Dixie Mills

I have been dancing since I was five, when my mother thought I was clumsy and enrolled me into ballet classes. I have also been teaching since the age of 12—it all started with baton twirling!

Now I’ve been teaching Pilates for 20 years, and I train Pilates instructors with my own Embody Pilates Teacher Training program at Tru-Balance in San Jose. My best estimate is that I have taught about 2000 mat classes, including one at the 2013 Pilates Method Alliance conference in Ft. Lauderdale. In addition to focusing on connecting the body together from the center out with the best biomechanics possible, my mat classes are also fun and enjoyable.

I hold an MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Colorado in Boulder. I’ve performed in numerous places in Santa Cruz as well as New York City, Seattle, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Montreal, Edinburgh, Milan and more.

After losing 70 pounds with the help of Zumba®, I now teach it!

My joy of community has also driven me to put together the entire Santa Cruz Fringe Festival for the past two years.

“Dixie came to MINORSAN as an already seasoned instructor. She became licensed in Zumba® this year and is teaching a wonderful “danced-based” Zumba® class. Her history with dance is a long and varied one. I love her enthusiasm, her energy and her expertise.

She is a fabulous Pilates instructor, bringing with her years of experience and the knowledge of teaching others to become Pilates instructors. She is a professional in all ways, and I really love that, and appreciate Dixie!”

~ Clara E Minor