Meet the 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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  Olivia Romero

  Dance Manager Dance Instructor Gymnastics Instructor Mobile Instructor
  

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

  Olivia Romero

  Dance Manager Dance Instructor Gymnastics Instructor Mobile Instructor

  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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  Payton Wells

  Event Manager
  

  Payton Wells

  Event Manager

  Welcome to the Heart and Soul family! I am currently a student at the University of Arizona pursing my undergraduate degree in Communications with minors in Marketing and French. At Heart and Soul I get to put these practical skills to use in the best ways possible – event planning! I have a passion for volunteering and learning and I encourage kids to embrace them through activities and challenges. I am thankful to be apart of a team that motivates kids to grow through fitness and creativity and can’t wait to help build our community!

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  Kiana Riera

  Dance Instructor Office Administrator
  

  • CPR Certified
  • USAG Certified
  • Background Checked

  Kiana Riera

  Dance Instructor Office Administrator

  Hello Everyone!

  I am so incredibly blessed to be a part of the Heart & Soul family. I have been dancing since I was 2 years old, it is truly my passion and I am so happy I get to share that with your children. I started competitively dancing when I was 5 years old and continued competing all through high school. I was also on the Ironwood Ridge High School dance team all 4 years and was the captain my junior and senior year. My senior year I led my team to Nationals in Orlando, Florida where we ranked 6th in the nation. Dance has always been a huge part in my life and has helped shape me into the person I am today. I think back about all of the instructors I had all growing up and how much each one of them helped me grow as a person and dancer and it excites me to know that I will be making a positive impact in your children’s lives now. I am so thankful I get to be a part of such an amazing a loving organization and I look forward to meeting all of you and sharing my passion for dance!!

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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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  Christopher Acosta-Gutierrez

  Dance Instructor
  

  Christopher Acosta-Gutierrez

  Dance Instructor

  Chris is a small town Arizonian with passion and drive to improve his technique and performance as he studies dance through genres of Jazz, Modern, and Ballet at the University of Arizona and various genres of Hip-Hop at local studios.

  He first started taking a dance basics class at Safford High School his 9^th grade year and ended up continuing his passion for dance, eventually earning the highest level award in Royal Academy of Dance grading system—Distinction—in level 5 Ballet at his local studio, Safford Dance Academy. Since then he has begun college dance coursework at the University of Arizona in the Fall of 2017 while studying Developmental Psychology with a minor in Education.

  In the future, he plans to further his education and enter the MFA program in dance while also continuing to study in the field of Developmental Psychology specializing in Education.

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  Piper Stoeckel

  Dance Instructor Mobile Instructor
  

  Piper Stoeckel

  Dance Instructor Mobile Instructor

  I am excited to be back as a part of the Heart and Soul Family! I was born in raised in small-town Prescott, Arizona. At the age of 12 I started commuting to Phoenix to be a part of a competitive dance team. I was fortunate enough to win Dance Master’s of America titles of Petite, Junior, Teen and Miss Dance of Arizona. In 2009, as first runner-up, I had the opportunity to fulfill the duties of DMA’s Miss Dance of America.

  My dance journey went on to the collegiate level when I was accepted into U of A’s prestigious dance program. In 2013, I took my dance skills to the Miss America stage as Miss Arizona 2012. Some other dance accomplishments include: dancing as Clara in Arizona Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” starring In a PAC 12 commercial, acceptance to the New York City Ballet Summer Intensive and dancing alongside “Dance Moms” esteemed dancers.

  After several years in a business environment, I am beyond excited to be back pursuing my love of dance…and I cannot wait to share it with you!

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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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  Emilee Hill

  Gymnastics Instructor
  

  • CPR Certified
  • Background Checked
  • USAG Certified

  Emilee Hill

  Gymnastics Instructor

  Hello Everyone!! I have always had a love for gymnastics and cheerleading starting at the age of 6 with gymnastics and continuing my love for these sports by joining competitive cheer at age 9. Although winning numerous championships was fun I truly learned valuable lessons that I hope to bring to heart and soul such as encouraging others, persistence and team work. Cheerleading and gymnastics has always been apart of my life and coaching at a young throughout middle and high school and now at the age of 16 I have the honor of watching all these children grow not only with their skills but grow into such amazing people. Being able to teach what i love with such an amazing team of people is a dream come true I look forward to meeting everyone and sharing my passion while doing what i love!

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  Kristin Robertson

  Gymnastics Instructor
  

  Kristin Robertson

  Gymnastics Instructor

  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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  Paula Espinoza

  Gymnastics Instructor Mobile Instructor
  

  Paula Espinoza

  Gymnastics Instructor Mobile Instructor

  I am extremely blessed to be given the opportunity to be part of the Heart and Soul team. It truly feels like a dream come true! I can’t wait to begin coaching your kids and watch them grow! I began taking tumbling classes at the age of 4 at Desert Sky then slowly progressed to gymnastics at the age of 6 where I fell in love with the sport! Although I didn’t continue with the sport and ended up switching to cheer, winning championships at cheer competitions will never compete to the excitement I had while winning a gymnastics meet! Ever since I joined the H&S team I’ve fallen in love with the sport all over again. I hope to bring many characteristics to the gym such as respect, extroversion, humbleness, and hard work. I cannot wait to meet you and your kids and teach them one of the most amazing sports there is, and better yet, here at Heart and Soul!

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  Alexa Wallen

  Gymnastics Instructors
  

  Alexa Wallen

  Gymnastics Instructors

  I started gymnastics when I was five years old and immediately fell in love with being in the gym.  I competed with my high school gymnastics team for all four years of high school.  I began coaching in high school, and loved watching young kids find their passion in the gym just like I did!  It’s an amazing opportunity to continue doing what I love here at Heart and Soul!  I can’t wait to coach your kids!

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