Meet Our Resident Teachers

Joy founded Pettaway Commons to champion the idea that shared spaces are not only vital to thriving business districts, but also powerful places for healing-centered connection. She believes deeply in the transformative power of place to foster safer, happier, and more connected communities. To this end, she is dedicated to building a network of spaces in Central Arkansas that bring people together, highlight community talents, and offer diverse, inclusive activities. 

 

"I hope you will consider us the next time you need to rent a space for a gathering! We would also love for you to give our classes a try, attend a workshop, or consider joining our team and sharing talents in a class of your own.”

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A yoga practitioner since 1999, Joy earned her Level 1 Iyengar Yoga Teaching Certification in 2015 and Level 2 certification in 2017. Learn what these levels mean and what is required to obtain and maintain this certification. In addition to teaching public classes, she has led yoga programs in a variety of community-centered settings. During the early stages of COVID, she developed and taught a 13-week yoga program at Hope Rises for women transitioning out of prison. From 2021–2022, she taught weekly classes at Natural State Recovery, a detox and rehabilitation facility in Central Arkansas. These experiences have deeply shaped her teaching style and approach.

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Joy is also a scientist and trained facilitator with 15 years leading programs at The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas. In 2023, she launched Common Ground Solutions, LLC—a consulting and facilitation firm focused on helping communities integrate nature into future planning. Through this work she coordinates the Arkansas Forests and Drinking Water Collaborative and leads the Arkansas CommuniTree Program.

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Joy's classes:

 - Sun Salutations Fridays @ 8 am

 - Gentle Yoga Fridays @ 9 am

 - Beginner Yoga Series Sundays @ 3 pm

 - Intermediate Yoga Sundays @ 4:15 pm.

 - 2nd Saturdays Pranayama (@8:15 am) & Advanced Yoga (@ 9 am)

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Joy offers private lessons or group sessions to those interested. Email for more information.

Wendy is a certified fitness trainer and has been teaching fitness classes for 11 years. She is the founder of KrunkFit where she incorporates her love of trap/hip-hop music into a cardio and body weight training program. With Wendy, your goals become her goals and in exchange, her drive becomes your drive.  She also works with a great food preparation vendor to provide excellent meal options to those interested.

 

Wendy received her group fitness training credentials from the American Council on Exercise (ACE). ACE is nationally accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). ACE provides continuing education, and access to science-based health and fitness information.

 

"KrunkFit connects people who love movement and are ready to become a stronger version of ourselves, internally and externally. Designed for you to advance at your own pace in a supportive environment. I am excited to share my passion with all the other passionate people at Pettaway!"

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Wendy's classes:

 - Bootcamp Tuesday and Thursdays @ 4:00 pm.

 

Visit her website to learn more.

Howison is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher, a Little Rock native, and spent much of her adult life working and practicing yoga in Atlanta, GA.  She is grateful to have studied with many senior Iyengar yoga teachers over the past 28 years and to have studied with the Iyengar family in Pune, India.  She brings to her teaching a delight in sharing the gifts of living a more embodied life through the practice of yoga, and a desire to meet each student wherever they are on the journey.

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"I love teaching, learning, and being part of the community at Pettaway Square!"

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Howison's classes:

 - "Yoga for Healthy Aging" class Monday & Wednesdays 11:00 am 

 

Additionally, she offers private lessons tailored to your individual needs. Email for more information.

Coffy was born and raised in Oakland, California and is a trauma informed yoga teacher, author, and poet. She is a Spoken Word artist that has won various local and national slams and she has spent much of her working career finding numerous ways to bridge art and literacy with at-risk communities.

 

"My Trauma-Informed Yoga certification has given me the tools to provide a yoga practice that is sensitive to the needs of all. I find joy in helping others connect with themselves in a safe and healing environment."

 

Coffy's classes:

- Rhythm & Flow/Hot Yoga/Trap Yoga popup classes, watch Special Events page for these dates.

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Coined as the “Southern Slow Burn Belle”, Bastet Dafoe is an up-and-coming burlesque performer and producer. She began her burlesque journey in March 2020. Since her debut, she has worked diligently to become a household name in Burlesque. Bastet is known for her sultry movements, mixing classic burlesque with current dances and various genres of music. She’s the creator of Bombay Cabaret, which intertwines her love for live music and burlesque. Bombay Cabaret is a traveling Cabaret featuring BIPOC performers and musicians. Bastet’s efforts are to reestablish Burlesque as mainstream entertainment in Arkansas and surrounding areas.

 

Bastet's Classes:

- Arkansas Burlesque Academy Class 3rd Fridays 6:30 -7:30 pm.

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Learn more and purchase class passes directly on Bastet's website .

The vintage goddess of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Vesper Rose has been turning up the heat since 2020 with her sultry blend of old Hollywood glam and Southern Sass. A vision in velvet rhinestones, Vesper has carved out a place in the burlesque scene as both a captivating performer and a powerhouse producer. As the former co-producer of La La Rose Revue and producer of Vesper’s Cocktail Hour, Vesper’s Starlite Cabaret, she proves that vintage never goes out of style. Known for her smoldering silhouettes, classic tease and chapagne-soaked glamour, Vesper Rose is a love letter to the golden age of burlesque -with a modern wink.

 

Vesper's Classes:

 - Arkansas Burlesque Academy Class 4th Fridays 6:30 -7:30 pm.

 

Purchase class passes directly on the website of Bastet Dafoe. 

As a dancer, musician, and teaching artist with the Arkansas Arts Council, Colleen believes in the power of movement to build community and connection. Her teaching blends musicality, body awareness,, and authentic expression. She creates space for students to explore rhythm and presence through improvised partner-centered motion.

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Colleen teaches a wide variety of Latin dance styles. She has trained under gifted national and international instructors and draws from a background in tribal belly dance, bringing precise body mechanics and embodied awareness to her teaching. 

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At Pettaway Commons, Colleen shares her love of rhythm, culture, and artistry - helping others find joy, creativity, and connection in every step.

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Colleen's Class:

- Urban KIZ Dance Class: Mondays Apr 20th - May 11th, 8-9:30 pm. 

Juanez is a social dancer with three years of partner dance experience and over one year of teaching, driven by a deep love for connection-based movement. His dance journey has taken him to numerous congresses across the U.S. and abroad, where he has trained, practiced, and grown within diverse dance communities.

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Juanez specializes in Salsa, Bachata, Brazilian Zouk, and Kizomba, and brings a teaching style rooted in musicality, body awareness, and genuine connection. He believes dance is not about perfection, but presence—and that true growth comes from curiosity, patience, and play.

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“When we stop fearing mistakes, movement becomes freedom.”

 

Juanez's class:

- Brazilian Zouk Dance: Mondays March 23 - April 13th 8:00 - 9:30 pm.

Lisa Perk is an American Mah Jongg instructor specializing in beginner-friendly introductions and advanced strategy workshops grounded in official NMJL play.

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Her philosophy is simple: honor the rules in public play, enjoy house rules in private games, and use mahjong as a way to build community, confidence, and connection. Whether she’s working with brand-new players or seasoned ones, Lisa is known for her patient, welcoming, and genuinely fun teaching style.

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Lisa is a member of the Mahj Life Instructors Guild and regularly pursues professional development to sharpen both her game and her teaching. Lisa holds micro-credentials in NMJL rules and sportsmanship.

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“Luck is realizing what’s an opportunity… and what isn’t.” — Lucille Ball

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Lisa's classes:

- Table Strategy for American Mah Jongg: Thursdays 10 am - 12 pm

- Mahjong Game Night: Tuesdays 5:30 - 7:30 pm 

DeLisa Shaw-Johnson is an educator and youth development leader. With over 20 years of experience working with children in community and classroom settings, she blends literacy, math, movement and creativity into joyful, hands-on learning experiences that build confidence and curiosity. A native of Little Rock, she grew up in the Pettaway neighborhood and is the founder of Bee STEAM Fit, a play-based STEAM enrichment program (Science, Technology, Engineering, And Math) designed to help young children become confident readers, thinkers, and learners.

 

DeLisa's work is deeply personal and is not just a program, it is her way of serving the neighborhood that helped shape her.  DeLisa has an unwavering commitment to ensure families and children in the neighborhood have access to high-quality, engaging, and encouraging learning experiences.

 

DeLisa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology. She is a Recess & Results Play-Based Fitness Coach, an Elite Reading Coach, and is certified in CPR, First Aid, and AED. 

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DeLisa's classes:

 - 1st & 3rd Saturdays (starting March, 2026)

Bee STEAM Fit Juniors (ages 4-7). 10:00 - 11:30 am