Dr. Karah Charette is a physical therapist, Pilates instructor, yoga teacher, and dancer from Buffalo, NY originally. She attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Dance. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Columbia University. Karah now owns her own practice called Bodyful Physical Therapy and Wellness in the Bay Area. She is a specialist in pelvic health physical therapy. A dancer for more than 20 years, Karah believes in the power of movement and its connection to expression and the human experience.

Dr. Karah Charette is a physical therapist, Pilates instructor, yoga teacher, and dancer from Buf... Read More

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Adelaida “Addy” Chumpitaz (she/her) is a certified Health and Wellness Coach with advanced training in functional nutrition, perimenopause health, and plant medicine therapeutics. With more than 14 years in the wellness field, she helps people make lasting changes that support their health, energy, and confidence. Her approach is collaborative and down-to-earth, creating space for each person to connect more deeply with their own rhythm and wellbeing. A native San Franciscan and lifelong dancer, Addy has found both joy and community at ODC for many years. Her movement draws from Afro-Haitian and hip-hop influences and is supported by Pilates, yoga, and strength training. When she’s not coaching or dancing, she loves traveling as a way to explore culture, movement, and connection.

Adelaida “Addy” Chumpitaz (she/her) is a certified Health and Wellness Coach with advanced traini... Read More

Dr. Celina De Borja is a Pediatric Sports Medicine Physician who works at UCSF Medical Center. She has special interest in dance and performing arts medicine, injury prevention and bone health. She has worked with the Boston ballet school, Boston conservatory, and Berklee college of music during her medical training. She is an active in volunteer with UCSF RunSafe and PlaySafe, providing medical coverage at various sporting events in the Bay area. She also serves as the volunteer medical director of the ODC HDC, which aims to improve the well-being and health of the dance community through education, musculoskeletal screening and integration of health services.

Dr. Celina De Borja is a Pediatric Sports Medicine Physician who works at UCSF Medical Center. Sh... Read More

Jess Fu, PT, DPT, is an expert in pelvic and orthopedic physical therapy. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Berkeley and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Colorado. With extensive clinical experience, Jess is highly regarded for her hands-on approach to treatment. She also has certification in massage therapy and pilates, adding to her impressive skill set. Jess is fluent in both Mandarin and English. In her free time, Jess likes hiking, volunteering with wilderness search and rescue, and dancing at ODC.

Jess Fu, PT, DPT, is an expert in pelvic and orthopedic physical therapy. She completed her Bache... Read More

Oriana is a Bay Area native from San Jose, CA. Oriana’s dance background is rooted in cultural styles; it evolved in high school when she began learning jazz, joined the color guard, and started exploring other genres. Now, she primarily engages in contemporary dance. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at San Jose State University, she earned her doctoral degree in physical therapy from Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, CA. She has completed an orthopedic residency program and is currently engaged in an orthopedic manual therapy fellowship with Agile Physical Therapy, practicing in Fremont, CA. Oriana is passionate about dance medicine, specifically injury prevention, education, and rehabilitation.

Oriana is a Bay Area native from San Jose, CA. Oriana’s dance background is rooted in cultural st... Read More

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Emily is a Guild-Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner® and ISMETA-certified Somatic Movement Educator and Therapist. She helps people tune into the guidance their bodies are ready to give.

She’s danced professionally in New York City and San Francisco since 2017. Along the way, somatics became essential — not just for refining technique, but for meeting life’s turning points. As a teenager, it helped her remember her spark and her place in the world. As a late-starting dance student, it offered a kind, effective way to rewire habits. In New York’s hustle, it helped her deepen her bond with the wild within. And in grief, it gave her space to move what words could not.

Emily guides others to meet their own thresholds through the body — turning challenges into curiosity, and curiosity into new possibilities for movement and life.

Emily is a Guild-Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner® and ISMETA-certified Somatic Movement Educat... Read More

Before becoming a physical therapist, Dr. Noe performed professionally as a contemporary ballet dancer in NYC and Miami. Her own choreography has been presented at La Mama Theater NYC, SUNY-Purchase Buffalo, and the Colony Theater in Miami. During her time as a dancer, she sustained an injury that would inspire her to pursue a career in physical therapy. After receiving her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Florida International University, she completed 2 years of Residency and Fellowship training in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy from the Ola Grimsby Institute. Additionally, she completed Didrik Sopler’s nutrition for healing course work as part of her continuing education. Dr. Noe utilizes skills developed during her years of training and practice to enhance traditional physical therapy approaches, expanding the limits of holistic care. She is excited about treating patients who struggle with injuries, helping them to get back to doing what they love to do.

Before becoming a physical therapist, Dr. Noe performed professionally as a contemporary ballet d... Read More

Kirsten is a mental performance, health, and wellness coach. Her focus is on the psychology of human performance. From student to professional, she found herself constantly struggling with body image, food choices, confidence, and all of her perceived shortcomings as a dancer and artist. Her own healing required a holistic approach. Kirsten’s fascination with interpersonal dynamics is what drives her to continually seek new insights and cutting-edge approaches, but it inspires her to truly see and appreciate the uniqueness of every client situation.

When you reach your personal best self with the right mindset, confidence increases exponentially. Together you will find strengths, and joy with a mindset-first approach. She will help you push past obstacles and bounce back from setbacks. Her passion is to motivate individuals to make behavior changes such as increased focus and positive self-talk more sustainable. She believes it is possible for you to reach your best self and find unshakeable confidence in dance and life.

Kirsten earned her Master’s in Exercise Science and Health Promotion with a focus on Sports Physiology and Nutrition from PennWest. Kirsten has worked with athletes, professional athletes, coaches, executives, business professionals, clinicians, and high-profile performing artists. Kirsten has been a keynote speaker on health and well-being globally for organizations such as 2U, Stanford University, and Google. She is a health educator, research cancer advocate, certified health and wellness coach, and nutritionist. She facilitates short courses for 2U and Stanford on stress management and employee well-being and healthcare leadership.

Kirsten is a mental performance, health, and wellness coach. Her focus is on the psychology of hu... Read More

Dr. Priscilla Park, DPT, is a physical therapist and naturopath, who brings into her practice a wealth of knowledge with over 25 years of experience and passion for helping her patients heal from their injuries and illnesses naturally with integrative care. She is a founding member of the ODC’s Healthy Dancer’s Clinic, since its inception in 1999. She was the Director for University of California Irvine’s Dance Medicine clinic between 1997-1999, and has worked on many Broadway shows in NYC, including Lion King, 42nd Street, Aida, Hairspray, etc.

As a professional dancer, Pilates instructor, yoga practitioner/teacher, she has a keen eye for even the most subtle movement compensations or malalignment that can contribute to pain and injury and/or lead to recurrent/chronic injuries. She is an expert in movement and biomechanical analysis, and can help identify your movement pattern faults, complex biomechanical problems, and muscle imbalances that are keeping you in pain and preventing you from dancing fully.

Dr. Priscilla Park, DPT, is a physical therapist and naturopath, who brings into her practice a w... Read More

Rachel Recinos Abair is the Health Initiatives Program Director at ODC. She has over 20 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. She earned her M.S. in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Exercise, Nutrition, and Eating Behavior from The George Washington University. She holds multiple fitness certifications including ACSM Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Personal Trainer.

At ODC, she oversees the ODC Fit program, Healthy Dancers Clinic, and seniors programming. As a lifelong dancer, she brings her passion and experience to improve the health and love of dance and movement..

Rachel Recinos Abair is the Health Initiatives Program Director at ODC. She has over 20 years of ... Read More

Nick Wagner, CMT, RCST earned his BFA in Dance Performance with a minor in Kinesiology from Chapman University and his CMT in 2019 from the World School of Massage & Holistic Healing Arts. In 2021 he became a Responsive Body Practitioner, and in 2025 he earned his RCST from Body Intelligence. His experiences and prior skills help him to tap into the unfolding processes and the subtle and profound shifts of his clients on the table. From an early age, Nick has been interested in anatomy, kinesiology, and physiology, and dance provided another angle that supported his learning. He found his inspiration for bodywork and its transformative nature first-hand while working through a chronic injury. Through a biodynamic approach, he began to learn how to read the body’s signals and strategies to interpret its unique solution to each challenge. This has proven effective both personally and with his clients as a way to move away from a prescriptive paradigm and toward an adaptive one; to move away from the textbook and toward customization.

Nick Wagner, CMT, RCST earned his BFA in Dance Performance with a minor in Kinesiology from Chapm... Read More