Biography
Movement Bio
“I love movement. I am a dancer, choreographer, yogi, hiker, strength trainer, Pilates teacher, and a movement challenge seeker.”
Paula uses all movement modalities to create strength, mobility, confidence, expression, and healing in all her clients and students. With extensive practice in contemporary dance, Pilates, yoga, and strength training, Paula draws on these different systems to pull out endless possibilities, drawing upon over two decades of teaching experience. As an explorer of movement, she loves to find other ways to move the body without pigeonholing one style or method. She has taught Pilates since 1998 and uses that philosophy as a lens for the body. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, and a Bachelor of Arts Dance degree from the University of California, San Diego.
Certifications:
PILATES
Long Beach Dance Conditioning - 1998 - with Marie Jose Blom
The Work - 2013 - with Jay Grimes
STRENGTH TRAINING and MOVEMENT
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) - 2014
Certification in Applied Functional Science (CAFS) - Gray Institute - February 2023
MovNat - Level 1 Instructor - April 2021
Dance Bio
Paula Present, a native Angelino, received her BA in Dance and BS in Biology from UCSD. Making dance professionally since 1995, she started working under the name PTERO Dance Theatre from April 2004 -2015, as its artistic director, dancer, and choreographer and was an award-winning, critically acclaimed dance company. She has choreographed for Curb Your Enthusiasm. Music videos for the band Fanfarlo (Harold T Wilkins) and was an assistant choreographer with JoAnn Jansen for the band, Beirut (Elephant Gun). Paula also choreographed for the documentary, Bombay Beach, winner for Best Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival 2011. Paula had the opportunity to choreograph for Culture Clash in their critically acclaimed docu-theater Bordertown, as well as Herbert Siguenza’s 2010, A Weekend with Pablo Picasso. She improvised a solo in a fountain in Richard Montoya and Guillermo Gomez Pena’s Los Doppelgangers at UCLA’s Fowler Museum. She choreographed for The Runway, a commission from the elite fashion label, Gypsy 05. She has taught at Pasadena City College, Hollywood Dance Center, San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet, Anna Djanbazian Dance Academy, as well as masterclasses at performing arts centers. She performed with Helios Dance Theatre for five seasons and as well as many others. Ms. Present was selected as distinguished alumni by her college, UCSD, for a campus-wide banner campaign, for being a “dreamer, risk-taker and leader, achieving the extraordinary, while possessing the University’s spirit of innovation, discovery, and entrepreneurial drive."