The DWC Ambassadors
Isabel Vander Griend (they/she/he) grew up dancing at Dancing For Joy Studios in Bellingham, WA. When they were fifteen, they moved to train under the direction of Lindsi Dec and Karel Cruz, former PNB Principals, at Decruz Ballet in San Antonio, TX. At Decruz, she performed classical works such as “Le Corsair” pas and variation, and Arabian in “The Nutcracker”. After graduating from their PTD program in 2023, they attended the Training Program at Alonzo King LINES Ballet. Here she performed works by Carmen Rozestraten, Chuck Wilt, Moscelyne Parke Harrison, Alejandro Perez, and in process with Sidra Bell and Gregory Dawson. Isabel has supplemented her training during summers at Summer Dance Lab, Sarasota Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, BalletX, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet, as well as performing in the Complexions 30th Anniversary Gala at the Joyce Theater as part of their Pre-Professional Program.
Riley McGaff (he/they) has made a career out of many creative fields including dance, going from being a Creative Director in the graphic design and marketing world to now running a dance studio. Riley could never have guessed how his life would change by walking into the dance studio in 2021, and they haven't stopped dancing since. After falling in love with ballet they took many classes every week and also did privates with Adam Ashcroft and Ellen Mäkäela (two soloists) over zoom to further his love for technique. In 2022 Riley was asked to be in a show for the first time and discovered another love, performing. Now Riley manages Westlake Dance Center along with it's annual showcase Sign of the Times (while also performing in multiple pieces) and loves being able to support the community that has come to mean so much to him.
Annie St. Marie (she/they/he) is a dance artist from the greater Seattle area that started dancing nearly three decades ago! They trained for eight years at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School and went on to graduate magna cum laude with their BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts through the dance department's three year Accelerated Degree Program. Annie has been fortunate to dance in work by Bruce Wells, Wade Madsen, Alia Swersky, Bruce McCormick, Bruno Roque, Danielle Agami, and Callan Moore (eleven:eleven). Her greatest adventure has been performing in Sheri Lewis' A Night In Paris across various venues in the greater Seattle area as a singer, dancer, and showgirl. Upon receiving her undergraduate degree, Annie has been a passionate educator and is currently on faculty at Westlake Dance Center and eXit SPACE School of Dance teaching ballet technique, pre-pointe, pointe, contemporary ballet, Broadway jazz, and jazz technique. Their goal is to make dance approachable for all dancers, especially those who may have a traumatic history with it. They firmly believe that if you can breathe, you can dance.
Santina Rigano-Lesch (she/her) is a dance educator, choreographer, and Culture and Vibe Marketing Biz Bestie, who has spent over 18 years at the intersection of dance and creative entrepreneurship. Based in Washington State, and originally from Adelaide, South Australia, Santina brings a unique dual perspective to her work; one rooted equally in the studio and in strategy.
As the founder and creator of BBB, Santina has built a dance program for women and female identifying folks, that centres joy, inclusivity, and authentic self-expression. Her teaching background spans Jazz, Hip Hop, Street Jazz, Jazz Funk, Commercial Dance, and Musical Theater, with experience coaching National Hip Hop Championship-winning teams three consecutive years and building a studio that served 400 students weekly at its height.
In her marketing work, Santina partners with dance studio owners, dance businesses, and dance educators, to help them become the go-to in their area by developing unique brand identities and organically growing their online presence. She holds a Bachelor of Elementary Education and a Diploma in Business (Entrepreneurship), and is currently completing NASM certifications in Personal Training, Corrective Exercise Specialisation, and Nutrition Coaching.
Santina believes that great dance spaces, both physical and digital, are built on culture, community, and the courage to do things differently.
Loann Nguyen (she/her) is a Seattle native who began her life-long love of dance at 7 years old. She fell in love with the beauty, the drive, and even the discipline that was required and strove every day since to be the best dancer she could be. She trained in classical ballet and even got her first pair of point shoes 16 years ago at Dancewear Center. She also trained in Hip-Hop and Contemporary which allowed her to explore and express the different sides of her. After high school graduation, Loann had to part with dance to focus on obtaining her Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering. 5 years later, Loann established her career and found her way back to dance and her passion is as great as ever. Even returning to Dancewear Center for her first pair of pointe shoes as an adult. She now dances at VAM Studios which has been the most encouraging and inspiring space for her as a returning dancer. She has since performed in VAM's annual showcase, joined their Suitcase Dance Theater company, and gone with them to Edinburgh to perform at the Fringe Festival. Loann is incredibly grateful for the community and fulfillment that dance has given her in her adult life and cannot wait to see what more her dance journey has in store for her. If you are looking for her outside of work and the studio, you can find her walking around the zoo with her husband or spending time with her 3 cats (Bean, Chewy, and Goose).
Why we started the program:
To help connect members of our PNW dancing community across studios, companies, disciplines, and cities.
To help highlight the wide variety of rich stories within our local dance community.
To inspire local dancers by demonstrating that all who want to dance are valued and celebrated members of the DWC family.
Who is a DWC Ambassador?
Someone who is passionate about movement and sharing their personal dancing journey. Our ambassadors are leaders in the community who inspire others to pursue what they love and show our dance family that their dreams of dance can become reality!
DWC Ambassadors are trusted partners with our small business and provide honest and thoughtful feedback on products and programs at DWC - which in turn helps us grow and better serve our community.
Program Term
Four (4) month commitment.
Program Expectations
Attend a required Dancewear Center Ambassador Orientation at the start of the term.
Participate in two (2) scheduled DWC photoshoots during the term.
Participate in two (2) Content Creation Days.
Receive four (4) monthly product boxes from Dancewear Center. Ambassadors are expected to share an unboxing each month and provide thoughtful feedback regarding fit, functionality, and overall experience.
Publish one (1) collaborative Instagram post and one (1) unboxing post per month.
Provide one (1) testimonial (written, video, or voice memo) during the term sharing your experience with Dancewear Center and/or our professional pointe shoe fitting process.
Ambassador Benefits
10% discount on pointe shoes for the duration of the four-month term.
25% discount on all other in-store items for the duration of the term.
A personalized Dancewear Center Ambassador discount code to share with friends and peers, with the opportunity to earn in-store credit through code usage.
FAQs
How old do I need to be?
DWC Ambassadors must be 16 years old by the start of their term.
What level of dance experience is required?
All experience levels and ages are welcomed and encouraged to apply. Beginner to Advanced - your story and dancing journey are respected and celebrated at DWC.
Do you require a minimum follower count?
While follower count can be a minor consideration, we do not require a minimum follower count. DWC cares more about finding ambassadors who are in alignment with our mission, vision, and core values at DWC.
What is the time commitment like?
DWC ambassador terms are 4 months, and we try to work around your schedule as much as possible when scheduling events such as the orientation and photoshoots.
Does my Instagram account need to be public?
Yes, your application will not be considered if your account is private. DWC Ambassadors are also required to hold a creator account - which we cover during our orientation!
Past Ambassadors
