ABOUT BIJA BEAT
Move with Purpose. Dance with Heart. Give with Joy.
Bija Beat is where creativity meets cardio. A fusion of art, rhythm, and purpose that awakens your spirit and strengthens your world.
“Bija” is the Sanskrit word for seed, and every class plants one. Founded by the vibrant, heart-forward Tracy Straus, Bija Beat fuses high-energy dance, music, creativity, and philanthropy into classes that inspire connection and fuel change. Every move uplifts your mind, body, spirit, and every beat gives back.
On a mission to cultivate a community that moves with intention, rooted in joy, dance, and giving. Every class helps grow access to transformative arts education for children through Celebrate the Beat.
Get grounded. Get energized. Give back. Join a global movement that moves with intention. Leave every class feeling connected to yourself, your community, and something bigger.
Move for joy, give for growth & see you on the dance floor!
JOIN OUR WEEKLY CLASSES - EVERY WEDNESDAY IN NYC
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About Tracy Straus - Founder of Bija Beat
Tracy Straus is the founder of Bija Beat, an innovative dance program that fuses fitness, artistry, and purpose to promote holistic wellbeing.
At 14, Tracy was diagnosed with scoliosis and required to wear a back brace for 23 hours a day. Once a week, she would take the bus alone through New York City, slip off her brace, and lose herself in dance. That sacred hour of freedom revealed the power of movement to heal from the inside out—a truth that continues to shape her work and mission today.
Tracy went on to found Celebrate the Beat (CTB), a nonprofit celebrating its 25th year of bringing transformative dance education to over 504,000 children across Colorado. She serves as an Artistic Associate at the National Dance Institute (NDI) and was previously a Fellow with National Arts Strategies’ Chief Executive Program: Community and Culture.
A trained dancer and actress, Tracy developed Bija Beat during her fellowship at The Center for Ballet and the Arts at NYU. She has performed off-Broadway, trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and served as Associate Producer for the Tony Award-winning Broadway productions Spring Awakening and American Idiot.
Tracy recently co-founded Elevate Retreats in Costa Rica to further her mission of bringing movement, mindfulness, and joy to people around the world. At Elevate Retreats, participants are invited to reconnect with themselves, others, and the world around them through experiences in tennis, wellness, and creative expression, all designed to elevate the body, mind, and spirit.
Move for joy, give for growth & see you on the dance floor!
