Dee Volz, 87, a retired journalist, writing professor at Ventura College and professional dancer enjoys the free-form dance movements of a Nia workout.
She was a professional dancer at the Coconut Grove in the Ambassador Hotel and MGM. She was the co-owner of the Ojai Valley News while simultaneously earning her master’s in English Composition and Literature at UC Santa Barbara. And she spent three decades at Ventura College in the journalism department as a professor and adviser to the Ventura College Press.
Now 87, Diane Volz of Ventura spends several days a week at the Nia Center in Ventura, where she dances free style, modern, jazz and interpretive styles in her retirement.
“I dance four to five times a week, heavy cardiovascular, an hour or more,” said Volz, who is commonly known by her nickname, Dee. “Nia, is a mixture of jazz, modern and interpretive dance, planned in order to work out every muscle in the body while having fun in free style movement.”
As a dancer, “Dee is disciplined and consistent,” said Elizabeth Alvarez of Ventura, who met Volz more than 10 years ago when they were both taking traditional Afro-Brazilian dance classes in Santa Barbara.
At the Nia Center, “these classes are challenging for all age groups — Dee’s age is advanced, and I know she has had at least one knee replaced, but she dances several times each week.”
Volz also practices the wisdom of the words “do your best, with what you have, right now” Alvarez added. “I admire this exceedingly.”
Born Dec. 9, 1922, “I was brought into the world in Berlin, Germany, where my mother was studying Wagnerian opera and my father, a matinée idol of the time, was studying film technique,” Volz recalled. “I was brought up in the early Hollywood film colony until 6 years old, then in Mexico, Canada and New York City.”
She danced at MGM from 1943 to 1945, and before that at the Coconut Grove in the Ambassador Hotel. “It was commercial work, and included ballet, rumba, modern, East Indian, tap and whatever. I was in the ensemble.”
Volz has lived in Ventura County since 1962, when her husband, Fred Volz, bought the newspaper in Ojai.
“I had a wonderful professional background in Ventura County,” recalled Volz, a mother of two whose husband passed away in 2003. “I worked on our newspaper, The Ojai Valley News, until 1978, when I started at Ventura College in the journalism department as professor and adviser to the Ventura College press.”
She resigned from the full-time position in 1992, and taught English part time for 10 more years. “I also worked for FOOD Share for three years as resource development and public relations person. It was a great experience.”
An active older adult with tremendous zest for life, “Dee has danced under many dance luminaries, yet she is the most unpretentious person you can imagine,” said Alvarez, who is constantly inspired by “her smile, her moxie, her humor, her original and fun dance style … her enthusiasm for and devotion to ‘the real thing’ as she calls exceptional artists.” As a person, “Dee always has a smile on her face; she is always ready to notice something positive in an insightful, thoughtful way — never cloying, always intelligent — she is kind, generous and encouraging; she is also a very good writer.”
Looking back on her life so far, “the only wise advice I have to offer is to keep up the exercise that you did in your youth — that is the only thing that keeps me youthful,” said Volz, who is writing her life story.
In other advice, “just to remember Joseph Campbell’s Follow Your Dream. If you do what you love, you feel very well.”
To see inspirational pictures of Dee and the complete article click Ventura County Star
Join us for this rare opportunity! Winalee will be teaching Debbie Rosas’ new 2010 Nia routine “Butterfly” . These classes are open to everyBody, students and teachers alike. As an added bonus, we will kick-off the week-end with a Friday Night – Black Light Nia Class. Come dressed in WHITE or NEON colours to dance and glow under the Black Lights.
Who should attend: Open to EveryBody
Description: Classic Nia Classes
Location: Marie Ann Longlade School of Dance Inc. 1650 Dundas St E Ste 205. Mississauga, Ontario Canada Map
Friday, April 23, 2010 ~ 7:00pm – 8:30pm ~ $25 ~ Black Light Nia Class
Saturday, April 24, 2010 ~ 10am – 11am ~ $20 ~ Sat. AM Butterfly Class
Sunday, April 25, 2010 ~ 10am – 11am ~ $20 ~ Sun. AM Butterfly Class
Fri. Sat. & Sun, Apr 23, 24 & 25, 2010 ~ $60 ~ Three Class Pass
To Register complete the form below and send any questions in the message box
Payable to Denis Karda
Mailed to: Denis Karda 13937 Tenth Line, Halton Hills, ON. L7G 4S8 CANADA
Denis Karda
deniskarda@gmail.com
http://www.terrakardastudio.com
905.703.0454
Winalee Zeeb
517.719.2446
Join Winalee Zeeb for this 2 day workshop of playing and learning Debbie Rosas’ NEW 2010 Nia Routine “Butterfly”
Who should attend: Open to all Nia Teachers and Intensive Graduates
Description: Plearning = Playing + Learning
Cost: $110 CAD
Location: Marie Ann Longlade School of Dance Inc. 1650 Dundas St E Ste 205. Mississauga, Ontario Canada Map
Winalee will facilitate this amazing playing and learning process with FreeDance, Teaching What You Sense, Nia’s 7 Cycles, Music Appreciation and other Nia tools. Participants will recieve song by song handouts throughout the weekend. Winalee is a Black Belt Nia Teacher and Trainer from Lansing, Michigan. She began her career in the fitness industry in 1981. Since discovering Nia in 1991, Winalee has been passionately sharing the Joy of Nia throughout the world. Learn more about Winalee
After joining the Aya Plearning, Nia co-creator Debbie Rosas said: “The best approach to learning Nia choreography I’ve ever seen. This event will forever change how you Listen and Dance to the music. Most of all how you connect to the music and the choreography will become a true Expression of You!”
Join us for this rare opportunity! Winalee will be teaching Debbie Rosas’ new 2010 Nia routine “Butterfly” . These classes are open to everyBody, students and teachers alike. As an added bonus, we will kick-off the week-end with a Friday Night – Black Light Nia Class. Come dressed in WHITE or NEON colours to dance and glow under the Black Lights.
Who should attend: Open to EveryBody
Description: Classic Nia Classes
Location: Marie Ann Longlade School of Dance Inc. 1650 Dundas St E Ste 205. Mississauga, Ontario Canada Map
Friday, April 23, 2010 ~ 7:00pm – 8:30pm ~ $25 ~ Black Light Nia Class
Saturday, April 24, 2010 ~ 10am – 11am ~ $20 ~ Sat. AM Butterfly Class
Sunday, April 25, 2010 ~ 10am – 11am ~ $20 ~ Sun. AM Butterfly Class
Available to Nia Teachers and Intensive Graduates ~ $155 ~ Full Weekend Pass
Fri. Sat. & Sun, Apr 23, 24 & 25, 2010 ~ $60 ~ Three Class Pass
To Register complete the form below and send any questions in the message box
Payable to Denis Karda
Mailed to: Denis Karda 13937 Tenth Line, Halton Hills, ON. L7G 4S8 CANADA
Denis Karda
deniskarda@gmail.com
http://www.terrakardastudio.com
905.703.0454
Winalee Zeeb
517.719.2446
When: Sunday, February 28th, 2010.
Time: 10:15am – 6pm (Including the 7 – 8pm Nia Class)
Cost: $75 for the workshop
Where: Terra Karda Studio 36 Armstrong Ave. Georgetown, Ontario
Lainie Magidsohn is offering this full day Intensive Workshop that will leave you fully prepared to teach Sanjana. The workshop platform will be based on White Belt Principle #12 – Continuing Education. Following the triad of Embody, Learn, and Share, you will receive the tools necessary to Deliver the Nia Promise
Lainie has danced since she could walk, studying ballet, modern, jazz dance and theatre, and performing with “Village Folk”, an international folk dance group. In addition, Lainie has a Master’s degree in Adult Education. She is a psychotherapist in private practice, focusing on feminist counselling and women’s health.
She sees both her work as a Nia instructor and as a counsellor, as an opportunity to learn more about our lives, our bodies, our relationships, and our ability to be fully ourselves.
This is a special class being offered in support of the teachers who are learning to teach Sanjana. Spread the word about this special class.
When: Sunday, February 28th, 2010.
Time: 7m – 8pm
Cost: $10
Where: Terra Karda Studio 36 Armstrong Ave. Georgetown, Ontario
Payable to Denis Karda
Mailed to: Denis Karda 13937 Tenth Line, Halton Hills, ON. L7G 4S8 CANADA
Map and Directions to our location. Click the map for further information.
“I highly recommend the Yoga for Runners class. I started running fairly late in life, at 47. I love running and I love racing. When I turned 49, as a challenge, I ran ten 1/2 marathons in 10 weeks. I was 50 when I ran my first marathon. In the following 18 months, I ran 5 marathons, including Boston and New York City (2008). For the last two years I constantly felt “off balance” (recurring sore right knee, recurring sore left Achilles). I started the Yoga for Runners class in September 2009. The Yoga for Runners class has improved my flexibility and range of motion (Achilles tendon) and has started to strengthen and restore my muscle balance. Yoga is much more of a workout than I ever anticipated. After the first class, I felt I had run a 1/2 marathon. I think that the class would be good for non-runners too and I look forward to the 2010 season, for both running and yoga.”
Sheldon Gragg of Georgetown
This testimonial is referring to Lisa McKenna’s 6:30pm Thursday evening Yoga for Runners at Terra Karda Studio