Meet Our Instructors

FTS MOVEMENT & MARTIAL ARTS | FTS Workshop, Intensive & Official Training Program

Najla Gilliam

With over 20 years of experience in dance and martial arts, Najla Gilliam is a visionary committed to preserving ancestral movement practices. After a successful career in the industry, she felt a deep calling to reconnect with the roots of movement, which led her to create (F)rom (T)he (S)oil Movement. Her mission is to guide dance artists in healing and expanding through the wisdom of sacred movement.

Credits:

(F)rom (T)he (S)oil Movement Founder, Third Degree Taekwondo Black Belt, The Greatest Showman, Rihanna, RZA, One Republic, Anthropologie, Adidas, and more!

FREESTYLE MOVEMENT | Intensive & Official Training Program

Pierce Cady

Pierce Cady is an artist from San Francisco, California, renowned for his eclectic and thought-provoking movement freestyles. With over a decade of professional dance experience, Cady has worked alongside world-renowned artists and brands, establishing himself as a unique voice in the movement world. He is celebrated for his ability to carve out his own lane, blending diverse styles and techniques to create powerful, expressive performances that resonate deeply with audiences. In 2023, Cady joined the FTS Movement faculty, where he now dedicates himself to helping dancers explore their authenticity and connect with their personal truths through the art of movement.

Credits:

Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Gold Link, Vivienne Westwood, Nike, Fila, American Horror Story and more!

Previous Guest Instructors

  • Bobby Morgan

    Music Education

    Credits:

    Innerearpower Founder

  • Hurrikane

    Freestyle Movement

    Credits:

    Madonna, Janet Jackson, Summer Dance Forever Winner, Juste Debout Winner

  • Keyanna Hutchinson

    Music Education

    Credits:

    H.E.R, Jazmine Sullivan, Fantasia and more!

  • Khalfani Porter

    Martial Arts Speaker

    Credits:

    Focus Martial Arts Owner

  • Marisol Blanco

    Afro-Cuban

    Credits:

    Graduate of The National School of Arts (ENA), Master Teacher and graduate of Cuba’s prestigious Superior Institute of Arts (ISA), Owner and director of Sikan AfroCuban Dance Project, Obini-Bata Former member, Cuban Traditional Dance Company J.J and More!

  • Regina Brack

    Fine Arts

    Credits:

    Acrylic Art Specialist

  • Vanessa Eva Celestine

    Sound Healing

    Credits:

    Reiki Master Teacher, Sound Healer, Sacred Womb Therapist (tm), IIN Holistic Heath Coach and a trained Culinary Chef.

“Our ancestors left the blueprint in the soil, where our roots reside.”

— (F)rom (T)he (S)oil Movement Founder, Najla Gilliam