The Team
Meet our MaxBarre Teachers
JULIE ALAGDE
Co-Founder - Training Director
Julie Alagde has over four and a half decades training in dance, movement, and fitness. Her training includes ballet, modern dance, jazz, contemporary dance, rhythmic sportive gymnastics, and fitness. She has studied, continues to study numerous movement modalities and is certified to teach Pilates, Zumba, Barre, and Yoga. She was one of the pioneer members of the Philippine National Rhythmic Sportive Gymnastics Team, and has performed and taught for companies such as Powerdance, Airdance, Lion King Australia, Hongkong Disneyland, and Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, including teaching for numerous schools and dance studios. Her extensive background in movement is what made her see the value and wisdom of using the underlying principles in various techniques. This is her basis for the Maxbarre Method™.
Teacher Julie is an educator. She loves working with students, always curious, and loves to work with possibilities. She believes that the heart of every movement philosophy is essentially about approach. Universal movements are accessible and available for all. How one approaches any technique is what determines the outcome, therefore all outcomes are legitimate. Her history of numerous issues and limitations in her body is what inspires her to find ways of arriving at a goal with a student.
When Julie dances, she gets lost in her world. She enjoys books, coffee, plants, anatomy, and loves spending time with her husband and their terrier mutt.
Kim Clarete
Kim Clarete is a professional dancer and movement teacher with an extensive background in ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance. A faculty of House of Dance, University of the Philippines, and Guangming College, she received her certification to teach Yoga in Singapore and certified in the MaxBarre Method™.
For Teacher Kim, movement is a powerful way to nourish ourselves and others. She believes that the body in motion is a door to the divine. In her classes, she helps students deepen their experience of movement through vivid descriptions of our shared realities. Through a warm environment, she aims to bring students clarity and the courage to try and keep going.
In her spare time, Kim loves to read, write, draw, and spend time in nature.
Clarissa Umali
Clarissa Umali is a professional dancer and movement teacher with over two decades of experience teaching dance to students of all levels and ages. She is trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary dance, and certified in the MaxBarre Method™. She is an independent dance artist and a member of the Daloy Dance Company.
Teacher Clarissa believes that movement is a space for freedom, expression, and self-discovery —something deeply accessible, something that belongs to everyone, regardless of background or experience. For her, a studio must be a safe and welcoming environment where individuals can be fully themselves and move without fear or judgment. In her classes, she encourages students to explore movement with openness and curiosity, nurturing both confidence and awareness in the body. “Movement is, and should always be, for everyone, and every body.” says Teacher Clarissa.
As a lifelong learner, Clarissa continues to take classes and immerse herself in different movement practices. In her spare time, she enjoys learning, exploring new forms of movement, and deepening her understanding of the body.
YSABEL LAVA
Ysabel Lava is a professional dancer and movement educator. She studied Sports Science and is certified to teach dance cardio, Physique57, and the MaxBarre Method™. She is a freelance dance artist trained in ballet, jazz, street dance, and contemporary dance.
As a Teacher, Ysabel blends strength, technique, and musicality through a holistic and mindful approach that emphasizes balance and body awareness. She creates supportive, high-energy classes that empower students of all levels to build strength, move with intention, and connect more deeply with their bodies. Teacher Ysabel brings you to places that challenge you but will also allow you to have fun and realize you are capable of so much more.
Outside the studio, Ysabel enjoys making art, watching movies, and spending time with her child, Keiva.
DANICA CALAPATAN
Danica Calapatan is a professional dancer and barre teacher. She is a full time artist for Okada Manila Entertainment Group and is trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, Ashtanga Yoga, and Physique57. Being a member of the Philippine National Rhythmic Gymnastics Team and competing internationally helped shape her strong work ethic, discipline, attention to detail, and deep respect for proper training.
Teacher Danica approaches teaching with the mindset of an athlete —focus, discipline, programming, consistency, and intention, while maintaining a welcoming, supportive, and high-energy class environment. For her, effective movement is not about perfection, but about understanding the body and building strength correctly without shortcuts. Her emphasis is clarity, safety, and proper technique —moving not just harder, but smarter. She wants every student to leave her class feeling stronger, more confident, and proud of their progress.
Beyond teaching and performing, Danica enjoys exploring new cafés —but nothing beats staying home and spending quality time with her four dogs.