Fusion Olympia Class Instructors

Marissa discovered the benefits of yoga while recovering from traumatic physical illness as a young child. For two decades, she has gained a sense of inner peace, strength, physical relief, and body awareness through a dedicated practice of yoga. Marissa was trained under Arianna Gallagher and was invited to teach in her Hot Yoga studio in Virginia. As a yoga instructor, Marissa embraces the opportunity to
share her knowledge of incorporating yoga as a part of your lifestyle to help gain optimum health and well-being. Marissa takes great joy and pride in bringing the amazing benefits of yoga to others!

Mary has been practicing yoga for 12 years. She was recently certified as a
Radiant Health Yoga Instructor through Radiant Health Yoga School and
Wild Grace Arts Yoga Studio in Olympia. She is also a licensed Clinical Massage
Therapist practicing for 12 years. Yoga therapy has been part of Mary's massage
practice for four years and she is excited to reach more people with the beautiful
gift of Yoga practice.

Andy has been an International Tai Chi Chuan student, instructor and a Certified Personal Trainer since 1997. He has traveled the world pursuing advanced training through workshops conducted by Masters Jane Golden and Grandmaster Kai Ying Tung, and over the last ten years under the direction of Master Alex Dong. His teaching skills have developed through experience in over a dozen wellness facilities around the South Sound area. Andy continues to advance his own knowledge by attending workshops and seminars on a regular basis. Andy's main teaching objective is for every one of his students to understand some of the fundamental principles of Tai Chi.

Michelle has been surrounded by music all of her life, from the rhythms of her homeland in the Caribbean to hypnotic Latin sounds, country, classical, and everything in-between. Salsa dancing has been a fixture for her for over 20 years. However, classes in other ballroom styles - swing, rumba, cha cha, tango - have been her latest inspiration....the fun of dancing freestyle to popular music cannot be denied. Essentially, music and dancing are a major part of who she is. Being a licensed ZUMBA® instructor allows her to do what she loves and to share with others who want to have fun getting and staying fit.

Molly Gilmore has been moving since birth, practicing conscious dance
since 2002, and creating sacred space for other dancers since 2005.
She believes we are each our own greatest teacher. Among her
inspirations are nature, music, poetry, Soul Motion, the essence work
of Kim Lincoln, and dancing souls past, present and future.

Karen Crown was born and raised in Massachusetts. She began dancing at five years of age under the instruction of two of the Rockettes from 60's television. Her dance training spans numerous forms,
which include tap, ballet, modern, West African, and a variety of Afro-Brazilian forms, the most well
known in the US being Samba. Karen was first introduced to Afro-Brazilian dance in 1998 at the Procession of the Species Parade. It has since become her main talent and passion. Karen has
trained with numerous Brazilian dance masters, including Rosangela Silvestre, Donna Oefinger,
Janelle Keane Campo-Verde and Dora Oliveira. She has performed and taught Samba and other
forms of Afro-Brazilian dance for the past 6 years.

Kendra Andersen has been teaching Children’s Creative Dance classes in Olympia for 3 years.
She brings 16 years of practice working with children of all ages in a variety of settings including
Olympia Community School, Mariah Art School, Unity Church of Olympia, and Discover Aquatics
Swim School. Kendra weaves the Brain Dance patterns based on Anne Green Gilbert’s work into
each Creative Dance class. She was raised in the deaf community, and learned sign language
before she could speak. She is passionate about communication and teaching sign language to
babies (and their families), so they can have more ease in getting their needs met before they
begin to speak.

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.

Michael has recently returned from a 3 year adventure touring in England where I had the privilege to provide rhythmcircles for over 70,000 students in over 350 primary and secondary schools as well as colleges, festivals, local adult classes and guide groups. Micahel is the founder of the African style drum and dance troupe EarthBeat and co-founder of Phoenix Rising, another African style drum and dance troupe. He is also co-founder of RhythmWorks4u, an amazing rhythmcircle provider in the UK. He is currently an active founding member of The OutLaw Drummers in Olympia.

Michael has been teaching private and group hand drumming since ‘96 and has extensive training and experience in drum circle facilitation in numerous environments including Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival, Coventry’s Godiva Music Festival, Seattle’s World Rhythm Festival, Community Youth Programs, Leadership Programs, Event Organizing, and Emotional Intelligence Development Programs.

Drumatic Innovation provides the very best in recreational drumming, facilitated drum circles, drum lessons and music education!

Dance, a life-long passion, is integral to Molly's sense of fun and athleticism, as it is an outer expression of her inner joy for life. Mainly trained as a Middle Eastern dancer, she studied primarily with Audrey Stamm of FreeHouse Dance, in Canada. She has trained under a variety of other high-caliber instructors, including Suhaila Salimpour. Other dance styles she has experienced include tap, African, ballroom, and country/western. Somehow, it all came together to form a collage of styles, true to none, but respectful of all, and she dances for the sheer fun of moving to the life-blood of her soul, music.

This joy of music and dance is best enjoyed when shared, and it is her sincere hope that the community of Olympia will join her in the celebration of being alive. It is also with open arms that everyone, regardless of dance training or background is invited to share in the fun. Let’s drum and dance!

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