Guest User 10/22/21 Guest User 10/22/21

Teaching with Intentional Positivity

As I grow in my role as an instructor and choreographer, I have reflected on my dance journey and the people who influenced me through teaching. Most of my free time growing up was spent in the dance studio under the instruction of Jennifer Picart Branner, or as I know her, Ms. Jen. When I consider the kind of teacher I am today and the teacher I hope to be, I often draw from my experiences as a student. Under the instruction of Ms. Jen, I felt a sense of accountability and support that allowed me to develop self-discipline positively. Through the intentional teaching methods modeled for me growing up, I grew as a dancer and a person. I attempt to inspire my classroom in the same way I felt inspired as a young dancer through modeling the importance of self-worth and resilience while creating a positive learning environment.

By Madison Walker. DWC Ambassador

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Studies show that students who have positive and trusting relationships with their teachers, show more engagement in learning and achieve their learning goals at higher rates (Rimm-Kaufman, S., 2010, April 19). When students are positively engaged in the process of learning, they grow to enjoy learning in general. By positively engaging with my dance class, I am creating an environment in which my students can become more self-directed and resilient in their dance education. While technique is a crucial aspect of growth in a person’s dance journey, dance is also an art that requires vulnerability and creativity. I have great respect for the emotion that goes into a dancer’s execution of choreography. I also have great respect for my students as they grow into their own as artists and begin creating their own work. Since it requires so much vulnerability to improv and perform choreography, it is imperative that students feel comfortable and supported enough to explore the performance aspect of their dancing.

Providing critiques is a crucial part of teaching and something I have always valued. As Ms. Jen would often tell my class, “The day I stop critiquing you is the day I stop caring”. When I was a student, I learned to appreciate the individualized attention and the expectation that I could do better. Knowing that someone else believed I could achieve more, allowed me to have the confidence to push myself there. Teaching in my classroom today, I echo this motto and work diligently to acknowledge each of my students for the work they are putting into my class. I often say that ballet, while an art form, is a strict discipline that teaches us respect in addition to many other life lessons. It is out of respect that I address each of my students and critique them in a way that builds them up rather than tears them down.

“By encouraging my students to compete with themselves rather than comparing themselves to the person next to them, they learn to set and achieve realistic goals while appreciating their skills and ability level. ”

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In dance, there is a constant drive for perfection. Although we as dancers and as humans know that perfection is almost unobtainable, we push our minds and our bodies in the pursuit of being as close to perfection as we can be. As an instructor and choreographer working with young dancers, I strive to foster a love for the process of learning and put an emphasis on resilience. Through dance and specifically ballet, I learned the meaning of work ethic. My students know that when they come into my classroom, there is an expectation that they are working their hardest. I aim to hold my students accountable in a positive way by challenging them to développé higher than the time before, jump higher than the day prior, and push for more rotations in every turn. By encouraging my students to compete with themselves rather than comparing themselves to the person next to them, they learn to set and achieve realistic goals while appreciating their skills and ability level.

Working in mental health with youth by day, I am always engaging in training and with resources that translate to my dance classroom. Although as dance instructors we are responsible for our student’s technical growth, we are also playing a role in our students’ social and emotional development. I believe that all dance instructors should aim to educate themselves on the development of youth and how we as instructors can improve our teaching methods to best serve our students.

Below I have comprised a list of my main teaching tips that have helped me develop a positive dance environment. For more information on how you can create a better learning environment for your students and why it is important, check out the links listed under “Resources/Articles”.

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My Tips for Teaching with Intentional Positivity:

My number one rule for myself when teaching is setting expectations. When your students know what is expected of them from day one, it is easier to hold them accountable in a constructive way.
Positively acknowledge each student during class. When students feel like they have been acknowledged in a positive light, they are more receptive to criticism.
Create structure. Having a routine in the classroom assists in keeping your students on task and leaves less room for shenanigans, allowing you to focus on the positives!
Give space for creative exploration. I love to incorporate improv into my classes to allow my students to apply the technique they learn in class while also pushing themselves to grow as artists. When students find a personal connection to their movement, they remain motivated in their dance education.
Give meaningful feedback. When students are given meaningful feedback, they can improve at a faster rate but it also builds a sense of self-worth to be acknowledged. Every dancer goes to class to improve so it is important as an instructor to ensure that each of my students walks away from each class with valuable feedback.
Know your students. There is great importance in knowing your students as people and dancers. I want to be able to help my students set and achieve goals by holding them accountable. When I know where my students are skill-wise, I am better able to recognize progress and regression.

Promoting Versatility in the Studio and Community

In many professional industries, but particularly in dance, versatility can be a vital asset to an individual’s career. Having the ability to be light on your feet, expert across numerous genres, and adaptable to rapid changes can help elevate a dancer both on and off the stage. That is why versatility is an important part of Allegro Performing Arts Academy’s goal. By providing dancers with robust dance training in a variety of styles and offering programs to an assortment of ages and levels, Owner Tonya Goodwillie and the rest of Allegro’s staff strive to bring something to the table for everyone.

Allegro Performing Arts Academy’s Tonya Goodwillie

By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor

Tonya was inspired to dance at age two after watching her uncle, a ballroom dancer, practice with his partner. “My mom just noticed me sitting for hours on end watching, being still. So she was like ‘I need to get this kid into dance!’” she recalls. “I [have been] involved in dance ever since.” Tonya initially had dreams of having a career as an architect. But one day in her high school ceramics class, she was looking through college brochures and Cornish College of the Arts stood out to her. It was at that moment that Tonya realized she wanted to pursue dance as a career. “It’s one of those moments you never forget,” she says.

While attending Cornish, Allegro opened. “I had an opportunity that I couldn’t say no to,” Tonya says, in regards to helping build the business. She ended up taking a hiatus from school to focus on her work with Allegro, before returning years later to complete her degree. The years Tonya took off of college were crucial to bolstering Allegro’s business.

Today, Allegro has grown to be a dynamic performing arts academy in the Pacific Northwest. Tonya shares that Allegro has always made an effort to be “pretty bold about offering something for everybody.” “I feel very strongly about versatility for dancers,” she says. Tonya firmly believes that those who want to be professional dancers benefit from being well versed in a variety of genres and having numerous experiences under their belts. Thus, Allegro offers classes in an array of styles, including lyrical, contemporary, ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, tumbling, musical theatre, drama, and more.

In addition to the various genres offered, Allegro prides itself in providing classes and programs for dancers of all ages and levels. “It’s really important to me that we try to offer something for everybody,” Tonya shares. The Allegro Precision Dance Company offers dancers the ability to “commit extra time to training, performing, and competing” at local and national events and competitions. The P.U.R.E. Hip Hop program similarly provides rigorous training and competition opportunities with a focus on hip hop. And The Allegro Players consists of “young performers interested in training and performing in drama and musical theater.” Allegro also offers copious classes for young ones, including a “Tiny Tots” creative movement class and a “Me & My Shadow” class, intended for young dancers and their parents.

Allegro has a lot to look forward to in the coming school year. “Just like every other studio, we’re really hoping to have a holiday showcase,” Tonya says. The studio’s annual holiday showcase is set for December 17-19, 2021. In January, Allegro plans to put on its “Burnin’ the Floor” showcase in January of 2022, which acts as a fundraiser for Allegro’s performing arts team. “This past year [the dancers] didn’t get to do that, so to be able to be at a theater would be amazing,” Tonya says.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Allegro was able to pivot its offerings to an online platform quite swiftly. “We were only closed for a week in March 2020,” Tonya shares. Within a week, the studio was able to create an entirely virtual class schedule on Zoom. Upon returning to in-person classes later into the pandemic, Allegro was fully prepared, equipping every room with cameras and microphones for dancers tuning in through Zoom and instating mask requirements and sanitation protocol for those dancing in the studio. “Technically we’re still doing hybrid,” Tonya says of Allegro’s fall classes. She gives kudos to all of Allegro’s teachers for their adaptability and constant compassion for their students.

Moving through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, Tonya hopes to see more “cohesiveness” among local dance studios. She believes that the community has already taken a step in that direction by being a part of the Washington State Dance Studio Owners Coalition. The coalition started as a weekly Zoom meeting of studio owners, listening to one another and exchanging ideas on how to better handle teaching during the pandemic. The group later became an official organization to better communicate their needs to the governor’s office. “The meetings are still focused around COVID and helping each other out, but we have a long wish list of how to improve our dance industry,” Tonya says. “We’re talking about best business practices, how to educate studios about injury prevention, [and more].”

Tonya says that the WSDSOC is helping boost camaraderie among studio owners. “It’s just a really great environment,” Tonya shares. “There’s room for all of us. Business is business, of course...but there is room for all of us to succeed. So I really hope that we can help to make the dance community better by educating more and getting more dance studio owners on board.” Whether it’s through diversifying Allegro’s class offerings or collaborating with other industry professionals in the greater Seattle area, it’s clear that Tonya values helping ensure that everyone in the dance community gets what they need.

Learn more about Allegro

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Guest User 9/24/21 Guest User 9/24/21

Filling the Connection Gap: How Dancer for Dancer is Linking “Pals Around the World”

The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t the only phenomenon that’s caused the dance community to be a bit disjointed. A culture of competition and perfectionism has permeated the dance world, causing many dancers to see others as rivals rather than peers. To help alleviate the challenges that this type of environment can bring about, 17-year-old Samantha Parr has created the organization Dancer for Dancer to unite the dance community through open discussions, mental health support, and mentorship. Through Dancer for Dancer’s Pal Program and with the help of Pal Program coordinators like DWC staff member Emma Neilson, the organization is providing connection and support to dancers worldwide.

By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor

*Samantha Parr, founder of Dancer for Dancer*

Samantha began dancing when she was three years old and started to get involved more seriously with intensives and competitions around age 12. She’s attended intensives with Joffrey Ballet School, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Ballet West and competed at the Youth America Grand Prix several times. At her studio in the Bay Area, Samantha has performed several lead roles in original ballets, as well as Clara in The Nutcracker. “I think the thing that keeps me dancing is my ability to express myself. At the end of long days, it’s nice to have something that I can work hard at. It keeps me grounded in a way and helps me focus a little bit,” Samantha shares. “I hope to continue to dance throughout college and beyond because I love it so much.”

The idea for Dancer for Dancer first came to Samantha in May of 2020, months into the COVID-19 pandemic. “I felt very disconnected from my ballet community in my studio,” she recalls. She remembers struggling to stay mentally healthy and falling out of love with dance a bit, due to the difficulty of learning at home. Samantha figured she must not be alone in these hardships she was facing, so she decided to schedule a Zoom call to connect with some dancers.

Samantha’s first Zoom call, with around 14 dancers, was towards the end of June. During the first several meetings, the dancers held discussions about racial inequality in the dance industry and later began talking about mental health among dancers. The Zoom calls began with dancers in Samantha’s area, but soon grew as others heard about them and as she informed friends from dance intensives she had attended. Little did she know one upcoming Zoom call would make her idea take extreme flight.

Around January 2021, Samantha’s friend and Dancer for Dancer Ambassador Eleanor Green reached out to Casimere Jollette of the Netflix series “Tiny Pretty Things” to attend one of the Zoom calls. She said yes! Samantha and her cohorts organized a giant Q&A with Casimere and about 300 dancers from all over the world attended. “That’s kind of where it began to take off,” Samantha says.

Currently, Dancer for Dancer is extending its programming beyond Zoom calls through the Pal Program. “In ballet, there’s this unhealthy competition that I had experienced a lot when I was younger and it always left me feeling weird,” Samantha says. “I could have benefited from having an older dancer being my support system...That’s the inspiration for the Pal Program.”

Dancer for Dancer’s Pal Program contains two subsets: the D4D Mentorship Program and Pals Around the World. The D4D Mentorship Program consists of seven mentors from around the world aged 16-19. The mentors have been trained in giving mental health support by a professional and connect with younger dancers to give advice and provide guidance for wherever they are in their dance journey. The D4D Mentorship Program is open to younger dancers of all backgrounds who are interested in connecting with an older dancer, click here to sign up.

The Pals Around the World program is a global, virtual program in which any dancer of any age and from any dance background is paired with another dancer to correspond virtually for four weeks. Dancers can connect through Zoom, FaceTime, social media, texting, or any other medium they see fit. People are welcome to reapply for the program once the four weeks are up to connect with a new dancer. Samantha shares that Pals Around the World is a “chill” and “laid back” program where dancers have the opportunity to make friends with other dancers around the world. Participants also get “special access to D4D Pal Program workshops on mental health, self-improvement, and peer support.”

Pointe Shoe Fitter and DWC Blog Contributor Emma Neilson has recently gotten involved with Dancer for Dancer as a Pal Program Coordinator. Emma began dancing around age 13 to supplement her figure skating training. After training in ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, and contemporary throughout high school, Emma graduated with her AA in Psychology from Shoreline Community College and then decided to take a gap year. Starting in 2019, she began training year-round at the International Ballet Academy in Bellevue, Washington where she is today.

Emma came across Dancer for Dancer while scrolling through her Instagram feed. The organization’s account popped up as a recommended account for her to follow. After looking more into Dancer for Dancer and its offerings, Emma was amazed by its mission. She noticed that Dancer for Dancer was looking for coordinators and decided to apply. Shortly after that, Emma was interviewed and joined the team. As one of the Pal Program Coordinators, Emma’s role with Dancer for Dancer involves her collaborating with local studios in the greater Seattle area to see if they’re interested in participating in the Pal Program. There are numerous positions open at Dancer for Dancer, such as a Tik Tok Coordinator, Discord Moderator, and more, click here for more information.

Moving forward, the biggest change Samantha hopes to see in the dance world is for all body types to be accepted. She hopes that the “ballet body” ideal is eliminated and that companies start catering to dancers of all body sizes. “How your body looks doesn’t determine how your body dances and I feel like if the dance community is accepting of all body types, it would put less pressure on girls and boys to feel as if they have to fit into a certain mold that maybe they weren’t born like,” Samantha shares.

Additionally, Emma says that she hopes to see dance become more accessible to a wider range of people in the near future, specifically people of all ages, abilities, and socioeconomic classes. “Your age and what you think your physical capabilities are shouldn’t impact your ability to participate in something that gives you joy,” Emma states.

Dancer for Dancer was born to fill a gap that Samantha was witnessing in the dance realm. She was able to create a vessel to connect dancers in meaningful ways, something that was sorely missing and needed in the dance industry. For others who are interested in creating their own organizations, Samantha’s biggest piece of advice is for people to give themselves time to let their ideas sit with them. “Think about what the people are wanting or what you feel like they need more of,” she says. Once you figure out what your community is lacking, you can start finding ways to provide what is needed and build from there.

Dancer for Dancer's website

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Sources:

https://www.dancerfordancer.com/

https://www.dancewearcenter.net/e-neilson

https://www.dancerfordancer.com/mentorship

https://www.dancerfordancer.com/pals-around-the-world

https://www.dancerfordancer.com/pal-meetings

https://www.dancerfordancer.com/team-1

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehUadFIwLc4-suEWfAwVkgDUuXsgqD6BYKsMW1fYjQv_7GYw/viewform

Guest User 9/6/21 Guest User 9/6/21

New Beginnings in the Midst of COVID-19 2 of 2

The past year and a half has been undoubtedly replete with hurdles, as much of the local dance community was left jobless due to COVID-19. Yet, through the hardships that unfolded throughout the pandemic, many were able to find unique ways to fill the gaps they were witnessing in the dance world. Dwelling in isolation served as a time for reflection and deep contemplation about how to emerge back into the dance realm. From private coaching to cross-training, from rebranding to expanding, and bridging the divide between dance and theatre, these organizations and individuals have created new beginnings for themselves amid adversity, leaving the local dance community better than they found it. Read on to learn more about these local artists and their latest endeavors.

By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor

Creation Dance Studio

Elevated Forms

Glass House Dance

Creation Dance Studio

In April 2021, Creation Dance Studio moved to a new location with two new studio spaces. Additionally, the studio is expanding its adult/teen program to include classes like tap and hip hop and is now offering a complete youth program too. The youth program will offer jazz, hip hop, tap, lyrical fusion, ballet, and conditioning classes, as well as cheer and tumbling classes. “So much has led up to this brand new chapter for Creation Dance Studio and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to provide classes for dancers of all ages on Mercer Island,” Owner Stevie Hagen shares.

For the past five years, Creation Dance Studio has offered adult ballet and pointe classes to dancers of all ages and backgrounds. The dancers have performed at retirement communities in Mercer Island and fundraisers, “with the goal of giving back and spreading the joy of dance to everyone around [them].” “We all have one huge thing in common - we absolutely love to dance,” Stevie says.

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“If you had asked me if I wanted to be a dance teacher at the start of my senior year of college, I would have said no,” Stevie admits. She assumed that she would audition to join a ballet company after graduating from Cornish College of the Arts with a BFA in dance. She had no clue that a life of teaching and studio owning was in store for her. Stevie remembers the moment she figured it out. “I was taking [Cornish’s] required teaching methods class and began teaching a mock class in front of my peers and in that moment I knew that I wanted to be a dance teacher,” she recalls.

Deena Dunning was one of Stevie’s biggest teaching inspirations, as she assisted with Deena’s adult ballet program “Ballet With Deena.” Deena had stage 4 breast cancer at the time and would show up to teach dance regardless of how she was feeling. “Subbing for her was the greatest honor and getting to know the adult dancers that had followed her from location to location was truly special,” Stevie says. She recalls meeting with Deena at a Starbucks one afternoon and her passing the program onto Stevie. Deena passed away a week later. “I embraced the opportunity to continue Deena’s beautiful legacy and soon after Creation Dance Studio was founded in 2016,” Stevie shares.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, safety was a top priority for Stevie when teaching dancers at CDS. The CDS adult program and many of Stevie’s private lessons were able to meet over Zoom for 15 months before returning to Creation’s brand new studio space in person. “We will continue to do everything that we can to be creative and flexible as we keep our dance community healthy and strong.”

Stevie expresses that she knows she has succeeded as a teacher when each student leaves her classes feeling “encouraged, capable, and knowing that they are enough exactly as they are.” She shares that it breaks her heart to see passionate dancers slowly beginning to believe that they aren’t enough because they don’t fit a certain mold. Excessive criticism and pressure can diminish a dancer’s true love for the art form. “Dance is so much more than a body type or reaching perfection,” Stevie stresses. Thus, she channels her energy into encouraging her students, focusing on movement rather than physique, and instilling confidence in each dancer she teaches. “If we, as a dance community, could return to that foundation of why we dance, that moment when we stepped into a class for the very first time and fell in love, I truly believe that the dance world would be a better place,” Stevie says.

Elevated Forms dance+fitness

Elevated Forms Dance + Fitness provides dance and fitness programs that teach dancers valuable cross-training exercises and techniques to prepare them for the professional realm. Founder Alexandra Roumanis offers in-studio or in-home classes designed to help build strong pre-professional dancers. These classes feature Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) exercises, ballet technique training, as well as “contemporary, jazz, and acrobatic movements.” Alexandra stresses that her programs are designed to be adaptable and attainable for dancers to meet their “individual needs and goals.” She provides a variety of different class formats, including “weekly technique training,” “weekly cross-training for injury prevention, strength and flexibility,” and even one-week intensives. There are one-on-one or private group sessions available, in addition to in-studio or virtual workshops. Alexandra also offers more general personal training with an emphasis on pilates and barre-style exercises, and Elevated Barre classes, which are “dance-inspired” and designed for movers of all levels. Free workouts are even available on the Elevated Forms YouTube channel.

Alexandra began dancing around age three and began pursuing it more seriously around age 10. Throughout her teenage years, she focused more specifically on ballet. However, throughout high school, she also developed a deeper interest in contemporary dance, attending summer programs at Alonzo King LINES Ballet and the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. While pursuing her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography at Texas State University, she further cultivated her love for modern and contemporary ballet styles. After graduating college, Alexandra moved to Seattle and began interning with Velocity Dance Center and dancing with Khambatta Dance Company. She also worked as the operations and marketing manager of SQUID MGMT, an artist management company. Later realizing she was more interested in being in the studio, Alexandra took on more teaching, something she had always done throughout college.

Amid dance studios closing in 2020 due to COVID-19, Alexandra had several students ask her if she would teach private lessons, which she agreed to do. Unsure of what the landscape of dance would look like in the following year, Alexandra created Elevated Forms as a way to formalize the lessons she was providing. She specifically works with students who are serious about dance, wish to pursue it professionally, and are interested in improving their technique. Certified in a variety of dance teaching and cross-training methods, such as Progressing Ballet Technique and Sugarfoot Therapy, Alexandra’s everchanging vision is to provide her clients with a program that they can eventually practice independently to supplement their dance training. “Ideally...I want to let them go and fly on their own,” she says.

Alexandra stresses the importance of cross-training in dance as a way to make dancers stronger and prevent injuries. It upsets her to see such young dancers suffering through horrible injuries that stick with them for life. Thus, her practice is aimed at finding ways to implement cross-training into dancers’ routines and finding unique ways to make it interesting and enjoyable.

Glass House Dance

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Glass House Dance is excited to announce its partnership with the City of Maple Valley’s Parks & Recreation Department. Starting this September, Glass House Dance will be expanding into the Maple Valley, Covington & Black Diamond communities by offering a variety of dance classes at Lake Wilderness Lodge. Registration for these classes begins this August through the City of Maple Valley’s Parks & Recreation registration page. In addition, Glass House is expanding its Sammamish location by adding a fifth dance room. Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Glass House has secured the suite next to its usual studio space in light of growing classes & programming

Glass House Dance is going on its sixth year of offering the Sammamish, Issaquah, and Redmond communities year-round classes in ballet, hip hop, jazz, acro, lyrical, and contemporary. The studio also possesses a plethora of competitive and performance teams.

Co-Owner Larisa Eronemo grew up training as a competitive studio dancer and later earned her BFA in Dance from Arizona State University and MFA in Dance Choreography from the University of Arizona on a full-ride scholarship. After working at a university, she returned to studio life as a dance teacher. She has choreographed for the concerts of artists like Brett Michaels, George Thorogood, Third Eye Blind, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and many others. Larisa is also a nationally and internationally recognized judge and “guest master teacher”.

Co-Owner Ryan Eronemo’s dance journey began in high school. After breaking his hand left him unable to continue playing football, Ryan took a girl’s PE dance class, and his dance career built from there. He has performed, taught, and judged across the country and around the world, including venues in Asia and Europe. Ryan has appeared in music videos that have premiered on SkyTv in Canada and MTV Europe and is an “international master teacher” that’s taught across three continents.

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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Glass House Dance was able to meet state occupancy requirements and keep its classes running outdoors and by renting out spaces next to the studio. Glass House Dance is actively searching for a permanent location in the Maple Valley/Black Diamond community, but in the meantime, the studio is partnering with the City of Maple Valley to offer weekly classes with Glass House instructors & pedagogies. Glass House is beginning with 10 weekly classes through this partnership, but is looking forward to offering more classes as they fill up.

Larisa and Ryan live near Maple Valley and decided to spread their operations south when they were searching for dance classes for their daughter in the area. “There are not very many [dance] providers in this area and [South King County is] one of the fastest growing areas in King County,” Ryan says. “We thought we could have a unique voice and offer something valuable to the community.”

Glass House Dance’s programs are centered around inclusion. “If you want to dance, no matter what your body type is, what your skill level is, what you're able to commit in terms of time: we have a place for you no matter where you’re at in your dance journey,” Ryan says about Glass House Dance’s offerings.

From the rubble of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dance community of the greater Seattle area is coming together in inspired ways. These private coaching sessions, cross training endeavors, rebranding and expansion efforts, and more signal that the dance realm in our little corner of the world is only getting stronger following adversity.

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Guest User 9/3/21 Guest User 9/3/21

New Beginnings in the Midst of COVID-19

By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor

Adage Ballet Studio

Aspire Kinetic Arts

Body Language Studio

Adage Ballet Studio

Adage Ballet Studio offers private ballet coaching to students of all ages and abilities. ABS’s offerings are designed to supplement the training that students receive at their studios. Rather than dividing its lessons into age-defined levels, Adage Ballet Studio divides its classes into three tiers based on “technical achievement and the nature of individual needs observed.” The Preparatory tier is for pre-pointe dancers with at least two years of ballet training. The Primary tier, split into three sub-tiers, trains dancers in pointe shoes and educates them on “ballet theory and injury prevention.” Finally, the Adagio tier is designed for dancers with at least five years of ballet training who are working towards mastering the “highest levels of classical ballet.” Students may sign up for solo, duo, or trio sessions with coaches Abby Jayne DeAngelo and Guillaume Basso.

Abby Jayne, both a coach and owner of ABS, began dancing at a young age under the esteemed Marcia Dale Weary at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) in Carlisle, PA. She trained at CPYB throughout her childhood, attending numerous summer programs and performing frequently. Around age 16, she attended a program at the School of American Ballet. Upon returning home, she suffered a major injury: three stress fractures in her left metatarsals. She was out for almost a year and left to reflect on the rigorous dance training she had experienced leading up to that point. Eager to continue dancing, she ended up joining Pacific Northwest Ballet as a Professional Division student in 2016 and was promoted to an apprentice position and the corps de ballet in 2019.

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What led Abby Jayne to create ABS was witnessing the “many gaps in the dance world and how people’s bodies are treated...mentally and physically.” In particular, she stresses the importance of providing dancers with education on how to prevent and treat injuries so they can dance in a sustainable manner. She had begun working privately with a few students who desired extra assistance outside of their routine classes. She would teach classes out of her apartment or in the students’ homes. When the pandemic hit Seattle, more and more students began asking for private lessons virtually and in person. During this time of teaching, Abby Jayne thought about how many students had been turned away from ballet because they were told they didn’t have the “right body” or didn’t “learn fast enough.” She realized that “everyone is on their own timeline” when it comes to training in ballet.

Adage Ballet Studio is designed to “foster each individual” and help people get to “the highest level of ballet technique for themselves.” Abby Jayne hopes to create a ballet environment that encourages “compassion” and is “nurturing” of its dancers holistically. Her mission is to “instill joy and love and inspire growth” in her students, not just as dancers, but as human beings.

Aspire Kinetic Arts

Aspire Kinetic Arts offers unique programming in both dance and theatre. In the fall, the studio will offer semester classes for “littles” (ages 3-6), pre-teens (ages 7-12), and teens (ages 13-19). The genres Aspire Kinetic Arts will focus on include creative movement, pre-ballet, ballet, pointe, jazz, and tap of varying levels. Aspire also plans to have drop-in classes in ballet, jazz, tap, and fitness, as well as master classes that are open to the public. Aspire Kinetic Arts will also feature workshops on dance and theatre, as well as additional art-related realms, such as costuming, lighting, and self-care as an artist. This summer, Aspire Kinetic Arts will also have a variety of summer programs, including “littles camp,” “performing camp,” a ballet intensive, and a “musical theatre intensive.” The facility itself will consist of three studios which can be easily reconfigured to create a black box performance space.

Director and Co-Founder Erin Crall Scott began dancing at age five, focusing more seriously on ballet around age 11. She has experience training around the country and globe, dancing at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Colorado Ballet, and the Hungarian National Dance Academy’s summer intensive. Erin has performed professionally with Cincinnati Ballet, ARC Dance, as a guest artist, and at the Hungarian National Ballet. She has trained in a variety of ballet styles, including Cecchetti, Balanchine, and Vaganova, and has abundant experience with jazz and tap styles as well.

Theatre Program Director and Co-Founder John Crall Scott began dancing around age eight, inspired to tap after watching Gregory Hines perform. He was encouraged to take up ballet training around the age of nine or ten. In high school, John’s love for theatre blossomed and has continued on throughout his life. Being able to learn while working in theatre with various choreographers and directors was the “best education” for him. He has experience performing with a variety of local organizations, such as Village Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Opera, and more.

Erin and John with Space Needle Medium Res - Erin Crall.jpg

Erin and John have a love for teaching, so opening up a studio had always been a shared dream. They believe that having a place where people can receive excellent training in both dance and theatre will be incredibly useful for performers, as the two art forms overlap quite a bit. Their vision is to provide comprehensive arts education that covers the wide range of roles that go into dance and theatre production, whether it’s being a performer, a costume designer, or a stage manager. Erin and John want Aspire Kinetic Arts to become a community hub for artists, envisioning their black box theater being a space for local artists to put on performances and events.

Aspire Kinetic Arts strives to provide an equitable education to all students, in part by hiring a diverse staff and being respectful to students of all social identities and backgrounds. Erin stresses the significance of educating students on the histories of art forms like ballet, so we can all “appreciate [their] beauty” while understanding their “troublesome legacies.” The pair also plans to launch a nonprofit that will go hand-in-hand with Aspire Kinetic Arts. They will conduct outreach and host performances that will donate portions of proceeds to communities that have less access to live performances. “We’re committed to building an environment that is healthy and supportive,” Erin says.

Body Language Studio

Formerly known as Cornerstone Studio, Body Language Studio has recently opened in the Renton Highlands and offering an abundance of programs. In addition to weekly technique classes for children in ballet, pointe, contemporary/lyrical, hip hop, breaking, and more, the new BLS Select Team and Breaking Crew will compete at local competitions and partake in community performances. BLS is also thrilled to offer teen/adult classes for dancers of all skill levels in a variety of styles, including ballet, hip hop foundations & funk styles, social dancing, and hula.

A unique aspect of Body Language Studio’s offerings will be its breaking program. BLS will host breaking “battles” and frequent dance cyphers, where people can dance freely, socialize, and enjoy music played by a DJ. Body Language is also looking forward to implementing skill-based assessments to provide structure for students as they move up in dance levels and to encourage students to “work towards short-term goals on a regular basis.”

In terms of performances, an annual production of The Nutcracker, a spring recital, and a winter showcase of the BLS Select Team will be staples at Body Language Studio.

Executive Director Lea Aparis has danced since age 3 and has competed nationally in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, musical theatre, and more. She danced for the Seattle Supersonics Dance Team for three seasons and graduated from the University of Washington with a major in Economics and a minor in Dance. She also has experience judging for local dance competitions and guest performing in local productions. Lea has been teaching for over two decades and has been running Cornerstone Studio for 11 years.

Co-Director Jerome Aparis is a member and co-founder of the renowned breaking crew Massive Monkees. The Massive Monkees have won the 2004 B-Boy World Championship in London, England, and the 2012 R-16 World Championship in Seoul, Korea. The group also finished third overall in MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew in 2009. Jerome has judged and won awards at numerous b-boy events around the world. He has also performed on the Seattle Supersonics Boom Squad, which is where he and Lea first met.

When Lea took ownership of Cornerstone Studio 11 years ago, she aimed to diversify the studio’s offerings to reach more students, offer representation across the staff, and provide well-rounded training. This desire led her to reach out to Jerome to teach breaking over the summer and it was a hit with the students. Since then, breaking has been a huge part of Cornerstone’s business.

From the moment Jerome and Lea connected, they envisioned how they would merge their passions and “take what they both do so well to the next level.” Having their own studio together is something the couple had always talked about, but the timing had never been completely right. It wasn’t until COVID-19 hit that Lea and Jerome began doing some deep reflection about Cornerstone Studio and analyzing their options moving forward through the challenges of the pandemic. When a space in the Renton Highlands became available, it was as though the stars had finally aligned. Lea and Jerome decided to take a leap to rebrand their business and relocate to a new and improved location.

Body Language Studio looks forward to continuing offering programs that promote diversity, inclusion, and safety in a fresh environment. “We know that the new space will give us the energy, the momentum, the inspiration, the creative spark, and the joy that... everybody else needs,” Lea says. “It’s something that’s even bigger for everyone to look forward to.”

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