Our Mission

CMDC awakens and activates the creative, intuitive power of the heart through dance/movement
for healing, transformation and wellness in mind, body and spirit

Vision 

We envision a world where:

• Humanity is rooted in living & leading from the heart, creating change from the inside out
• All people have access to dance & other holistic embodiment practices that help them connect to their heart
• We embody an intersectional approach to unity and collaboration that celebrates the diverse human experience
• Heart-centered movement contributes to the well-being & evolution of humanity and our stewardship of the planet

Who We Are

Elena Sophia Kozak, Executive Director

Sophia co-founded Critical Mass Dance Company (CMDC) in 2010 and brings 15 years of nonprofit experience as a community organizer, educator, and program manager in the arts. Sophia seeks to bridge worlds of social justice, healing arts and dance to support the healing and transformation of people and planet. In 2010, Sophia created Dance from the Heart and wrote a book on the practice in 2017 called Dance from the Heart: Manifesting through Movement. Sophia holds a B.A. from UCLA and M.A. degrees in Spiritual Psychology (Counseling) and Nonprofit Management.

Patille Violeta, Teaching Artist 

Teen Empowerment Program

Patille discovered the healing power of dance when she joined Critical Mass Dance Company in 2016.  She is one of CMDC's Teaching Artists and the Teen Empowerment Program Facilitator. Patille has been teaching Dance from the Heart classes to youth and women since 2017. She is passionate about creating brave and safe spaces for youth to ground, explore their identity, and discover their passions. Patille brings ten years of Youth Wellness Advocacy to her work. She is a trauma-informed Yoga teacher, Reiki Master Practitioner,  Meditation Teacher, and Painter.  Patille's mission is to support the community with tools that promote wellbeing, emotional resilience, inner peace, and positive self-esteem. 

Azucena Ortiz, Teaching Artist

Survivor Empowerment Program

Azucena Ortiz brings 16 years of experience working with a diverse community of families and individuals, facilitating non-violent parenting classes, trauma-informed workshops, managing events. and held administrative roles. Her journey has led her to discover the complexity of relationships, intersectionality, and bigger systems. For the last 3 years, she’s worked as an independent consultant and co-founded Cambio Colectivo::Collective Change. Azucena joined CMDC as a dance student in 2016, developing a passion for healing through movement. In 2017 she became a board member and facilitator of the Women’s Empowerment program. She is currently in process of completing her B.A. in Organizational Studies.

Janet Lo, Teaching Artist 

Dance from the Heart Virtual Program

​Janet Lo is second generation Chinese Canadian/American interdisciplinary storyteller with a focus on empowering and healing the feminine divine through embodiment, conscious movement, and ecstatic dance. Janet leads CMDC's virtual Dance from the Heart classes and workshops with the heartfelt intention of creating brave and safe wellness spaces for healing and transformation. 

Wisdom Circle - Board of Directors

Wisdom Circle Members support the growth of CMDC with their love, time, energy and expertise.
We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their service!

Betina Steiger, Board Chair
Aracely Lozano, Board Treasurer
Tara Contreras-Peters, Board Secretary
Maria Franco-Rahman, Board Member
​Vashti Blacker, Board Member
Thelma Orellana, Board member

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