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 Graham is a born and raised Tucsonan who fell in love with gymnastics at a very young age. She was introduced to gymnastics by her mother at the age of 4 and never looked back. Deanna attended Tanque Verde Elementary and Desert Christian Middle School. 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.   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.  She 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 1^st Team Pac 10 All Conference in the ALL Around in 2010 and 2011. Deanna has 20 years of gymnastics experience both as a coach and a gymnast. She is a USGA certified recreational coach and CPR certified. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact Deanna Graham personally.

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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
  

  Kristin Robertson

  Gymnastics Manager

  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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  Catherine Farias

  Assistant Gymnastics Manager MySkills Chart Specialist Front Desk
  

  Catherine Farias

  Assistant Gymnastics Manager MySkills Chart Specialist Front Desk

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  Jennifer Torres

  Events Manager
  

  Jennifer Torres

  Events Manager

  A native to Southern Arizona I grew up in Willcox, Arizona. I moved to Tucson to go to the University of Arizona in 1997. 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. I am excited to use my years of experience in many different jobs to grow and expand the Events department here at Heart & Soul.

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  Olivia Romero

  Dance Manager
  

  • Background Check
  • CPR Certified
  • USAG Certified
  • Party Planner (8 years)

  Olivia Romero

  Dance Manager

  I’ve always had a love for dance but I started dancing competitively my sophomore year in high school. In those 3 years of competing we won state each time. My proudest moment was my senior year as captain because I got to choreograph the last song to our winning routine. In that moment I found a new love of teaching dance.  Being able to teach what I love with an outstanding company is truly a dream come true. I’m so excited to watch everyone grow here at Heart and Soul.

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  Elizabeth Holst

  Dance Manager
  

  • CPR Certified
  • USAG Certified
  • Background Checked

  Elizabeth Holst

  Dance Manager

  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

  Dance Instructor Front Desk
  

  Sammi Ball

  Dance Instructor Front Desk

  I have been dancing for 17 years. Dance has always been a huge part of my life and a passion of mine. Another passion of mine is working with kids! I am going to school to teach special education preschool and I can’t wait to have my own classroom some day! I am so excited to help the kids learn and grow more about dance and gymnastics. I hope they come to love it as much as I do!

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  Jourdan Rushing

  Dance Instructor Event Specialist
  

  Jourdan Rushing

  Dance Instructor Event Specialist

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  Hailey Jensen

  Dance Instructor
  

  Hailey Jensen

  Dance Instructor

  I am currently a junior at Mountain View where I am apart of the varsity pom team and dance program. I have 14 years of dance training, mainly from Tucson Dance Academy. While at Tucson Dance Academy, I trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and ballroom. In addition to dance I have two years of high school cheer experience. I am excited to be apart of Heart and Soul because I want to share my love for dance with people who have the same passion for it as I do!

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  Bianca Wright

  Dance Instructor Event Specialist
  

  Bianca Wright

  Dance Instructor Event Specialist

  I have been dancing since I was 3 years old, and I have loved every second of it. I want to share my love and passion with students at Heart and Soul, and I want to inspire and motivate them to be the best dancer, gymnastics, and person that they can be. Dance holds a special place in my heart, and so does my experience with students and staff at Heart and Soul.

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  Morgan Wallen

  Gymnastics Coach
  

  Morgan Wallen

  Gymnastics Coach

  Hi everyone! My name is Morgan Wallen and I am so excited to be teaching all of your awesome kids! I am currently a junior at the University of Arizona, and have been teaching at Heart & Soul throughout the school year since January. Previously, I was a cheerleader and gymnast myself, and now am so fortunate to be on the other side as a coach for all of the wonderful kids who come through the Heart & Soul doors. Being engaged with kids of all ages along with their families has been such a blessing, and something that never feels like work! Working with children has always been a passion of mine and I am more than lucky to be pursuing it here at Heart & Soul!

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  Ryan Wells

  Gymnastics Instructor Event Instructor
  

  Ryan Wells

  Gymnastics Instructor Event Instructor

  Ryan Wells is a junior at Canyon Del Oro High School. Ryan is big into physical education and enjoys working with kids. He loves working at Heart and Soul creating a family and teaching kids. While Ryan has worked at Heart and Soul he has created so many memories with all the kids he teaches, and is excited to watch them learn and grow.

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  Sarah Winner

  Gymnastics Coach Front Desk
  

  Sarah Winner

  Gymnastics Coach Front Desk

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  Victoria Hermann

  Gymnastics Instructor Event Specialist
  

  Victoria Hermann

  Gymnastics Instructor Event Specialist

  I did gymnastics for about 10 years as a kid. From when I was two to about eleven years old I competed up until level seven and trained as a level eight. I quit when I was eleven because it was getting to be too much, but my love for the sport has, and will always, stick with me. I also love kids! I have three younger brothers so I have always had a passion to teach little ones.

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  Natalie Farias

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist
  

  Natalie Farias

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist

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  Allie Quiroz

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist
  

  Allie Quiroz

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist

  I’ve participated in sports since I was 6 years old. With experience in softball, karate, and volleyball, I know and appreciate the teamwork and sportsmanship that sports have taught me and I want to help kids have that same wonderful 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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  Kaitlynn Bailey

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist
  

  Kaitlynn Bailey

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist

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  Shelby Cain

  Gymnastics Coach
  

  Shelby Cain

  Gymnastics Coach

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  Julia Wightman

  Gymnastics Coach Lesson Plan Specialist
  

  Julia Wightman

  Gymnastics Coach Lesson Plan Specialist

  I am 20 years old and study Prepubescent Health at the University of Arizona, GO CATS! I took gymnastics for five years and did dance and cheer for four. All of those years of tumbling, movement and gymnastics allow me to be a great teacher to your kids and I am so excited to help them learn gymnastics and grow in the sport!

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  Jamie Stone

  

  Jamie Stone

  I have been doing cheer, dance, and gymnastics for almost my entire life and have loved my experiences with them. I also love playing other sports like track, volleyball, and soccer. I’m also very involved at school with Student Government, Link Crew, and JTED. In the future, I aspire to be a surgeon in the Navy for five years and find a specialty to continue with afterwards. I’m very excited to work at Heart & Soul and encourage kids to work hard, learn, and become the best they can be!

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  Eliza Defrancesco

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist
  

  Eliza Defrancesco

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist

  I have been doing gymnastics since I was 2 years old, and at 6 years old began competitive gymnastics. I have a passion and all-around love for this sport. At 16, with a heavy heart, I stopped competing in order to focus on getting grades in school because I have big ambitions for college. I am so excited to start working with the kids here at Heart & Soul! I want these kids to have the same great experiences and love for this sport that I have. More than anything, I hope to teach your kids some of the most important lessons from gymnastics that I have learned; perseverance, teamwork, sportsmanship, and patience.

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  Heather Pisciotta

  Event Lead
  

  Heather Pisciotta

  Event Lead

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  Clara Pollock

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist
  

  Clara Pollock

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist

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  Mariah Santillan

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist
  

  Mariah Santillan

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist

  From a young age I have always been involved in athletics of all kinds, from dance, gymnastics, karate, softball, and track. I’ve learned how to maximize learning in competitive and non-competitive sports with commitment and passion. I am so excited to extend this knowledge to your kiddos and teach them all of the wonderful lessons I have learned from sports.

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  Alyson Matthews

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist
  

  Alyson Matthews

  Gymnastics Coach Event Specialist

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