Arts Corps' faculty of teaching artists brings an exceptionally rare breadth and depth of experience as working artists and as educators. We value our teaching artists in their indispensable role as facilitators of a creative journey for young people, and honor them as artists whom we hire in the diverse art forms listed below. Read more about them by clicking on their names.
Growing up in Austin, Texas, Shannon gained early exposure to many artistic mediums through her participation in an experimental arts education program in elementary school. She attributes her... more
Jeromeskee started break dancing in 1996 and has been performing in b-boy events and competitions ever since. Jerome is a member of several competitive, successful b-boy dance groups: World champion... more
Roberto connects with students via universal narratives that span through a wide range of subjects: first kisses, defying racism, love for family and … cans of Spam. He teaches that poetry must be... more
Lauren Atkinson is a visual and mixed media fiber artist who shows her work throughout the Northwest and nationally. She has 15 years of experience working as a teaching artist and has taught with... more
David Crellin is co-founder, ringmaster and lead singer of Circus Contraption, a one-ring, traveling circus. He works with a number of groups throughout the world as a performer and/or director.... more
Arielle Davis, raised in Los Angeles, CA and Bellingham, WA, is a poet and hip hop enthusiast dedicated to youth work. As a recipient of and participant in some of Seattle's leading arts programs as... more
Vicky Edmonds is a passionate Seattle writer and poetry teacher. She’s taught around the country and abroad for 20 years in K-12th grade, as well as at universities, arts organizations, youth... more
Monad has been a professional artist for more than 30 years. He started teaching art to all age populations in Chicago. For the past 20-some years, he has taught in institutions all over Washington... more
Karen Finneyfrock is a poet, performer, host and writing teacher.
Karen has been active in the Poetry Slam movement since 1999 when she competed as a member of the Washington, D.C. Slam Team at the... more
Amber Flame is a word artist whose source of inspiration is rooted in the blues. Whether exploring rhythmic and harmonic structures as a framework for spoken word or blending voice in song, she tests... more
Geoff Garza is a visual artist who has exhibited regionally and nationally for 20 years. As an actor, he's had the opportunity to work with luminaries like Oliver Stone and Tom Cruise, among others.... more
Piece has graced the stage with some of the forefathers and mothers of spoken word: Gill Scott Heron, The Last Poets, Saul Williams and Gwendolyn Brooks. As far as hip hop goes, she’s wrecked shop... more
Tina LaPadula is a performing artist. She oversees our faculty and collaborates with the community partnerships and deputy directors to manage all areas of programming at Arts Corps. Tina has taught... more
David Lasky was born in 1967 in Washington,D.C. He grew up in Northern Virginia and attended The College of William & Mary. He began drawing mini-comics in 1991, while living in the Bay Area. He... more
Darren Lay is artistic director of the nationally recognized Young Shakespeare Workshop. Since 1998, he has directed for the workshop’s “Love's Labour's Lost,” “As You Like It,”... more
Fides "Anna" Mabanta is a proud member of the b-boy/b-girl crew Massive Monkees. Breaking is her passion. For over nine years, she has competed, performed and taught breaking throughout the United... more
Brent McDonald was born in Missouri in 1966 and relocated to Washington state in 1972. In the late-‘80s, Brent attended drawing classes at the School of Visual Concepts. He began experimenting with... more
Inspired by a Poppin' Battle in Seattle's Central District, Fever One had become influenced by the spiritual aspect and competitiveness of the dance by the age of 10. Soon after, he identified with... more
Eduardo Mendonça — multi-talented musician, producer and composer — is a native of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Mendonça received his masters in arts education from the Music Institute of the... more
Erica Merritt began singing and performing at 5. In middle school, she was featured in a band called “Starlighters,” which consisted of three student vocalists and a few members of the faculty.... more
A painter with passion for positive living, Yegizaw was born and educated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Fleeing the country’s worsening governance in 1990 to continue his artistic education in Kenya,... more
Amos Miller began playing piano by ear at age 5. He progressed quickly and began writing music at the tender age of 12. By the time he was a freshman in high school, he was recording his music. Amos... more
Carla Moreno is a world music explorer, writer, and DJ. Trekking solo across the globe, Carla’s fascination with world cultures goes beyond curiosity. Her experience as a musician, teacher, and... more
Darwin is an accomplished visual artist whose work includes drawings, paintings and sculpture that reflect his fascination with nature.
Darwin’s 25-year career as a teaching artist is centered... more
Tomas Oliva was born in Havana, Cuba in 1958. He studied at San Alejandro Academy, perfected his training at the Instituto Superior de Arte, and traveled to Ukraine to pursue his masters in fine arts... more
Dora’s career as a professional dancer began in 1976 when she joined renowned Brazilian folkloric dance troupe, Exaltacao A Bahia. Ms. Oliveira has a repertoire that ranges from Afro-Brazilian... more
Luc's work is driven by the fundamental belief that we all have endless capabilities as long as we do not limit or judge ourselves. After two years studying theater and cinema at the University of... more
Greg Stump has been teaching comics and cartooning to students of all ages for more than a decade. His comics and illustrations have appeared regularly in the Seattle paper, The Stranger, since 2000,... more
After graduating from the University of Washington with a bachelor of fine arts in painting, Lana moved to New York City to begin her career as an artist and a teacher. After five years of teaching... more
Aaron Walker-Loud is a composer, drummer and director of many music collaborations and services, including The Flood (1999-2003), Big World Breaks (2000-present) and One Family, Inc., a music center... more
Storme Webber is a spoken word, vocal, and visual artist with extensive experience in multimedia arts production. Her work spans film, stage, tv, radio and cultural production/arts activism, and has... more
Jeromeskee started break dancing in 1996 and has been performing in b-boy events and competitions ever since. Jerome is a member of several competitive, successful b-boy dance groups: World champion... more
Arielle Davis, raised in Los Angeles, CA and Bellingham, WA, is a poet and hip hop enthusiast dedicated to youth work. As a recipient of and participant in some of Seattle's leading arts programs as... more
Fides "Anna" Mabanta is a proud member of the b-boy/b-girl crew Massive Monkees. Breaking is her passion. For over nine years, she has competed, performed and taught breaking throughout the United... more
Inspired by a Poppin' Battle in Seattle's Central District, Fever One had become influenced by the spiritual aspect and competitiveness of the dance by the age of 10. Soon after, he identified with... more
Carla Moreno is a world music explorer, writer, and DJ. Trekking solo across the globe, Carla’s fascination with world cultures goes beyond curiosity. Her experience as a musician, teacher, and... more
Dora’s career as a professional dancer began in 1976 when she joined renowned Brazilian folkloric dance troupe, Exaltacao A Bahia. Ms. Oliveira has a repertoire that ranges from Afro-Brazilian... more
Arielle Davis, raised in Los Angeles, CA and Bellingham, WA, is a poet and hip hop enthusiast dedicated to youth work. As a recipient of and participant in some of Seattle's leading arts programs as... more
Amber Flame is a word artist whose source of inspiration is rooted in the blues. Whether exploring rhythmic and harmonic structures as a framework for spoken word or blending voice in song, she tests... more
Eduardo Mendonça — multi-talented musician, producer and composer — is a native of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Mendonça received his masters in arts education from the Music Institute of the... more
Erica Merritt began singing and performing at 5. In middle school, she was featured in a band called “Starlighters,” which consisted of three student vocalists and a few members of the faculty.... more
Amos Miller began playing piano by ear at age 5. He progressed quickly and began writing music at the tender age of 12. By the time he was a freshman in high school, he was recording his music. Amos... more
Carla Moreno is a world music explorer, writer, and DJ. Trekking solo across the globe, Carla’s fascination with world cultures goes beyond curiosity. Her experience as a musician, teacher, and... more
Luc's work is driven by the fundamental belief that we all have endless capabilities as long as we do not limit or judge ourselves. After two years studying theater and cinema at the University of... more
Aaron Walker-Loud is a composer, drummer and director of many music collaborations and services, including The Flood (1999-2003), Big World Breaks (2000-present) and One Family, Inc., a music center... more
Storme Webber is a spoken word, vocal, and visual artist with extensive experience in multimedia arts production. Her work spans film, stage, tv, radio and cultural production/arts activism, and has... more
Roberto connects with students via universal narratives that span through a wide range of subjects: first kisses, defying racism, love for family and … cans of Spam. He teaches that poetry must be... more
Arielle Davis, raised in Los Angeles, CA and Bellingham, WA, is a poet and hip hop enthusiast dedicated to youth work. As a recipient of and participant in some of Seattle's leading arts programs as... more
Vicky Edmonds is a passionate Seattle writer and poetry teacher. She’s taught around the country and abroad for 20 years in K-12th grade, as well as at universities, arts organizations, youth... more
Karen Finneyfrock is a poet, performer, host and writing teacher.
Karen has been active in the Poetry Slam movement since 1999 when she competed as a member of the Washington, D.C. Slam Team at the... more
Amber Flame is a word artist whose source of inspiration is rooted in the blues. Whether exploring rhythmic and harmonic structures as a framework for spoken word or blending voice in song, she tests... more
Piece has graced the stage with some of the forefathers and mothers of spoken word: Gill Scott Heron, The Last Poets, Saul Williams and Gwendolyn Brooks. As far as hip hop goes, she’s wrecked shop... more
Carla Moreno is a world music explorer, writer, and DJ. Trekking solo across the globe, Carla’s fascination with world cultures goes beyond curiosity. Her experience as a musician, teacher, and... more
Storme Webber is a spoken word, vocal, and visual artist with extensive experience in multimedia arts production. Her work spans film, stage, tv, radio and cultural production/arts activism, and has... more
Storme Webber is a spoken word, vocal, and visual artist with extensive experience in multimedia arts production. Her work spans film, stage, tv, radio and cultural production/arts activism, and has... more
David Crellin is co-founder, ringmaster and lead singer of Circus Contraption, a one-ring, traveling circus. He works with a number of groups throughout the world as a performer and/or director.... more
Tina LaPadula is a performing artist. She oversees our faculty and collaborates with the community partnerships and deputy directors to manage all areas of programming at Arts Corps. Tina has taught... more
Darren Lay is artistic director of the nationally recognized Young Shakespeare Workshop. Since 1998, he has directed for the workshop’s “Love's Labour's Lost,” “As You Like It,”... more
Growing up in Austin, Texas, Shannon gained early exposure to many artistic mediums through her participation in an experimental arts education program in elementary school. She attributes her... more
Lauren Atkinson is a visual and mixed media fiber artist who shows her work throughout the Northwest and nationally. She has 15 years of experience working as a teaching artist and has taught with... more
Monad has been a professional artist for more than 30 years. He started teaching art to all age populations in Chicago. For the past 20-some years, he has taught in institutions all over Washington... more
Geoff Garza is a visual artist who has exhibited regionally and nationally for 20 years. As an actor, he's had the opportunity to work with luminaries like Oliver Stone and Tom Cruise, among others.... more
David Lasky was born in 1967 in Washington,D.C. He grew up in Northern Virginia and attended The College of William & Mary. He began drawing mini-comics in 1991, while living in the Bay Area. He... more
Brent McDonald was born in Missouri in 1966 and relocated to Washington state in 1972. In the late-‘80s, Brent attended drawing classes at the School of Visual Concepts. He began experimenting with... more
A painter with passion for positive living, Yegizaw was born and educated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Fleeing the country’s worsening governance in 1990 to continue his artistic education in Kenya,... more
Darwin is an accomplished visual artist whose work includes drawings, paintings and sculpture that reflect his fascination with nature.
Darwin’s 25-year career as a teaching artist is centered... more
Tomas Oliva was born in Havana, Cuba in 1958. He studied at San Alejandro Academy, perfected his training at the Instituto Superior de Arte, and traveled to Ukraine to pursue his masters in fine arts... more
Greg Stump has been teaching comics and cartooning to students of all ages for more than a decade. His comics and illustrations have appeared regularly in the Seattle paper, The Stranger, since 2000,... more
After graduating from the University of Washington with a bachelor of fine arts in painting, Lana moved to New York City to begin her career as an artist and a teacher. After five years of teaching... more
Storme Webber is a spoken word, vocal, and visual artist with extensive experience in multimedia arts production. Her work spans film, stage, tv, radio and cultural production/arts activism, and has... more
Growing up in Austin, Texas, Shannon gained early exposure to many artistic mediums through her participation in an experimental arts education program in elementary school. She attributes her... 
Jeromeskee started break dancing in 1996 and has been performing in b-boy events and competitions ever since. Jerome is a member of several competitive, successful b-boy dance groups: World champion... 
Roberto connects with students via universal narratives that span through a wide range of subjects: first kisses, defying racism, love for family and … cans of Spam. He teaches that poetry must be... 
Lauren Atkinson is a visual and mixed media fiber artist who shows her work throughout the Northwest and nationally. She has 15 years of experience working as a teaching artist and has taught with... 
David Crellin is co-founder, ringmaster and lead singer of Circus Contraption, a one-ring, traveling circus. He works with a number of groups throughout the world as a performer and/or director.... 
Vicky Edmonds is a passionate Seattle writer and poetry teacher. She’s taught around the country and abroad for 20 years in K-12th grade, as well as at universities, arts organizations, youth... 
Monad has been a professional artist for more than 30 years. He started teaching art to all age populations in Chicago. For the past 20-some years, he has taught in institutions all over Washington... 
Karen Finneyfrock is a poet, performer, host and writing teacher.
Karen has been active in the Poetry Slam movement since 1999 when she competed as a member of the Washington, D.C. Slam Team at the... 
Amber Flame is a word artist whose source of inspiration is rooted in the blues. Whether exploring rhythmic and harmonic structures as a framework for spoken word or blending voice in song, she tests... 
Geoff Garza is a visual artist who has exhibited regionally and nationally for 20 years. As an actor, he's had the opportunity to work with luminaries like Oliver Stone and Tom Cruise, among others.... 
Piece has graced the stage with some of the forefathers and mothers of spoken word: Gill Scott Heron, The Last Poets, Saul Williams and Gwendolyn Brooks. As far as hip hop goes, she’s wrecked shop... 
Tina LaPadula is a performing artist. She oversees our faculty and collaborates with the community partnerships and deputy directors to manage all areas of programming at Arts Corps. Tina has taught... 
David Lasky was born in 1967 in Washington,D.C. He grew up in Northern Virginia and attended The College of William & Mary. He began drawing mini-comics in 1991, while living in the Bay Area. He... 
Darren Lay is artistic director of the nationally recognized Young Shakespeare Workshop. Since 1998, he has directed for the workshop’s “Love's Labour's Lost,” “As You Like It,”... 
Fides "Anna" Mabanta is a proud member of the b-boy/b-girl crew Massive Monkees. Breaking is her passion. For over nine years, she has competed, performed and taught breaking throughout the United... 
Brent McDonald was born in Missouri in 1966 and relocated to Washington state in 1972. In the late-‘80s, Brent attended drawing classes at the School of Visual Concepts. He began experimenting with... 
Eduardo Mendonça — multi-talented musician, producer and composer — is a native of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Mendonça received his masters in arts education from the Music Institute of the... 
Erica Merritt began singing and performing at 5. In middle school, she was featured in a band called “Starlighters,” which consisted of three student vocalists and a few members of the faculty.... 
A painter with passion for positive living, Yegizaw was born and educated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Fleeing the country’s worsening governance in 1990 to continue his artistic education in Kenya,... 
Amos Miller began playing piano by ear at age 5. He progressed quickly and began writing music at the tender age of 12. By the time he was a freshman in high school, he was recording his music. Amos... 
Carla Moreno is a world music explorer, writer, and DJ. Trekking solo across the globe, Carla’s fascination with world cultures goes beyond curiosity. Her experience as a musician, teacher, and... 
Darwin is an accomplished visual artist whose work includes drawings, paintings and sculpture that reflect his fascination with nature.
Darwin’s 25-year career as a teaching artist is centered... 
Tomas Oliva was born in Havana, Cuba in 1958. He studied at San Alejandro Academy, perfected his training at the Instituto Superior de Arte, and traveled to Ukraine to pursue his masters in fine arts... 
Dora’s career as a professional dancer began in 1976 when she joined renowned Brazilian folkloric dance troupe, Exaltacao A Bahia. Ms. Oliveira has a repertoire that ranges from Afro-Brazilian... 
Luc's work is driven by the fundamental belief that we all have endless capabilities as long as we do not limit or judge ourselves. After two years studying theater and cinema at the University of... 
Greg Stump has been teaching comics and cartooning to students of all ages for more than a decade. His comics and illustrations have appeared regularly in the Seattle paper, The Stranger, since 2000,... 
After graduating from the University of Washington with a bachelor of fine arts in painting, Lana moved to New York City to begin her career as an artist and a teacher. After five years of teaching... 
Aaron Walker-Loud is a composer, drummer and director of many music collaborations and services, including The Flood (1999-2003), Big World Breaks (2000-present) and One Family, Inc., a music center... 
Storme Webber is a spoken word, vocal, and visual artist with extensive experience in multimedia arts production. Her work spans film, stage, tv, radio and cultural production/arts activism, and has...