Catrina Choate-Heretoiu

Catrina Choate-Heretoiu

Catrina Choate-Heretoiu is a ballet teacher and somatic educator who works toward assisting students achieve excellence in a stress-free manner. She has created a comprehensive Injury Recovery Program specifically for the sophisticated and introspective dancer who is invested in their dance career and self-improvement.

Ms. Heretoiu received her primary ballet training with the Cecchetti Method and later with the School of American Ballet in New York City. She danced professionally with Miami City Ballet, Carolina Ballet, and Miami Contemporary Dance Company. Ms. Heretoiu performed many Balanchine Ballets including Agon, Concerto Barocco, The Four Temperaments, Jewels, and Serenade. She holds a B.A. degree in English Literature from Florida International University and an MFA degree in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. From 2010-2014, Ms. Heretoiu was a full-time faculty member with the UIUC Dance Department where she taught ballet, directed the community outreach Lecture Demonstration program, and created an Injury Lab for the dance majors. She is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais practitioner and has structured specific Awareness Through Movement lessons for dancers to help the physical rehabilitation process and to increase a sense of body awareness.

From 2014–2018, Ms. Heretoiu had the pleasure of teaching in her home state of Michigan while raising her two young boys and is now continuing her teaching career and somatic practice in Northern California. Ms. Heretoiu believes in the power of movement to enhance learning and self-development and she likes to provide the environment necessary for people to freely explore, experience, connect, and learn.

Catrina