Our Leaders
Our Artistic Associates
CRIPSiE is led by a collective of artists called the Artistic Associates. They are active CRIPSiE artists who are chosen by the community and voted in annually. They utilize their specialized skills to lead CRIPSiE and act as collective artistic directors while also managing CRIPSiE's day to day operations.
Alison Neuman
Program Coordinator
Alison is a writer, author, choreographer, dance artist and facilitator. She has a Master’s
Degree with an Educational Studies Focus, a Bachelor of Applied Communications Degree, a
Diploma in Professional Writing and a Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing. She is the
lead writer and a workshop instructor at Sandy Tree Communications. As a published author,
Alison explores the voices of marginalized voices through her characters. Ice Rose: A Young
Adult Spy Novel, Searching for Normal: A Memoir, and the Friends and Family Series,
includes characters experiencing disabilities and chasing their dreams. As a playwright, the
subjects of inclusion/definitions and isolated voices are investigated in Searching and
strength, love and advocacy for families and persons experiencing dementia are explored in
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The Sunset Syndrome. She has created and planned Camp Mission Access (Workshops for
children of all abilities), Got Dance (Accessible workshops for dancers), Artists for Altruism
(Author fundraiser and book sale) and facilitated classes for dancers in the integrated
community.
Erin Newman
Member Liaison
Erin Newman is the Member Liaison of the CRIPSiE Artistic Associates. She values fostering
connections and helping the CRIPSiE community with the various upcoming artistic projects.
She is also a therapist, writer, and mom, and loves nothing more than to foster creativity
through dance.
Katarzyna Richlicki
Community Events Coordinator
Kasia was born and raised in Poland. As an inner-city mental health nurse, she loves to
advocate for more accessible health care for her clients. In her free time, she spends a lot of
time out in nature, hiking and foraging for mushrooms. Her integrated dance adventure
started back in 2008 when she joined CRIPSiE formerly known as iDance. She performed in
Orchesis Dance Motifs, Body Language, FEATS Festival of Dance, Kaleido Festival, Careful,
What's Cooking, NEXT Fest and many more shows in the Edmonton area. Kasia co-
choreographed her first piece called De-construct with Heath Birkholz in 2014. As an
emerging community choreographer, she explores movement behind the idea of individual
differences as an advantage to the community. Kasia is a community events coordinator
committed to bringing our community together through planning accessible events that will
strengthen our integrated dance community.
Nicolle Marie Elliot
Digital Media Designer
Nicolle Marie Elliot has been dancing and performing with CRIPSiE since 2016. In 2019, she
joined the leadership team and took on the role of Artistic Associate, where she utilizes her
artistic and technological skills designing and maintaining the website, helping with technical
issues, and assisting with classes. As a new mom, she is enjoying spending her days hanging
with her husband, daughter, and two kitties.
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Our Board of Directors
Kristi Hansen
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Heath Birkholz
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