Meet Cassandra Tsolis | Movement Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cassandra Tsolis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cassandra, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Before embarking on an artistic path, I had previously worked in administration and the non-profit realm. After being in this space for a few years, I felt there was a part of me that wasn’t yet explored. More so, I hadn’t given myself permission to take a risk and follow my curiosity of what dance could look like professionally in my life.

Movement was first introduced to me through my Yia Yia; showing me the traditional Greek dances of our culture in her living room. From there I slowly began discovering other forms of dance; with some being in the studio, to crews in college, to performance teams and more. It wasn’t until later in my twenties that I began to come across mindfulness, movement exploration and Dance Movement Therapy. This form of art started to mediate the areas of my life that needed healing and attention and it seemed as if dance knew how to get me there. Dance and mindful movement was that one thing that kept sparking my curiosity throughout my upbringing, and it brought a sense of vibrancy in my life; as if it was waiting for me to fully follow its lead and see all of who I could be.

After five years in the nonprofit world and seven years of building and cultivating within a community, I left it all to pursue dance professionally in Los Angeles. I began training primarily in Krump, in addition to Salsa and Hip Hop, yet Krump became a main advocate in my journey of healing and creative expression. Krump became a gift in cultivating a deeper sense of my awareness with self and in establishing my confidence. As a psychology major from Sonoma State, and a person who had been in therapy for a good majority of my life, Krump became a mediator between my pain and present life. This style led me to appreciate and go after what therapeutic tools and movement would like for others with similar pasts, pain and/or emotional blocks.

Then, Echo Movement was born. A space and session I created from my own process in learning the story of my body and in learning how to face the trauma my body still held onto. I spent the last decade of my life observing my body react and respond in ways that showed me it knew something about my past that I didn’t. I began reading books, researching stories, and started meeting individuals with similar childhoods and similar obstacles. The tools I gathered and applied to my own healing journey, I now have infused into a nine week program called Echo Movement. The idea is that the small shifts we make today, echo into the generations after us. My intention with the program and the space is for participants to engage, listen to the story within their body through the guidance of therapeutic techniques such as visualization, movement prompts, self reflection, partner work and more.

Why choose a creative career? Well sometimes I think it chooses us. It’s like a consistent unfolding and a consistent mystery as to how it all comes together, yet the magic is in being present with the curiosity. I look back and see the skills and training of the nonprofit world, the organization and leadership of administration to now the necessary work of not only having my Psychology degree, yet placing my years of experience in a space that will provide a guiding light to those in need of it.

Presently, I utilize my story and Echo Movement to reach artists in the Los Angeles Community. Alongside this program, as a Social Emotional Arts Facilitator, I continue to bring those skills into the spaces I teach, which has included Universoul Hip Hop, Conga Kids, Dance Education Project, Coneck-LA Art Center, Zulu, Boys and Girls club and more. My desire is to empower artists to listen and partner with the wisdom of their body and let their movement commission a sense of freedom in all areas of their life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My name is Cassandra and I am a multi-disciplinary artist, currently residing in Los Angeles, yet I am originally from San Jose, California. Around five years ago I left a non-profit of four years and a community of seven behind to embark on a new journey in pursuing dance professionally.

In L.A., I have been focusing on cultivating spaces with movement and therapeutic tools. Echo Movement, a series of sessions I have curated, was born from my own process in learning the story of my body and in learning how to face the trauma my body still stores. I have spent the last decade of my life observing my body react and respond in ways that have shown me it knew something about my past that I didn’t. A couple of those years I began facing severe health conditions, crippling anxiety that kept me bed-ridden and moments where I had to consider if I would still live because my health was not improving. Those intense two years gave me two choices; one to give up and give in or to believe there was another way.

I decided to try another way. The tools I gathered and applied to my own healing journey I now have infused into a nine week program called Echo Movement. The idea is that the small shifts we make today, echo into the generations after us. My intention with the program and the space is for participants to engage, listen to the story within their body through the guidance of therapeutic techniques such as visualization, movement prompts, self reflection, partner work and more. These sessions focus on addressing and walking though mental and emotional barriers and pairing these barriers with practical life skills to give participants tools to equip them in day to day life. Barriers such as anxiety, doubt, grief, and limiting beliefs are paired with awareness, creative thinking, exploration and positive self talk.

Through my experience with Echo my hope is individuals would see the wisdom their body holds and the beauty their story offers not only to themselves yet also to the collective whole.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A Week Long Itinerary –

Housing: I would mix it up and have my guests stay in my own home in addition to Air bnb’s nearby the cities we want to explore; which would include San Diego, Joshua Tree and more.

Food: I would take them to local small businesses such as HOPE, Pine and Crane, Sugar Taco, O’cado, and more.
Dessert: Definitely the Good Good, Donut Friend and Afters for ice cream.

Visit: Lots of art museums and local dance sessions! From MOCA, The Broad, The Getty, to small galleries in Venice and any local temporary installations. In addition, needed teas, smoothies and fun drinks are a must! Tanzy, Aroma, Kreation, are some beginning drink spots. For activities, local hikes (mountain and beach options), visiting not too crowded beaches like Will Rogers, and ending the evening with a Live Jazz Night (Rhythm Room) or 3rd street promenade for Salsa lessons.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to my mother for the persistence, the endurance and the faith she has had in me and so many others. My mother has really paved the way for me to be where I am and who I am.

Website: cassandratsolis.com

Instagram: @cassandratsolis @echomovementsessions

Image Credits
Image Credits: @spencerleeshoots @itsspencerlee