ABOUT LAURA LIBBY

As an Embodied Artist, Creative Healer, Empowerment Guide and Joy Alchemist, I help people spark more pleasure and vitality through movement, healing, a little magic and lots of love.

At the heart of my work is something I call Joy Alchemy—the practice of transforming life’s challenges into vitality, creativity, and pleasure. For me, joy isn’t something frivolous or fleeting. It’s essential fuel for living fully, especially in midlife and beyond.

Embodied Artist & Performer

For over 30 years, I’ve expressed myself through movement and performance. As a world-renowned, award-winning professional dancer, I’ve traveled the globe, exploring the ways our bodies can tell stories, spark connection, and hold power. Movement has always been my first language, and it continues to shape how I guide others today.

Creative Healer

Alongside performance, I’ve dedicated decades to the healing arts—as a licensed massage therapist, yoga and meditation instructor, sound healer, and group fitness teacher. These practices aren’t just tools; they’re doorways. They invite us back into our bodies, where real transformation and deep healing happen.

Empowerment Guide

My mission is to help people—especially women in midlife—reclaim their strength, embrace change, and rediscover joy in their bodies. Whether through one-on-one coaching, movement classes, or special events, I bring compassion, humor, and a bit of irreverence to the process. Because growth doesn’t have to feel heavy—it can feel alive.

Joy Alchemy in Action

Today, my work spans many forms:

·       Movement & fitness classes designed for women in peri- to post-menopause.

·       Healing sessions & circles that invite deep rest and renewal.

·       Special events & retreats that blend community, creativity, and empowerment.

I also founded Blooming Third Age, a project dedicated to defying ageism and celebrating women as they step into their third—and for many, their most powerful stage of life.

Why I Do This Work

I believe joy is our birthright. I believe strength can be built at any age. And I believe no matter the challenges we meet or where we are on life’s path, our bodies are sacred sources of wisdom, pleasure, and power.

Work With Me

Roots & Recognition

  • Movement Training & Expertise

    Experience:

    • 30+ years in dance, fitness, and movement

    • Internationally renowned, award-winning performer

    • Founder of the Twin Cities Burlesque Academy (Minneapolis, MN)

    • Former Ballroom Dance Instructor, Fred Astaire Dance Studio (since 1989)

    Certifications & Training:

    • Yoga: 200-hour Yoga Alliance Instructor, CorePower Yoga (2007)

    • Group Fitness: NETA Certified Instructor, Barre, Yoga Sculpt, Somatic Dance

    • Indoor Cycling: Team ICG Certification (2016)

    • Nia Dance Technique: White & Green Belts with Ann Christiansen (2021)

    Specialties:

    • Dance and performance artistry

    • Somatic and expressive movement practices

    • Mind-body fitness with a focus on strength, joy, and embodiment

  • Experience:

    • 25+ years in holistic healing and bodywork

    • Practitioner of meditation and breathwork since 1974, guided by Swami Rama & Swami Veda at The Meditation Center (Minneapolis, MN)

    • Specializes in guided meditation, breathwork, and integrative healing practices

    Certifications & Training:

    • Massage Therapy: 650-hour AMTA Accredited Therapist, CenterPoint School of Massage, Minneapolis (1997)

    • Massage & Craniosacral Therapy:

      • Craniosacral Therapy I & II, Heartwood Institute of Integrated Medicine (Minneapolis, 2021)

      • Intro to Craniosacral Therapy, Berkana Institute of Massage Therapy (Denver, 2021)

    • Reiki: Levels I & II, She Heals Noojimo with Renee Butters (2023)

    • Sound Therapy: Crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls, and tuning forks (2024)

    • Other Training: CPR/AED Certification (1995–present)

    Specialties:

    • Trigger Point Therapy and Swedish

    • Reiki energy healing

    • Sound healing and vibrational therapy

    • Meditation and breathwork facilitation

  • Experience:

    • Certified Menopause Support Specialist (Burrell Education, 2023)

    • 1:1 coach, educator, and public speaker on menopause, midlife, and women’s empowerment

    • Advocate and ally dedicated to breaking stigma, defying ageism, and guiding people through life’s Third Age with clarity and joy

    Certifications & Training:

    • Menopause Support Specialist, Burrell Education (2023)

    • Extensive continuing education in midlife health, wellness, and empowerment strategies

    Specialties:

    • Menopause and midlife transition coaching

    • Advocacy and education (workshops, retreats, speaking engagements)

    • Empowering clients to reclaim vitality, pleasure, and confidence in their Third Age

  • Experience:

    • Creator and facilitator of dynamic gatherings for women in midlife and beyond

    • Skilled at weaving education, movement, ritual, and play into experiences that foster connection, healing, and empowerment

    • Award-winning performer and seasoned show producer with decades of experience creating live, community-centered events

    • Co-creator of the Twin Cities Burlesque Festival, The Minneapolis Burlesque Festival and founder of Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School (Twin Cities), blending performance art, creativity, and community engagement

    Signature Offerings:

    • Wise Women Rising Book Club — community-centered discussions on empowerment and growth

    • World Menopause Day Summit — advocacy, education, and collective celebration

    • Wisdom Circles — intimate gatherings for reflection, story-sharing, and support

    • Workshops & Retreats — immersive experiences designed for renewal and transformation

    Collaborative Retreats:

    • Crone Camp — celebrating the wisdom of the Third Age & Caftans

    • Activating Courage — cultivating resilience and self-trust through art

    • Interbeing Weekend Retreat — exploring mindfulness, community, and interconnection to nature

    Specialties:

    • Designing empowering, community-focused experiences

    • Creating safe, inspiring spaces for transformation

    • Blending creativity, ritual, and education into unforgettable events

What People Are Saying

“Laura lives from the heart and it comes through in her teaching and leading. She generously shares her knowledge and lived experience so beautifully in a really accessible and easy-to-understand and identify way. She has changed my life for the better in so many ways..”

— Dimity, Australia

“…Laura’s workshops helped me feel really held in community. I've been struggling to find people to talk to about menopause since I went into full menopause a decade earlier than my peers. Being able to talk to other women who are struggling with the physical and emotional changes really helped me remember my own power.”

— Heidi, Seattle

“Laura’s style is so welcoming and encouraging - it felt totally safe to talk about things that are “taboo” in our society. I learned new things and I heard from other woman that we aren’t alone! I highly recommend Laura’s program.”
— Jen, Hopkins

“…Women are chomping at the bit for growth and honesty on this subject and Laura bravely shines a light on a closeted topic. Hurray, the time has come!”

— Sarah, Minneapolis

“…The beauty of female spaces is that they can be raw and radical and Laura Libby is an extraordinary facilitator and conductor of conversation, integrating humor and storytelling, making a potentially heavy conversation into one of fun and curiosity.”

— Allison, St Paul