Marika Theofelis (she/her), Mary’s Place teaching artist for CDC, is a dance educator with a passion for exposing young people, and the adults that serve them, to the social, emotional, physical, and mental benefits of brain-compatible dance education. She holds a B.A. in Dance and Business from the University of Oregon. Marika attended the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers in 2016, training with Anne Green Gilbert in BCDE. Marika is in her sixth year implementing this method in the Seattle area, with a focus on increasing dance accessibility in our communities. She has taught in the studio setting, after-school, early-learning and enrichment programs, as well as temporary housing/shelter settings.