Barbra Bean, instructor/studio manager, received her initial dance training in her native country, South Africa. She performed professionally in a modern dance company, toured the country as a freelance dancer, and taught dance for numerous organizations.

After immigrating to the United States, she graduated from the University of California at Irvine with a BA in dance and then completed the Teacher Training Program at Studio du Corps. She continues her studies with Ron Fletcher and considers herself fortunate to have taken Pilates classes at well respected studios in New York, London, and South Africa.

She currently teaches modern, jazz and Pilates mat classes and choreographs for annual performances at several studios in Orange County. In the past few years, she has been part of the guest teaching faculty at several summer dance programs including Riverside Ballet and RNB Ballet School, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Diana Erickson, instructor, began her Pilates training in 1997 in her hometown of Boulder, Colorado. She completed her certification from Studio du Corps in the fall of 2000, and is happy to have been teaching here since then.

Diana has been dancing since age 4 an is currently a company member with Inland Pacific Ballet. Along with her career as a dancer, Diana also teaches Pilates and Ballet throughout Southern California.

Valerie Hirst, instructor at Studio du Corps, was a former manager and advisor on fitness and nutrition for an international health club, where she developed an awareness of and belief in the necessity of a total mind/body integration in her approach to physical fitness.

Valerie was trained and certified by her mentor, Diane Diefenderfer, at Studio du Corps/The Pilates Center of Orange County. She has subsequently worked extensively with Master teacher (Elder) Ron Fletcher and is a certified instructor in the Ron Fletcher Work(TM).

Valerie brings to Studio du Corps thirteen years of experience in the Pilates work and a desire to assist each client in reaching their fitness goals.

Rebeca Ramos was born in Mexico City. She graduated from Ballet School at the age of 16, receiving the Advanced Certificate from the RAD (Royal Academy of Dancing.) Soon thereafter, she joined the National Ballet Company of Mexico where she performed for ten years, two as corps de ballet and eight as a soloist. She toured her country with the company working with renowned choreographers and teachers performing the classical repertoire as well as contemporary and neo-classical ballets.

Rebeca moved to Southern California in 1988 and a year later she was part of the "Phantom of the Opera" production for Los Angeles for over three years. She has been teaching and choreographing for dance schools in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Every summer she goes back to Mexico for summer workshops with contemporary and classical ballet students.

In 1995 Rebeca joined Studio du Corps under the direction of Diane Diefenderfer, and was certified in the Pilates Method. She has worked for Studio du Corps since and continues to teach under the direction of Ms. Diefenderfer. Rebeca met Ron Fletcher and the Ron Fletcher Work(TM) in 1998, and in the year 2000 was certified as a teacher by Ron Fletcher himself.

She is currently teaching the Pilates Method and the Ron Fletcher Work(TM) at Studio du Corps under the guidance of Ms. Diefenderfer and Mr. Fletcher through seminars. She also continues to teach dance, currently working at the Saint Joseph Ballet School for "at risk youth" in the City of Santa Ana, as well as Studios in the Orange County area and Mexico City.

Niki Parker, instructor, was certified in the Pilates Method under the direction of Diane Diefenderfer in August 2002. She continues building expertise by attending Pilates workshops and has assisted Ms. Diefenderfer at various workshops. She currently instructs at Studio du Corps and other locations in Southern California.

After earning her B.A. at CSULB and working full time, she became a Jazzercise instructor, teaching fun and effective dance classes for almost 24 years. Her enthusiasm for fitness and her passion for Pilates have merged and she find Studio du Corps a perfect environment to continue sharing her love of fitness.