Dance Studio Manager and Dance Franchise Manager (FLOOR Center for Dance, WEBBY Dance Company)
-Neurodevelopmental Movement Educator: primary reflex integration (Anne Green Gilbert)
-Brain-Compatible Dance Educator (Anne Green Gilbert, CDC)
-Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certificate (The Embody Lab)

-Professional Member of the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA), the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), and the Oregon Dance Education Organization (ODEO)

In September 2023 I presented at NDEO’s 2023 National Conference, Teaching is Leading: Embracing Our Impact and Opportunity as Dance Educators on the importance of prioritizing the health and wellness of dance educators - and all who enter the dance space.

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In September 2024 I presented an experiential workshop at NDEO's 2024 National Conference called Cultivating a Versatile Ecosystem for Wellness. "Move beyond static roles and discover how shared leadership, collaboration, and kinesthetic exploration can revitalize your dance community."

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Build Resilience to Thrive in the Dance Space

 

Carve Lab programs offered are accessible opportunities for individuals and dance studios to shift away from the cycle of overwhelm and burnout. Every program created is holistic; there is a consideration of mental, emotional, and physical wellness, along with tools for social connection and community support. The goal? A more easeful, balanced, and supported dance year.