FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR

NEALA HAZE, MA, ADTR, REAT, Founder and Director of the Authentic Movement Institute, passed from her body in June 2004. Her presence and contributions are immense. As the central, core figure of the Institute, Neala originated it and piloted it successfully through an ambitious and extensive program for eleven years, including year-long trainings.

In her ability to run the Institute as a thriving enterprise, Neala has called on her tremendous skills as teacher, administrator, visionary, dancer, academic, mentor, movement therapist, psychotherapist, organizer, and group leader. She was able to bring together at various times a group of diverse, talented teachers and advisors at the Institute. Along the way she has trained and mentored many current teachers of the form.

Neala holds Masters Degrees in Dance and Counseling Psychology. She studied Authentic Movement with Mary Whitehouse and later trained with Janet Adler and Joan Chodorow. A pioneer in movement therapy for three decades, she integrated Eastern thought, humanistic psychology, body-based and creative arts therapy approaches into her teaching and private practice. As the Co-coordinator and Internship Supervisor of the Graduate Program in Dance Movement Therapy at CSU Hayward from 1981 to 1993, she produced two teaching videos based on Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen's developmental theory. She was also Adjunct Faculty in the Expressive Arts Therapy Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and had a private practice in Somatic Therapy. She trained in dance at the American Ballet Theatre, and taught dance and dance therapy for 20 years before founding AMI in 1993. Her writings on Authentic Movement will be published in a forthcoming book. Neala's new film, "Authentic Movement and Performance: Imagining Brightly Colored Flowers, I Rise", has been completed recently and is now available.

Books:

1980 "Dance/Movement Activities: K-Junior High." Fine Arts Curriculum, Contra Costa County, Pleasant Hill, CA.

Papers:

1994 With T. Stromsted, "An Interview with Janet Adler." American Journal of Dance Therapy, Vol. 16, No. 2, Fall/Winter, pp. 81-90.

1994 "Authentic Movement: Origins, Theory and Practice." Proceedings of the First International Clinical Conference in Berlin on Dance/Movement Therapy at the Nervenklinik, Spandau, Germany, pp. 102-105.

1994/95 "Authentic Movement Institute Opens." A Moving Journal. Fall 1994, Vol. 1, No. 3/Spring 1995, Vol. 2, No. 1.

1996 "The Heart of the Conference ÷ The Heart of the Work." American Journal of Dance Therapy, Vol. 20, No. 2, Fall/Winter.

2006 With T. Stromsted. "The Road In: Elements of the Study and Practice of Authentic Movement." Essays on Authentic Movement. Volume Two. Patrizia Pallaro, Editor. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Film/Video:

1977 "Anna." A case study of developmentally delayed child. (40 minute video).

1986 "Roots of Movement Re-developing." Based on Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen's developmental theory. (35 minute video).

1988 "Developmental Patterns: Utilized in the Training of Dance/Movement Therapists." (45 minute video).

(featured in)

1974 "Feel the Air" produced by State of CA Residential Task Force. Dance/movement therapy with developmentally disabled adults. (30 minute video).

1981 "The Hidden Struggle." Award-winning film about Clausen House, a residential facility for developmentally disabled adults. (45 minute video).

1990 "Fired Up or Burnt Out: Making Dance/Movement Therapy a Viable Career." Produced by C. Zinn and D. Gerr. (30 minute video).

1992 Selected as a Group Leader: "Moving Toward Health: A Study of Dance/Movement Therapy to Effect the Psychological Adaptation to Breast Cancer." Produced by S. Dibbell-Hope, Ph.D. Funded by the American Cancer Foundation and the American Dance Therapy Association. (30 minute video). University of California Center for Media and Independent Learning, 2000 Center Street, Berkeley, CA 94704; telephone 510-642-0460.

2004 "Authentic Movement and Performance: Imagining Brightly Colored Flowers, I Rise" is a groundbreaking film conceived, produced, and directed by Neala Haze, MA, ADTR. It represents some of her insights and interest in discovering a bridge between Authentic Movement and performance.
38 minutes, Copyright, 2004. Proceeds from sales of the film will go to the Neala Haze Tribute fund to benefit the Meher Baba Free Clinic in Ahmednaggar, India. For more information visit the film page.

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