Luna Zhuo (Lan Zhuo)

I am a dance educator and Pilates movement instructor grounded in somatic movement practice. I work with children and adults to build a more connected, efficient, and expressive body through training that integrates technique, conditioning, and embodied awareness.

With a foundation in Chinese dance alongside modern and contemporary training, my work bridges Eastern and Western movement traditions. I am currently pursuing my MFA in Dance at Saint Mary’s College of California, where I continue to deepen both my artistic practice and my understanding of the body. In my teaching, I focus on body conditioning, coordination, and expressive growth, supporting students not only in performance but in developing a strong and healthy relationship with their body. I also prepare students for competitive dance environments at both national and international levels. As a certified Progressing Ballet Technique® (PBT) teacher, I incorporate conditioning principles to support safe and efficient movement.

Alongside my dance work, I teach Pilates as an integrated movement discipline. I am currently completing the Polestar® Pilates Comprehensive training, applying Pilates principles to support alignment, strength development, and functional body awareness. Informed by my somatic background, my teaching emphasizes injury prevention and sustainable conditioning. I aim to help each student understand their own body more clearly, so that progress becomes both effective and long-lasting.

My graduate work focuses on somatic movement research, exploring how embodied awareness informs dance education and movement healing. Through a research initiative at Saint Mary’s College led by Professor Rosana Barragán, I study one-on-one with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, founder of Body-Mind Centering®. This experience continues to shape how I approach teaching, especially in supporting students with different physical needs and learning styles.

I began professional dance training at age six, growing up in a cultural lineage deeply connected to Mongolian dance traditions. I have performed internationally, including appearances at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala in Beijing — one of the world’s most widely viewed cultural broadcasts — and the Chinese-Russian College Students Art Festival in Moscow. My international work also includes a month-long residency in Kuala Lumpur for a Mongolian dance production.

My artistic achievements include a Gold Award at the 25th International Folk Art Festival in Belgium, a Gold Award in the Chinese Xiaohe Elegant Demeanor Competition, and First Prize in the Inner Mongolia “Lucheng Cup” Dance Competition. These experiences continue to inform not only my artistic voice but also the way I support students in developing both skill and confidence.