Awal Alhassan

Awal Alhassan was born and raised by a traditional drumming and dancing family in Tamale, Ghana. He has worked throughout Africa both independently and with groups such as the Ghana Dance Ensemble, the National Theatre of Ghana, and the Center for National Culture Dance Troupe. Currently in Seattle, he teaches regularly, leads, and performs high-energy dance and drumming with his group, Sohoyini Dance.

Angie Bolton

Angie Bolton, an ACE certified instructor, teaches Fitness for Living at Spectrum Dance, where she has worked since 1981. She developed Fitness for Living to work students aerobically, and with weights and rubber resistance bands. The class is focuses on people 40 years old and up. Some of her students are in their 80's and many of them have exercised with her for over 10 years.

Amelia Bolyard

Amelia Bolyard is a Seattle native and received her training locally. She began dancing at the age of 6 at the Seattle Ballet School, and took up singing nearby with the Northwest Girls Choir. This was the foundation on which Amelia's passion for performance evolved.
At age 10, she began training in the preparatory department at Cornish College of the Arts. There she studied Ballet, Graham, Modern and Spanish, primarily under Pat Hon, as well as Musical Theater Dance with Tinka Gutrick Dailey and Dannul Daily. She also has some Jazz, Tap and African and Samba dance training. Amelia currently specializes in a self-taught freestyle hip-hop form, with heavy emphasis on it's roots in African and South American traditional dance.
Between 1995 and 2002, Amelia worked for local companies The Big Red Dance Co., Civic Light Opera, Ballete Bellevue, Bleeding Hearts Ensemble, Artsy Fartsy Theater, and many others. In 1996, Amelia enrolled in Cornish's Music Department as a vocal jazz major to explore her equally inspired love for music.

Leigh-ann Cohen

Leigh-Ann Cohen's 15 year international touring and performing career included principal roles in works by some of the most eminent contemporary choreographers such as Balanchine, Forsythe, Tetley and Butler, with ballet companies in Canada and the USA. She has been an instructor, artistic director, coach and choreographer at dance schools, colleges and companies. She has had the privilege of teaching student and professional dancers in master classes, and guest classes in ballet and Spanish dance across North America.

Daniel Cruz

Daniel has danced for artists such as Prince, Ashanti, Nsync, Michael Jackson with choreographers such as Wade Robson, Brian Friedman, Fatima, Marguerite Derricks, Tabitha and Napoleon and the like on stage, television, commercials, and video. He has appeared and served as Dance Captain in numerous productions at the 5th Avenue and Village Theater and the national tour of Fame: The Musical.

Suzanne Duckworth

SuzAnne Duckworth trained at Cornish, began teaching in 1975, and quickly became one of the Seattle area's most popular teachers of ballet and jazz dance for children and adults. As a founder of Spectrum Dance Theater in 1982, her contributions as a board member, dancer, and choreographer helped define the style and direction of the company's early years. After dancing with Spectrum, SuzAnne continued to perform throughout the Northwest with the award winning vocal Trio "A Cappella-Go!" until 2006. She continues to teach her Tuesday/Thursday Jazz Class and has a long and dedicated following. In June 2007, SuzAnne, her students, and Spectrum faculty celebrated her 30 years of teaching at Spectrum Dance Theater's home, the Madrona Dance Studio.

Rachel Gourd

Rachel Gourd received her ballet training at The School of The San Francisco Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Cornish College of the Arts and other notable schools. She has been educated by some of the most revered and beloved teachers of American ballet including David Howard, Maria Tallchief and Laryssa Sklyanskaya. Ms. Gourd also holds a Bachelor's Degree with High Distinction from The University of Minnesota.

Richard Jessup

Richard has been teaching, performing, directing and choreographing for the last 30 years. He has performed extensively in Nevada, California, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan and Washington State. He continues to teach master classes and lecture/demos on the importance of Lyrical Jazz, and directs and/or choreographs 4-5 musical theatre productions per year throughout the West. Richard originally hails from Dallas, TX and began his dance training in Reno, NV

Stephanie Saland

During a 21-year career with the New York City Ballet, Stephanie Saland was showcased in leading roles under Balanchine's direction, as well as principal roles in Jerome Robbins' repertoire. Guest performances included Nureyev and Friends, Giselle with Alexander Gudonov and numerous Live From Lincoln Center film productions. Since 1993 Ms. Saland has been a freelance instructor based in Seattle and travels to teach in the US, Canada, South America and Europe. Stephanie drew from the myriad riches for education in New York: from teachers such as Stanley Williams, Maggie Black, and her colleague Gelsey Kirkland. She was and is equally inspired and informed through other non-ballet modalities and now offers a class that is synthesis and creative response to the valuable aspects of these systems.

Sara Shira

Originally from the Bay Area, Sarah Shira attended the San Francisco Ballet School, The Oakland Ballet and The Contra Costa Ballet Centre. She went on to study in New York at The Joffrey Ballet earned her BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. While in NYC she danced with Cherylyn Lavagnino, Michael Cecconi, Melissa Briggs and Gina Gibney Dance. Sarah moved to Seattle in 1999 and began performing with Better Biscuit Dance and joined Pacific Northwest Ballet's Outreach and Education faculty until 2004

Danelle Watson

Danelle started dancing at the age of 2 in Indiana from her mother. She received a BFA in dance performance from State University of New York at Purchase. During that time she also studied abroad at London School of Contemporary Dance in England. While in New York City, she performed works by George Balanchine, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Mark Morris, Jose Limon, Paul Taylor, Doug Varone, Kevin Wynn, Michelle Elliman, and many others. She toured throughout the USA, China and Russia. While living in San Francisco, she realized her biggest passion is in teaching. Opportunity led her back to Indiana where she was director of the Performing Arts Center of Carmel. Danelle is happy to be teaching at Spectrum Dance Theater and Issaquah Dance Theater.

ACCOMPANISTS Marleen Land, Ryan Love, Gary Palmer, Angela Rinaldi-Gribas, Paul Sklar

Gretchen Alterowitz

Gretchen Alterowitz is a teacher, performer, and choreographer who received her MFA in dance from the University of Iowa in 2005. Currently, she is working with Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre, preparing for a tour to China for the cultural festival associated with the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. She has recently joined Spectrum's faculty teaching ballet.

Dora Oliveira Newman

Dora's career as a professional dancer began in 1976 when she joined renowned Brazilian folkloric dance troupe, Exaltacao A Bahia. Ms. Oliveira has a repertoire that ranges from Afro-Brazilian dance forms through jazz and modern dance. Dora has toured internationally with Olodum and other groups. She holds a degree in dance from the Federal University of Bahia. For over a decade Dora has toured and performed with Occeami - the premier African dance ensemble of the Northwest. She also dances for Show Brazil, a Seattle-based Brazilian band.

Hannah Lagerway

Hannah Lagerway graduated with her BFA in Dance from Southern Methodist University and Graduate Diploma from the Laban Center in London. While she has been touring with various contemporary and ballet companies, she has taught master classes in Canada, Japan and through Europe. She has created award winning shows for numerous high school show-choirs in the United States. While teaching dance classes she likes to draw from many different techniques including: ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, yoga and Pilates. She is passionate about teaching and inspiring young people to reach their fullest potential. Hannah is currently a member of Spectrum Dance Theater.

Jason Ohlberg

Originally from Fresno, CA Jason received his formal dance training at the State University of New York at Purchase. Professionally, Jason has danced with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Dance Kaleidoscope, Jan Erkert and dancers, and Wade Madsen and Dancers. In 1997, Jason founded Same Planet Different World Dance Theater in Chicago where he acted as artistic director and head choreographer for four years. Jason's choreography has been seen throughout the country and locally on the apprentice company of Spectrum Dance Theater, Men in Dance, Lehua Dance Theater, Cornish Dance Theater, The Seattle Children's theater and Arc Dance Productions. Jason has been on faculty at Barat College, Jordan Academy, the school of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, the University of Washington, Spectrum Dance Theater, Arc Dance Productions, Dance Fremont and the Y.A.I. program of the Seattle Children's Theater. Jason is a certified authentic Pilates instructor with Metropolitan Pilates in Seattle

Pam Lenker

Pam currently teaches adult tap and creative tap at Spectrum Dance Theatre. She also enjoys teaching all levels of dancers in tap, jazz, and contemporary at Gotta' Dance in Redmond and Marysville Performing Arts Centre in Marysville. In the past few years, she has been involved with several dance outreach programs in the Seattle public schools and has volunteered her time working with high school age drama students on dance in musical theater. Most recently, she could be seen performing in Black Nativity at the Intiman Theatre (December, 2007). www.pamlenker.com.

Shauna Mindt

Shauna has studied with many of the great hoofers and enjoys passing down the art-form to her students. She has performed in New York City at Tap City, and has shared the stage with such greats as Brenda Bufalino. Locally, she auditioned dancers and served as Company Manager for Savion Glover's piece in the "Dance this." at The Paramount. Her choreography is regularly recognized at regional and national competitions. Shauna is also the Washington State representative for the International Tap Association.

Oleg Gorboulev

Oleg Gorboulev received his ballet training from the National Ballet School of Uzbekistan. Upon graduation, he was offered a job with Moscow Classical Ballet in Russia, where he toured with the company throughout Europe, the USA, and Asia. Curious to perform ballets of Western choreographers, Oleg came to the USA in 1995, to dance with Indianapolis Ballet Theatre. A few years later, he was invited to join Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) in Seattle, WA, where he reached soloist rank. While dancing with PNB, Mr. Gorboulev was featured in works of American choreographers such as George Balanchine, Kent Stowell, Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Val Caniparoli, Eugene Loring, Glen Tetley, Paul Taylor as well as in works by European choreographers such as Rudi van Dantzig, Hans van Manen, Ronald Hynd, and Nicolo Fonte. Oleg Gorboulev was an original member of Los Angeles Ballet, Los Angeles, CA and Seattle Dance Project, Seattle, WA, where his acquaintance with American choreography continued. He also teaches at various dance institutions including: Spectrum Dance Theatre, Seattle, WA; Olympic Ballet Theatre, Edmond, WA; Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Seattle, WA. In the spring of 2007, Mr. Gorboulev received an Associate of Business degree from North Seattle Community College.

Amy Thompson

Amy Thompson was the Artistic Director of the Ellensburg Youth Ballet for 7 years during which time she choreographed and staged many full length ballets including Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, and Coppelia. She has taught Ballet, Pointe, Variations and Partnering for over ten years. She has also choreographed several musicals including Fiddler on the Roof and Brigadoon. Ms. Thompson trained at the Washington Academy of the Performing Arts in their Conservatory Program.

MARA SICILIANO

MARA SICILIANO earned a B.A. in Drama with a minor in Dance from the University of Washington. Mara has been teaching dance and theater for over ten years. Her choreography has been seen in various venues including Annex Theater, Intiman Theater, The Ethnic Cultural Theater, the Seattle Fringe Festival, Mercer Island High School, and in association with the Dance Connection in Colorado.

Meaghan Sanford

After dancing with Spectrum for 14 years, Meaghan is honored to be teaching creative tap! She has been dancing since she was 3, and is a part of the academy program at Spectrum. Besides dancing, Meaghan is a certified lifeguard, and enjoys raising and showing her pigeons. Meaghan is home schooled, is an active 4-H member, and is president of the club she belongs to.