“What kind of credentials and history does Lydia Linker have in order for her to be my trainer?”

I started dance at a very young age. In Washington, DC I began ballet, tap, and jazz at the age of three. Ballet continued through to high school. Along the way, I had short forays into soccer, jazz dance, tae kwon do, and the high school marching band flag squad. My ballet training was through the Royal Academy of Dance, and I have performed on stage dancing en pointe.

I moved to San Francisco in the fall of 1994 to go to school at the San Francisco Art Institute. This is when I started training kickboxing and boxing with Vajra Granelli, and worked at Granelli’s Gym from 1998 to 2000.

I graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1999 with a major in New Genres. This department is based in performance and video art.

In 2005, I was introduced to partner dancing. My focus became Lindy Hop. Hep Jen was my teacher for a couple of years and I learned Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, and Charleston from her. My partner-dancing foray has also introduced me to Balboa, Collegiate Shag, Blues Dancing, Salsa, and a little Tango.

S Factor became a part of my life at the same time. Sheila Kelley developed S Factor as a sensual dance style based on strip tease and pole dancing. I loved it so much Sheila chose me and trained me to teach S Factor, which I still do today.

I did a five-day retreat for tai chi at Esalen in 2006. I began learning from Kenn Chase there and continued to work with him for a year. Tai chi is still a part of my practice.

In 2009, I received my personal training certification from the National Personal Training Institute (NPTI), which covers all forms of personal training and nutrition consultation. During my intensive study at NPTI, I was also certified in CPR/AED by the American Safety & Health Insitute. Additional certification and training includes TRX, pilates mat, kettlebells, and assisted stretching.

I think it’s important to train with others and like to practice what I preach. I regularly train in pilates with Ana Hyatt and strength training/balance/endurance with Gina Lovoi.

As a working artist in dance and performance art, I have danced and performed in Bow and Sparrow’s Amnesia. Working with Bow and Sparrow is amazing. Keep an eye out for me in future Bow and Sparrow shows.