About Yona Lavie

Yona Lavie is a multidisciplinary artist, dancer, and choreographer from Queens, NY. Having artistic family roots, Yona started out as a visual artist before she decided to pursue dance at age 16.

After completing an associate degree in dance from Queensborough Community College, Yona transferred to Adelphi University, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance. During her college career, she studied under Frank Augustyn, Orion Duckstein, Emily Berry, Aviva Geismar, and Juan Rodriguez, among others. She developed and presented three choreographic works, produced a dance film, and performed works by Robert Battle, Emily Berry, Aviva Geismar, Fernando Carrillo, and Orion Duckstein.

While in college, Yona discovered the world of somatics, movement methods with therapeutic benefits. She learned yoga and Pilates and she was introduced to Gyrokinesis, the Franklin Method, Laban Movement Analysis, and Bartinieff Fundamentals. An artist with an interest in science, health, and fitness, Yona became interested in holistic health and the mind-body connection. Shortly after graduating college, Yona became a Yoga Alliance-certified yoga teacher.

Yona passionately believes in the importance of the arts, both for its benefits for society at large, and the wellbeing of art makers. She is dedicated to developing arts opportunities for women in her community. Her personal artistic practice is a way to express and process deep emotions, contemplate her observations, and connect with others. She draws inspiration from music and nature and her work explores connection and the meaning of the human experience.