Meet Kya Bliss | Dancer & Massage Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kya Bliss and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kya, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my healing practice and dance collective in order to offer care and belonging to the sensitive, artistic souls trying to thrive in this society that often overlooks the wisdom of the body and gifts of the tender-hearted. I want all people to feel safe, loved, and worthy. In a culture that is becoming less and less embodied, it feels vital to let the body lead and express its stories, feelings, and sensations in order to find a dynamic balance of health. There’s a desire to let the body reveal possible transformations and paths forward rather than force the body into submission. We come into this world speaking the language of the senses. Inside the womb, we are deeply attuned to movement, vibration, and touch, but as we age in this society, our minds start to take over and lead us away from an embodied intelligence. Like many others in the healing field, I had to find my way through darkness, various crises of faith, and deep pain in order to reach new shores. I know I can only help others if I am willing to go to the depths of my own wounds, grief, and shadows. Dance and bodywork both feel like ways to alchemize all that life sends our way. In dance performance, my duty is to share stories that others can viscerally relate to and speak to collective symbolism & experiences. Cantilever Collective was developed from a pure desire to create together with my best friends who share a beautiful vision of empathetic listening, a love of movement, and need for laughter and joy. In bodywork, my aim is to hold safe, loving space for others to explore the totality of their inner terrain and build new patterns without retraumatization or getting caught in analytical loops of the past. When we feel empowered to listen to our own bodies and make choices that align with our true nature, a new world opens; we are no longer enmeshed with the stories of an unhealthy culture and can build the world we long to be part of.

Ultimately I hope to grow my practices and merge my healing offerings with my artistic visions. My friends and I were walking in Frogtown one day and came up with an idea to create a community center. We casually call it “Soupadaday” referring to the nourishing quality of a good soup! We feel that Los Angeles is such a sprawling city where people often feel disconnected, so creating a community center would provide something this city is desperately aching for. It would be an opportunity to weave all of our gifts together and offer space for others to do the same. We would include a performance space, movement studios, treatment rooms, a cafe, outdoor spaces, etc… all with a goal to nourish the mind, body, and spirit.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The vulnerability and courage to share our inner landscapes allows our work to reach people on a deep level. There is love and authenticity at the foundation of everything we do. Even the simplest movement is intentional and can distill a vast concept. All of our feelings are exposed onstage and we have the courage to be fully ourselves, almost as if we’re not performing. I think this level of authenticity is rare. I can watch my friends dance over and over again and feel moved to tears each time. Our openness to act as channels for energies much greater than ourselves is another special quality we bring to live performance.

After many years within toxic dance environments, I’ve had to rebuild my spirit and reestablish the reasons why I create art. I value compassion, justice, generosity, emotional intelligence, and freedom. I want to see a world where everyone has an opportunity to live their dream and contribute to the world in a way that feels true. I want to see a world where the quiet voices are heard, where privilege dissolves, creativity abounds, pain is witnessed and held, and all bodies of all kinds are respected. Cantilever Collective believes in dreaming beyond the constraints of our current society and creating work that is authentic, innovative, and touching. We are a collective of women, queer, and POC dancers, so we understand the forces we must resist in order to be seen and valued in this culture. In my bodywork practice, I listen to each client’s story with compassion and work thoughtfully to facilitate deep healing from within. While I may not live to see it, the society I envision is so beautiful and possible. I hope the young artists and healers carry the torch and continue to build worlds to which we all can belong.

I’ve had to take risks to get where I am professionally. I try to find a balance of stability and freedom, comfort and curiosity. I think this decision to remain in our comfort zone versus taking leaps confronts us more than we realize, even in small ways throughout the day. We are always a reflection of nature; evolution relies on us taking chances, but also finding stability. A plant can’t grow without a seed planted in the dark soil, but it must also take the risk to seek sunlight above ground in order to fully reach its blooming potential. It’s a delicate dance of knowing when to jump and when to rest and reflect and I try to honor each phase of the process. Looking back at my life, the risks I took really helped me on my path and shaped me into an adaptable person, but finding anchors and building foundations has been important too. I’ve noticed that during times of risk, there’s a force in my body that overrides logic. For example, I moved to Los Angeles with only a few dollars in my pocket; looking back it seems like a crazy idea, but I’m glad I took the chance because my life unfolded in beautiful ways. In childhood, I had this delusional quality that I could do things before I was actually capable; I used to jump in deep water, thinking I could swim. My parents had to immediately put me in swimming lessons. I was overly courageous (maybe that’s the Aries in me). We’re here on Earth for such a brief time, so I’m trying to take more chances and follow my body’s intuition! I advise people not to listen to naysayers, because they are most likely stuck in a limited mindset that has nothing to do with you. Let yourself dream of “impossible” things and take action when you feel ready!

Learning boundaries around work was originally a challenge for me, but it’s essential for a lasting career in these fields. My heart wants to help everyone, but of course I need to tend to my own cup before I can be helpful to others. It was life changing for me to discover Gabor Mate’s research about how our societal expectations affect our health and Elaine Aron’s research and learn about the physiological differences in the brains of highly sensitive people and empaths. I discovered why I often felt overstimulated and flooded with emotions over things other people seemed unfazed by. It was validating and helped me reframe my own needs aside from societal expectations. These days, I try to listen to my body when I need to rest and recover. I honor hard feelings as they arise so they don’t get stored in my cells and tissues. I have a large toolbox of self care practices so I can fully show up for myself and everyone I work with. When we’re rehearsing for a show and I’m trying to maintain my full schedule with clients, I can have very little time for myself, so it’s honestly a work in progress.

We’ve never had much of a budget, but we look forward to applying for grants and finding investors who believe in our vision! The financial component has always been the biggest struggle for me because my heart wants to connect with and offer care to people regardless of what they are capable of paying. I have worked in many fields outside of my passions to help support the dreams I have in life. Cantilever Collective utilized some crowdfunding to support our first full length performance and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated! Art is not a priority in a capitalist country so when our community shows up for us it truly means the world. It was encouraging to sell out all of our shows for the premiere of “Dwelling: The Structures that Hold Us.” We are so proud of creating this piece with such a small team and are excited by the prospect of touring this piece across the globe!

Overall, I want people to know how much heart is behind everything I do. I believe in healing through community and being a loving, compassionate witness to each person’s journey. I feel lucky to have work where I can share love abundantly! If you come in for a session or come to a performance, you will be held in love.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love the accessibility to a vast range of art at any time in LA. The creative energy here is contagious and there’s always music, dance, visual art, and healing events to discover! My favorite place in Los Angeles is Elysian Park; I take everyone here because it holds a special place in my heart and is beautiful in every season. For natural beauty, I also love Cedar Grove in Griffith Park and The Huntington Gardens. For a tasty vegan treat, Just What I Kneaded in Frogtown is the perfect place! It’s so cute and has a wide range of delights. Afterward, you can take a lovely walk along the LA River. For a nice meal in town, I would take my friend to Elf, Joy, or Kitchen Mouse. For healing needs, I’d of course bring my guest to Sacred Fortune in Echo Park, where they could receive bodywork from me or a variety of other healing modalities such as acupuncture with trusted practitioners. The Philosophical Research Society has interesting events every week including sound baths, films, readings, and somatic practices. I would recommend taking a dance class with Montay Romero or joining Cantilever Collective’s “Wiggle Wednesdays” for a healing movement experience for all ages and abilities! I have countless incredible musician and visual artist friends so I would definitely take visiting friends around the galleries, venues, theatres, and museums depending on what events were happening! LACMA is always a fun adventure and the Hollywood Bowl never disappoints. Lodge Room is a great venue for shows and Hauser & Wirth has free entry to exhibits. I’m definitely guilty of frequenting the cute, trendy coffee shops, so I would surely take a visitor to Canyon, Cafe Nido, or Maru. I also think the K Spa experience is quite unique and I enjoy taking friends to Olympic Spa for a relaxing day in the pools and saunas. In the evenings, it’s nice to find a natural wine bar. Covell, Cafe Triste, and Tilda are all lovely! When my nephew is in town, I take him for a ride on the swan boats in Echo Park and we love to hit the beach to play in the California waves. There’s never a shortage of things to do!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My friends Himerria, Kaitwan, and Andrea (of Cantilever Collective) are inspirational and feel like true family. Our work as a dance collective stems from the rich personal tapestries of our lives and observations, so there are infinite people and experiences who have sculpted the stories we tell through our movement. I have deep gratitude to our audience members who filled every seat (and then some) at the premiere of our first full length piece, “Dwelling: The Structures That Hold Us.” The feedback was deeply moving and showed us that our process and message was resonant in our community. The cast and audience were laughing and crying together; that made all of our hard work worthwhile. We also thank the theatre and every friend and family member who supported us throughout the process. It truly takes a village! Working with Cantilever Collective feels like returning to a childlike way of play and creativity! The dance world is often full of toxic philosophies and critical voices, so it feels beautiful to return to my craft with such a supportive group. Working without hierarchies has been really nice and has set a new standard for me.

I am perpetually learning from the magic that occurs in sessions with my clients. Without these deep-feeling, beautiful people, my work would cease to have meaning. I love listening to the visions, sensations, and epiphanies that my clients experience in our time together. Success to me is centered around the impact we have on others and our environment, finding meaning in the simple things, releasing what’s not meant for us, and becoming part of something bigger than ourselves. If I can help clients feel a deeper sense of love, soul nourishment, and empathy, I find contentment in my purpose. The path of healing is often incremental and takes patience, so I feel immense gratitude to those who are willing to join me in these spaces of depth. My clients are generous and consistent which helps me maintain a location in the heart of Echo Park and use quality, local products. Corporations with larger budgets often seem to cut corners and treat people poorly, so I hope the future of business belongs to kind hearted, passionate people who want to reshape outdated systems that only serve a select few.

The family of artists I’ve found at Villa Capri in Mallorca shine like a north star in my life! Here, we are experimenting with artistic residencies and communal ways of life in connection with the land. I feel deeply inspired by the environment, people, and experiences associated with these projects! In my career, I’d love to have helped create a legacy of community networks across the globe so people can find a symbolic sense of home, endless inspiration, and collaboration. I’m currently creating a residency workshop called “Mujer Esqueleto” at Villa Capri for late spring in collaboration with Lili Diaz and Lorena Angenault.

The natural world has been one of the most impactful influences on my work. I’ve lived in many places, but spent much of my youth in Bend, Oregon in a cabin in the forest. Playing outside among the trees and animals undoubtedly shaped me into who I am today. The seasons taught me about cycles and change, the deer taught me about gentleness and nurturance, the bugs taught me about resilience and transformation, the obsidian amazed me, and the earth sent me messages of all kinds. Seeing an ecosystem function so beautifully showed me that diversity and collaboration is necessary for the wellbeing of the whole. Being an empathetic observer of life greatly influences the somatic care I offer today. Our bodies are reflections of nature. In my healing work, I must stay open to mystery and be able to improvise when new situations arise. I have to realize that the human mind may not be able to comprehend or analyze the magic that occurs in sessions. Imaginative thinking is key and it’s essential to release control and listen deeply in each moment.

My parents were also incredibly supportive of my creative nature in childhood. My mom was an amazing dancer and my dad loved to sing and play guitar with us. Both of them have beautiful values and brought creativity into many aspects of my life. My mother’s dancing spirit is always alive in me. My dad’s work as a funeral director encouraged me to ponder death and the ephemeral nature of life from a young age. I’ve never felt invincible and it helps me value each moment. My family made many sacrifices to support my passions. I am eternally grateful for all the love they have poured into me.

I love learning and experiencing art of all kinds and have been inspired by women like Pina Bausch, Jane Goodall, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Leonara Carrington, Patti Smith, Anais Nin, Ida Rolf, Joni Mitchell, Mary Oliver, Nan Shepherd, Nina Simone, Agnes Pelton, Bell Hooks, Prentis Hemphill, Italo Calvino, and all of the people who were pioneers in their field and followed their heart’s callings. I am grateful for those who have helped open doors for women and showed us what is possible with determination and a vision. It takes courage to stay soft and loving in a brutal world and I bow to all of the artists who weave magic from adversity instead of becoming spiritually calcified by this brutal world. These visionaries remind me that our wounds are a door and there are endless thresholds to cross and curiosities to explore.

Website: www.kyabliss.com (bodywork) https://cantilevercollective.wixstudio.com/dance (dance)

Instagram: @kya.bliss (personal) @cantilevercollective (dance collective) @villa.capri (residencies) @sacredfortune.la (healing collective)

Image Credits
Jonathan Sielaff
John Whittington
Olivia Ashton
Benjamin Ewing
Denise Leitner
Daron Jackson