Alisa Jacob

Owner & Founder

Dance IQ, LLC

About Alisa

Alisa Jacob is a certified instructor for BodyMind Dancing™ somatic dance education. She has a Master of Arts in Dance Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is an active member of the National Dance Education Organization. In addition to running her studio, Alisa develops Dance and Musical Theater curricula for public and private schools.

Alisa established Dance IQ to focus on the creativity and artistry of dance through a non-competitive, all-inclusive, and safe establishment for children and adults to evolve mentally and physically. Through the model of Dr. Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, Alisa will help each student develop and recognize his or her bodily-kinesthetic, visual-spatial, and musical-rhythmic intelligence.

What Makes Dance IQ Different

Dance IQ’s Traditional Dance forms and Creative Movement Brain-Based Dance incorporates the dance system of BodyMind Dancing using dance phrases, spatial concepts, improvisations, and kinesthetic intelligence of the body, including support structures of breathing and body alignment, while working with imagery and community building. In between are stages that develop organically, such as breath, navel radiation, spinal patterns, homologous patterns, homolateral patterns, and contralateral patterns. Somatic dance and therapy aid the dancer in injury-free movements.

In somatic dance education, somatic therapy goes through phases of what would have been the child’s development in the first year of life. For example, tummy time is critical for a child to develop the muscles in the back when turning over or the stimulation of rolling (vestibular inner ear balance of gravity as well as speed in stopping and going), which is created with the log roll. Children learn choreographic concepts such as levels, pathways, energy qualities, and, symmetrical and asymmetrical movements, as well as contralateral movements such as an alligator scoot, bear crawl, and creeping.

Starting at a young age, for example, a three-year-old child doing somatic movement dance patterns can help develop neurological patterns in the brain. Exercise also increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. Dance can assist students in focusing in class.

Dance IQ specializes in musical theater for beginners starting at six years old. They teach everything from audition techniques to singing, dancing, and acting.

What Contributed to Alisa’s Success?

While working at American Heritage School-Plantation as the lower school dance and after school musical theater director, Alisa was inspired to expand her education. She attended The University of North Carolina, Greensboro in their Master of Arts in Dance Education. She specializes in writing All-Inclusive Dance Curriculum and Musical Theater programs for public and private schools. Alisa graduated UNCG in 2017.

Fun Fact About Alisa

Alisa speaks fluent Brazilian Portuguese and conversational Spanish. She lived in Barcelona, Spain, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and London, England.