WHAT IS ESTIA?
ESTIA House of Movement is a place to move and to be moved.
“ESTIA” translates as hearth or fireplace, and is also the name of the Ancient Greek goddess of the home. To us, it symbolizes interconnectivity, the act of radical belonging, and the space where everyone gathers.
At ESTIA House of Movement, we aim to foster creative freedom through the intersection between art, movement, and community. Whether you’re just starting out or have been training for years, we want you to feel seen and supported in every stage of your movement journey in a space where you can connect, create, and feel a sense of home.
*Note: All classes and sessions start on Monday September 29th!
Who we are
ESTIA House of Movement is a multidisciplinary space where dance, fitness, and the arts intersect to build community, spark creativity, and nurture belonging.
Located at 369 Hooper St, Brooklyn, NY ESTIA offers a space for people to feel at home through inclusive programming for all ages - from personal training, kids’ and adults’ dance classes to art shows, workshops, and community events. We center care, storytelling, and radical belonging in everything we do, creating a supportive environment free of judgement and pressure. Whether you're stepping into movement for the first time, looking to expand existing skills, or returning to your artistic roots, ESTIA House of Movement is a place for you to move and to be moved.
OVER
Since ESTIA House of Movement was established, we have had the privilege and opportunity to serve our community through classes, events, performances, collaborations, and connections. These are more than just numbers - they reflect our commitment to connecting with our community and giving them the tools to holistically explore their creative freedom and the space to experience creative belonging.
Our Space
Our studio is located at 369 Hooper St, Brooklyn, NY, 11211
This multi-purpose space is located on the ground floor and comes with lots of natural light, professional personal training equipment, props, dance studio facilities, and a high-end sound system.
*NOTE: Our building is an ADA accessible venue. Please submit any accessibility requests via email.
How to Get Here:
By Subway: Take the J/M to Hewes St (4 min walk) or the G to Metropolitan Ave (5 min walk). Marcy Ave (J/M/Z) and Lorimer St (L) are also nearby.
By Bus: The B39, B46, Q59, B60, and B24 stop right at Broadway/Hooper St, just steps away.
Our Creative Team
Lydia Perakis
Founder & Director
She/her
Lydia Perakis is a dancer, personal trainer, educator and producer raised in the Greek island of Crete and currently living in Brooklyn. A triple libra who loves all things art, storytelling and finding reasons to bring people together. She has been producing multidisciplinary art events since 2022 that have featured artists and creatives of all mediums. Additionally, she has worked as a dance educator, facilitator and personal trainer with various demographics around NYC and coached from absolute beginners to professional dancers and athletes.
She holds a BFA in dance from NYU-Tisch School of The Arts and is a certified personal trainer. She is also a registered yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance and a licensed Kettlebell coach. Her diverse movement background includes attending somatic workshops with many different mentors and supporting all her knowledge with 10 years of professional experience.
As an artist herself, she has presented work in venues such as the Danspace Project, Gelsey Kirkland Arts Center, the Queens Dance Festival and has been an Artistic Associate with Dance Action/Carmen Caceres amongst others. She has worked with choreographers Jeremy Nelson, Christina Robson, Luis Lara Malvacías, Elizabeth Dishman and Sarah Mitchell in various productions and projects including stage works, films, music videos, festivals, installations etc. Finally, she brings years of producing experience collected by working in venues such as New York Live Arts, the Center for Performance Research and the Soho Playhouse as well as serving as an assistant to multiple big scale artists.
She is so thrilled to finally bring all of her drive for movement and community-building in her new home!
Alisha Khatwani
Marketing and Operations Manager
She/her
Alisha Khatwani is a creator, curator, digital artist, and dancer from Austin, Texas, now based in New York City. She is passionate about building spaces where artists feel connected to themselves and the world around them. In 2024, she co-founded AGORA, a community-driven initiative that curates performances, film screenings, and collaborative opportunities for emerging artists. She also serves as Marketing Director with Wandering Avian Dance Experience (WADE), leading outreach, designing marketing materials, and engaging audiences through thoughtful communication.
As a performer, Alisha has danced repertory by Sidra Bell, Kyle Abraham, Andrea Miller, and Gallim Dance, with appearances at New York Live Arts, Radio City Music Hall, the Battery Dance Festival, and internationally at B12 Berlin. She is equally dedicated to education, having taught, choreographed, and assisted in schools and community programs across Austin and New York, as well as through an internship with the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. She values creating inclusive and supportive learning environments where movement empowers students, sparks creativity, and builds confidence.
Alisha earned her BFA in Dance with a minor in Digital Art & Design from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is excited to begin her journey with ESTIA House of Movement as Marketing & Operations Manager. She looks forward to bringing her passions for community, storytelling, and accessibility into her role while supporting ESTIA’s mission of cultivating meaningful and collaborative spaces for artists.
LOLA
She/her
Variety Show Producer
Lola is a dance theater maker and lover of performing arts. She was the founding member of the ESTIA Variety Show & the ESTIA Day Fest with Lydia in the previous iteration of ESTIA and will now be producing our art events.
She began her performance career in Orlando, Florida, after training at USF under Michael Foley, Andee Scott, John Parks, & James Kinney.
Upon moving to Orlando, Lola performed at Universal Studios, DRIP, Red Right Return, a few gigs in Puppetry with Heather Henson’s IBEX, a couple music videos for Xcelencia & The Buddy Blues Band, countless teaching classes, camps & workshops, until finding her home at VarieTEASE under Blue Star’s mentorship.
Since moving to NYC, she teaches privates & small workshops, performs in various venues, has choreographed for some short films, & most recently the Off-Broadway Immersive Production of TAMMANY HALL.
In addition to choreography and performance, Lola was the Associate Producer at The SoHo Playhouse for 5 years and she is currently the Head Treasurer at the Westside Theatre for The Little Shop of Horrors. Lola’s background on the stage and her current work in production has allowed her a unique perspective into producing events specifically for artists.
Lola’s passion lies not only on the stage, but in creating opportunities for artists. She believes in giving space to creators and cultivating relationships with movers & makers.
Supporting and Past Contributors
Ziru Wang
Photography & Videography
Camille Bruya
Design & Branding
Artie Ticknor
Grant Writer
Sammy Chapa
Social Media
Sofia Baeta
Marketing & Press Coordinator
Stephanie Lemesianou
Photography & Videography
Aishia Sampson
Social Media
