Moving Mindsets: A New Virtual Outlet for Dance and Movement is Set to Empower and Foster Positive Self-Image
by Suzi Mitchell
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of Art with Altitude.
Emily Stein loves to push the boundaries of body and mind through movement and dance.
In 2019, she and her husband, Josh, started Mod Vaude (Modern Vaudeville), an event and performance group focused on burlesque dance, with classes based in Steamboat Springs. In early 2025, Emily decided to extend the spirit of liberation beyond the Yampa Valley by launching a virtual platform: The Empowerment Movement Collective.
“It’s about building self-confidence and giving people an outlet for self-expression,” Emily says. Until recently, her classes and workshops were in-person, which limited participation to those living in her Routt County locale.
“I wanted to give more people an opportunity to join,” Emily says. “It can also feel intimidating for some to walk into a studio setting, so being able to participate from your own home or space removes that.”
Emily’s offerings focus on building self-confidence and positive body image through fitness, strength and expressive movement. Routines that were once studio-based, involving aerial silks and other apparatus, have been adapted for minimal equipment use. Classes range from basic flexibility sessions to playful jazz and Broadway dance routines, lap dancing and heels workshops. Attendees can join a live class or access recorded instruction.
Mod Vaude embraces sensuality, physical strength and self-expression, while promoting a sense of community. Adding an online component is Emily’s way of planting the seeds to grow that community and connect people from anywhere.
Over the years, she has watched individuals become more expressive and interactive in her sessions. “I can see what parts of the body people are insecure about, and we work through that,” she says. “Everyone has their own goals, and I make sure I always meet people where they’re at—no matter where they live.”
Beyond adult classes, Emily hopes to impact the younger generation by tailoring sessions focused on wellness, fitness, and fostering a positive mindset. “Dance allowed me to accept my own body image, and I want others to find their own sense of confidence,” she says. Social media drives scrutiny—especially among teens—on everything from weight and clothing to diet and lifestyle.
“I see first-hand how constant exposure to edited images, comparison culture and pressure to fit an ideal can deeply affect students’ mental and physical well-being,” says Kim Horton, a counselor at Steamboat Springs High School. “That’s why it’s so important for teens to find positive ways to cope with these stressors—whether through mindfulness, movement, creative outlets or supportive relationships.”
Emily’s business model began as a way to promote expressive dance in the community, but it has grown into much more. “A lot of people have this idea that what we do is unattainable, but the whole purpose is to show people that if you commit and challenge yourself, you can achieve pretty much anything.”
Elevate the Arts: Visit modvaude.com to find out about classes or for more information. SM
