About Moonborn

Hello! My name is Brittney Laleh Banaei: dance rebel, movement devotee, and massage therapist extraordinaire.

The photo you see is a side-by-side of a (much younger) me and my paternal grandmother, who Moonborn is named after.

Moonborn is a little nest I’ve created for all of the things that I love: movement, community, and wellness. I operate on the radical notion that movement is a vital, inalienable component of the social, cultural, and spiritual human experience. Everyone deserves to feel good in their body, and everyone should feel welcome in dance and wellness spaces. If you’ve ever felt like a round peg in a square hole, my hope is that you, weird and wonderful you, feel welcome at Moonborn.

I’ve been a licensed massage therapist since 2012 and hold an MFA in dance with a secondary emphasis in somatics from the University of Colorado Boulder, where I’m also working on my PhD in Performance Studies. I completed my GYROTONIC® certification in 2021, and am continuously amazed by the deep, transformative power of the GYROTONIC® method.

Most importantly, I am a mother to a fierce, intelligent, beautiful daughter, who has radically and profoundly changed my life. She has taught me more about the world than any amount of schooling ever could, and I’m inspired to make the world a better place for her in any small way that I can. Moonborn is devoted to making that little bit of better.

Welcome home, I can’t wait to meet you!

  • “Moonborn” is my paternal grandmother’s maiden name, translated from Farsi. I was particularly inspired by her strength, bravery, and love of travel. Although I did not know her well (she lived in Iran), I feel her spirit in my own life. I’ve also been told we look alike, what do you think?

    My heritage is really important to me, and I wanted to honor my family in my work. Specifically, I want to honor fierce, powerful, unstoppable women: those I’ve had the pleasure of knowing in this lifetime, and those who came long, long before. Moonborn is a living love note to the determination, grit, and rebelliousness of those women.

    1.  Movement is for everyone, and everyone can move.

    2.  You do not have to look, dress, or believe a certain way in order to belong in wellness spaces or develop proficiency in movement practices.

    3. Feeling welcomed, safe, accepted, joyful, and connected are essential parts of overall wellness. 

    4. Our bodies are inherently good. 

    5. Wellness and dance have broad, expansive definitions which include personal, cultural, and social relevancy. 

    6. Creative expression can change the world. 

    7. Wellness is a verb. So is the community.

  • To the Burton-Banaei-Leclerc clan: Thank you is not enough.

    The creation of Moonborn has been a family affair, with the people I love, respect, and value most giving their time, energy, and love to make it happen. My incredible mother showed up in huge ways and moved countless sheets of plywood and, along with her husband Dave, provided the muscle and moral support at every turn. My super-smart father built the floor and installed the thermostat. My little sister brought ice coffee, engineered mirror spacing, laid floor, and, along with my sweet mother in law, helped me paint. My endlessly supportive husband spent approximately 1 million hours babysitting and listened to countless more hours of ideation and troubleshooting. My maternal grandmother invested in the business and believed in the vision of Moonborn.

    Special thank yous to my lovely friends Victoria and Kody Gideon (KodySoldMyHome Team) who midwifed me through the space selection process, and Chelsea Rae for hooking Moonborn up with an awesome Marley floor. Huge gratitude to Wayne Morelock, Steve Casson, and Zach Fischer who were so generous with their time and expertise. Deep bows to Rebel advertising, who listened intently, took this project seriously, and helped me make a dream into a brand. .

    To every teacher and mentor I’ve ever had, thank you for your wisdom. I am the amalgamation of your teachings and generosity.

    To my dance community: my fellow weirds, the risk takers; bold and brave souls who have helped me grow exponentially as a teacher, mentor, mover, and maker. Your trust and love are the bedrock of everything that I do. You are the “why.”

    Thank you to everyone who encouraged and supported Moonborn. It wouldn’t be here without you.