The 2023 Team

Heidee Lyn Alsdorf

Heidee Alsdorf is a freelance dance-theatre artist, body-worker, and facilitator from the southern foothills of the Ozark Mountains – Northwest Arkansas (NWA). Heidee holds a BFA in Dance Performance from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and an MFA in Physical Threatre from Accademia dell’Arte (IT/DE/CZ) in partnership with Mississippi University for Women. They are a somatic practitioner, with a certificate in Embodied Social Justice from Transformative Justice and a certification in Dry Massage Therapy from Oligenesi in Florence, Italy. They have had the privilege of interpreting works as a guest artist with The Flyover Dance Collective (USA), Novel Creative Movement (USA), TeeBoDans (USA), Broken Jump Theatre (IT), Spazio Seme (IT), and several independent choreographers. Their works have been presented by Collaborative Arts Lab (IT), Creative Spaces NWA (USA), CACHE Studios (USA), CRISISArts Festival (IT), and Spettatori Erranti La Festa (IT). Heidee’s approach to dance-theatre is decidedly anti-cartesean, life-affirming and collaborative, interlacing critical explorations in somatic experiencing, impulse, gesture, and community building.

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Blake Worthey

Blake Worthey is a Black American, dance-theater and teaching artist from Memphis, Tennessee. Currently he is interested in dialectical technologies inherent in creative spaces and how they can inform building a more equitable world outside of our artistic lives. His training includes a B.F.A in Dance Performance from University of Arkansas-Little Rock, Modus Operandi (Vancouver,BC), Orsalina 28 (Italy), BodyTraffic (LA) and imitating various dance & kung fu movies circa 2004. While in Vancouver he got to work with amazing people from OutInnerSpace, RadicalSystemArt, Company 605, Parts + Labour, Mutable Subject, and Social Ritual. He has been a guest artist with Northwest Arkansas Ballet Theater- notably performing the lead role in Immortal Beloved: Possessed By Genius by Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye. Most recently he has performed as part of Nick Cave’s UNTIL showing his self-created work in progress, Do You Know What You’re Doing Here and collaborated with BODYSONNET in the work I Woke Up on Skyline Drive.

Outside of dancing, his favorite thing is when you're on the phone and you hear the smile in the other person’s voice. Also he’s the kind of person that says to himself “What is happening?”. Often. Probably too often if we’re being honest.

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Maree ReMalia

Maree ReMalia is a collaborative choreographer and performer, teaching artist, and certified Gaga instructor. An adoptee born in South Korea and raised in Ohio, embodied practice and creative process support her ability to persevere, access joy and pleasure, feel belonging, be with complexity, and consider new possibilities. She welcomes folks from across disciplines and identities into these unfolding processes in settings ranging from professional and community-based to academic and conservatory. In her dance-making and facilitation she draws from her professional experience and training in improvisational methods in contemporary and postmodern dance practices, theater, writing, voice work, visual art, somatics and body work. Through these experiences, she aims to cultivate care and connection in understanding a fuller range of ourselves and each other so that we are not only training our bodies for performance, but opening possibilities for how we can be together – both in our dancing and in our broader lives.

IG: @ma_ma_lia

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Julia Paganelli Marín

Julia Paganelli Marín is a poet in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the creator of Bee Balm, a community writing experience. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Arkansas and has more than six years of teaching experience. Her editorial work has included reading and selection of work for The Arkansas International and Up North Lit. In addition to her chapbook, Blush Less (Finishing Line Press, 2015), her work has been published in The Journal, Zone 3, Passages North, The Comstock Review, and more.

IG: @beebalmarkansas

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Caleb Schoeppe

Caleb Schoeppe grew up loving music. Playing multiple instruments in school band, later playing with various live music bands. This passion led him to pursue his first degree in audio engineering which would ultimately bring him to where he is today. In recent years he continued his education in sound and sound healing obtaining degrees and certifications in Sound Therapy, Sound Healing, Music Therapy and Spiritual Life Coaching. Caleb combines his knowledge of modern science and fundamentals of frequencies with synthesizers and traditional sound healing instruments making for a truly unique and immersive healing experience. He has been called a "meditation DJ". Currently Caleb practices group sound healing sessions in the summer months at his flower farm, Sacred Hollow Farm, he co-owns with his fiance Sydney. In the winter months he practices at local businesses and yoga studios. He provides one-on-one vibroacoustic sound healing sessions for various clients. Caleb also teaches classes at the University of Arkansas on sound and sound healing.

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Haleigh Smith

Haleigh has been studying Yoga and creative movement since 2010 and is 500 RYT certified in Dynamic Hatha from Circle Yoga Shala, where she lived and apprenticed with her teachers for three years and managed their farm.

Her passion is helping humans access healing, truth, and joy through the intuitive blending of ancient wisdom and modern science. She holds private sessions out of her homestead in West Fork, Arkansas, where she and her partner are building a sanctuary for humans to play and grow.

Haleigh's Yoga practice and life embody radical honesty, humor, somatic inquiry, wildness, and conscious labor.

IG: @haleighfeatherly

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Sydney Wingo

Sydney is a Fayetteville native, university student, and dancer. She has been teaching dance since 2019, and working as a instructor at the Diva Dive in Fayetteville since 2021. When she's not studying you can find her teaching pole fitness and choreography. She has 5 years of competitive dance experience and continues to push boundaries with her pole work. Sydney specializes in teaching adult beginner dance classes and sensual movement. With 16 years of dance experience she loves helping students learn how to appreciate movement and letting it be a safe space for them to learn and grow. Whether it's floorwork, heels, or chair choreography she loves watching students come out of their shell and explore their bodies in a new way.

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Olivia Cooper

A native of Fayetteville, Olivia teaches acrobatic-dance, introductory dance and PBT. She holds certifications in Module 1 Acrobatic Arts and Progressing Ballet Technique. She teaches a variety of classes at Dance by Eliese in Fayettevillle, including a Monday night adult movement dance class.

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CeCe Marie

CeCe is a dance maker, director, yoga teacher and pioneer in Arkansas’ dance community. She tells stories through a unique lens based on grief, motherhood, faith and advocacy for racial equality. She’s collaborates with public events, artists and organizations to deliver innovative performances shedding light on impactful stories and issues. Her work involves choreography for dance companies, music videos, short films and University of Arkansas theatre and music departments. CeCe leads Arkansas Arts Academy's elementary dance program where she trains young dancers daily, but her love for teaching was ignited when she launched her adult hip hop classes in 2016.

IG: @cecemariechoreography YouTube/Facebook: CeCe Marie Choreography

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Shri (Regina)

“Shri” Regina Karigan-Winter is an energy healer and massage therapist from Fayetteville, Arkansas. She is a long time meditator and has been facilitating sound baths since 2009. As one who is energetically sensitive, Regina is an advocate and mentor for others in learning energetic hygiene and self care tools. She shines in guiding others through meditation and energy cleansing within a sound bath of many tones from crystal and metal singing bowls, gongs, rattles, chimes, drums, voice, etc. within a very safe and comfortable container.

IG: @thewelcomeom

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Shakira Eakins

Shakira Eakins, LCSW, RYT, CCTP-1 is currently providing therapy and social justice yoga instruction through her business Woken Soul Yoga Counseling. Shakira has experience working with adults across the lifespan, and works primarily with clients struggling with depression, self harm, anxiety, trauma, and racial identity challenges. She is also an affirmation therapist who is passionate about providing mental health services for LGBTQIA individuals. She primarily uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, yoga, polyvagal interventions, and meditation in sessions. Shakira is also the Director of Training and Professional Development at Eason Counseling and Associates. In this role she provides up-to-date CEU opportunities to Eason Counseling staff that includes topics such as social work ethics and cultural humility.

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Jimmye Whitfield

"Fayetteville, Arkansas is my birth place on this planet earth nearly 80 years ago! I have been fortunate to have witnessed so many events, discoveries, tragedies, miracles, traveled extensively and lived in various countries in Africa. I was blessed with an amazing husband and spiritual partner for 50 years, We traveled together with our two children until they grew and chartered their own paths.

I have been drawn to the mysteries of Yoga since I picked up my first Yoga book in 1973. Turning the pages, seeing the illustrations was fascinating and reading the comments of what benefits would be gained in practicing the various postures; health awareness and the awakening to a higher consciousness. I was first introduced to Transcendental Meditation brought to the the West by Maharishi Yogi during the late 50's-60's. Many teachers and masters from the East came to this country spreading knowledge and teaching how to turn our attention to our greatest power which lies within. I loved it! So many magical doors begin to open with a committed and daily disciplined practice. A few short years later I sat at the feet of my Siddha Guru Master, Swami Muktananda from Ganespuri, India while on tour in America. It has been said one with his spiritual attainment would only walk the earth every thousand years. He possessed the power to awaken the seekers' Kundalini, the dormant energy located at the base of every human being spine though thought, sight, or touch.Indeed it is his guidance and Grace that has directed my life since 1979. My husband, family and I were Missionaries with the United Methodist Church to serve in Africa for 25 years. During holidays we traveled to India for further studies in Raja and Bhakti Yoga.

After retirement and settling back in Fayetteville I became a certified Vari Yoga Teacher at the Arkansa Yoga Center. Building upon the knowledge and strength of that experience I was led to become a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher as taught by Siri Singh Sahib Yogi Bhajan. This is a physical, mental and spiritual discipline for developing expanded awareness and higher consciousness. Its purpose is to develop human characteristics to serve in this world. People often ask me if I still practice Yoga and I laughingly respond, "Yes, until my last Breath of Fire!"

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Peyton Short

Peyton Short is an event coordinator and sales team member at Pack Rat Outdoor Center and is an avid outdoorsman. An Arkansas native, he has been working in the outdoor industry selling gear, teaching clinics, and leading hikes for 5 years and has no intention to slow down! Peyton's passions lie in sharing the outdoors with others and teaching people the joys and beauty to be found there. Most prominently are his Full Moon hikes and New Moon hikes he leads through Pack Rat and the various clinics and events he coordinates. He will happily discuss local happenings, food, trails and any outdoor activities and passions within his discussions. Peyton absolutely loves hearing and seeing folks get fired up about whatever sets their soul on fire.

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Bxmbi

Bxmbi is a writer, musician, and event producer from Memphis, TN. Formerly the programming coordinator at INTERFORM, Bxmbi’s love for the arts and self-expression has led him to create new opportunities for creatives across the region that include open mic and lyrical composition workshops.

IG: @the.bxmbi

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Kouakou Yao Angelo

Kouakou Yao "Angelo," master drummer and dancer, was born in Bouake, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa. At age 14 he joined Koteba, the premier Ivoirean dance and theater company, and he toured the world with that troupe from 1992 to 1997. He was invited to the United States in 1997 by choreographer Ralph Lemon to create "Geography," a fusion of post-modern movement and traditional African dance. This production was performed at Yale Repertory Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and elsewhere throughout the United States. Angelo moved to Burlington, Vermont in 1998, where he formed AFRIQUE AYA. The company performed and taught residencies and workshops in colleges and schools around the New England area. In 2002, Angelo moved to Northwest Arkansas; first to Eureka Springs and then to Fayetteville. AFRIQUE AYA now performs and teaches in schools and at private events throughout the Mid-South. Angelo also teaches weekly African drum and dance classes in Eureka Springs and Fayetteville, Arkansas.

In West Africa, dancing and drumming are catalysts, grounded in a rich tradition of story-telling. Through performances and workshops designed to bring people together, AFRIQUE AYA connects with earth-based, lyric movement and music that convey a vibrant, universal narrative.

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Mishiah Crute

Mishiah Crute is a yoga instructor who leads small group classes, curates online fitness courses, and plans meditation and yoga retreats. She recently relocated from Charlotte, NC and opened up Mishiah Yoga! A small yoga studio located in the Washington-Willow neighborhood of Fayetteville, AR.

Mishiah designs group, private, and meditation classes to clear energy and encourage students to live consciously.

Mishiah Yoga offers guidance in asana yoga, visualization, progressive relaxation, somatic experiencing, and intention setting. She works to create deep healing and conscious living for her students on and off the mat.

IG: @mishiahyoga

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Philip Sheperd

Philip is an advanced Movement practitioner and teacher living in Fayetteville, AR. His physical practice started when he received his black belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 16. He then studied music and quickly started performing locally with various music groups. After receiving his 200-hour and 500-hr Yoga Teacher certifications at the Circle Yoga Shala and teaching classes for 5 years, he began the 1000-hour Yoga Therapy Certification to become a professional Yoga Therapist. In 2020 he became an online student of the Ido Portal method and continues to study and teach advanced Movement concepts, integrating aspects of gymnastics, dance, martial arts and weightlifting. Philip works part time as the Rehab Director at Thrive Wellness Center in Fayetteville and offers in-person and online movement, fitness, and therapy coaching.

IG: @philipmoves

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Christian & Caity

Christian and Caity are the organizers of NWA Bachata Beats, an organization with the goal of providing safe, healthy, fun to the community of Northwest Arkansas through the power of dance. Their focus is on Modern Bachata -a dance form born out of the Dominican Republic, which eventually found its way to Spain to become modernized, and has since taken over across the world. Through NWA Bachata Beats, Christian and Caity lead classes, organize social events, and bring professional artists from across the country (and even the world!) to share their skills with the community.

The NWA Latin Dance Community is so welcoming - there is never any pressure, just a safe outlet to be yourself and dance! Dancing is for EVERYONE! For Christian and Caity, it is more than just a hobby. They genuinely love meeting new people and watching their passion for dance grow. They are eager to see you and support you out on the dance floor!

IG: @nwabachatabeats

Facebook: NWA Bachata Beats

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Kathy Johnson

I am Kathy Johnson the owner and CEO of Kultured Cardio Fitness LLC. Our mission is to encourage everyone to find their fit. Find what you love to do and do it consistently. Ours is Dance Fitness. We know if you find something you love to do, you are more likely to stick with it and be successful. We want to show minorities like ourselves how to be proactive vs reactive regarding health and wellness. This is often not taught to us in our communities, and because we have not made health and wellness a priority, we as minorities were the demographic hit hardest during COVID. We are shifting the mindset in our communities . Showing people who may not workout that they need to make their health and wellness a priority, and that working out can be fun. Leading by example, because if we did it they can too. No longer working out situationally based on what event is coming up, but making Health and Wellness a lifestyle..If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready!

IG: @cardiogroovewithkathy

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Jamie Leigh White

While deep in the cosmic ocean of soothing sounds and inspirational vibrations during her first gong bath, Jamie knew then that gongs were the answer to her search for inner peace.

A few months later at Gong Camp, a school in Pennsylvania led by Mitch Nur, she bought her first three gongs and a variety of bells and mallets. A workshop at Memphis Gong Chamber with Don Conreaux, added to her collection of gongs and other smaller instruments. During multiple trips to India, she selected a wide variety of Himalayan style singing bowls, bells and rattles to bring home. These eclectic mix of instruments makes up her unique meditative Gong Song experience.

For the past 30 years, Jamie has been a massage and craniosacral therapist in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and has taught yoga as community outreach at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Through massage, yoga and Gong Song, Jamie brings physical and spiritual relief to her clients and students. The greatest benefit, she feels, is her ability to help them reach states of deep relaxation and tune into their own inner wisdom.

Facebook: Gong Song

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Anna Prieto

Anna has worked in the professional development field for almost a decade. She has lived and worked in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. She earned a masters degree in communication and worked for the world’s largest airline, serving as an Employee Engagement & Communications Expert for six years. In 2019, she left corporate America to start her own business and became a transformational life coach. With Anna, you’ll learn to become the most confident, happy, assertive, and playful version of yourself. Anna is obsessed with helping her clients make quantum leaps in their career and love life by developing the tools to unleash, uncage, and untether so that they can become unstoppable. With Anna, clients access new levels of potential, release anxiety, learn how to manifest their wildest dreams, and step into their own unique power.

One of her favorite tools for transformation.. ice baths.

IG: @TheBreathworkLifeCoach

Facebook: Midnight Gardeners

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Chrissy Dennis

Hairdresser buy trade, Chrissy has been practicing yoga for 25 years. She has since developed her own teaching her "style" of yoga for 13 years to encompass all types of bodies and all types of philosophies. She has gathered bits and pieces of pilates, physical therapy, yoga, meditation and even dance to put together a special individual experience to anyone who takes her class.

Find her classes on the Clubhaus schedule.

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Joy Fox

Joy is the creator of Wattle Hollow Retreat Center, which she has been developing for over thirty-five years. She has been a fruit picker, homesteader, a world-wide hitch-hiker, baker, grief therapist, bereavement coordinator for Hospice, Buddhist meditation and yoga teacher, and mud builder. Her root teachers, in the world of meditation, have been: S.M. Goenka, Jack Kornfield, Ruth Dennison, Soen Sa Nim, Mae chee Sansanee, and L.P. Pramote (the latter two are from Joy’s twelve winters in Thailand at a Buddhist retreat center).

Joy spends her winters doing service work in the Third World, most recently in Thailand. If you’d like to receive her “Tales From Thailand” this winter, just drop her an email at joyfoxwath@gmail.com.

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Lauren Eno

Lauren Eno is the Education Director and Assistant Manager at Wild Birds Unlimited in Fayetteville, AR where shares her love and deep knowledge of wildlife, songbirds, and environmental science with audiences of all ages. With a degree in Environmental Science and growing up as a bird watcher in Vermont, Lauren has been successfully teaching wildlife education for nearly a decade across the country. Lauren is a sought-out speaker and takes pride in providing high-quality, entertaining, and informational topics to the NWA community. Since she started with Wild Birds Unlimited in 2020, Lauren has been teaching local customers, adults, and children by helping customers create their ideal birdwatching oasis, facilitating custom feederscaping, leading seasonal bird walks across NWA, and teaching students the importance of creating a healthy and responsible habitat for birds and other creatures. Wild Birds Unlimited partners with schools, Girl Scouts, Arkansas Master Gardeners, students at the Institute of Lifelong Learning at U of A and other organizations across NWA to provide this educational service. So, whether you want to know which birds are in the area right now, how to attract more species to your yard, what to feed or how to house songbirds, or where to see our many colorful bird species, come "Explorin' with Lauren".

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Emmie Brenzel

Emmie Brenzel has over thirty years of experience in Holistic Health and Wellness working as a Registered Nurse and Health Coach. Her background includes training in a variety of complementary health practices and knowledge of the human energy system as a Healing Touch Practitioner. She has been certified as a Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and graduated from the Osage Forest of Peace School of Spiritual Direction. Emmie owns a local business, Ozark Forest Therapy, providing group Forest Therapy Walks and Eco- Spiritual Direction.

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Brandy Molloy

Brandy is a yoga teacher with a deep passion for integration. Over the 18 years of her teaching experience she has enjoyed watching her practice evolve. Her classes unfold into creative flow that nurtures the mind, body and heart. She uses inspiration, knowledge and experience from a diverse group of places like the Mt. Nittany Institute of Natural Health (200 YTT), Leela Mata’s Peaceful Valley Ashram (Karma Yoga), Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy (Level 1) and Circle Yoga Shala (500 YTT). She is also currently in the Black Brook School of Massage and looks forward to adding massage therapy and deep body work in her future sessions. She offers pop-up community classes and private sessions in Fayetteville and the surrounding areas.

IG: @essenceofbrandy

Facebook: @yogawithbrandymolloy

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Denise Greathouse

Denise is a retired Biochemist from the University of Arkansas. For many years she has had a strong interest and passion for mindfulness practices including meditation, yoga, qigong, and tai chi. From 2011-2017 Denise studied several tai chi forms under the guidance of Max Wright including Cheng Man Ching 37 (Yang Short Form), Yang 24 (Yang Simplified), Kun Wu Jian (Long Sword, Northern Shaolin Long Fist Sword) and Taiji Dao (Broad Sword, Yang Shi San Dao – Yang Thirteen Dao). Since 2017 she has continued to practice weekly with the same group, adding the Yang 18 Fan Form. Denise taught tai chi at the University of Arkansas, and she currently teaches a community outreach yoga class at St Paul’s Episcopal Church.