Movers. Makers.
Soma Co was founded in 2017 by Joe Krienke and Stephanie Thompson as a platform for their careers and interests in theater and movement research. Currently based in the historic GrainBelt Building in NE Minneapolis, Soma’s 1500 s.f. physical studio is the primary location for its ongoing Alexander Technique Teacher Training Program, as well as workshops, classes and individual training and coaching sessions. Outside of the GrainBelt studio, Soma is a vehicle for national and international teaching, residencies, consulting, and performance in movement, theater, and arts management.
Joe Krienke is Soma’s Co-founder, and the Program Director of Soma’s Alexander Technique Teacher Training Program. He has taught movement and physical theater at the University level for over 20 years. Joe holds an MFA in Theater, is an NASM certified personal trainer certified personal, a Registered Somatic Movement Educator with ISMETA, and is an internationally certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. His passion for movement is surpassed only by his passion for teaching.
Stephanie Thompson is Soma’s co-founder where she gets to marry her love of teaching with theatrical play and collaboration. She is also Managing Director at Ten Thousand Things Theater, where she has the privilege to support great theater and inspiring artists. Previously, Stephanie served as executive director, faculty, and company member at Dell’Arte’ International in Blue Lake, CA. While in Blue Lake, Stephanie co-founded the Blue Lake Education Foundation, the Humboldt Arts and Culture Coalition, and the Blue Lake Rising grant program. Stephanie has also served on the faculty of the MFA Acting program at University of Missouri-Kansas City, and has taught throughout the United States in the areas of mask, puppetry, commedia, clown, acting, community engagement, and entrepreneurship in the arts.