Teaching artists
Heard's teaching artists bring professional creative experience, empathy, flexibility, and respect into every room. They are practicing writers, visual artists, performers, and improvisers.
Creative writing
Elizabeth (Betsy) Allen holds a BA in Journalism from The Ohio State University and an MA in English and MFA in Fiction Writing from George Mason University. She teaches Advanced Composition at George Mason University and has worked as a communications specialist, editor, and creative writing instructor. Betsy believes in the power of storytelling to foster empathy and shared humanity.
Visual art, performance & improvisation
Ann Altar is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans visual art, performance, improvisation, and education. Her practice often incorporates recycled materials and challenges traditional artistic norms, emphasizing vulnerability, autonomy, and connection. As a teaching artist, Ann brings deep listening and collaborative practice into learning environments, believing in universal access to the arts as a catalyst for community change.
Visual & multidisciplinary art
Nikki Brooks is a multidisciplinary artist with more than 25 years of experience working across installation, assemblage, painting, collage, and digital media. She holds a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Nikki's teaching centers social engagement, storytelling, and inclusive creative practice.
Creative writing
Solveig Eggerz is the author of Seal Woman and Sigga of Reykjavik and holds a PhD in Comparative Literature. She has worked as a journalist, professor, and writing instructor and emphasizes that everyone has a story worth telling.
Multidisciplinary arts
Alexandra Flemming is a teaching artist with Heard, leading creative workshops in partnership with community organizations across Northern Virginia. A full biography is on the way.
Improvisation & applied improv
Tavish Forsyth is the founder and artistic director of Bird City Improv and a professor of applied improvisation. A queer artist and consultant with 18 years of experience and two degrees in theatre, Tavish specializes in liberation-focused, trauma-informed creative practice that centers joy, communication, and collaboration.
Yoga & meditation
Sihnuu Hetep is a yoga and meditation instructor with over a decade of experience and a 500-hour E-RYT/YACEP certification. Her teaching blends Kemetic principles, ancient philosophy, and contemporary wellness practices to support healing and self-reclamation.
Performance poetry & creative writing
KaNikki Jakarta is a performance poet, author, and educator, and the first African American Poet Laureate of Alexandria, Virginia. She is the author of multiple novels, poetry collections, and a memoir, and received an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship in 2022. Her work centers community storytelling and creative empowerment.
Poetry
Wendi R. Kaplan is a poet and served as the City of Alexandria Poet Laureate from 2016 to 2019. She holds a master's degree in social work and a certification in poetry therapy. Wendi facilitates poetry workshops that help participants find voice, connection, and meaning through creative expression.
Visual arts
Sharmila Karamchandani is a graphic designer, art educator, and multidisciplinary artist working across painting, jewelry design, photography, calligraphy, and mixed media. She holds an MFA in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design and has taught graphic design for more than a decade.
Improvisation
Keely Kirk teaches improvisation as a life skill through Heard. She is the founder of Playing Outside the Lines and has led team-building workshops for corporations, nonprofits, and schools. Keely trained and performed with iO and Second City in Chicago and has taught improv in the DC region for more than a decade.
Visual arts
Laya Monarez is a transgender Latinx visual artist based in Washington, DC. She earned her BFA from the Corcoran College of Art and Design and works across painting, sculpture, murals, and mixed media. Her work has been exhibited and commissioned throughout the DC region.
Public speaking
Chè Monique is a public speaking instructor and performer based in Alexandria, Virginia. A former competitive debater, she brings an inclusive and dynamic approach to helping individuals build confidence and presence across professional and creative settings. She is also a renowned mermaid performer and a frequent host, panelist, and podcast guest within the regional arts community.
Creative writing
Phallon Perry is an author of children's and young adult literature, including Dream to Be from A to Zzz and Austin's Pansies. She studied at Indiana University and Northwestern University and writes stories that encourage imagination, empathy, and resilience.
Dance
Rebecca Scruggs is a dancer and choreographer trained at BalletNova Center for Dance and Shenandoah University. She has performed and choreographed with several regional dance collectives and continues to teach while maintaining an active performance practice.
Creative writing
Nina Sichel is an author of poetry, memoir, and creative nonfiction and co-editor of Unrooted Childhoods and Writing Out of Limbo. She has led writing workshops for many years and has been part of Heard since its inception, supporting emerging writers in sharing their stories.
Singing & voice
Bharati Soman is a performer and voice teacher with nearly 20 years of experience. She has performed leading roles with opera companies throughout Northern California, including Cinnabar Theater, Pocket Opera, Livermore Valley Opera, and Sacramento Opera, and currently performs with Sopranessence, where she serves as Co-Artistic Director. She teaches students of all ages and levels across classical, choral, indie rock, and R&B styles, and holds a Master of Music and Performer Diploma from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a Bachelor of Music from James Madison University.
Poetry & spoken word
Chris Thomas is a Queer Black non-binary poet and teaching artist whose work advances child abuse prevention, LGBTQIA rights, and mental health awareness. Recognized by NUSPA in 2015, C. performs and teaches at venues including Georgetown University and Howard University. Their workshop, Writing to Wellness™, supports healing through poetry and trauma-informed practice, and their advocacy includes educating adults on responding to child sexual abuse and serving in board leadership. C.'s work has been featured in publications including The Zebra and Swerv Magazine.
Multidisciplinary arts
Dinahsta “Miss Kiane” Thomas is a teaching artist with Heard, leading creative workshops with community partners across the region. A full biography is on the way.
Poetry & spoken word
Walker Valdez is a Bolivian American spoken word poet, performance artist, and educator based in Northern Virginia. A graduate of the NALAC Leadership Institute, he explores identity and lived experience through storytelling, humor, and wordplay.
Join us
If you are a practicing artist who enjoys working with people across ages and circumstances, we would like to hear from you. Send us a short note about your practice, the disciplines you teach, and the communities you would like to work with. No application portal, no long form.
Email us about teachingStay in the loop
Stories from our workshops, upcoming programs, and ways to support the voices we amplify — delivered straight to your inbox.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.