Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Barbee.
Hi Laura, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Movement matters. From the start, I was jumping and sweating. That was directed into years of dance training. From there I earned my BFA and was able to move into a professional career.
Sometimes injury is part of our dance world. Through injury and recovery, I was introduced to the GYROTONIC® Expansion System. Over time, I was encouraged to pursue certification and I’ve been teaching this wonderful work to others ever since.
Our community at The Tree, Somatics & Kinetics is committed to nurturing people of varied life and movement experiences. We are rooted in our passion for focused, imaginative, and dynamic movement practice. We believe this allows joy to grow in our daily lives and invites us to change through each season.
I have a lot of support. To be surrounded by earnest business partners, trainers, and clients is wonderful. We see there is a great possibility for more growth going forward.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Having access to regular movement has been so helpful throughout my life. To have the faith to simply keep walking forward has often been hard for me. Alongside that faith, I’ve found movement to be vital whether experiencing the loss of a loved one, getting an exciting new job, becoming a mom, working through a strained time within a friendship, or countless other moments so many of us experience.
One component of my teaching philosophy is that the work we do in the studio needs to have a clear application to our daily lives. That can be as simple as improving a gait pattern and breathing habits or as complex as the needs of a high performance athlete or recovery from a major health incident. Wherever you are, I appreciate willing clients that take time to be present and curious enough to figure it out together.
A beautiful challenge in my job is that I have the opportunity to work with people who have varied world views and life experiences. I learn so much from their differing perspectives and get to search for moments of unity with movement and utilize imagery to build stronger connections.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a professional teaching artist that owns a business! Here’s what that looks like: My business is The Tree, Somatics & Kinetics. I am a professional movement educator. I have a BFA in Ballet & Modern Dance from Texas Christian University. I am a certified Gyrotonic & Gyrokinesis Trainer and Authorized Level I Gyrotonic Pre-Trainer with additional certifications on specialized equipment. I am an adjunct faculty member at TCU in the School for Classical & Contemporary Dance. I am a company teacher for Bruce Wood Dance Dallas, a wonderful professional dance company.
While I really enjoy my work, I cherish my family and friends. I’m most proud of our son. Perhaps what sets me apart is that I’m aiming almost for the opposite. I’m focused on building community through collaborative learning. Hopefully, that stands out more.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Love.
Pricing:
- Services Range: $15-$80/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: thetreefw.com
- Other: gyrotonic.com
Image Credits
Natalie Bracken, N Bracken Photography, Fort Worth
