Annelize Machado

Annelize Machado brings together a rich background in dance, choreography, acting, teaching artistry, and holistic wellness. She holds a B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Film and Women’s Studies from Ohio University, and her movement studies include Bharata Natyam, Kalaripayat, Hatha Yoga, Physical Theater, and South Asian and Western Contemporary Movement, learned from master teachers in Canada, India, the UK, and the USA.

Her path in education and creative work has long been deeply connected. She began working with youth in 2001 at the Galaxy Youth Center in Valley View Middle School in Bloomington, Minnesota, where, as Site Coordinator, she developed enrichment programs and created curriculum for new academic and arts-based projects. In 2003, her team received the 21st Cultural Community Learning grant for initiatives including “Media & Social Justice,” which focused on resisting stereotypes and building positive identity among youth of color; “Performance & Writing Series” with Twin Cities-based performance artists; “Youth Power,” a forum for dialogue and action around violence prevention and tools for mental and physical health; and “Girl Power,” which offered creative practices to help middle school girls explore identity, history, and power.

In 2005, Annelize received a teaching fellowship and joined a residency at the Collegiate School Teaching Institute in New York, where she taught programs including American Sign Language for hearing students. From 2001 to 2008, she worked as a performer, collaborator, and teaching artist in community and youth workshops for elementary through high school students with organizations such as Diaspora Flow, Twin Cities Youth Dialogue, Pangea World Theater, Mango Tribe, and Aniccha Arts.

After relocating to Austin from the Twin Cities in 2008, she continued teaching yoga, Kalaripayat, Bharata Natyam, Contemporary Movement, and creative movement for youth. She also led an active dance company from 2008 to 2014 and received an Art in Public Places grant, which led to a commission for TEMPO (Born & Bread, 2015). Over the years, she has offered movement, dance, yoga, and theatre classes and workshops for allgo, Austin Dance India, Austin Community College, Austin Learning Academy, ASL Yoga at Castle Hill Fitness, Ballet Austin, Forklift Danceworks, Galaxy Dance Studios, Leap of Joy, Magellan International, Texas School for the Deaf, and The Settlement Homes.

For nearly 25 years, Annelize has designed and coordinated arts, movement, and education enrichment programs in public and private schools across the U.S., Canada, and India. She also brings decades of experience in planning and leading camps for youth in elementary and middle school, along with in-school and after-school programs.

After becoming a mother in 2015, she stepped back from teaching in schools and studios for a few years to be with her daughter Akira and to focus on her wellness practice. Today, she works primarily as a yoga instructor and Ayurvedic practitioner, while continuing to offer youth classes through Shakti (Yoga & Kalari) and Family Yoga. She also values the chance to co-teach with Akira at the studio, in local schools, and at Uni’s Tea Party events.

Outside of teaching, Annelize and Akira can often be found reading together, creating ba-shion (Barbie fashion), crafting, sewing, cooking, baking, trekking, singing, dreaming big, and making space for self-care whenever possible.