Neva Cockrell

Neva Cockrell is a professional dancer, interdisciplinary artis, and embodiment teacher. She danced with Pilobolus in 2016 – 2019 touring to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, China, Mexico, Israel, Dubai, and within the US both as a dancer and as the Dance Captain. She is also a writer and director who uses dance-theater as a tool for social change. In 2010 she co-founded her own interdisciplinary company, Loom Ensemble, based in NYC which has toured across the US, Europe, and UAE. She is passionate about using Loom Ensemble’s performances to open difficult conversations, and then facilitate community discussion to unpack the emotional vulnerability and cultural taboos of each show. She was recently awarded the New Work New England grant from NEFA as a director for Loom’s newest upcoming piece.

Neva has been teaching dance, theater, and embodiment practices for over a decade, including opening Physique 57’s first international studio in Dubai and developing her own movement technique, Catalyst. Her diverse background in gymnastics, partner acrobatics, contact improvisation, Capoeira Angola, and Yoga inspire her unique style of Contemporary Dance in both her choreography and her classes. She is yoga teacher certified through Simple Yoga with Eric Stewart, and is deeply passionate about the overlap of somatic work and breaking down systems of oppression.

In 2012, she joined the Art Monastery Project, and served as a co-director from 2014-2021 running programming in Italy, Colorado, and Vermont. 

Neva has been practicing meditation for over 15 years, and has found beautiful overlap in her artistic creations and her meditation practice. Her life path is deeply grounded in communal living, body-based activities, art-making, being outside, and contemplative practice. She now lives, works, teaches, and creates at WildHeart: Center for Performance and Embodiment Practice (founded by Neva and her partner Raphael) in the Hudson Valley.