Daniel is inspired by the transformational and healing affect of movement and bodywork on the human experience. For over 6 years he has worked with people in one-on-one training sessions and group fitness classes. He is a graduate of the massage therapy program at Pacific College of Health and Science.

Daniel works with a wide range of fitness and mobility levels, from professional dancers and athletes to those that are sedentary and in recovery. His work facilitates increased relaxation, strength, movement, flexibility, and proprioceptive awareness and reduced pain, tension, and restriction. Daniel has taught his Fascia Love™ classes for Gibney Dance, Maha Rose, Fluid Fitness, Grand Street Healing Project, Kinespirit, and The Curative.

Daniel’s approach to bodywork is gentle and nervous-system-focused. With light input and patience your nervous system can do the subtle work of calming down and letting go of tension, pain, and guarding. Heavy stimulation and painful pressure can further excite and sensitize the nervous system and tissue. That is why Daniel believes massage should feel good and pain-free. Everything we feel is perceived and communicated through our nerves, brain, and spinal cord. Massage does not “break up” tissue adhesions or knots. The latest science shows that positive changes from massage are driven by the nervous system. Pain is a complex protective mechanism of the brain. Pain does not always equate to tissue damage or danger. Our life experiences and outlook, context and emotions all play a role in how we experience pain. Fear and catastrophization can make pain worse.

Daniel performed with American Ballet Theatre for 15 years. Over his 20+ year career as a professional dancer, choreographer, and dance teacher, he experienced the challenges and demands of being a professional athlete. To help in recovery from injury, cross-training, and body maintenance, he learned a variety of movement approaches and somatic practices and received varied forms of bodywork, all of which inform his work today.

In addition to American Ballet Theatre, Daniel performed with the National Ballet of Canada, The Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, Cherylyn Lavignino Dance, and Lydia Johnson Dance. At the age of 16 he was awarded as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and subsequently studied at the Royal Ballet School in London, England.

During his professional dance career, Daniel worked closely with Maggie Black. Maggie is known for working with top dancers, such as Natalia Makarova, Gelsey Kirkland, Amanda Mckerrow, Robert Hill, Martine Van Hamel, Kevin Mckenzie, Susan Jaffe, and many more. With Maggie Daniel learned how to approach ballet in a healthy and holistic way, with a kinesiology and functional movement based point of view. He works from this perspective in his ballet teaching and choreographing, exploring themes of naturalism, humanism, and solidarity.

Daniel helps dancers cultivate awareness, working with each individual’s unique physicality to help them move healthfully and communicate from their distinct identity. As a ballet teacher, he has taught at Gibney Dance and for ZviDance at New York City Center, as well as at The Ballet Spot, Goodmove, and American Liberty Ballet.

Daniel is inspired by the transformational and communicative power of dance. He has extensive experience creating movement and choreographing. He has made ballets for American Ballet Theatre, The Seattle Symphony, New York Theatre Ballet, Columbia Ballet Collaborative, Avante Chamber Ballet, and The Ensemble for the Romantic Century. He has created works for students in a wide range of ages and ability levels in commissioned pieces.