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 Whidbey’s 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Graham Vanderwood  bio and photo coming soon....
   

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.

Aaron Cash - We have invited Aaron Cash to teach Modern, Jazz and Broadway style dance as well as Danielle Wilkins and possible guest teachers for Ballet Technique and Contemporary Pointe.

Many of our students know Aaron from his visit a couple of years ago when he choreographed a piece for Whidbey Island Dance Theatre. He was greatly loved by the dancers and we are happy to bring him back.

Originally from Brisbane Australia, Aaron Cash is a multi-talented performer and one of the original Tap Dogs. Early in his career, world renowned choreographer Kenny Ortega (Dirty Dancing and High School Musical 1 & 2) cast Aaron in Cher's Love Hurts tour. This opportunity culminated in an impressive 10 year touring relationship as Cher's lead dancer. His amazing talent grew the attention of many high profile artists in the industry. In the early 1990's, Twyla Tharp hand picked Aaron to become her personal Pas De Deux partner and the legendary Mikhail Baryshnikov added Aaron to his world tour. His innovative and creative skills as a performer, choreographer, and artistic consultant are now highly sought the world over. He has consulted in varied mediums, from his work with Wet Design (the company responsible for the Belagio fountain in Las Vegas) on their fountain at Steve Wynn's latest luxury hotel in Macao China to serving as the personal Tango coach for Jolie Richardson on Nip Tuck.

Aaron is the face of Johnny Walker's worldwide advertising campaign "Human - Keep Walking" and recently completed the role of the Matador in the Los Angeles Opera's production of La Traviata starring world-renowned soprano Rene Fleming. He has been featured in films such as Titanic and Hook, Bolden and The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons. His T.V. credits include Scrubs and Nip Tuck and the series debut of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, just to name a few.

His incredible success in both performing and creating allow him to impart vast years of knowledge and expertise with an ease and empathy, in a quick and succinct manner. As a result, he travels the world extensively hosting, coaching and teaching choreographic and dance seminars. www.ccpe.csulb.edu/

Danielle is from Kentucky where she trained for ten years at the Louisville Ballet. She received her BFA degree from the University of Hartford Hartt School of Music, during which she performed at the Kennedy Center as a soloist in Jean Grand Maitre's Uroborus. Danielle has worked professionally with Rebecca Kelly Ballet, Mary Seidman and Dancers, Mimi Garrard Dance Company, Steven Koplowitz, Marco Carrabba, Thought Forms Dance Company, and Spectrum Dance Theater, most recently appearing in the 5th Avenue Theater's production of West Side Story and the Seattle Opera's Pearl Fishers. Danielle serves as the Company Manager and Rehearsal Director and is in her tenth season with DASSdance. www.dassdance.org/dancers.html

Island Dance Administrative Staff

Sharla Matthews - administrator and Co-owner of Island Dance.
Lori Moore - secretary and receptionist.