Fusion Olympia Class Instructors

Andy Holmes has studied Tai Chi Chuan
and Chi Kung since 1993. His interest in
complete health has led him through
external forms of physical fitness to more
internal conditioning through traditional
Chinese exercises. With a background in
physical fitness and certification as a
Personal Trainer, Andy has spent his adult
life striving for balance through movement
and application of principles.

Today he trains in the Dong Family form of
the Yang style of Tai Chi Chuan. His long-
time Master, Alex Dong, lives in New York
and teaches worldwide. Andy’s teachings are based on his varied yet continual studies, and he also travels around the world in order to further his knowledge and understanding.

Since 1998, Andy has taught around the South Sound area. He took a year long break from teaching in 2006, after almost two years instructing at Fusion. In addition to other personal changes during this time, he traveled across three countries to further his own training and to compete in an International Forms competition. Now he has returned to Fusion with renewed focus and clarity to teach both a basic principles class, and an advanced class, with routines designed to work students beyond basic conditioning and into deeper levels of balance. Andy’s teaching style is dynamic and frank, bridging the gap between the apparent elusiveness of traditional Chinese style and the popular science-based approach of conventional Western thinking.

Hanan Valiant has been involved in Belly Dancing
for the past ten years, teaching and performing in
a variety of locations. Hanan's class at Fusion is for
all levels, and include dance technique as well as
instruction in the culture and history of belly dance.
Hanan is a knowledgeable and engaging teacher.
She is also a three-time award winning music
director of i-91FM/KVTI radio, and a member of
Shahdaroba Middle Eastern Dancers.

AKA "The Bellydancing Broadcasting Babe!"

Jeanne Murdock-Zvonchenko, GCFP, has a background
and passion in visual arts and human development.
She received a BFA in painting and collage from
Binghamton University, NY, in 1990, and has explored
different mediums including sculpture, printmaking,
ceramics, and fiber arts. She also studied developmental
psychology in college, and worked with many people with
developmental disabilities ever since. She has been fascinated
by how we learn movement, how we develop, and how we
accommodate for gaps in our learning, as none of us learns
everything completely as we develop.

In 2006, Jeanne completed the four-year training to
become a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner.

She chose to study the Feldenkrais Method because it is a creative, dynamic process
which is unique to each practitioner, and each client. She is inspired by the broad
scope of the work. It is used by athletes and artists, musicians and laborers, parents
and educators, young and elderly people--anyone who wants ease in moving or
accomplishing a task. Jeanne's particular passion is in exploring the connection
between movement, self-image, and action. The way we move has a powerful effect
on the way we see ourselves, and our self-image in turn effects our actions in the world.
When we feel good, we are better able to do good.

Karen has worked in the field of movement, privately and
as a faculty of The Evergreen State College for over
twenty years. Her passion is to help others to explore their
bodies and their unique sense of self through movement,
play and sensation. Her approach is supportive,
anatomically sound and enlivening.

Linda is a counselor in private practice, providing
individual and couple counseling as well as working with
children. She specializes in supporting parents during their
parenting journey from pregnancy, birthing, and
breastfeeding through the teen years, from daily wear and
tear through challenges and disabilities.

Siri om has trained with the “amrit nam sarovar” school of
kundalini yoga in Europe. She also has a classical hatha yoga
training with the “sivananda” school. Siri om’s “day job” is as an
Art therapist, working with adolescents with emotional difficulties.
She feels that art therapy and yoga are both creative ways of
helping individuals to reach their fullest potential in today’s
stressful, topsy-turvy world.

“vibrate the cosmos. The cosmos shall clear the path”

yogi bhajan

contact: siriom@hotmail.com tel:539-8012

Facilitaed by Nick Incorvaia and Mark Stojak.
Teachers; Awal Alhassan and Manimou Camara

Over the past eight years, Nick and Mark have each
become grateful and dedicated students of traditional
West African Music. They both have a deep desire to
bring joy, celebration, healing and togetherness to
their community through this music. Nick and Mark
are pleased to call Awal Alhassan and Manimou Camara
“brothers,” and are proud to help in sharing their
profound knowledge and talents with Olympia community.

Awal Alhassan
Awal Alhassan was born and raised by a drumming
and dancing family in Tamale, Ghana. He has performed
with the National Theatre of Ghana, and The Center for
National Culture Dance Troupe for years in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo,
Benin, and other African countries. He has been teaching drumming and dancing
since the age of seven. In addition to leading Sohoyini, since his recent arrival to Seattle,
he has performed with Gansango, Soyaya, Maya Soleil, Ocheami, Sarakasi, and Okropong
and teaches regularly.

Manimou Camara
Manimou Camara is from the country of Guinea, West Africa. Manimou's primary
djembe education was spent with Sekou Dico Sylla, . When Manimou was 17 Sekou
left for Canada and Manimou continued his studies with Karamoko Daman and
Ballet Saamato. In the last few years Manimou has played with many of Guinea's
most prestigious artists and performance groups, including Ballet Saamato, Merveille de Guinee (association of Merveille d'Afrique), Sekou Deco Sylla, Karamoko Daman, and Bolokada.

Manimou believes that the first rhythm we heard was the heartbeat in our mother’s womb,
and that for that reason each of has a common connection in rhythm so that when
we play together we engage in understanding and compassion for each other.

.