Being a natural educator, Julie Oak began teaching mime theater in 1971 while still in high school and has been teaching movement and physical theater in some form ever since. After many years of teaching mime and Contact Improvisation, and maintaining a private practice in bodywork and body therapy, Julie developed RealPlay ExpressiveArt. RealPlay has a performance wing and a healing wing. Some of the classes are
intended for positive personal change through movement explorations and expression, others are performance oriented, cultivating integrated movement and theater skills. The Mirth factor is high, yet depth of subject matter and authentic expression is also valued and supported. Julieʼs classes bring out the unique strengths and artistry of each individual, and also emphasize group connection. Julie offers private classes, and has taught at numerous universities and dance festivals throughout California, including Sofia University, Cabrillo College, and University of California Santa Cruz.

Performance Coach
Julie coaches people in creating original performance pieces. She is an active mentor and skilled director, and has midwifed original works by many movement/theater artists.

Personal Transformation Guide
Julie has also been a professional bodywork therapist for thirty years, practicing listening-oriented hands-on approaches which follow the “wisdom of the body.” Her knowledge of the body and ability to listen informs all of her work.
Julie is a guide for body based expressive therapy, offering private sessions which incorporate “moving emotions” and embodied Gestalt dialogue.

Julie draws on extensive experience with physical theater, contact improvisation, Authentic Movement, Continuum, and body-based therapies including Process Work, Hakomi, and Susan Harper's Em'Oceans and Sensations.
Julie teaches Movement as a Transformative Process at Sofia University.
She holds a B.A. in Somatics and Psychology from Antioch University.
Julie resides amongst the Oak and Redwood trees of Soquel Hills with her husband of 20 years. Her professional areas of expertise and interest include: tapping body wisdom, crossovers of performance and healing, and autobiographical performance.
See Current Classes

After her mother booted her off to mime camp, in 1972, Julie Oak soon began performing professionally with Wisconsin Mime Theater. Moving to San Francisco in 1976, she started her own group, Quadrangle Mime Company. Influenced by Ruth Zaporah's Action Theater, Julie began frequent appearances as a solo movement theater improviser.

Based in Santa Cruz, Julie continued performing solo improvisations, appeared as a
guest performer at Cabrillo College, and a character actress in the works of Nita Little,
Ana Flecha, and Mandy Greenlee. Julie co-directed Santa Cruz Group, “Plan B: Improvise,” and directed “RealPlay Moving Theater Laboratory.”
Julie has created, produced, directed, and performed in several or her own original shows including, “Ms.Adventures,“ “Obsessed,” “Into the Elsewhere,” (part of the Santa Cruz Actor's Theater season series), and most recently, “Jewlinka!” in Santa Cruz Fringe Festival.