The Story of Us

Your Support is Really Powerful.

The founders of StormLight looked around & saw that, as a global culture, we have all the technology we need to be sustainable. What we lack is motivation. In behavioral science, it’s understood that motivation comes in large part from the values we hold dear. Values, in turn, come from the stories we believe. It is through the inspiring craft of artists & makers that the ancient tradition of storytelling lives in the modern era. We came together to support artists whose work is transforming lives, and are committed to hosting events which teach participants skills that directly translate into higher productivity & increased life satisfaction. Flow arts are those that support the achievement of Flow States, and we aim to make the creators & the fans they inspire more effective at keeping the world a beautiful place: Empowering People to Protect the Planet.

Our Team

Michael Ravenwood

Co-Founder

Michael Ravenwood was born in Tokyo, Japan, and lives in San Diego, CA. Over 35 years ago, he began studying Meditation and Martial Arts and has trained in numerous styles including Karate, Ninjutsu, Kung Fu & Tai Chi. 25 years ago, he acquired a degree in Psychology with Honors while also taking courses in Quantum Physics, Mind-Body Medicine & Cross-cultural Spirituality. Over 15 years ago, Michael began to blend his Yoga & Martial training with a passion for Dance through Fire Performance. Since then, he has become a Dance & Meditation Instructor, International Cirque Performer, Event Producer & Business Owner. Michael writes Spoken Word pieces that convey life affirming inspiration with pointed humor. As Lead Performer of his performing arts company SkyFire Arts, he uses a high voltage protective suit to wield 10 foot arcs of electricity from a massive Tesla coil. He has been teaching Dance & Meditation at Festivals, Cirque Schools, Dance Studios, and Privately for over 10 years, and became a Certified Empowerment Coach by completing Firewalking Instructor Training in 2017

Stormlight Performances

Nick Heyming

Co-Founder

As founder of the Emerald Village in North County SD, Nick Heyming has been cultivating awareness of human connection & the environment on a deep, personal level. He regularly hosts workshops on homesteading, composting, gardening, community building, and sustainability Recently, the Emerald Village also installed a solar array and is 100% renewable powered. Nick also is the lead for the San Diego Burners Without Borders, a mutual aid and disaster response group with projects ranging from responding to the Paradise and Lilac Fires, providing supplies and direct aid to communities in Mexico, homelessness outreach in San Diego city, and serving as a regional hub for arts, education, disaster response, and sustainability. Nick is also the founder of the Flow Nexus and Trybrary, mobile somatic education art installations that train people on embodied movement technologies. This has been featured at festivals and fairs in Washington DC, Gerlach NV, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara. Nick is also a high school history teacher and specializes in auto-ethnography and service learning. Nick’s background was in Disaster Relief, where he deployed after the Tsunami in Asia in 2004, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Pisco Earthquake in 2007, and multiple california fires over the years. He’s also trained in permaculture, sustainable development, community gardening, sociocracy, composting, and has a Masters in Education. He’s taught martial arts, breakdancing, fire spinning, parkour, composting, gardening, and history to children and adults for the last 20 years.  

Michelle Lavon

Co-Founder

Michelle LaVon’s creations as a performer and choreographer have been experienced in over a dozen counties spanning five continents, a career that began with her dance training at age 6 with Ballet West and continued with the Academy of Nevada Dance Theatre, performing bit parts with the company. She studied communications at Dixie College and dance at the University of Utah. Moving to Los Angeles in 2003, studying acting and performing up and down theater row; in 2006 she discovered fire dance and her world changed. She began working for Bear Claw Manufacturing for EJ “Tedward” LeCouteur; over the next six years making thousands of fire tools which are still in the hands of flow artists today.

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