Artists Roster
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Teaching Artist Roster
The VCA Teaching Artist Roster serves as a resource for organizations applying for Arts in Practice Grants or seeking high-quality teaching artists. This vetted list encompasses a variety of arts disciplines, with each artist recognized for expertise in their field and ability to develop and implement audience-specific arts curricula. Artists awarded inclusion onto the Roster receive an allocation specifically designated to Arts in Practice Grant requests for the upcoming grant cycle. VCA Teaching Artists book engagements with partnering organizations, who then apply for Arts in Practice Grants. The VCA does not act as a booking agent. Artists are responsible for developing effective marketing strategies and creating promotional materials to facilitate residencies and connect with partnering organizations.
- (Eli)zabeth Owens
| Musical Alchemy
Location: Richmond - Abigail Gómez
| Mixed Media, Public Art & Global Collaborations
Location: Winchester - Adaire Theatre
| Theatre Arts Education, Theatre Performance
Location: Pulaski, VA - Allisen Learnard
| Multi-Disciplinary Dance, Mindful Movement
Location: Richmond - American Shakespeare Center
| Playing in Shakespeare's Staging Conditions
Location: Staunton - Angela Dribben
| Literary Arts, Poetry, Media Arts
Location: Meadows of Dan, Virginia - Barefoot Puppet Theatre
| Puppetry, Fiber Arts, Arts Integration
Location: Richmond, VA - Blythe King
| Visual Arts, Mixed Media Portraits
Location: Richmond, VA - Brigitte Huson
| Painting, Drawing, and Mixed Media
Location: Staunton - Chris iD Jeter
| Hip-Hop, Music, Mindfulness, Wellness
Location: Richmond - Christylez Bacon
| Human Beatbox, Hip-Hop, & Cross-Cultural Collaborations
Location: Washington, DC - Courtney (“Corey”) Vincent Holmes
| Movement Theatre, Dance, Classical Theatre
Location: Stafford, VA - Da Capo Virginia
| Music and Arts for Special Needs
Location: Martinsville - Deidra Johnson
| Creative Expression Through Art
Location: Richmond, Va - Douglas Powell/ Roscoe Burnems
| Poet, Slam Poet, Spoken-word Artist
Location: Richmond, VA - Dr. Casey Catherine Moore
| Poetry, Creative Writing, Academic Writing
Location: Arlington - Everett Mayo aka “lord of the wood”
| Driftwood Sculpture
Location: Elberon - Groovy Nate
| Music, Movement
Location: Arlington, VA - Inspira Dance
| Social (Partner) & Street Dance Styles
Location: Alexandria - Jennifer A. Reis
| Textiles
Location: Martinsville VA - Jessica Wallach
| Camera Based Artist
Location: Reston - Kari Thomas Kovick
| Music Education with a specialty in Social Emotional Learning
Location: Floyd, VA - Kuumba Dance Ensemble, Inc.
| West African Drumming/Dance
Location: Lynchburg - LaShaunda Craddock (Kẹ́mi)
| Theater, African dance, Storytelling and Creative Movement
Location: Richmond - Latin Ballet of Virginia
| Hispanic Folklore, Dance Theatre
Location: Richmond, VA - Lesley Larsen
| Improv, Consent-Based Theatre, Shakespeare
Location: Waynesboro - Light House Studio
| Filmmaking
Location: Charlottesville - Lisa Beech Hartz
| Poetry
Location: Portsmouth, Virginia - Local Motion Project
| Dance, Creative Aging, Professional Development
Location: Alexandria - Lucinda McDermott
| Specialty Theatre (Acting, Playwriting, Devised Theatre)
Location: Radford, VA - Maggie Kerrigan
| Book and Paper Arts
Location: Virginia Beach - P. Muzi Branch
| Mural Painting
Location: Richmond - Paul Reisler & Kid Pan Alley
| Songwriting
Location: Washington, VA - Quentin Walston
| Jazz and Composition
Location: Brunswick, MD - QuinTango
| Music, Dance
Location: Alexandria - Regie Cabico
| Poetry & Spoken Word Performance
Location: Vienna, VA - Robin Ha
| Graphic novel and Illustration
Location: Winchester - Rowena Federico Finn
| Fiber Art, Watercolor, Drawing
Location: Virginia Beach - Sarah Irvin
| Cyanotype
Location: Richmond - Sheila A. Ward
| African Diaspora Dance, Modern Dance
Location: Richmond, VA - Sound Impact
| Classical/Contemporary Music & Storytelling
Location: Fairfax Station - Story Tapestries Ensemble
| Multidisciplinary Arts
Location: Poolesville - Synetic Theater
| Physical Theater
Location: Arlington - Teri Miller Buschman
| Dance, Movement, Individuals with Disabilities
Location: Richmond, VA - Theodora Miller
| Visual Arts
Location: Richmond - Tidewater African Cultural Alliance
| African Dance
Location: Virginia Beach, VA - Tom Teasley
| Music
Location: Alexandria, VA - Zaira Pulido
| Dance, Somatic Movement, Community Dance
Location: Richmond, VA
Allisen Learnard
Specialty: Multi-Disciplinary Dance, Mindful Movement
Location: Richmond
With almost two decades of experience making the performing arts accessible and inclusive to any setting, Allisen Learnard believes dance is the true universal language that unites us as humans....
Courtney (“Corey”) Vincent Holmes
Specialty: Movement Theatre, Dance, Classical Theatre
Location: Stafford, VA
Corey (She/her) trained in Cecchetti ballet and Luigi/Hatchett style jazz in South Florida. She earned her bachelor’s from Florida Atlantic University in Acting/Directing. Following her love of classic theatre, Corey...
Inspira Dance
Specialty: Social (Partner) & Street Dance Styles
Location: Alexandria
Inspira Dance works to spread the love of these dances, by bringing their culture, history, and movement into schools, nonprofits, and community spaces. The core of our mission is to...
Kuumba Dance Ensemble, Inc.
Specialty: West African Drumming/Dance
Location: Lynchburg
Sheron White Simpson is a native of Lynchburg and founder-of Kuumba Dance Ensemble , Inc., a nonprofit West African Drum/Dance Company created for children and adults and providing opportunities for...
Latin Ballet of Virginia
Specialty: Hispanic Folklore, Dance Theatre
Location: Richmond, VA
The Latin Ballet of Virginia (LBV) supports a future love of the arts through a number of initiatives. LBV’s professional dance company brings innovative and exciting culturally-rich dance experiences to...
Local Motion Project
Specialty: Dance, Creative Aging, Professional Development
Location: Alexandria
Teaching/Performing artists at LMP uphold the mission of the organization, and have inclusive practices imbedded in their approach and content. All teaching artists have access to professional development related to...
Sheila A. Ward
Specialty: African Diaspora Dance, Modern Dance
Location: Richmond, VA
Sheila A. Ward is Co-Director of and performs professionally with Eleone Dance Theatre of Philadelphia, PA and certified instructors for both the Umfundalai African Dance Technique and the Katherine Dunham...
Teri Miller Buschman
Specialty: Dance, Movement, Individuals with Disabilities
Location: Richmond, VA
Teri Miller Buschman has found a home in central Virginia teaching and performing dance to students. She is passionate about providing the art of dance to all people regardless of...
Tidewater African Cultural Alliance
Specialty: African Dance
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
The Tidewater African Cultural Alliance (TACA) strives to unite the greater Tidewater area through community outreach; community service; educational programs; and cultural arts and events. TACA moves to restore well-being...
Zaira Pulido
Specialty: Dance, Somatic Movement, Community Dance
Location: Richmond, VA
Zaira has worked with children, youth, elderly and underserved communities for more than 20 years, designing and executing projects in which she combines her knowledge and experience about the body,...
Douglas Powell/ Roscoe Burnems
Specialty: Poet, Slam Poet, Spoken-word Artist
Location: Richmond, VA
Richmond, Virginia native, Douglas Powell/Roscoe Burnems is the city’s first poet laureate. He is a published author, spoken-word artist, comedian, educator, and father who has dedicated his craft to entertaining...
Dr. Casey Catherine Moore
Specialty: Poetry, Creative Writing, Academic Writing
Location: Arlington
Casey Catherine Moore is a bipolar, bisexual poet, writing coach, and educator. She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of South Carolina with a focus on Latin...
Lisa Beech Hartz
Specialty: Poetry
Location: Portsmouth, Virginia
Lisa Beech Hartz directs Seven Cities Writers Project, a non-profit 501C3 corporation that brings cost-free creative writing workshops to underserved communities. She currently guides workshops for men and women in...
Regie Cabico
Specialty: Poetry & Spoken Word Performance
Location: Vienna, VA
Regie Cabico is a spoken word pioneer having won The Nuyorican Poets Cafe Grand Slam and later taking top prizes in three National Poetry Slams. Television credits include 2 seasons...
Angela Dribben
Specialty: Literary Arts, Poetry, Media Arts
Location: Meadows of Dan, Virginia
Angela Dribben is a neurodiverse artist and writer creating in the Appalachian region of Virginia. She has served her literary community as the Contributing Reviews Editor for Cider Press Review,...
Barefoot Puppet Theatre
Specialty: Puppetry, Fiber Arts, Arts Integration
Location: Richmond, VA
Puppetry Artist, Heidi Rugg, is a maker of puppets and theatrical works. She takes the lead in all community outreach and educational programming for Barefoot Puppet Theatre, the touring company...
Chris iD Jeter
Specialty: Hip-Hop, Music, Mindfulness, Wellness
Location: Richmond
As an artist, Chris trained at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, and Contemporary Arts Network. Grounded in a passion for fostering healing through hip-hop, Chris strives to harness its...
Christylez Bacon
Specialty: Human Beatbox, Hip-Hop, & Cross-Cultural Collaborations
Location: Washington, DC
Christylez Bacon (pronounced: chris-styles) is a Grammy Nominated Progressive Hip-Hop artist and multi-instrumentalist from Southeast, Washington, DC. As a performer, Christylez multi-tasks between various instruments such as the West African...
Da Capo Virginia
Specialty: Music and Arts for Special Needs
Location: Martinsville
Da Capo VA is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating broad participation in educational, arts, and music performance by people of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and interests. Da Capo VA’s vision...
(Eli)zabeth Owens
Specialty: Musical Alchemy
Location: Richmond
(Eli)zabeth Owens is an avant-garde music producer, harpist, multimedia artist and educator based in Richmond, VA. After graduating college with dual degrees in Photo/Film and Psychology in 2015, they rekindled...
Groovy Nate
Specialty: Music, Movement
Location: Arlington, VA
Groovy Nate® is a children’s entertainer who creates fun and educational shows using funky grooves, exotic musical instruments, and comedy— a la Sesame Street meets Parliament/Funkadelic. He is also a...
LaShaunda Craddock (Kẹ́mi)
Specialty: Theater, African dance, Storytelling and Creative Movement
Location: Richmond
LaShaunda Craddock’s journey through arts, culture, and education began at the tender age of 8. As a child, she would “ play school” with her siblings and create mini musicals...
Light House Studio
Specialty: Filmmaking
Location: Charlottesville
Light House Studio (LH) was founded in 1999 by a group of local filmmakers, artists, and educators who began with a small pilot workshop, Video Diary. Since then we have...
QuinTango
Specialty: Music, Dance
Location: Alexandria
QuinTango has served Title One schools in Northern Virginia since 2002 under the auspices of Washington Performing Arts. We are excited to have the opportunity to share our expertise with...
Sound Impact
Specialty: Classical/Contemporary Music & Storytelling
Location: Fairfax Station
Sound Impact is a women-led nonprofit dedicated to serving communities and igniting positive change in the United States and abroad through live performances, educational programs, and creative collaborations with other...
Story Tapestries Ensemble
Specialty: Multidisciplinary Arts
Location: Poolesville
Story Tapestries Ensemble includes Teaching Artists specializing in teaching thorough art forms such as dance, music, theatre, hip hop, rap, written word, visual art, and spoken word poetry. Artists craft...
Kari Thomas Kovick
Specialty: Music Education with a specialty in Social Emotional Learning
Location: Floyd, VA
Since the year 2000, Kari Thomas Kovick’s Heart of the Child Music Education has been delivering joyful, interactive, hands-on music to children 3 months old to 10 years old in local public...
Paul Reisler & Kid Pan Alley
Specialty: Songwriting
Location: Washington, VA
Paul Reisler has written more songs than the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Stephen Foster combined—somewhere north of 3,500 compositions. And, he’s probably had more than enough collaborators to...
Quentin Walston
Specialty: Jazz and Composition
Location: Brunswick, MD
Quentin Walston is an active composer, pianist, and music educator from Brunswick, Maryland. He performs as a solo pianist and with his jazz trio and, blending memorable melodies and striking...
Tom Teasley
Specialty: Music
Location: Alexandria, VA
Tom Teasley is an award-winning multidimensional sound artist specializing in ancient and futuristic percussion from around the world combined with American Jazz. He is a past Drummie Awardee for Best...
Adaire Theatre
Specialty: Theatre Arts Education, Theatre Performance
Location: Pulaski, VA
Adaire Theatre is a non-profit organization that has been serving communities since 2012. Adaire Theatre was formed with a goal to bring more theatre to communities and offer quality theatre...
American Shakespeare Center
Specialty: Playing in Shakespeare's Staging Conditions
Location: Staunton
The American Shakespeare Center illuminates the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, classic and new, refreshing the individual, fostering civil discourse, and creating community in the Blackfriars Playhouse and beyond....
Lesley Larsen
Specialty: Improv, Consent-Based Theatre, Shakespeare
Location: Waynesboro
Lesley Larsen is the Artistic Director of the Historic Wayne Theatre. Lesley holds a BFA in Acting from Brigham Young University as well as an Masters of Literature (MLITT) and...
Lucinda McDermott
Specialty: Specialty Theatre (Acting, Playwriting, Devised Theatre)
Location: Radford, VA
Lucinda is a playwright, intimacy director, actor, deviser, musician. Trained in all arts including dance and visual arts, she is a distinctive teaching artist who can facilitate unique connections particularly...
Synetic Theater
Specialty: Physical Theater
Location: Arlington
Synetic Theater’s mission is to redefine theatre by blending innovative techniques and movement, investing in artists’ growth, and creating unforgettable visceral experiences for every audience. Our unique art form, originated...
Abigail Gómez
Specialty: Mixed Media, Public Art & Global Collaborations
Location: Winchester
Abigail Gómez is a Latine visual artist, teaching artist, arts advocate, and owner & artist at Pretty Girl Painting. She earned a BFA from Virginia Tech in 2007, in found...
Blythe King
Specialty: Visual Arts, Mixed Media Portraits
Location: Richmond, VA
Blythe King leads a diversified life in the arts. She works as an educator, mentor, collaborator, program director, and practicing artist. Blythe’s collage work has exhibited regularly in Virginia through...
Brigitte Huson
Specialty: Painting, Drawing, and Mixed Media
Location: Staunton
Brigitte Huson was born and raised in Nashville, TN and received her BFA in Art Education and Studio Art, with a focus on painting and drawing from the University of...
Deidra Johnson
Specialty: Creative Expression Through Art
Location: Richmond, Va
Children’s Book Author, Illustrator, Cartoonist, and Teaching Artist Deidra Johnson is a passionate teaching artist, children’s book author, and illustrator with a mission to bring art to communities and uplift...
Jennifer A. Reis
Specialty: Textiles
Location: Martinsville VA
Jennifer A. Reis is a textile artist who creates intensively hand-worked, ornately beaded, and embellished paper doll icons on cloth using traditional and alternative materials. She has a production textile...
Jessica Wallach
Specialty: Camera Based Artist
Location: Reston
Jessica has over 15 years of experience as an arts educator, teaching photography to a diverse range of individuals from ages 0 to 88. She has worked in various educational...
Maggie Kerrigan
Specialty: Book and Paper Arts
Location: Virginia Beach
Maggie’s main artistic focus is on Altered Books and paper-arts, though she is also skilled with watercolor, acrylic and drawing. Since 2011, Maggie has focused almost entirely on creating artworks...
P. Muzi Branch
Specialty: Mural Painting
Location: Richmond
Philip Muzi Branch, a Native of Richmond, Virginia, received both his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and his Master of Art Education degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. His award winning...
Robin Ha
Specialty: Graphic novel and Illustration
Location: Winchester
Robin Ha (She/her) is the award-winning author/illustrator of the graphic novel memoir Almost American Girl. At fourteen she moved to the United States from Seoul, Korea. Her comics and illustrations have...
Rowena Federico Finn
Specialty: Fiber Art, Watercolor, Drawing
Location: Virginia Beach
Rowena Federico Finn (she/ her/siya) is an artist, activist, and educator based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Her work centers her experiences as a Filipina-American female, teacher, and mother. Born and...
Sarah Irvin
Specialty: Cyanotype
Location: Richmond
My work has been featured in more than twenty solo shows, as well as more than fifty group exhibitions, across the United States and abroad, and is included in the...
Theodora Miller
Specialty: Visual Arts
Location: Richmond
After a traumatic brain injury forced her into complete isolation and cognitive rest, artful living took on new meaning; it became an essential part of her healing. Today, self-taught artist...