Meet Our Team
Ayla Satten has been dancing since she was (literally) in the womb. Raised by a dance-teacher mom, she grew up in dance studios and on performance teams, learning, expressing, and training as an integral part of her everyday life. Upon moving to Chicago in her 20s and diving into the hip hop scene, she discovered an even deeper joy of dance that changed the entire trajectory of her world. Since then, all she’s about is bringing this same freedom, self-expression, and fun to as many people as she can reach. Ayla teaches Hip Hop and WERQ at Alchemy using awesome, upbeat music and setting a tone of radiant positivity and joy. Anyone who knows her can tell you that Ayla (a) loves rainbows and (b) WILL get you to smile (in spite of yourself). She values feeling good over getting things ‘perfect’ .. and REALLY loves watching the amazing sense of self-esteem and belonging that dancing brings with it.
Jill Emich brings a dynamic class with uplifting music and themes. Dance has always been a way of stoking her inner fire and she is excited guide you to connect with yours through high energy moves, strengthening and lengthening cool downs and an all around good time. She blends all styles of dance, connecting you to your heart so you can Shine from within. Jill is the founder of Shine Restaurant and Potion Bar and Shine Potions in Boulder Colorado and the author of lifestyle cookbook Eat Drink Shine. She believes in transformation and healing through movement and community and is excited to be part of the Alchemy Team!
Chayenne Theberge has been trained in a variety of dance techniques, ranging from West African to Ballet. Using her eclectic background to inspire her choreography, Chayenne has a range of Latin styles such as Brazilian Funk, Reggaeton, and Bachata Trap. After instructing high school mathematics, Chayenne teaches Zumba to inspire strength and confidence within dancers from all experience levels.
Nancy Linsley was introduced to The Feldenkrais Method® of Movement Education after many years of searching for someone/something that could help her with her chronic back pain. After few sessions with the Feldenkrais practitioner, her pain was gone. With the practitioner’s help, Nancy discovered unconscious habits she had of holding muscles tight, learned to release them, which relieved her pain. Inspired, she completed the 4-year training course and has been teaching clients in the practice for over 16 years. Her hope is to empower people, giving them the tools to improve their bodies, their brains and their life. Nancy is also a ceramic artist and works with her husband in their business – Art Drenched Life.
Cassidy Lee is a beautiful aerial dancer and shares her dancing expertise with the Alchemy community! Come check out her class!
Bethany Wilcox teaches D2G Soca Fit and Zumba Fitness at Alchemy. She has trained in Bollywood/Bhangra, Salsa, and uses pole dancing as her strength training throughout the week. She is a full time physics professor at CU, so when she’s not teaching and dancing, she likes to spend her time with her fabulous cats, Duncan and Toothless (yep… inspired by How to Train Your Dragon), her partner, Kyle, and doing arts and crafty-type things.
April Johnson has been dancing for years with Bella Diva Dance Studio and lives in Denver, so we’re super lucky to be able to bring her to Boulder! She’s from Hawaii and loves the rich music, dance, and culture that comes from the region. She teaches Hot Hula, a Hula inspired dance fitness class and a Polynesian dance Troupe.
Lanea Blackburn was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado and has developed a passion for dancing since she began Hip Hop and Ballet classes in 2009. Lanea has made dance into a lifestyle over the years as a performer, instructor and choreographer with a focus on Contemporary and Jazz. She strives to create a safe space in her classes through trust exercises and guided discussions, establishing a judgment-free zone where students are free to be as silly, honest, creative or quiet as they wish.
Maggi Schultheis (Magnetik Moon), director of Alchemy’s Belly Dance Troupe, has danced passionately through life. She grew up competing with a troop in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with tap and jazz. She extended her training at The Academy for the Arts in Ballet, Modern and Contemporary. With flare and a funky style, she immersed herself in Hip Hop which drew her to the city life in Atlanta, GA. There she grew as a performer and freestyle dancer and evolved as a teacher. She continues to grow as a flow artist and has added Tribal Bellydance, Fire Spinning and Fans to her repertoire. Magnetik has been teaching dance for 15 years and is currently teaching Tribal Bellydance Flow classes in Boulder, Erie and Denver. She is director of Gold Dust Tribe, a bellydance fusion performance art group. She has taught at local festivals such as Sonic Bloom, Arise, Shamanic Boom, Compound Sound and Blissfall.