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*NEW* 2009 SUMMER BROCHURE
[CLICK
HERE]
2008/2009:
Brochure
Registration
Form
Class Schedules
2008-2009 :
M, T & W
Th,
F & Sat
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Island Dance, owned and operated by Charlene Brown &
Sharla Matthews, presents a wide variety of dance classes
taught by professional instructors offering creative expression
through the art of dance for preschoolers through adults.
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Jennifer
Bondelid began her dance career studying ballet with
Alexandra Zacharias at the Alexandra School of Ballet in St.
Louis. She continued with ballet as well as tap, jazz, lyrical
and character with Mark Krupinkski at Krupinski Academy of Dance.
She began studying flamenco while in Spain and, upon returning,
was awarded a full merit scholarship to the St. Louis Cultural
Flamenco Society. Shortly thereafter, she became a company member
and performed with them for two years.
At Principia College, Jennifer became a student teacher under
Joy Baker of the St. Louis Ballet and studied dance history
and teaching methodology. After graduating, she taught at
the St. Louis Ballet's company school under Gen Hiroshi and
Antoni Zalewski.
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Andrea Binders
love of dance began at age five when she put on a tutu and refused
to take it off! Ever since then her life has been filled with
dancing. After many workshops at the University of Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, with Bill T. Jones, David Parsons, and Alvin Ailey,
she moved on to Chicago. There she was thrilled to train on
scholarships with Joseph Holmes and Hubbard St. before going
on to perform with Touch Ensemble Dance Company.
In Portland, Oregon, she taught jazz, modern, hip hop and
funk at many studios. Her next passion became combining all
these styles of dance into one and forming a dance company
called Dance Groove.
Now, a new Seattle resident, she is excited to teach at Whidbeys
Island Dance Studio. Her classes this fall will be a fusion
of jazz, hip hop, modern and funk with unique, athletic choreography
to all sorts of music. In addition, Andrea is offering Reiki
Massage appointments at Island Dance Studios Tuesdays &
Wednesdays. Click
her for more information.
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Charlene
Brown, co-owner of Island Dance, brings over thirty-eight
years of dance experience to her studio. She was a member of
the Tacoma Performing Dance Company under the direction of Jo
Emery. Charlene has studied with many nationally known teachers.
Through many years of perseverance at Island Dance, Charlene
has provided the opportunity for dancers to further their education
and help dancers experience Northwest professional teachers.
Charlene's dream of a pre-professional dance company has become
a reality in Whidbey Island Dance Theatre. As co-artistic director,
she has overseen the productions of The Nutcracker, The Snow
Queen and annual WDT concerts.
Charlene has worked extensively in musical productions and
many of her students have won individual titles and honors
in dance. Many of her students have gone on to college and
received degrees in dance. Her choreography has been seen
in numerous local musical and dance productions.
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Andrea Burr,
21, was a Whidbey Island Dance Theatre member for nine years.
She is currently living in Seattle and attending the University
of Washington. Andrea is a member of Cruz Control directed
by Daniel Cruz, team boogiezone Breed, and Potion. As well
as receiving scholarships to Steps On Broadway, NY, Milenium
Dance Complex in LA and various convention scholoarships,
Andrea recently won the Monster of Hip Hop Tour pass which
includes free attendance at all Monsters of Hip Hop conventions
for one year and the opportunity to perform in the Monsters
show in LA with choreography by Brian Freedmen, Tabatha &
Mapoleon, Dave Scott and more.
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Leigh-Ann Cohen
received her early training in Johannesburg, South Africa from
where, at age 14, she debuted her dance career with a tour to
Europe and the Middle East. She earned her Advanced Diploma
in Spanish dance from the South African Spanish Dance Society.
She later received a diploma in Dance Training from George Brown
College in Toronto, Canada.
Cohen was Artistic Director of Conservatory Ballet of Washington
and Director of the Ballet Department at Washington Academy
of Performing Arts for several years as well as a ballet and
Spanish dance instructor. Prior to this role, she served as
a dance faculty member at Oakland University, Michigan. Ms
Cohen's teaching experience was enhanced by her role as assistant
coach with Ballet British Columbia where she danced for many
years. She has had the privilege of teaching student and professional
dancers in Canada and the United States.
Her performing career included principal roles in The Nutcracker,
Sleeping Beauty, Balanchine's Allegro Brillante , Four Temperaments,
Apollo, Concerto Barocco and Bruce Wells' A Midsummer's Night
Dream. She has performed with a number of companies in North
America including Ballet British Columbia, Ballet Jurgen,
Metropolitan Ballet Theater and Pennsylvania Ballet. Ms. Cohen
has danced principal roles in works by some of the most eminent
contemporary choreographers including Ashton, Butler, Cranko,
Tetley and Forsythe. In 1989 she was honored to be chosen
for the lead role in the Canadian premiere of William Forsythe's
"In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated."
Ms. Cohen has choreographed numerous pieces including works
for Ballet British Columbia's Choreographic Workshop and for
Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet's Choreoplan. Her works
have been performed at RDA festivals including Gala Night
performances in 1994 and 1999.
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Jamee Pitts
was a student of Island Dance since she was three. Now, 21,
Jamee is teaching her own very popular Lyrical classes. Jamee
has performed in many WIDT Spring Concerts, Nutcracker productions,
as well as The Snow Queen. She performed in several group
and solo jazz competitions, winning high silvers. In 2003,
Jamee's piece was chosen to perform at Regional Dance American/Pacific
in the emerging choreographer category. Jamee enjoys teaching
at Island Dance Lyrical/Hip Hop and being a Mom.
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Susan Campbell
Sandri has danced and choreographed for ballet, modern,
jazz, ballroom, tap and musical theatre companies, and for
stage, television, video and film. She holds a Ph.D. in Dance
Sciences and an M.A. in Dance Education and Kinesiology. She
is also certified in Pilates dance conditioning and rehabilitation.
Dr. Sandri has been training professional and pre-professional
dancers since 1977. She has directed college and professional
dance companies, including her own San Francisco area company
for 10 years. She has published and presented many papers
in dance medicine and education at the international and national
levels and is currently co-artistic director and resident
choreographer for Whidbey Island Dance Theatre.
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Graham Vanderwood bio
and photo coming soon....
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Susan Vanderwood
has studied, taught and performed in Boston, New York City,
Dallas, Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles and Eugene. She studied jazz
with Phil Black, Chuck Kelly, Luigi and JoJo Smith. She has
studied ballet with Finis Jhung, Nadine Ravine of American
Ballet Theatre, and Stefan Wenta of the Royal Danish Ballet.
Susan also has had a variety of performing experiences including
the 2nd and 3rd annual Disco Awards Shows, a nightclub tour,
the Riverside Dance Festival and the Oregon Dance Theatre.
Susan has performed in Whidbey Dance Theatre productions
including The Nutcracker, Jazz Alive and many WDT Spring Concerts.
Susan loves teaching all ages from adults to children; she
has a natural love for children as she has seven of her own!
For the past two years, Susan Vanderwood has taken her Jazz
Competition classes to various competitions in the northwest.
This will be Susan's tenth year with Island Dance.
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Danielle
P. Wilkins is from Kentucky where she trained for ten
years at the Louisville Ballet. She received her BFA degree
from the University of Hartford during her study Danielle performed
at the Kennedy Center as a soloist in Jean Grand Maitres
Uroborus. She has worked professionally with Rebecca Kelly Ballet,
Mary Seidman and Dancers, Mimi Garrard Dance Company, Steven
Koplowitz, Marco Carrabba, Thought Forms Dance Company, and
danielandsomesuperfriends. Danielle is currently dancing with
Spectrum Dance Theater under the direction of Donald Byrd. |
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Daniel Wilkins began training at Olympic
Ballet in Seattle and went on to attend the School of American
Ballet. For two years, he danced for Patricia Wilde at Pittsburgh
Ballet Theatre. Returning to New York City, Wilkins joined
Donald Byrd/The Group, performing featured and principal roles
with Complexions during its Brazil tour. For four years, he
has worked with the Outlaws under New York City Ballet's Melinda
Roy. In 2000, Daniel was chosen to join "Suzanne Farrell
Stages Masters of the Twentieth Century Ballet." Mr.
Wilkins currently performs as a guest artist with Spectrum
Dance Theater, directed by Donald Byrd, and with Olympic Ballet
where he is currently Associate Artistic Director. Daniel
is in his 4th season as Artistic Director of a New York City
contemporary dance company, danielandsomesuperfriends Inc.
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Island Dance Administrative
Staff
Sharla Matthews - administrator
and Co-owner of Island Dance.
Lori Moore - secretary and receptionist.
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