Heartland Dance Inc.
Board of Directors

Hannalisa Bekker
President
Treasurer

Having grown up as the daughter of Heartland’s founder Nancy Gordon, Hannalisa started dancing at the early age of 4 years old. She quickly developed a passion for the art, and danced at Heartland for 14 years. 

She continued to study dance at the University of Oregon, where her focus was in Modern Dance technique and performance, and simultaneously earned her BA in English Literature. 

In 2013 she co-founded The Dance Movement in Eugene, Oregon. This cooperative provided a space for advanced level, technically trained Modern dancers to come together, collaborate, and teach the general public. The Dance Movement provided free classes to high school students at the local arts high school, and offered classes and choreographic opportunities to members of the community. 

Hannalisa went on to study in a graduate medical program, and now works full time as a Licensed Acupuncturist, licensed through the Oregon Medical Board and National Licensing Board. During her graduate education, she also became certified through the Ling Gui International Healing Qigong School as a teacher of the 1000 Hands Buddha Qigong. 

Hannalisa has a passion for merging her dance background with her healing practice, promoting the use of dance for personal growth and self-expression. She has a great love for teaching dance, and has taught many forms over the last 16 years. She is thrilled to be back in the Rogue Valley where she can bring her love of dance to her hometown community. 
https://www.nexusacupuncture.com/

Brent Kehoe
Executive Director

Brent grew up training in both dance and martial arts. Other dance styles included folk dancing and clogging. Brent has a musical theatre background, having performed in numerous productions around Southern Oregon.
In 2013 Brent received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance Education from Cornish College of the Arts, in Seattle WA.
In College Brent studied in many areas of body mechanics and dance technique - from Ballet, Modern, Modern & Ballet Partnering, Lyrical, Contemporary to Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis, Feldenkrais, Kinesiology, Pilates mat work, Dance Teaching Fundamentals and more.
During his Junior year, Brent was employed with the Merce Cunningham Trust under direction of Patricia Lent and performed in the popular Cunningham MinEvent Series, which performed at the Paramount Theaters, Seattle Arts Museum, and ACT Theater.

In 2013, Brent had the honor of dancing Patricia Hon’s Original work of “Destination Unknown”, Choreography for Zeks Yiddishe Lider un Tantz from The Golem by Betty Olivero. Performing at the Music of Remembrance concert suite in downtown Seattle.

While in Seattle, Brent collaborated and performed in many Choreographer Showcases for the 501(c)3 non-profit organization Men In Dance - Against the grain.

In 2014, Brent had the honor of premiering and collaborating a new work for Catapult Dance, which performed at the Broadway Performance Hall and surrounding Washington area.

Brent’s has been employed as “Guest Artist” and "Guest Choreographer” for many dance studios over the years and has performed in over 18 Nutcrackers. Brent feels blessed to have worked with such amazing companies as Bainbridge Ballet, Blue Heron Dance Studio, Velocity Dance Center, Dance Fremont, Century Ballroom and much more.

Brent is an American Ballet Theatre Certified Teacher, Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT National Training Curriculum. 

Brent has studied and taught in Ohad Naharin’s GagaLabs, Gaga/people and has performed in Ohad Naharin’s Echad Mi Yodea.

In the Grants Pass Community, Brent has Choreographed for many local theaters such as the GPHS Theatre Arts, Rogue Music Theatre, One Eleven Evelyn Theatre, Barnstormers, Stillpoint Dance Studio, and Heartland Dance Studio.

Brent has been the Executive Director for the Non-Profit Heartland Dance Inc. since 2018,

Clyde Highbarger
Vice-President

Clyde Highbarger became involved in theatre during High School. That involvement has continued for more than 40 years. As such he has worked on 300 to 400 plus productions. His primary interest is in lighting design but he is also skilled in sound design, stage management, set design as well as construction. He has been a director and makeup designer. His theatrical background has enabled him to work with a variety of well known actors such as Jesse White, Lee Merriweather, Jim Hutton, Timothy Hutton, The Pointer sisters. He has worked with all the dance and theatre companies in Grants Pass. During his time in college he designed lighting for multiple theatre companies and has had three shows running simultaneously. Clyde is now retired having been the Supervisor of the Grants Pass High School Performing Arts Center for over 26 years.

Bob Wilson
Board Member

• President of Heartland Dance Inc. 2000-2023

• Member of the Three Rivers School District Board for 8 years, Chairman for 2 of those years.

• Cub Scout Cub-master, Youth basketball and Soccer Coach.

• Played in local bands for the last 20 years & volunteers to play music at adult care facilities,

• Bob has owned Roley’s Pacific Supply Co. for the last 26 years
  https://roleyspacificsupply.com/

Ruth Sears
Secretary

Ruth Sears has been dancing since childhood.  She did Balkan and Israeli folk dancing, from age 8-18,  performing at various events throughout the San Fransisco Bay Area.

Ruth started ballet at the late age of 17, and has basically never stopped.  She is also a square dancer.

Ruth has also been involved in various aspects of theater, throughout her life, first at Stanford University, and later working as the costumer for several productions with the Santa Cruz Children's Theater.

Ruth's education includes a Supervisor's Certificate from the Playcentre Association of New Zealand  -- comparable to a degree in Early Childhood Education/ Child Behavior, here.  Ruth was the Head Teacher/Supervisor of the Picton, Marlborough, Playcenter for five years.

Upon returning to the US, Ruth went back to college in Santa Cruz, CA, studying earth sciences. 

Moving to Josephine County, OR, in 1992, Ruth became involved with Heartland Dance Studio, then under the direction of founder, Nancy Gordon.  Ruth and her five children have all been involved in local dance and theater, over the past 25 years, at Heartland, Stillpoint, Barnstormers, RMT, One Eleven, Stardust, and Connect the Dots.

Ruth has also been an active member of Josephine County Search & Rescue, since 2003, serving as a Ground Searcher, Rope Rescue Team, and Training Committee. Ruth is an instructor for the Oregon State Sheriff’s Academy.

Ruth has served as a member of the Heartland Board of Directors since we became a non-profit. She has performed onstage, as well as holding various positions in the production crew, for our shows.
http://ruthsears.com/