Kate Iwi – 5rhythms and Open Floor teacher

Kate first came across 5Rhythms way back in 1990 and it rapidly became the weekly practice she used to keep herself sane and fit. She finally decided to train with Gabrielle Roth on the teaching path in 2006.

Kate is an experienced psychotherapist with a complex patchwork of jobs spanning the fields of child protection, family violence and international development. She is the mother of 2 girls who also regularly dance five rhythms.

Her teaching style is strengthened by her psychological approach to the 5Rhythms but she says she tries to keep it simple and down to earth. She says “I try to teach what ever it is that I need to learn in any given week – as a result my heart is always in it”

Here’s some things people have said about Kate…

“Her classes always feel really safely held and reassuring so I feel able to fully express myself”

“Despite that she’s not very new age, her classes often feel very magical – as if I’ve taken part in a little ritual”

“I love the music – it’s a perfect mix of the obscure and the recognisable.”

Chad Whittlef – Fresh from the 5Rhythms teacher training.

Chad discovered the 5Rhythms in 2019, when he left his hometown of Minneapolis and crossed the Atlantic in search of his dancing path. Arriving in London alone, he danced through loss, fear, sadness, anger, isolation, trauma, and shame; danced like his life depended on it. And on the other side of all that, he found joy, ease, connection, compassion, healing and freedom; found presence through movement – and found his purpose.

Chad embraces the combined medicines of the 5Rhythms maps, the alchemy of music, and the community of embodied dancers. Always deeply committed to the practice and serving on the crews for several 5Rhythms classes, he decided to become a teacher himself to sow the seeds to enable others to reap the bounty for which he is so grateful.

Chad believes in holding space that is non-judgmental, safe, and inclusive. He strives to serve the community ethically and humbly, to be a catalyst for individual and social transformation, and to get out of the way when the magic is happening.

Outside of the dance, Chad is a proud father of two adult sons and a Sleep Scientist for the NHS with a private Sleep Therapy practice. 

Sarah-Jayne Grace – 360 Emergence teacher

As an international teacher & facilitator, Sarah-Jayne’s offerings are birthed from a desire to move with the times. To build community. They come from love, a seeing and holding of beauty and faith in the goodness of humans.

With a people-centric and shamanic approach to movement and living, her work is informed by years of her own training and BE-coming. She draws upon the teachings of The 360 Emergence, nature, shamanic training, the physical, energetic and emotional bodies, sexuality and sacred weave of the invisible made visible.

Sarah-Jayne’s focus is on building the body to allow expansion without the chaos of trauma which invites full permission to shine, live and love with vitality. Her offerings are birthed from a desire to move with the times, to build community. They come from love, a seeing and holding of beauty and faith in the goodness of humans.

Those on the path of embodiment understand the importance of moving in community; how vital it is to be wholly oneself – and how dance can get us there. As she works with the privilege of being a facilitator, Sarah-Jayne walks and dances with gratitude for all her teachers, allies and all those she admires and trusts.

Christian Thom – organiser

After going sober in 2015, Christian found himself in clubbing withdrawal so decided to finally surrender to the 5Rhythms urge he’d been resisting since he heard about it. Of course, he quickly realised the dread was unnecessary as it became a new addiction.

A musician and yogi, Christian joined the Home team after years spent following teachers Liz and Kate, who he first met at London’s only (but sadly now defunct) LGBTQ+ class. Having discovered deeper layers within his dancing, he understands why 5Rhythms gets labelled a spiritual practice and regards it as an essential component to his mental and physical wellbeing.