Notes from clients and colleagues of Joey Levinson and Yuko Katsumi
“Joey Levinson is uniquely qualified as a dance medicine specialist. As a professional dancer as well as a Pilates practitioner he has experience from “both sides of the table”. Not only is he an experienced practioner but he is accustomed to working closely with both dancer-patients, physicians and physician therapists. As director of the Pilates/dance medicine in the Center for Sports Medicine, Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, he has worked with dancers, cast members from various shows performing in San Francisco as well as students from dance schools in the Bay Area. In addition to being a consummate professional he is a delight to work with. I have never had any qualms about putting a patient into Joey’s hands.”
DR. JAMES GARRICK
Founder of Sports Medicine Department, Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, San Francisco CA
“I have known Mr. Joseph Levinson and Ms. Yuko Katsumi since 2008 and have invited them to work with Chula Vista Ballet since. They were introduced to me by Martin Fredmann, former Artistic Director of Colorado Ballet. Mr. Levinson has taught and guided many of our dancers over the years. He is absolutely one of the best in his field of study. He has an extraordinary ability to identify issues with dancers’ physical challenges and help them find solutions. Ms. Katsumi has choreographed Grand Defile, staged Giselle, and taught master classes and summer intensive programs for Chula Vista Ballet. She has a wealth of knowledge in classical dance, and her professional teaching experience has benefitted our dancers tremendously. I wholeheartedly recommend both Mr. Levinson and Ms. Katsumi.”
TAEKO NISHINO
Artistic Advisor/former Artistic Director, Chula Vista Ballet
Administrative Director & Master of Ceremonies, Japan Grand Prix IBC
“Out of the past 14 years of my ballet training, working with Ms. Yuko Katsumi has been the best choice I have made. Her extensive knowledge of human anatomy, various ballet techniques, and vast range of repertoire have led me to see drastic improvements in my dancing. Ms. Katsumi focuses on the details of ballet that other teachers skip over. She works in a manner that is customized for the individual body and its anatomical capabilities. This meticulous way of working leads to clean and pure lines, efficiency in movement, and acquiring the skill of self-awareness of your body. Her teaching challenges me to break barriers of what I thought was possible for myself and my dancing. I am ever so grateful for Ms. Katsumi’s time, energy, and belief in me. If you are serious about having a career in ballet I wholeheartedly recommend working with Ms. Katsumi. ”
MAYA SPRAGUE
Advanced Student
“Both Yuko and Joey have been my daughter’s coach in many capacities. Although my daughter primarily works with Yuko, as a team they work brilliantly to figure out every individual dancer. Yuko is an amazing coach because of her patience and nurturing methods. I am particularly amazed by her ability to assess a dancer’s weakness and strengths. She understands how every dancer’s body is uniquely different and knows how to tailor corrections that really matter for that dancer. She has truly helped my daughter reach her fullest potential. The detail and refinement of her coaching style is unparalleled. The wealth of knowledge she has in anatomy combined with her passion for ballet makes her an exceptional coach. There is no doubt in my mind, Yuko and Joey are the hidden gems of the ballet world! ”
BERNI HUI
Parent
“Joey Levinson is an outstanding dance teacher and Pilates therapist. Having worked with him for over 20 years in the dance and sports medicine clinic, I have witnessed his insightful observations, observed his gentle, knowledgable teaching, and seen his perseverance to help the dancer reach the goal. His strong background in dance enables him to bridge that elusive gap between the dancer’s injury or weakness and the need to perform and dance. I am so fortunate to have worked with Joey Levinson who is one of the most qualified, caring and wonderful dancer/therapists that I have known.
“As a podiatrist to many young dancers over the years, I have treated frustrated and anxious patients. I have worked in conjunction with Ms. Katsumi on numerous patients and she has made all the difference in their recovery and return to dance. Yuko Katsumi is the epitome of what a dance teacher should be. She has years of experience in dance so she understands the goals and needs of the dancer. More importantly, her approach is wholesome and healthy, not arbitrary and rigid. She is such an asset to the dance world!”
JANE DENTON, DPM
Dance and Sports Medicine Podiatrist
“Joey is a game changer, and an absolute gem of a person. His years of experience as a ballet dancer combined with his encyclopedic knowledge as a Pilates master means you’re in good hands, no matter your goal. He has seen me through several serious injuries with empathy, care, and dedication and I have emerged a better, stronger dancer each time. Working with him is an absolute delight, and there’s no one I’d trust more to kick my butt!”
GABRIELLE ZUCKER
Dancer, Choreographer
“Joey Levinson is a Pilates Master! He has gotten me through several serious injuries and I came back stronger than ever after training with him. His knowledge for what ballet dancers need, and also the anatomy of the human body is parallel to none. After training with him I was more aware of how to access my turn out, abdominal muscles, and even how to point my foot correctly! Whether you are coming back from an injury, working towards a personal goal, or just wanting to get an awesome Pilates instruction I cannot speak highly enough of Joey.”
COURTNEY HELLEBUYCK
Ballet West Children’s Rehearsal Director & Principal Faculty
“Ms. Yuko has been an important mentor, teacher, and friend to me over the years. I have known her since I was a young child interested in ballet, and since those formative years, she has nurtured my passion with kind and firm instruction; she made sure that I learned technique the right way, and she encouraged me to express myself artistically through the music. “Music is your friend,” she would tell me, and I learned to appreciate that dancing’s beauty derives in part from its ability to give expression to and emotional representation of the music it partners with.
AUDREY JONES
“But it was during my encounters with injury that I discovered just how much Ms. Yuko’s mentorship meant to me. In high school, I suffered from two substantial injuries, one involving a fracture and the other involving tendonitis. Ms. Yuko’s unwavering belief in my recovery and her program for rehabilitation were key to my return to the stage. She taught me important strengthening exercises that helped me become more aware of my body’s mechanics, and she taught me proper alignment so that I could move more dynamically and at the same time exert less force. From Ms. Yuko, I learned how to move boldly, musically, emotionally, and gracefully — indeed, she taught me to reach for an emotional core in each of my performances. Perhaps just as importantly, she helped me to stay strong mentally; for a dancer, it is so hard to be sidelined by injury. And there is an element of fear one faces when returning to the stage after an injury. But Ms. Yuko’s gentle encouragement and steadfast guidance led me back to ballet, even stronger than before. I was able to participate in summer programs at the School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, and Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell at the Kennedy Center, even after these injuries. And I was able to dance in principal roles that I long dreamed of dancing.
“Ms. Yuko’s kindness and generosity have always meant a lot to me and continue to mean a lot to me. She is a teacher and mentor in every sense of the word, and she not only encourages me to be the best dancer I can be, but through her own role modeling, she encourages me to be the best person I can be too.”
Advanced Student
“During a very crucial period of my pre-professional ballet career, I suffered chronic and nagging foot pain due to several stress fractures and stress reactions that —had I not met the incredible Joseph Levinson— would have most likely put a dent in my dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer. Mr. Levinson’s knowledge of body mechanics specific to the dancer’s body is truly remarkable. Through a multitude of strengthening Pilates exercises, we were able to address problems specific to my injuries as well as enhance the overall strength of my body. Not only did I fully recover from these injuries, I came back much stronger with the added bonus of improved technique as noted by my San Francisco Ballet School instructors. It is also worth mentioning that Joseph Levinson is one of the most kind, motivating, and encouraging people I have ever met. The kind of relationships he builds with his clients is beyond comparison. I can say without a doubt that I would not be where I am today without those precious 7am appointments with Mr. Levinson and I am eternally grateful!”
OLIVIA TANG-MIFSUD
Joffrey Ballet