Class Schedule
Releasing Dance (Open Source Forms) with Anastasia (indoor class 11A-12P)
Open Source Forms is a unique somatic, restorative, and creative practice, a journey into releasing tensions and shedding outer layers, cultivating agility navigating subconscious realms as we allow imagery to guide us in our improvisational movement. Moving between rest and dynamism, dancers cultivate a mindful state of transparency to images, impulses, and to our relatedness. OSF is deeply rooted in and fluidly expanded from Skinner Releasing, with influences from Alexander Technique, Zen Buddhism, and ideo-kinesis.
EFT Tapping and Plant Spirit Communication with Ramona (outdoor class 11A-12P)
What do you truly want from your life? Did you know our thoughts and behaviors directly impact our overall health? Stress, anxiety, and negative thought patterns can lead to negative health outcomes and impact our ability to enjoy the life we are creating. Scientific studies show how this simple, self-applied acupressure/energy technique allows the brain and body to release triggering emotions. Are you ready to gently refocus and rebalance your thoughts and energy to achieve what it is you truly desire? Some areas people work on: Remember Words are powerful! (how are you speaking to yourself and others? The universe is listening. Feeling safe (Is this true in my body?).Release the perfectionism and take messy action. Who can support me (friends, family, plants, spirits, ancestors?)
Capoeira with Espaço (indoor class 12:15P-1:15P)
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines self-defense, dance, music, acrobatics, and ritual. Played to the rhythm of ancient African instruments, this playful and dynamic practice builds our capacity to be responsive in the moment and engaged with our partner and the ritual space. In this mixed kids/adults class we will learn the foundational movements, kicks, and escapes of Capoeira, as well as practicing playful dynamics of communicating through movement with our partners. Appropriate for movers of all levels (5 yrs and older).
KEmetic Yoga & In-spired Breathwork with Ra and Bamidele (outdoor class 12:15P-1:15P)
Kemetic Yoga is an African styled Yoga that is slow paced and breath centered; inspired by ancient Egyptian (Kemetic) cosmology, philosophy, and the poses and postures depicted in the hieroglyphic language of Medu Neter. In-Spired Breathwork is a style of Breathwork that focuses on improving overall Breathing through slow and thorough nasal breathing. These practices combined are intended to help the practitioner reach states of deep relaxation, meditative focus and to enter restorative states of being.
Community Prayer and Ceremony with Misty (outdoors 1:30P-2:30P)
Inviting attendees to take part in a communal prayer and ritual cultivating a place for hope, inspiration, sharing insights of sharable resources, and connection. Misty will be speaking on the topic of village culture, the importance of sustainable structures and support systems, the power we each have to influence these areas, and the inspiration we can draw from the current state and intention of the community.
Black Healing Ways with Christa Rose & Attribute (indoor class 2:45P-3:45P)
Black Healing Ways highlights herbs and herbal formulations that have roots in the African diaspora.
A Taste of Forum with Kris Coffman (OUtdoor class 2:45p-3:45P)
BE SEEN! Express what is longing to be heard, witnessed in a *generative* container. In our Taste of Forum, we will explore a few short rounds of what the 2.5 hour event offering can be in fullness. Know that this offering is only a taste...come check it out! Transparency and connection are built in community! Let’s tend to our becoming. If you’ve ever been exposed to the ZEGG Forum process you know it’s a dynamic and engaged container for sharing and deepening our human experience together. In this taste of Forum, participants offers a chance to strengthening community bonds and creating new connections. All humans 18 yrs. (+) are welcome. Forum is for creating a space of compassion, love and trust: Forum is for revealing the parts of ourselves that are under the surface. In our culture, so many of us live in a state of separation from each other. It is easy to forget how connected we are. When we show ourselves in Forum we take our personal issues and show them on a human stage. It’s a place to share emotion, feelings, struggles, celebrations and be witnessed in community. ZEGG Forum is a powerful process for communities to deepen relationships and promote connection, transparency and understanding. Forum is for transforming our communities and our organizations: Forum was created to strengthen groups that live, work, and/or play together. It was intended to help groups through the process of making thoughts and intentions transparent. If you are curious come check out this small exploration of Community in action. Let’s dive deep and express our Heart’s realness. Kris is bringing Forum to Arcata as a monthly event, if you get a taste and would like to continue your exploration please sign up for her Fireside newsletter.
Gong Meditation with Mfon (indoor class 4:00P-5:00P)
Guided meditation followed by a soundbath with drum, planetary gongs and chimes. The powerful healing vibrations of the gong are very cleansing, moving through the body, psyche and energy field to move stagnation and emotional blockages, promoting rejuvenation, transformation and inspiration.
Making Friends with Our Plant Neighbors with Allison (outdoor class 4:00P-5:00P)
Think about ways to deepen your relationships with the wild plants that surround you through greeting, understanding, and tending. This class will be full of tasting, appreciating, and honoring the unique lives of our Plant Neighbors.
Somatic Sound Choir with Shemaia and Daniel (Indoor class 5:15P-6:15P)
Being community through voice movement and rhythm. A collaborative musical experience where a group is led through foundational musical concepts with an emphasis on play and embodiment. This journey will guide you to the well of insights that attuning to a musical environment produces.
Two facilitators will be conducting the space using an assortment of world instruments , rhythmic explorations, & vocal activation techniques.
No prior musical experience is needed. Every sound has a song, and you will be a beautiful addition to our somatic sound choir. You’re invited to be the magic with us.
“ the strength of a choir is in the total sum of ALL its parts” -Shemaia Skywater
“The art of music is so much more than the output of what we hear.” -Daniel Avalanche
Zumba with Mo (Outdoor Class 5:15P-6:15P)
Zumba inspired movement offering w/ Mo HD - 75 min class including nervous reset exercises, group intentions, full body stretch and lots of dancing! All body types, ages and dance experience levels are encouraged to join! Step by step Ballroom, Dancehall, Hip Hop and Jazz inspired choreography.
Our TEam
Mo Harper-Desir
Mo Harper-Desir, she/her/they, is a Queer first generation Arts Educator living in Humboldt County. Originally from The East Coast, she entered into classical dance training at age 6, but has always had a beat and a Rhythm in her step, growing up in Caribbean culture surrounded by music. Throughout adolescence, Mo studied with Footloose studios: Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, and Modern, and performed with Hip Hop Performance group Project 2050: Hip Hop, Stepping, African, Latin American and Bomba. Throughout Adulthood Mo continued to perform in Hip Hop Theater Production group 2050 Legacy, expanding her knowledge of performance, Hip Hop and collaborative techniques. Now, Mo offers a full body experience through intentional zumba and dance classes that ignite self confidence, freedom through movement and stress relief.
Instagram: @mo_hd_creates707
Espaço
Mestre Espaço is a Brazilian Capoeira, Dancer, and Movement Artist, who has dedicated his life to the art of Capoeira ever since he discovered the practice at 18 years old in São Paulo, Brazil. After several years of teaching and performing in Brazil, he embarked on a bicycle journey, pedaling over 12,000 miles to California, teaching and studying at Capoeira schools all along the journey. In the U.S., he has taught Capoeira in arts organizations, schools, and at his own academies in Petaluma and now in Arcata. Locally, he also teaches through Artists in Schools and is on faculty at the theater program at Dell'Arte.
Anastasia
Anastasia Barron is a certified Open Source Forms teacher with over ten years of experience in somatic movement, bodywork, and therapies. Besides OSF, she has trained extensively in Axis Syllabus, Butoh, contact improvisation, and physical theater, and has performed in or co-created over thirty shows in the Bay Area, NYC, and Humboldt. She is also a bodyworker and somatic trauma practitioner in private practice, researching the interface between images, healing, and somatic experience. Learn more at alchemicalbody.com.
Bamedele & RA
Bamidele and Ra are twin Hip Hop Artist, Spoken Word Poets & Yoga/Breathwork Practitioners and Teachers. Their inspiration comes from their intention to heal, explore their roots and the human potential.
Instagram: Bamidele @bamidele_555 & Ra @ramhtp
Danny Avalanche
Daniel Aboulache is a multi instrumentalist specializing in spanish guitar, didgeridoo, tabla, and improvised rap. His music fuses world rhythms with interactive play!
Instagram: @danny_avalanche
Kris Coffman
Kris Coffman (she/her) believes it is essential to create cultural change on a systemic and embodied level. She is known for her warm, relational, trauma-informed approach and holistic, eclectic therapeutic style. Kris is passionately committed to contributing to the growth of trauma informed community ecosystems. For more information, please visit EarthbodyPsychotherapy.com.
Instagram: @krisscoffmaninsight
Misty J. Dickerson
A Mother's Village & Instinctive Motherhood
Through my many spiritual paths along this lifetime including my Native American upbringings, studies in Ancient Siberian Wisdom, trainings in yoga, childbirth, mentorship and communications, I have honed in my skills and deepest gifts to share with the world. It is my highest calling to serve as a leader, healer, birth guide, and fellow sister.
I weave ancient ways of guidance such as ceremony, storytelling, group initiations, and mentorship, to serve in the highest.
Instagram: @instinctivemotherhood
MFON planter
Mfon Planter is a Kundinyasa Yoga Teacher, Gong Sound Healer, Holistic Health Practitioner and Mala Maker. She is a facilitator of transformation, seeking to help others transmute darkness into light by reconnecting them with their own inner guru through conscious movement, meditation and healing touch.
Instagram: @sacredvibrations
Shemaia Skywater
Music has always been an intrinsic feature of Shemaia’s life. Born into a musical family it has always felt to be essential & natural. Singing in choirs since age 5 through adulthood, had first band & guitar students as a teen, created music programs for kids in Santa Monica, California, taught Carl Orff :
(Orff refers to a specific approach to music education developed by Carl Orff during the 1920s, which combines music, speech, movement, and drama into music lessons that are very similar to the way a child plays naturally)
These days music is expressing through mantras/ KIRTAN , rituals ,ceremonys & sound healing events.
Other pursuits: yoga Ayurvedic chef, creator of ceremonial artistry, beauty hunter
Instagram: @flourishingvibrations
Facebook: Skywater Kirtan Fans
Christa Rose & Attribute
Christa Rose is a botanist, working biologist, poet, and herbalist with over ten years of experience working with plants and the environment. She is also co-owner of Blessed Earth Herbals with her partner, Attribute, specializing in holistic body care products made with organic herbal ingredients. Christa Rose leads guided walks and occasional workshops focused on sustainable foraging, medicine making and plant identification. From ecological restoration to inclusivity in outdoor spaces her overarching goals are rooted in helping others develop a relationship with nature and fostering community resilience through skills sharing.
Instagram: @blessedearthherbals
Ramona taylor
I’m an herbalist and wellness coach who specializes in empowering people to step into their full beauty and let go of what they no longer need. I believe we heal best when we support our shadow self (moon or hidden) and our sun self (public and community). Are you ready to borrow some momentum and dig a little deeper? Combining Tapping with Plant work is a great way to pair scientifically proven healing techniques with a the strength of plants. 🌿
Instagram: @moonandsunwellness_
Allison poklemba
Allison Poklemba is a teacher, botanist, herbalist, environmental educator, Co-director of Dandelion Herbal Center, Co-founder of Backcountry Press, artist, mother, friend, and always curious student of nature. She has been concocting potions since childhood and teaching at Dandelion Herbal Center since 2002 — she also carries a special place in her heart just for seaweed!
Instagram: @dandelionherbalcenter
Stage Performances (Page in progress)
LodeStar
Rockin' you with their indigenous cosmic funky folk rock and grass, the folksy back porch contemporary band, LodeStar, taps the rich Spirit and performs a musical tapestry of original songs and stories by Linda Faye Carson and Goodshield Aguilar along with remixes of classic favorites!
Band members include, Goodshield Aguilar, guitar/vocals, Caterina Delaisla, keyboard/vocals, Rob Diggins, synth violectra/trumpet/guitar, Jolianne Einem, bass/vocals, CheLa Boss, vocals, Alex Litzinger, drums.
Phoenix
I would describe my music as an eclectic blend of folk, blues, and Americana coming together to form a sound and style all my own. My singing/songwriting is supported by a melodic yet anchored technique on guitar, and I play both covers and originals.
The songs I write and cover come from a place of recognition of the surrounding truth and beauty of life and of the natural world around me, as well as a place of passion for healing and evolution through music and song.
Instagram: @phoenixhallingmusic
Poetry in Action
Our motivation as poets is to bring awareness back to the languages we use to describe ourselves, our communities, and what we feel is possible for our shared spaces. Poetry holds a significant role in organizing communities due to its unique ability to capture and convey emotions, experiences, and ideas into a felt experience. Poetry can span spectrums that build togetherness of identity, culture, preservation of heritage, fostering solidarity, exploration of complex topics, empowerment, amplification, inspiration, reflection, catalysts for change, celebration, and building bridges between generations.
In essence, poetry provides a medium for individuals to connect with their emotions, communicate their experiences, and engage in meaningful conversations within their community. Through this art form, communities can strengthen their bonds through tenderness and vulnerability.
Giving yourself the thyme to process your experience through writing is an opportunity to notice where you are and choose to stay the course, edit the stories you carry, and/or release stagnant energies from your somatic experience.
Poets are willing to acknowledge the spaces between intention and impact, explore where traditions and new ideas overlap, and the opportunity to invent new words and ways to give voice to the re-wilding and re-mystifying of our world.
“Our art possesses rhythmic communication, coded emotional cues, improvised feelings of critical thought...our social movements should be like jazz: encouraging active participation, listening, spontaneity, & freedom”. -Aja Monet
Poet Troupe:
All’Love (@all_love_aundrea)
Ra (@ramhtp)
Bamidele (@bamidele_555)
Ray (@sunraygun)
Mark Double You