Meet Julie Opiel | Director of Education & Community Engagement, BODYTRAFFIC

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

Hi Julie, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
I’ve had the privilege of stepping into a leadership role within BODYTRAFFIC, a premier contemporary dance company that was founded in Los Angeles almost 20 years ago by our Artistic Director, Tina Finkelman Berkett. Her vision and relentless commitment to sharing contemporary dance continue to inspire me every day. Tina built BODYTRAFFIC from the ground up—creating space for world-class artistry, risk-taking, and community impact. That foundation makes me want to carry forward the spirit of innovation in everything I do.

As Director of Education & Community Engagement, I strive to identify what dancers in the field need and design programs that reflect the company’s mission.

At BODYTRAFFIC, we believe in the transformative power of dance. Through our education and community engagement programs, we provide holistic dance training for the next generation of artists, connect with underserved populations, and create space for dialogue and expression through movement. We’re committed to using dance as a tool for empowerment, healing, and connection. We have a tagline in our company, “Without movement, nothing changes.” To me, it aptly reflects our commitment to using movement not just as an art form, but as a catalyst for meaningful change in individuals and communities alike.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work at BODYTRAFFIC is a reflection of my identity. I’ve been a dancer my entire life—it’s how I move through the world. Being a dancer can be profoundly joyful, but it can also take a toll on mental and emotional health, often bringing challenges like perfectionism, doubt, and burnout.

My path wasn’t linear. I trained for a career as a professional dancer but often felt like I didn’t quite belong—too balletic for the contemporary world, too contemporary for the ballet world. That sense of not fitting in led to burnout and injury, which eventually brought me to graduate school and, ultimately, to a reimagined career in education. At BODYTRAFFIC, I finally found the space where all of my interests and values aligned.

As Director of Education & Community Engagement, I plan and manage BODYTRAFFIC’s training programs for young and emerging professional dancers, as well as community programs that reach youth, aging adults, those new to dance, and long-time dance lovers alike. I’m grateful for the chance to devote myself to dance while also working to make the field more kind, inclusive, and human-centered.

What sets our programs apart is a holistic approach to training. We prioritize not only rigorous technical development but also the whole dancer—the human behind the artist. We address topics like career navigation, mental health, building support systems, and cultivating community. While these conversations remain uncommon in many dance training programs, I’m proud that BODYTRAFFIC is committed to exploring them with care and intention. We’re not just training dancers—we’re nurturing thoughtful, resilient, and empowered artists.

This work isn’t always easy, but it is deeply fulfilling. I’ve learned there’s incredible power in carving your own path—and in helping others do the same. Through BODYTRAFFIC, I get to share that with the next generation, and that’s something I’m deeply proud of.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting Los Angeles, I would want to give them a week that captures all the magic, creativity, and flavor this city has to offer.

We would kick things off with a visit to BODYTRAFFIC rehearsal. There’s nothing like seeing the creative process up close. Watching our dancers in the studio is a deeply inspiring experience, and one of my favorite parts of my job. BODYTRAFFIC dancers are not only incredible movers, but also thoughtful, generous, and hard-working artists who embody the best of LA’s creative spirit.

BODYTRAFFIC rehearses in Koreatown, so after watching some inspiring dance, we would head to Quarters for Korean BBQ. It’s lively, delicious, and the perfect way to start the week.

Art would be a major theme throughout the trip. I would make sure to visit The Broad, The Getty, MOCA, and LACMA. Each one offers something different and reminds me why I love living and working in a city so rich in artistic energy. We would also spend a peaceful afternoon at Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. It’s the perfect spot to slow down, soak in some nature, and feel inspired.

One day would be dedicated to bookstore-hopping. Some of my favorites are The Last Bookstore downtown, The Iliad Bookshop in Burbank, Book Soup in West Hollywood, and Skylight Books in Los Feliz.

For one of our more active days, we’d start with a yoga class at One Down Dog, my favorite studio and the place where I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training. It’s such a welcoming and empowering space. Afterward, we’d head out for a hike up to the Griffith Observatory—a classic LA experience with stunning views and a perfect way to connect with the landscape and snap a picture of the Hollywood Sign.

On Saturday, we would visit Smorgasburg—an incredible outdoor food market downtown with endless options and great energy. On Sunday, we’d stay closer to my home in Atwater Village, starting the morning with a breakfast burrito from Tacos Villa Corona and then wandering through the Atwater Village Farmers Market, one of my local favorites.

By the end of the week, I’d want my friend to feel full—of great food, art, movement, conversation, and the creative spirit that makes LA such a dynamic and inspiring place to be.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to BODYTRAFFIC’s Founding Artistic Director, Tina Finkelman Berkett. Tina’s vision, passion, and relentless commitment to sharing dance with everyone have shaped both the organization and my personal journey within it. Her leadership inspires me to show up with purpose, and her belief in the power of community and education continues to guide my work. I’m incredibly grateful for her mentorship and the example she sets every day.

Website: www.bodytraffic.com

Instagram: bodytraffic

Image Credits
Sofia Negron, Hannah Doerr, Trey McIntyre, Joan Rodriguez