Daria Faïn, an accomplished artist and creator of CORE MOTION, holds an impressive array of professional titles: dancer, dance teacher, award-winning choreographer, theater director, Qigong instructor, healer, author, speaker, and innovator. Through her life’s work and the symbolic logo of her company, she emerges as a true artist whose vision is deeply rooted in creativity and philosophy.
Based in New York, Faïn brings together her Mediterranean heritage, European cultural influences, and over three decades of exploration into Asian philosophies of the nature, the elements, and the body, alongside American, Eastern Indian dance training, and theater. This multifaceted background has shaped her unique approach to movement and representation of certain ideas. In a recent interview, Faïn discussed her journey through Chinese energetics and the performing arts, sharing insights into the profound connections she has cultivated between body, mind, and spirit.
Faïn’s exploration into Chinese energetics began in Paris (1982–1984) under Master Karfung Wu, who taught her acupuncture principles, Qigong, Tai Chi, nutrition, and Taoist philosophy. As a young dancer, Faïn was awarded a scholarship from the French Cultural Ministry to study at the Martha Graham School in New York. She described her passion for learning the iconic Martha Graham technique, despite its lack of trendiness at the time. Between 1984 and 1986, Faïn traveled to the United States to advance her career as a dancer and choreographer. Returning to France, she trained with Dr. Jen, a Shaolin School martial artist and acupuncturist, for seven years. She also studied Chinese mental energetics with Francisco Albuquerque during this time. By 1990, she was certified as a teacher of the Alexander Technique.
In 1996, Faïn relocated permanently to the U.S. and began studying with Grandmaster Mantak Chia. By 2001, she earned the Universal Healing Tao full instructor certificate, continuing to deepen her practice with certifications in Do Yin, Tan Tien Qigong, Tai Chi, and Iron Shirt. In 2010, she presented a research project at a Universal Healing Tao conference honoring Master Chia’s birthday. Her project involved the development of a unique darkroom practice in collaboration with her New York team. Faïn also trained in Qigong, Bagua, and Wu-style Tai Chi under Frank Allen for five years and has been studying Classical Chinese with Sabine Wills to read Taoist texts in their original language. Additionally, she has pursued Tibetan Buddhist studies with Lama Tsultrim since 2016.
As a performer, choreographer, and director, Faïn has showcased her work across renowned platforms such as the Chocolate Factory, BRIC Arts, Gibney Dance, New York Live Arts, and international venues like Marseille Objectif Danse and the Fondation Cartier in Paris. Her extensive resume includes partnerships with institutions such as The Kitchen and Danspace Project, where her innovative pieces have been commissioned. She has also led ambitious residencies, including climate change research at the Watermill Center and explorations of the social concept of “the commons” with poet Robert Kocik, her partner and collaborator.
In the United States, Daria Faïn has been a faculty member at Movement Research since 2005. She has also led master classes and workshops at numerous prestigious institutions, including The New School (2015), Harvard University (2011), Trisha Brown Studio (2008), New York University (1999, 2001, 2010, 2015), Tulane University (1998), Adelphi University, Rutgers University (2010), Cooper Union (1986), and Sarah Lawrence College (2009). Internationally, Faïn has shared her expertise at Independent Dance in London (2017–2018) and Tanzfabrik in Berlin (2017–2018).
Her contributions have earned her numerous grants and fellowships from U.S., French, and Belgian organizations. Among her accolades, she received the Cultural Ministry Award at the Concours Internationale de Chorégraphie de Bagnolet in 1979 and the 2016 New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship alongside Kocik. Her research into the relationship between the body and Le Corbusier’s architecture won her a fellowship from the French Ministry of Urbanism.
One notable performance was Faïn’s collaboration on Stimmung, a vocal composition by Karlheinz Stockhausen. In this piece, she performed alongside a six-member vocal ensemble, embodying movements reminiscent of Qigong, Tai Chi, and Bagua Zhang. Claudia La Rocco of The New York Times described her as “a remarkable dancer… What a pleasure it was to observe her moment-by-moment negotiation of the thrumming Stockhausen score.” You can watch her incredible dancing via a link here.
In 2016, Faïn introduced CORE MOTION, a certification program rooted in her synthesis of Chinese energetics and body-mind practices. Designed for individuals of all experience levels, the program integrates Qigong and Taoist principles into daily life and creative expression.
The logo of CORE MOTION stands apart from the rigid designs of many corporate brands. It resembles a dynamic scribble, symbolizing a person at its center who embodies Yin-Yang energy, connects with the Earth and higher powers, and engages with their surroundings. This evocative design reflects Faïn’s profound understanding of Taoist philosophy and healing arts, showcasing her as a visionary artist whose work transcends conventional boundaries.