Body Choir was founded by Carola Marashi, Lori Smullin, and Terry Teaters.

Terry Teaters and Carola Marashi both have Masters degrees in Psychology. Lori Smullin is a dancer and dance instructor.

The last remaining founder presently involved with Body Choir, assisting in the transition of it being privately owned to non-profit, is Carola Marashi. Oskar is now the acting Artistic Director.

Body Choir claims it’s origin from Sweat Your Prayers in Houston TX. The 3 founders were avid participants of Houston’s Sweat Your Prayers, and when they relocated to Austin they immediately started what has now become Bodychoir.

Forty-five people and a dog showed up for the very first dance on Feb. 6, 1994. Bodychoir has been supported by the Austin community ever since! Lori Smullin chose to be formally trained by Gabrielle Roth, the founder of Sweat Your Prayers, and thus we changed our name to Body Choir around 1994. We lightly use Gabrielle Roth’s Five Rhythms in guiding the flow of music we play. Our primary focus is building community through dance. Freedom of expression, and witness of authenticity overrides the dance moves/rhythms.

In 1998, the community of dancers came together and donated time, money and labor in designing and building out our new dance space. It was at this time that Body Choir began the transition of being privately owned to Non-profit.