Gretchen Spiro is a dancer, yoga instructor, Gyrotonic® trainer, somatic psychotherapist from Boulder CO. With a BFA in dance from Cal Arts and an MA in Dance Therapy from Naropa, she works with the parallel between the therapeutic and the artistic. She discovered Contact Improvisation in 1983, and is the founder of Tumblebones Dance Collective. She is passionate about the exploration of CI as a physical/interpersonal/spiritual practice -- it unfolds for her over the years in surprisingly rich and unexpected ways. She is delighted with the blossoming of the dance community in Boulder, and has organized many events, including CI36, an international celebration of CI. She came on board in 2004 to co-organize the Moab Jam with Todd, and loves to witness the friendships, deep focused dancing, and nourishing time in nature that happens yearly at the Moab Workshop and Jam. Gretchen and Steve are the parents of a spunky 4-year-old daughter, Quill, who also finds great joy in dance improvisation.

Steven Homsher has a background in gymnastics, dance, and aerial dance. He is an avid Contact Improvisation teacher and performer, and dances with Tumblebones Dance Collective. Steve finds the co-creative and in-the-moment nature of this form to allow for the broadest expression of humanness. He is also a professional visual artist and carpenter. He assists Gretchen in organizing the Moab Jam, and is his daughter Quill's favorite dance partner. Dancing in Moab is one of his favorite things -- he is reminded of the power of deep listening, inspiration of nature, and the mysteries of the creative mind.

Alicia Grayson has been passionately involved with dancing, teaching and performing CI for the past 23 years. Her long time practices of authentic movement, yoga and meditation are important influences on her dancing and teaching. She has taught contact improvisation as an adjunct faculty at George Washington University, University of Denver, Naropa University and Shenandoah University. She teaches CI., yoga and pilates classes in Boulder and regularly travels to Europe and around the US to teach at festivals and workshops. She continues to delight in exploring and discovering new depths to the form and is particularly interested in the intersection of physics and expression. Dances with Tumblebones CI Collective.

J. Akiyama's contact improvisation teachers include Alicia Grayson, Gretchen Spiro, and Steve Homsher as well as Nancy Stark Smith, Chris Aiken, Angie Hauser, Ray Chung, Jörg Hassmann, and Scott Wells. He has been actively studying and teaching the Japanese martial art of aikido for over 15 years. His other interests include the Feldenkrais Method of somatic education and Playback improvisational theatre. Teaches and organizes CI classes, workshops, and jams in Boulder, CO at SharingWeight.com

Todd Paulsmeyer The Moab Jam was initiated in 1996 by Todd Paulsmeyer. He is taking a break from organizing for 2012, but hopes to attend the Jam.