Meet Our Team

Meet the Instructors

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  Deanna Sherman

  Owner of Heart & Soul
  

  • CPR Certified
  • USAG Certified
  • Background Checked

  Deanna Sherman

  Owner of Heart & Soul

  Deanna Sherman is a born and raised Tucsonan who fell in love with gymnastics when she was 4 years old. She spent her childhood learning about the sport, having fun and competing. In 2008, she graduated from Desert Christian High School and became the first Division I scholarship recipient in the school’s history.

  Although recruited by many universities, Deanna has been a Wildcat with all her “heart and soul” since the age of seven. She accepted a full-ride gymnastics scholarship to the University of Arizona competing for the Gymcats from 2008-2012. (Bear down!) She had a wonderful experience fulfilling her dreams at the University of Arizona and graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a minor in Sports Marketing.

  Deanna was named Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week 3 times throughout her career and was the recipient of Arizona’s Jim Gault award in 2010. In 2011 she qualified in the All-Around for the NCAA Championships and was named 1st Team Pac 10 All-Conference in the All-Around in 2010 and 2011. Deanna has 20 years of gymnastics experience, both as coach and gymnast. She is a USGA certified recreational coach and CPR certified.

  Deanna has been voted favorite local CEO by Tucson Readers’ Choice in 2019 and 2020.

  When Deanna isn’t busy running Heart & Soul she’s with her kids and husband enjoying all the outdoor activities Tucson has to offer.

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  Shari Chamblee

  Business Manager
  

  • Background Checked
  • CPR Certified

  Shari Chamblee

  Business Manager

  After more than 25 years of working in various types of business administration, I am so thankful to have the opportunity to be a part of the Heart and Soul family as your Business Manager.  Even though my main focus is to make sure that your experience from a financial perspective is trouble-free and enjoyable, my most favorite part of the day is the friendships I am able to cultivate with all of you and your amazing kiddos! We truly are more than an activity center…we are a family!

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  Kristin Robertson

  Gymnastics Manager OV Site Director
  

  Kristin Robertson

  Gymnastics Manager OV Site Director

  Welcome to the Heart & Soul family! I have had the honor to watch my daughters grow up in the gym and now I get to experience that dedication as a coach. As a former teacher, I love being able to help our gymnasts grow with life long skills through physical education. Heart & Soul is a welcoming and friendly organization and I can’t wait to meet all of our new friends!

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  Alex Alfrey

  Director of Operations OV Site Manager
  

  Alex Alfrey

  Director of Operations OV Site Manager

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  Elizabeth Holst

  Dance Manager Central Site Director
  

  • CPR Certified
  • USAG Certified
  • Background Checked

  Elizabeth Holst

  Dance Manager Central Site Director

  Hi! I am so pleased to be joining the Heart and Soul family!  I have been actively involved in the Southern Arizona dance community since I moved here 21 years ago. I was fortunate to grow up with the support of a loving family who encouraged me to pursue my passion for dance.  I began my training at age five in the suburbs of Chicago.  Later I studied at the Stone-Camryn School of Ballet and at the Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago.  I attended Indiana University where I earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the School of Music with majors in Ballet (with a teaching emphasis) and French.  I lived in New York City, where I studied at the David Howard Dance Center and at Broadway Dance Center. I performed with Melissa Lowe, Jory Hancock, Helen Starr, Patricia McBride, and Merrill Ashley, among others.  I began teaching dance in 1981, and I have taught ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, modern, lyrical, children’s combination classes, creative movement, and tumbling.   I bring more than 30 years of teaching experience to every dance class, striving to make it fun while instilling the work ethic and proper technique to help my students succeed.  I am proud to say that some of my former students have gone on to dance in college programs, dance with professional companies, and become dance instructors.  I truly enjoy working with students of all ages, and I look forward to being a part of your experience at Heart and Soul.

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  Sammi Ball

  Assistant Manager, Dance and Early Childhood Program
  

  Sammi Ball

  Assistant Manager, Dance and Early Childhood Program

  For the last 18 years, dance has been a huge part of my life and a major passion. I also am passionate about working with kids and am currently going to school to become a special education preschool teacher. I can’t wait to have my own classroom one day! As part of the Heart & Soul community, I love helping my students learn & grow in gymnastics and dance. I am sure they will come to have a passion for health as much as I do!

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  Jennifer Torres

  Director of Outreach Events Manager
  

  Jennifer Torres

  Director of Outreach Events Manager

  A native to Southern Arizona, I grew up in Willcox and moved to Tucson to go to the University of Arizona in 1997 (Bear down!). I came to Heart & Soul first as a gymnastics parent, and loved the family environment so much that I knew I wanted to be a part of their family as an employee. As the manager of events, I love getting to use my years of experience working with families to expand and grow the events and camps department!

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  Allie Quiroz

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist
  

  Allie Quiroz

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist

  I have been participating in some sport since I was six years old: whether it be softball, karate, or volleyball I have gained an appreciation for teamwork and sportsmanship and I want to help kids have that same valuable experience.I enjoy working with kids and teaching them not only gymnastics, but important qualities they can take with them throughout their lives.

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  Alyssa Molinari

  Dance Instructor Events Specialist
  

  Alyssa Molinari

  Dance Instructor Events Specialist

  Alyssa has been dancing since middle school and had loved every minute of it! From jazz to acro, she is passionate about the sport and plans to pursue it throughout college. Teaching at Heart & Soul has been an awesome experience for Alyssa and she loves training with and building strong relationships with her students!

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  Clarke Johnson

  Power Tumbling Coach Events Specialist
  

  Clarke Johnson

  Power Tumbling Coach Events Specialist

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  Damien Jenkins

  Ninja Coach
  

  Damien Jenkins

  Ninja Coach

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  Elizabeth Belleau

  Gymnastics Coach Events Specialist
  

  Elizabeth Belleau

  Gymnastics Coach Events Specialist

  I love gymnastics because it is an exciting sport that allows you to continually challenge yourself. It also teaches many lessons that you could use in your everyday life including persistence, coordination, mental and physical strength, and patience. When I grow up, my goal is to get my degree in criminology and criminal justice in order to become a FBI profiler. A fun fact about me is that I have zip- lined across two buildings, 51 stories high! 

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  Hailey Jensen

  Dance Instructor
  

  Hailey Jensen

  Dance Instructor

  I recently graduated from Mountain View high school where I was on the varsity pom team, cheer team and in the dance program. I have 14 years of dance training in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and ballroom. Currently I am proud to be a member of the Sugar Skulls dance team with my fellow teacher, Sammi! I love being apart of Heart & Soul because I get to share my love for dance with adults and children who have the same passion for it as I do!

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  Jaida Olsen

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist
  

  Jaida Olsen

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist

  Welcome to Heart and Soul! I spent 10 years of my life dedicated to gymnastics as a kid, and now I get to coach the sport I love most. As a coach, I want my students to be able to learn new skills and most of all, have fun while doing it! Heart and Soul is a positive environment filled with encouraging people, and we are so excited to meet you!

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  Kaitlynn Duell

  Gymnastics Coach Events Specialist
  

  Kaitlynn Duell

  Gymnastics Coach Events Specialist

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  Kameron Imoehl

  Dance Instructor Ninja Coach Events Specialist
  

  Kameron Imoehl

  Dance Instructor Ninja Coach Events Specialist

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  Sarah Winner

  Early Childhood Instructor Lil' Ninja Coach Acro Instructor
  

  Sarah Winner

  Early Childhood Instructor Lil' Ninja Coach Acro Instructor

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  Sejal Khangura

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist
  

  Sejal Khangura

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist

  I love teaching students new skills and seeing their faces light up once they accomplish their goals. I also love getting to know all the kids once they become less shy; because they all have very unique personalities that make the class fun and memorable! As a former cheerleader as well as a national champion, I love teaching many different skills in tumbling. This year, I am going to be a senior at Ironwood Ridge High School and plan on attending university in state! 

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  Serena Scofield

  Events Specialist
  

  Serena Scofield

  Events Specialist

  When we moved to Tucson from Missouri, we found Heart & Soul within three days of arriving. After all these years, my heart is so full when I realized that my kids’ closest friendships have been built through Heart & Soul. We began our Heart and Soul journey with Tumble with Me Gymnastics classes and were so enamored with the staff that when I was asked to come on board as an events teacher, I jumped at the opportunity. I was a public school teacher in Missouri before staying home with my kiddos now. Teaching at Heart & Soul allows me to continue seeing young people open their eyes to new experiences while I get to play some small part in their learning.

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