11/01/2025
When you have a teacher like Dianne it’s a lot to live up to. She hardly ever said “good job” and sometimes was harsh. From another era where hard work was a given, she wanted critical thinking, expected a keen eye, and demanded practice.
I studied with Dianne because of her lineage to the work, but mainly because she never stopped learning herself. She connected me with Eric Franklin, and was open and discerning at the same time.
When I first started working with Dianne, I would have to sneak out to breastfeed one of my kids in the middle of workshops. I assisted her at DanceMakers while pregnant, when she used to teach for the company. I flew to Vancouver many many times to learn from her. She would pull me aside at lunch and tell me about some new idea she had to work with scoliosis, or some client. She called me a couple times to make sure I was handling life as a studio owner. She continued to mentor, and teach long past when she gave up working.
Many days when I’m teaching I’ll think “What would Dianne do?” The answer is always pretty clear. She relentlessly worked on behalf of her clients. Their health was more important to her than it was to them, until she convinced them to get on board with really caring. And caring about your body meant paying attention, attending to, and practicing daily.
The way I understand Pilates is due to Dianne’s work. Her laugh and her presence will be missed by all the many people whose lives she touched. ❤️
