Catrina Choate-Heretoiu

Catrina Choate-Heretoiu is a ballet teacher and somatic educator who works toward assisting students achieve excellence in a stress-free manner. She received her primary ballet training with the Cecchetti Method and later with the School of American Ballet in New York City. She danced professionally with Miami City Ballet, Carolina Ballet, and Miami Contemporary Dance Company. Ms. Heretoiu performed many Balanchine Ballets including Agon, Concerto Barocco, The Four Temperaments, Jewels, and Serenade. As a teacher, she has staged many productions such as The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Coppelia, and she has choreographed many original contemporary ballets. She has also successfully coached many students for the Youth America Grand Prix.

Ms. Heretoiu holds a B.A. degree in English Literature from Florida International University and an MFA degree in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has been a full-time faculty member with the UIUC Dance Department and is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais practitioner and has structured specific Awareness Through Movement lessons for dancers to help the physical rehabilitation process and to increase an understanding of body awareness.

Ms. Heretoiu is the co-founder of KineOasis and the founder of SomaStudies, an in person and online school that is dedicated to helping people in pain and assisting performing artists achieve their physical goals so they may withstand their career of choice. She is also the founder of classes called Soma Ballet, Soma Floor, and an Early Childhood Dance Program called Ballet Joy.

Most recently, Catrina moved to Madison with her husband and two boys and is excited to share her passion and knowledge with many wonderful students in the beautiful city of Madison!