Mindful Movement Meetups: Mat Pilates Class
About this Event
NYU Langone Health’s Harkness Center for Dance Injuries is proud to announce its newest program, Mindful Movement Meetups. These affordable workshops will feature rehabilitative and somatic modalities to complement dance training, injury rehabilitation, biopsychosocial health, and more.
Mindful Movement Meetups aim to provide accessible exposure to a variety of modalities and instructors as well as an opportunity to meet like-minded dancers in a welcoming environment.
MINDFUL MOVEMENT MEETUP: Mat Pilates Class
Topic: Mat Pilates
When: Thursday, August 20, 2026 from 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EDT
Format: IN PERSON at NYU Langone Health
Description: This class will introduce participants to classical Pilates through a flowing, dance-inspired approach. Rather than focusing on isolated exercises, we will move seamlessly from one movement to the next with rhythm, precision, and proper alignment, creating a continuous flow that feels both artistic and intentional. Participants will experience how Pilates can improve body awareness, posture, core strength, and movement efficiency while exploring the natural connection between Pilates and dance.
Instructor: VASSIA SPANOS, MA
Vassia Spanos is a dance educator, certified Pilates instructor, yoga teacher, and Licensed Massage Therapist with over 20 years of experience in movement education and wellness. She holds a Master’s degree in Dance Education from New York University and an Associate of Occupational Studies degree from the Swedish Institute. She has trained professional dancers and brings extensive experience working with dancers, athletes, students, and individuals of all abilities.
As an elementary dance teacher with New York City Public Schools, Vassia develops inclusive movement programs that make dance and Pilates accessible to learners of all abilities. Her teaching combines classical Pilates principles with dance, functional movement, breath awareness, and mindful body mechanics to improve alignment, strength, mobility, balance, and body awareness.
She is the author of Pilates: Movement as Art, a Pilates guide that connects classical Pilates with artistry and mindful movement through educational videos and practical instruction. Her passion is helping dancers and movers build sustainable movement habits that support both performance and lifelong wellness.
Mindful Movement Meetup fee: $10*
*Ticket sales close at 2:00 PM EDT on July 24, 2026 or when capacity is reached.
Location: NYU Langone Health, 550 1st Ave, NY, NY 10016**
**Specific location details will be provided upon registration
-Workshops take place in a carpeted multipurpose room. We encourage participants to bring exercise/yoga mats or towels. Please dress comfortably for movement.
-Participants will be asked to complete a liability waiver form before the workshop (ages 15-17 require parent/guardian to complete the waiver).
- Mindful Movement Meetups are geared towards all dancers from ages 15+ at any stage of career, training, and life.
- Refund policy: we cannot provide refunds after the event has taken place.
- Questions: Contact Kristen Stevens, program manager, [email protected]
About the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries: NYU Langone's Harkness Center for Dance Injuries (www.DanceInjury.org) is dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of dance professionals through clinical services, education programming, and research. Founded in 1989 through a partnership between the Harkness Foundation for Dance and the Hospital for Joint Diseases (now NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital), the Harkness Center provides care for dancers of all ages, genres, and levels as well as for musicians, actors, figure skaters, aerialists, and more.
In addition to caring for injuries, an integral part of the Harkness Center’s mission is providing education. For the dance community, Harkness offers injury prevention workshops, online courses, and screenings, including its long-running, free Injury Prevention Assessment (IPA) program. For dance medicine professionals, Harkness offers live and online continuing education courses. DanceMedU, the Harkness Center's digital learning platform (www.DanceMedU.org), offers over 20 lectures on dance medicine and dancer health for the dance and healthcare communitities.
Our educational theme for 2026 is BODIES—A deep dive into our anatomy.
Throughout the year, our community programming will focus on functional anatomy through a biopsychosocial lens specific to anyone who identifies as a dancer.
Where is it happening?
USD 10.00
