Meet Our Instructors

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

Najla Gilliam

With over 18 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!

HOUSE DANCE (Special Guest Instructor) | FTS Movement Intensive

Dinita Clark

Philadelphia native, Dinita “Queen Di” Clark is an award-winning dancer, choreographer and street dance competitor who has dedicated over 20+ years to the cultivation, transmission, and preservation of Hip Hop/Street and club dance cultural traditions. Dinita has toured both nationally and internationally with world-renowned Rennie Harris Puremovement Hip Hop Theater company as a Principal dancer/Assistant Rehearsal Director. She has represented the U.S. as a Cultural Ambassador three times via The Obama Administration/BAM/Dance Motion USA, The US Embassy and Next Level USA. She has performed, taught and competed internationally in Poland, Mexico, UK, Amsterdam, Canada, Paris, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan and Jordan. Dinita has also judged and won national and international street dance competitions.

Over the past 10+ years, Dinita has worked closely with her life and business partner Kyle “JustSole” Clark co-creating and developing multiple entities including Just Sole! Street Dance Theater Company, Funky Sole Fundamentals, Groove Factory, SoleFull Party and The Sole Open. Some of her honors include The University of the Arts 2022 President’s Distinguished Teaching Award that recognizes excellence, 2020 Philly Rocky Award, 2019 Pew Fellowship Award and 2017 Leeway Transformation Award. She holds a BFA and MFA in dance from The University of the Arts. 

Credits:

BFA & MFA in Dance from The University of the Arts, Rennie Harris Puremovement Hip Hop Theater company Principal dancer/Assistant Rehearsal Director, 3-time U.S. cultural ambassador via The Obama Administration/BAM/Dance Motion USA, The US Embassy and Next Level USA, Just Sole! Street Dance Theater Company Co-Founder and more!

Sound Bath Experience (Special Guest Instructor) | FTS Movement Intensive

Vanessa Eva Celestine

Vanessa Eva Celestine is a Master teacher in the healing arts of Reiki and Quantum Energy Healing, Sound Healer, Sacred Womb Therapist (tm), IIN Holistic Health Coach, and a trained Culinary Chef. She's been serving the community in the wellness space for nearly a decade facilitating individual and group healing sessions, events, and workshops.

Vanessa teaches others how restore and strengthen their lifeforce energy through breathwork, visualization techniques, movement, sound, and touch therapies. This signature combination of energy healing regulates the nervous system, redistributes stagnant and dense energy, awakens the senses, and attunes one to their own unique healing powers within.

Credits:

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

Fine Arts | FTS Movement Intensive

Regina Brack

Regina Brack is a self-taught expressionist artist, a devoted mother, and a lifelong student of creativity. While art has always been an integral part of her life, she began sharing her unique abstract creations with the world three years ago. In 2023, Brack reached a significant milestone, successfully hosting her first solo exhibition, showcasing her passion and dedication. Specializing in fine art, she uses acrylic mediums to bring her vivid, emotive works to life, capturing the essence of her personal journey and expression through each piece.

Credits:

Acrylic Arts Specialist

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