Experience:

My name is Ashley. I am the owner of Movement Magic. I started my ballroom dance journey in 2016. It began as a bucket-list hobby and it quickly turned into my passion. I love the way ballroom dancing allows people to express themselves and connect with others. I was accepted into the Dance Education master's program at the University of Northern Colorado in 2018. A core area of my study was ballroom dancing. The title of my master's thesis is Ballroom Dancing: The Effects on the Social and Emotional Intelligence of Adolescents. Here is a link to my thesis: https://digscholarship.unco.edu/theses/178/. The research I conducted showed that ballroom dancing allows people to not only develop their social intelligence, but even more,  emotional intelligence. I graduated in 2020 with my master's degree and a 4.0 GPA. I have also earned multiple first place awards in Latin and Standard ballroom dancing at competition.

My dance instructor experience includes teaching adolescents and adults ballroom dancing for recreational purposes. It also involves choreographing and teaching couples their first dances for their weddings. In addition to ballroom dancing, I offer other wellness classes. I am also a certified Zumba®  instructor. Additionally, I am trained in guiding somatic movement exploration classes.

Another one of my passions is writing poetry. I am in the process of writing and publishing a book which will be a collection of poems and I occassionally perform my work at local poetry readings. I received an undergraduate degree in Secondary Education-English from Rhode Island College in 2012. I taught English to high school students for almost a decade. I left this career to pursue my new purpose of helping people experience wellness through the healing power of movement and connection as the owner of Movement Magic. 

Goal:

I am passionate about the arts for a variety of reasons. Ever since dance came into my life, it has enriched me mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally.  I would not be who I am today without the gift of movement. It has helped me through so much: dealing with the deployment of my husband who was in the military, releasing the stress of life, and even finding physical and cognitive healing while living with chronic illness. It has been there to help me cope and find joy in adversity and has allowed me to celebrate the good times. It has also helped me to connect with new people and form friendships that will last a lifetime. Through my dance journey, I have discovered: when you move, there's magic. My aim is to help others find the magic of movement.  I hope you welcome the transformative power of dance and the arts as a whole into your life--you won't regret it!

My aim is not only to facilitate physical movement, but also emotional and spiritual movement. The mind, body, and soul are interconnected.  We must find movement in all parts of our being in order to find wellness, wholeness, and fulfillment. When we take action through any positive outlet, we can find healing and wholeness, and then have the capacity to help others. This is why my motto is: Move. Be Moved. Move Others. It is my hope to live my life in such a way and to inspire others to do the same. 

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Experience:

Martin first stepped out on the dance floor at the age of 9. He began as a competitor representing Bulgaria and later relocated to the United Kingdom. There, he represented the UK and made his first appearance at the famous Blackpool Dance Festival. He moved to St. Petersburg, Russia to compete with his dance partner, Liana Churilova (a World American Rhythm Champion), the two dominated the podiums and were one of the top 3 couples in Russia. While still performing, Martin furthered his teaching career by coaching students in Bulgaria and opened M Dance Studio. He coached many, very successful couples who won numerous competitions throughout Europe. Many of his students were invited to perform and compete in popular television shows such as VIP Dance and Dancing With The Stars. Martin moved to the US in 2010 and now runs his business M Dance Studio in Tiverton, Rhode Island. Martin is excited to also offer instruction at Movement Magic in Putnam, CT after our Grand Opening at our new location.

Goal:

Martin will be joining the Movement Magic team upon the opening of our studio at 112 Main Street, Suite 15, Putnam, CT. He will be available for private lessons on Monday nights. Martin is eager to work with students both new to ballroom dancing, as well as with dance experience. Martin is available to teach students who want to learn for recreation, or for events, including weddings. He is also excited to coach couples who want to compete. He is also available to compete with students in a pro-am partnership. Martin's expertise, technical knowledge and facility, and coaching skills are truly world class. Contact Movement Magic today if you're interested in private lessons with Martin--spots are already filling up. 

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Experience:

With over 23 years of experience in fitness, coaching, and athletic performance, Michelle is more than a trainer—she’s a guide to strength, resilience, and transformation. As a WNBF Pro Bodybuilder, NASM-Certified Personal Trainer, RYT 200 Yoga Instructor, and Precision Nutrition Coach, Michelle has built a career dedicated to helping individuals move with purpose, fuel their bodies wisely, and cultivate lasting confidence—both physically and mentally.

Her journey isn’t just professional—it’s deeply personal. A bone cancer survivor and mother of five, Michelle understands the profound connection between movement, healing, and self-awareness. She has competed in triathlons, adventure races, and mountain biking races, proving that true strength is built not just through discipline but through adaptability, mindfulness, and resilience.

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As owner of Warrior Ways, Michelle merges her expertise in foundational strength, mobility, and nutrition coaching to help clients build strength from the inside out. She emphasizes body awareness, breath control, and sustainable movement patterns to improve flexibility, balance, and injury prevention—key components to lifelong wellness. Whether through powerful strength training, intentional flows, or breath-centered mobility work, Michelle’s approach ensures that every movement is purposeful and aligned with both body and mind.

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Her coaching philosophy is rooted in mind-body connection, encouraging clients to tune into their internal strength, mental focus, and breath awareness. Whether you're an athlete refining performance, someone rebuilding after setbacks, or a beginner learning to move with confidence, Michelle’s method is practical, sustainable, and deeply transformative—because true wellness isn’t just about training harder, it’s about moving smarter.

Goal:

Michelle is available for 1:1 sessions at Movement Magic. She can help you achieve any of your fitness goals: flexibility, mobility, strength-building, endurance, and more. Contact us today if you'd like more information about 1:1 personal training sessions with Michelle. You can also request more information by clicking the button below and completing the form: