We are DMP
Gabriella Tait
Human Resources Lead
Gabriella is serving as the Human Resources lead for the Dance Medicine Philly Organizer Team. With a background in the drug and alcohol rehabilitation field, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work with the goal of becoming a licensed somatic sex therapist. Over the years, Gabriella has organized and supported immersive containers that empower women to reclaim their authentic, liberated expressions. Gabriella’s path is rooted in a return to ancient earth wisdom, expressed through the body, spirit, and community.
As a first generation Colombian-American woman, Gabriella’s values are deeply shaped by her heritage, fueling her commitment to help Dance Medicine Philly’s efforts to center and uplift BIPOC voices. Understanding the importance of clear communication and accountability, she is the new first point of contact for any consent-related concerns.
Gabriella is also passionate about co-creating structures that promote sobriety and safety, particularly for individuals in addiction recovery. Additionally, she actively researches philanthropic organizations to support that are aligned with Dance Medicine Philly’s values. Gabriella looks forward to deepening, listening, and growing alongside the community.
LaVina D'Anjolell
Co-founder, Board Member
LaVina D’Anjolell is a co-founder of Dance Medicine Philly, an active Board Member, and holds point for the heart & soul of this organization. She attends group meetings to support harmony and connection within the team dynamic, as well as contributing to decision making.
Over the years she has supported the drawing in of larger name artists such as Porangui, Deya Dova, Mose, Liquid Bloom, and Savej through her travels & connection with Reciprocity Music.
LaVina is a trauma-informed Somatic Therapist, a Sexual Shamanic Practitioner, and an Intimacy + Embodiment Guide. Her work in the world is in devotion to helping others discover safety in their bodies as a pathway of awakening the innate wisdom of the human-soul to bring greater harmony & peace to the Earth.
She has cherished witnessing this community grow from infancy til now, truly having a life of its own — and there is excitement for the next cycle of evolution and all that will unfold from here.
Jacob
Patrick Ellis
Co-founder
Jacob is a co-founder of Dance Medicine Philly and plays an active role in keeping the heartbeat of the dances alive. He manages scheduling for the biweekly gatherings, oversees venue coordination, and rotates in to help operate on the day of our events.
Jacob is also the owner of Cocoon Philly and the founder of the Men’s Yoga Collective, with over 10 years of experience as a yoga teacher. Alongside teaching, he offers 1-on-1 coaching through his mentorship program, supporting others in reconnecting with their purpose and living more aligned, empowered lives through building a true yoga practice.
Underneath all the labels, Jacob is a human with a rebel heart who deeply craves and believes in living life to the fullest. He’s a thrill-seeking, rock-climbing, mountain-biking man on a mission to help people reclaim who they truly are and rediscover the joy of being alive.
Lauren
Melissa
Graphic Design, Social Media
Lauren Melissa is a feminine embodiment + intimacy guide, somatic therapist, and priestess of the womb and rose lineages. She supports women in reclaiming their bodies as sacred, deepening intimacy with themselves, God, and others, and walking in the world from a place of rooted sovereignty and devotion.
She found Dance Medicine Philly in 2022, immediately resonating with the depth of connection and embodied expression alive in the space. While dance was always her most natural language, her time at DMP has nurtured new layers of connection—opening her voice, allowing powerful emotional expression, and deepening into presence with others. Through this journey, she embodies a permission that invites others to feel safe exploring their own expression.
In 2024, Lauren began serving DMP with her skills in graphic design and social media for ongoing dances. Now, as the community enters a new phase of growth, she is honored to contribute to its evolution—supporting the weaving of structures and culture that deepen care, integrity, and inclusivity. Her devotion is to ensuring DMP continues to be a vibrant space where friendship, creativity, and embodied freedom can flourish.
Yosef Hayim has been with DMP since the start. As one of the co-founders, he has served a number of different roles over the years.
Currently, he holds the title of board member, attending quarterly meetings and providing perspective/facilitation as needed.
As a relationship coach and organizational consultant, he dances between the worlds of masculine soul initiation, sacred sexuality, and organizational culture work.
His offerings weave together grief, eros, song + dance, circle work, and land connection.
The common thread through all of his work is the medicine of intimacy - guiding humans to integrate personality, soul, and spirit in service to love and life.
Yosef’s greatest hope for this DMP community is to embrace our conflicts as precious opportunities to deepen intimacy together.
Yosef Hayim
Co-founder, Board Member
Davideo
Siller
Co-founder, Board Member, Accountant
Davideo Siller is a co-founder of Dance Medicine Philly (DMP). Starting the community was a natural evolution from his permacultural community homestead 15 minutes from center city Philly in South Jersey. Whether it is through ecstatic dance, skill sharing, Acro yoga, or any combination of embodiment activities, he has always sought to teach and bring people together.
Currently he holds the role of board member, accountant, and spider web greaser for DMP. It brings him such pleasure to see this community to have grown from its infancy to its adolescence now. A strong foundation of connection, deep friendship and ease of working together as a team has allowed for his long term commitment to this project.
Currently he contributes most of the time from afar. He is living in Vietnam where he has established Ecstatic Dance Saigon, is an Acro yoga and handstand teacher and đang học tiếng việt (is studying Vietnamese)
David would love to see DMP continue to hold spaces that welcome and invite all types of people. He is ready to support as a volunteer to see true healthy conscious spaces and opportunities be available for all in Philly.
Jennifer joined Dance Medicine Philly in May of 2025, drawn to the community’s spirit of creativity, collaboration, and connection. In her role, she shares the heart of the gatherings through marketing and communications.
Her path to Dance Medicine Philly has been shaped by years of community event planning and nonprofit leadership. She is passionate about creating spaces where people can come together, grow, and connect. Beyond Dance Medicine Philly, Jennifer serves on the board of a local nature center and supports healing-centered organizations with their social media outreach, blending her passion for storytelling with her skill in engagement.
Being part of Dance Medicine Philly feels like coming home to a community that shares her values of trust, collaboration, and welcoming all expressions of being. Jennifer is excited about the potential for growth within this community and grateful to bring her nonprofit experience to help nurture its expansion and impact.
Jennifer
Brown
Marketing & Communications
Richie Parrella began their journey with Ecstatic Dance in 2018 and quickly became an active part of the Ecstatic Dance Jersey community. Within a year, they were supporting local events, helping to grow the movement and deepen its impact. In 2020, Richie co-founded Celebrate All People, an organization dedicated to hosting dances and gatherings that honor cultural, ethnic, gender, and spiritual diversity.
In 2022, Richie stepped into an organizing role with Dance Medicine Philly, where they help coordinate facilitators for warm-ups, DJ sets, and sound baths. Their role extends to event planning, team meetings, and hands-on support during events. Richie brings both structure and heart to the team, helping to create a space that feels welcoming, intentional, and transformative.
Outside of Dance Medicine Philly, Richie is a somatic therapist, Reiki Master, sound healer, and community event organizer. They describe themselves as a dreamer—someone shaped by the wisdom of teachers, guides, friends, nature, and lived experience. Their work is grounded in spirit, self-inquiry, and embodied presence, with a deep commitment to personal and collective healing.
Richie came to Dance Medicine Philly seeking an organization rooted in true co-creation—where collaboration, trust, and deep listening are foundational. In this community, they’ve found exactly that. Richie continues to nurture this vision through their work, bringing joy, intention, and a sense of family to every space they help hold.
"I’m here to learn, I’m here to love, I’m here to share."
Richie
Parrella
They/Them
Co-Organizer, Talent Recruiter
Frank Perri has been a part of the DMP leadership team since 2022. He primarily oversees on the ground logistics of events and makes sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. This includes managing most of DMP’s equipment and physical properties, both setup and storage, working with the volunteer team, wrangling hippies, and lots and lots of spreadsheets!
Frank sees service to his community as a gift and a labor of love. Feeling like many members of this community are like family to him, and having gotten so much out of the medicine of these dance spaces, he considers it an honor to give back to the community he loves so deeply.
Frank has been in many leadership roles over the years, notably in another spiritual community and Toastmasters international, a public speaking and leadership educational group where he served as a director overseeing all 25 chapters in the Philadelphia area. Leadership is a skill, and he considers each role an opportunity to learn more.
When not working with DMP, Frank is a hypnotherapist and life coach. He is the founder of Philadelphia Hypnosis Center, the top hypnosis practice in the Philly area where he regularly helps people make major changes in their lives, like quitting smoking and overcoming anxiety.
Frank considers it an honor to be of service to this community which he loves. He'll be the first to tell you he isn't perfect and seeks to always learn and grow so he can be give back more.
Frank Perri
Logistics