Sonjé Mayo trained as a classical ballet dancer in South Africa and England. After certifying as a physical therapist at the University of Cape Town in 1966, she spent four years in New York City, where she initially studied jazz dance and then modern dance, notably the Martha Graham and Cunningham techniques. At the Graham School, Sonjé was first exposed to the Pilates Method. She was fortunate to meet the great Joseph Pilates in 1966 shortly before he died. In NYC, Sonjé danced with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company and she also did extensive TV work. Upon her return to South Africa in 1972, Sonjé pioneered contemporary dance and formed the first multi-racial dance company in the history of South Africa. This dance company, JAZZART, is still in existence today. Sonjé is a teacher and choreographer of international repute. Her many choreographic awards include the prestigious ‘Prix de Lausanne’ in Switzerland, the ‘Carlo Blassi Award’ in Italy and the ‘Concours de Paris’ in France. She represented South Africa at the World Cultural Festival in Germany and at the Cultural Commonwealth Festival in Canada, where her choreographic blend of contemporary and African dance was unique in style and concept. Sonjé moved to Nashville in July 1995 when her husband took a position at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. As the Director of Dancer Development, she taught and choreographed for the Tennessee Dance Theatre until its demise in July 2000. She has also taught numerous workshops in the USA and internationally. Sonjé has always incorporated the Pilates Method in her teaching of dance. In 2004, Sonjé retired from the dance world and she now concentrates on therapeutic teaching using her skills as a physical therapist and the Peak Pilates Method.