Sonia Ratto

I am a French native, born in France, from Spanish descent, and raised In Reunion island and in West Africa —a childhood and youth that deeply shaped my cross-cultural perspective.

Following a BA in Political Science with a focus on Anthropology and International Relations, alongside a Master's in French Public Law, I made a pivotal shift into the cultural and artistic landscape. I began my career in contemporary art and dance—first assisting the Communications Manager for the French Biennale of Contemporary Art, and later supervising the administration of a European Union–funded cultural initiative designed to nurture choreographers and dancers across the Mediterranean region. During this time, I also co-authored the exhibition catalog for the Lyon Biennale of Dance, Mediterranea.

Driven by a fascination with the intersection of creativity, design, and brand strategy, I pursued an MBA with a concentration in Brand Management. My thesis explored the phenomenon of brand tattoos—examining themes of belonging, distinction, and tribal identity through the sociological and anthropological lenses.

I then entered the advertising and brand agency world and developed my skills over 20 years as a creative and cultural strategist —joining Ogilvy & Mather in Paris before moving to Carré Noir, the flagship design agency of Publicis. There, I led consumer and design trend intelligence before joining the TBWA Group, drawn by their pioneering "Disruption" methodology.

In parallel, I embarked on an inner path of self-inquiry and emotional healing, beginning with Jungian and depth psychology before turning toward the experiential landscapes of yoga and shamanism. For over two decades, I have immersed myself in conscious movement practices, a wide spectrum of yoga lineages, and shamanic rituals—studying with master teachers in Europe, Asia, India, and the American Southwest.

A pivotal Vision Quest in the high desert of Arizona in 2012 marked a profound turning point, prompting my relocation to the United States to deepen my study of embodied and shamanic arts. My journey includes extensive training across diverse yoga modalities (Ashtanga, Iyengar, Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative), Siberian and Core Shamanism, multiple Vision Quests In the desert of Arizona, Soul Motion, 5Rhythms, Trance Dance, Authentic Movement, Voice Dialogue, and Archetypal Therapy.

Drawn to the intersection of somatic, expressive arts, rituals, and deep nature connection, I am currently completing the three-year professional training program at the Tamalpa Institute in California to study and teach the Life/Art Process®—the revolutionary approach developed by postmodern dance and movement-based art therapy pioneers Anna and Daria Halprin.