Dee de Lara (she/they)
Hello, nice to meet you! I’m a facilitator, teacher, strategist and designer with the lived experience of existing in the “in-between”: as a member of the Filipinx diaspora, a settler immigrant to the US and Canada, a cross-border nomad, and someone who transitioned careers in my mid-30s. Through The Liminal Movement, I aim to weave webs between humans who explore transitional and in-between spaces.
I aim to embody my studies of decolonization, somatic abolitionism and trauma awareness, as well as my experience of listening to/telling stories and asking questions to learn widely and deeply from others. My actions are rooted in disruption, connection and curiosity. In addition to 16 years of human/cultural insights and global brand strategy, I launched my eponymous jewelry line about playful juxtapositions in 2014, started teaching Pilates and dance-based movement in 2019, and am an initiatives partner of a diversity initiative for BIPOC researchers and insights professionals called Insights in Color. In 2020, I co-founded WHAT_TIME, a hub to connect with independent and emerging teachers with the ultimate vision to DISRUPT expectations of wellness, AMPLIFY BIPOC experiences, and CENTRE BIPOC in wellness.
I was born in Manila, grew up on Lenape Territory (Staten Island, NY) have lived in Coast Salish Territory (Victoria, BC) and Manhattan, with stints in Brooklyn and Siena, Italy. I currently facilitate from Tkaronto (Toronto), the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabe and the Wendat, and the treaty territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit.
Photo by Jessica Blaine Smith, Floral installation by Strangelove
Teaching + Training
MOVEMENT TEACHER: INDEPENDENT | 2020-present, GOODBODYFEEL | 2021, MISFITSTUDIO | 2019-2020
REFORMER TEACHER TRAINING W/ MUSE MOVEMENT | 2023
MAT PILATES 200-HR TEACHER TRAINING W/ GOODBODYFEEL | 2021
TRAUMATIC STRESS + THE BREATH W/ JENNIFER SNOWDON + JANE CLAPP | 2021
EMBODIED DIGNITY + BOUNDARIES W/ JANE CLAPP | 2020
MOVEMENT FOR TRAUMA L1 W/ JANE CLAPP | 2020
MAT PILATES 200-HR TEACHER TRAINING W/ MISFITMETHOD | 2019
FACILITATION + space-holding
INSIGHTS IN COLOR | Initiatives Partner + Former Board Member | 2020-present
BETWEEN US | Facilitator + Writer | 2018-present
REIKI FOR THE TIMES™ L2 W/ CLARE KENTY | 2021 (in progress)
COACHING MENTORSHIP W/ KIM SAIRA | 2022-2023
SOMATIC ATTACHMENT THERAPY CERTIFICATE W/ THE EMBODY LAB | 2022
COACHING MENTORSHIP W/ ALEX ARNOPOL | 2022
INNERVATOR MEDITATION MENTORSHIP W/ NATALIE MATIAS | 2021-2022
WHAT_TIME | C0-Creator | 2020-2022
REIKI FOR THE TIMES™ L1 W/ CLARE KENTY | 2021
MY GRANDMOTHER’S HANDS STUDY GROUP W/ KARINE BELL + RESMAA MENAKEM | Somatic Abolitionism Student + Triad Co-Facilitator | 2020-2021
MOVEMENT FOR TRAUMA L1 | Breakout Room Facilitator | 2021
RESEARCH + INSIGHTS
CATEGORIES + CLIENTS |
Media (Viacom, NBCUniversal), Tech (Google, Twitter), Fashion (Hanesbrands, Chanel), Beauty (L’Oreal), Social Issues (Girl Scouts, Elections Canada), Healthcare (diabetes, kidney disease, MS)
DESIGN + CONTENT STRATEGY |
Dee de Lara Jewelry Creative Direction + Design (2014-present), WHAT_TIME Design, Web + Social Media (2020-present), FLARE Magazine Contributing Social Media Consultant (2014)
17 YEARS GLOBAL RESEARCH + STRATEGY |
full-time (Flamingo NY, Human Branding Toronto, Youthography Toronto, McCann Toronto), freelance (Galileo NY, Crowd DNA NY, Kantar NY, Tapestry London, Zulu Alpha Kilo Toronto)