The Sister Project is a weekly, free movement/dance workshop for women. It uses exercises,
improvisations and movement games to build a greater, friendlier self-awareness. Its
participants are women suffering from a variety of life challenges including: depression, health
issues, addiction, trauma and emotional/physical challenges due to emotional or physical
violence.

It is a 1 ½ hour session moving/dancing to music, meditations, and visualizations on paper and
creative improvisations.

Based on the work of Anna Halprin’s book ‘Dance as a Healing Art, The Sister Project creates a
space where women can explore their inner lives. Discovering, creating and sharing movement
and dances can connect one’s body to a well spring of self-knowledge and expression.
Anna Halprin says it best: “Movement reaches our deepest nature and dance creatively
expresses it. Through dance, we can gain new insights into the mystery of our inner lives.
When brought forth from inside and forged by the desire to create personal change, dance has
the profound power to heal the body, psyche and soul.”

Cindy Bernier leads this weekly workshop.

“My work with the Sister Project is deeply gratifying, I believe because I am witness to an
honest searching for truth about one’s self and a desire to share it (with one’s self and perhaps
others). It is a time where I can see that movement and dance become an unlocking language
where we can travel into the many aspects of who we are. The Sister Project welcomes its
participants to shed light on the deeper parts of their humanity, areas we sometimes miss or
shy away from. It teaches us ways to connect authentically with ourselves and others.” – Cindy
Bernier

Ms. Bernier’s career spans over 50 years of performing, teaching, and choreographing ballet
and modern works. She has taught at numerous studios including Steps on Broadway in New
York and the Greenwich Arts Center, Ballet Etudes, New England Academy of Dance, Yale
University, the Darien Arts Center and Performance Dance in Connecticut.
Cindy Bernier’s early training was with Gabriel Taub-Darvash and Joyce Trisler. While on
scholarship at the Alvin Ailey American Dance, she became a member of Joyce Trisler’s,
Danscompany. She danced extensively with New England Dance Theater and Bernier Dance
where she served as artistic director and created over 30 works. She was awarded a fellowship
grant by the Connecticut Commission on the Arts for her choreography.

In New York, Cindy Bernier’s work has been produced at The Theater at Riverside Church Dance
Festival, Dancers Responding to Aids, Williamsburg Arts Nexus, The D.U.M.B.O. Festival, The
Bridge, Hatch and Dance Space, the 92nd Manhattan and the Clark Theater at Lincoln Center.

In Connecticut, Bernier Dance has been presented at the Kweskin Theater, The Quick Center for
the Performing Arts at Fairfield University, The Rich Forum, The Levitt Pavilion, Sono Arts
Festival, Crystal Theater, the Darien Arts Council and Yale University. Ms. Bernier founded and
directed Artists for Peace and CT Meet NY Dance Fest, both showcasing dance companies and
musical groups in the Tri-State area. Ms. Bernier also created the Sister Project, a movement
workshop for women in crisis serving the community for 5 years and is currently partnering
with Music Theatre of Connecticut to bring The Sister Project to women in need in the
Southwest Connecticut region.
For more information: please contact Cindy at cinbernier@gmail.com

Cindy Bernier currently teaches Ballet Class on Zoom:
Monday, Thursday and Friday at 11AM EST.
$10/CLASS
Payment on Venmo: Cindy-Bernier-2
Meeting ID : 621 812 2962
Passcode: 2962

She is a guest teacher with Ballet Arkansas