Teachers
Our instructors are talented dancers and performers, have strong technique, and an eye for creative choreography, but they are truly about the kids. It’s the common love for teaching that makes the studio a family. Teachers have a huge impact on students and it is important to me to fill our staff with positive, encouraging and quality people. Our instructors are essential to The Dance Studio and are an incredible team that inspire many dancers, young and young at heart.
Z
Meet Our Talented Teachers
miss Britt
dance teacher / ownerI was lucky enough to have been raised at The Dance Studio and studied ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical and hip hop under many amazing instructors since age 3. I was a part of a dance group, the Jr. Hoofers, which sparked my love for dance, and competed and traveled internationally. I attended the University of Washington and was able to continue dancing with West Lake Dance Center, Spectrum, and UW courses. Throughout college, I danced and performed with the UW Huskies dance team and taught at the Stanwood School of Dance. After graduation, I began working downtown Seattle in the corporate world and taught tap classes during my nights at the American Dance Institute. Dance has taken me around the world, including Australia, Japan, South Korea and Finland. I am so excited to return to my roots in Bellingham and be able to spark a love for dance in students throughout the community. The Dance Studio was my beginning for a life full of excitement, adventure and above all DANCE! I am thrilled to be able to carry on the legacy for future dancers!
Teaches ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, adagio and musical theater.
miss Heather
dance teacherI started ballet training at the age of 8, studying and completing the Cecchetti Elementary Major syllabus at Black Mountain Dance Theatre in San Diego. In California I danced the role of party child in the Nutcracker with the San Francisco Ballet and I attended the Cecchetti Summer Workshop, Santa Clara in 1991. I then moved to Washington where I studied with Peninsula Dance Theatre and later with MK Ballet under Michiko Schulbach. I have attended Summer Dance Lab, Walla Walla in 1992 and 1993; Royal Winnepeg Summer Program, Canada in 1994; and Joffery Summer School, New York in 1995. I danced such roles as Claire, Rose Fairy and Snow Queen in Nutcracker: Cinderella in Cinderella; Odile in Swan Lake; and performed as a guest artist in Olympic Ballet Theatre’s Choreography Showcase at the Morre Theatre. I’ve been teaching at The Dance Studio since 1999. Teaches ballet and pointe.
miss Jessie
dance teacherI started my dance training at The Dance Studio at age 7. I had the wonderful opportunity to travel with United We Dance to Japan and Australia! After graduating from Bellingham High School I attended WWU studying dance for two years while teaching at the studio. I then transferred to the University of Wyoming where I earned my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Science. Outside of my college training I have studied with the Radio City Rockettes, the Mark Morris Dance Company and the Limon Dance Company. Right as I was about to graduate from college I flew to California with a “suitcase and a dream” and auditioned for Disneyland. Luckily I got the job and have been performing in multiple Parades at Disneyland since 2016! I was recently in the opening cast of Disney’s brand new parade Magic Happens! One of my favorite styles of dance is Musical Theatre. I have been a part of many shows including West Side Story (The GEM 2019), 9 to 5 (Southgate Productions 2019) and Beauty and the Beast (The GEM 2019). I also have my certification in Mat Pilates from Balanced Body, where I am currently doing online teaching for HB Pilates and Fitness. I am so excited to have the chance to be back in Bellingham teaching at the Dance Studio where my love for dance first began!
Teaches ballet, jazz, and lyrical.
miss Sophia
dance teacherI started dancing when I could walk! I started formal lessons in Flamenco when I was 7 years old at a studio in Texas. When I moved to Washington, I continued Flamenco for two years at the only Flamenco studio, which was far away from my house, so when I began middle school I had to stop going. I tried a hip hop class at a local studio and auditioned as a Party Guest in their Nutcracker. After the show I was hooked. For the next four years I danced as much as I could: ballet, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, and I was in every Nutcracker the studio produced. After high school I had every intention to be a professional dancer. I came to Bellingham to earn my Bachelor’s in Dance and pursued that for two years. As a freshman, I took a costume design class and one day was telling my professor my dream of designing and producing my own Nutcracker and he mentioned his neighbor who owned a studio in town might need more dancers and that he would give her my number. The neighbor was Wendy Setter and that was the year I began my journey at the Dance Studio. I was in their Nutcracker for two years and then I was asked to teach. I did not end up finishing a dance degree for fear of taking the joy out of dancing if I made it my profession so I graduated in March from Western with a Bachelor’s of Education and teach 7th grade at Lynden Middle School. This is my 6th year with the studio, my 4rd year teaching and I look forward to many more! Teaches ballet, tap, and hip hop.
miss Amber
dance teacherI grew up in Ferndale and started dancing at The Dance Studio when I was five years old! I took any and every class I could in any style offered to me. I was fortunate enough to be part of United We Dance and traveled to both Australia and Finland! I have just recently graduated from Gonzaga University with my Bachelors of Business Administration with a major in Human Resources Management and a minor in Dance. During my college career I was actively involved in the Dance Program and a member of the Gonzaga Dance Team. I am so excited to be back at The Dance Studio and to be teaching again!
Teaches tap and jazz.
miss Lena
dance teacherI grew up in Bellingham and started dancing at The Dance Studio when I was four years old! Even before that though, I used to put on my older sister’s tap shoes and dance around my house. I grew up learning all types of dance, ballet and tap being my favorites. I was a part of United We Dance and had the opportunity to travel to Australia, Finland, and Japan, making friends and sharing my love of dance overseas! I graduated from WWU in Early Childhood Education and Dance. I aspire to connect, inspire, and grow with my students!
Teaches ballet and tap.
miss Tierney
dance teacherSince my wonderful mom enrolled me at the age of two, The Dance Studio has been my home for fifteen years. Wendy Setter was my first teacher and instilled the love for dance I carry today. At age 8, I took my first jazz class and discovered a passion for expressing myself onstage. I auditioned for Saving ChristmasTown when I was 10 and have played various roles every year, alternating between nice and naughty. Last year, I was thrilled to play the lead of Nelly and have such an involved role with other dancers! In addition to SCT, I joined United We Dance in 2016 and traveled to Australia the summer of 2018. Performing in Port Stephens was one of the greatest adventures of my life! I hope to pursue dance in college after I graduate. After being a dance teacher’s assistant for three years, I am overjoyed to teach and share my passion for dance with others.
Teaches ballet, jazz, lyrical and tap.
miss Maya
dance teacherI have been dancing at The Dance Studio since I was 3 years old. I’ve done many different styles like ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, adagio, pointe, and tap. My love for dance has grown throughout these years and I hope I can continue to share it with my students. A few years ago I had the amazing opportunity to play the role of Nelly in Saving ChristmasTown, and just recently I was one of the Dark Fairies. These roles were very challenging but they were a great experience and they really helped me grow as a dancer and performer. I have also been able to travel with the dance studio and some of my best friends to Australia as a member of United We Dance. This trip was truly life changing and such a great experience where we got to meet new people who shared a common love for dance and performed and shared with others . I have taken many dance classes outside of the studio at Hollywood Dance Experience, DisneyLand, and the Firehouse Cafe. And after high school I’m hoping to continue my dance training into college and beyond.
Teaches ballet, jazz, and lyrical.
miss Isa
dance teacherI grew up in the Seattle area and started my dance training at the age of 3 with Olympic Ballet School in Edmonds. While studying there, I focused on classical ballet and started dancing on pointe by the age of 12. At 16 years old, I changed studios and started dancing at All That Dance in Seattle. There I expanded upon the types of styles I was learning and began studying modern, lyrical, tap, and jazz on top of ballet and pointe. While studying at All That Dance I was a member of their Honor Club, which gave me the opportunity to teach at the Seattle Ronald McDonald House and a local hunger intervention program. During my few years working with these programs, I developed a love for teaching and sharing my knowledge of dance with others. I am now a student at Western Washington University, majoring in dance. I am so excited to continue to share my love of dance with my students at The Dance Studio!
Teaches ballet, jazz, and lyrical.
miss Kate
dance teacherI started my journey at The Dance Studio in 2nd grade with hip hop, and have since been dedicated to dance for nearly ten years. I quickly found my passion in the challenge of ballet and pointe and have had the opportunity to play some difficult lead roles in our annual production of Saving Christmas Town. I am a senior at Bellingham High School and The Dance Studio is my second home. I love the encouraging and caring environment at this studio, and I strive to create a class space where students look forward to working hard, challenging themselves, setting goals, and all the while having fun!
Teaches ballet, jazz, lyrical, and ballet technique.