Our Faculty
Our Guest Faculty
ANNALISA
BRINCHMANN
Theatre Jazz, Open Tap, Beginning Tap, Substitute
Annalisa Brinchmann (she/her) grew up in Seattle, where she had incredible opportunities through the Seattle Public Schools to participate in a number of outreach programs: The Seattle Children’s Theater, The Seattle Repertory Theater, Jet City Improv and The Pacific Northwest Ballet. It was through these programs Annalisa learned firsthand as an eight-year-old how powerful the arts can be.
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She began training at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Dance Fremont and The Studios, attending summer intensives at Ballet Austin, and The Joffrey Ballet. She is now a graduate of The University of Washington where she double majored in Dance and Musical Theater. Locally, she has taught at a number of Community Centers in Seattle (Laurelhurst, Green Lake, Delridge and Loyal Heights) as well as The Emerald Ballet Theater, DASSdance and The Community Dance Project.
You may have seen Annalisa on stage as anything from a bunny to a showgirl to a nun! She has been fortunate enough to work with Village Theater, Leavenworth Summer Theater, The Edmonds Driftwood Players and The Woodland Park Players.
JORDAN KING
Theatre Jazz, Open Tap, Beginning Tap
Jordan King (he/him) is a theatre/dance performer and choreographer located in the Seattle Area. His passion and love of dance started later in life than some, in college at the University of Washington (UW), where he earned a Bachelor of Art’s with a major in dance. Jordan is also an alumnus of the School at Jacob’s Pillow.
While at UW, Jordan found a love for dance that is heavily rooted in storytelling, style, and musicality, often finding ways these aspects can communicate with each other. Jordan’s choreography has been seen with the UW Drama, Showtunes Theatre Company, and Woodland Park Players.
You may have seen Jordan on stage in the Seattle area! His professional performing credits include Village Theatre, Seattle Opera, Showtunes Theatre Company, Edmonds Driftwood Players, and more.
MJ JURGENSEN
Music Appreciation Workshop
MJ Jurgensen (she/they) is a professional musician & performer proudly based in Seattle, WA. Prior to moving to Seattle, MJ worked all over the country with tours, regional theatres, and cruise lines. Always having a strong connection with young people, MJ has made working with and teaching students an integral part of her work. Here in Seattle, MJ has taught at Three Dragons Academy and Youth Theatre Northwest specializing in instrument lessons, voice, acting, creative drama, and musical direction. On the stage locally, MJ has been seen at ACT, Seattle Rep, Village Theatre, Taproot, and more. She has a gaggle of private students that are pretty rad.
KATY TABB
Sub for Theatre Jazz, Open Tap
Katy Tabb is a Seattle-based director, choreographer, performer and teaching artist. Katy’s work as a director and choreographer has been presented at The 5th Ave. Theatre, Village Theatre, Olney Theatre Center in Washington, DC, Seattle Symphony, Cornish College of the Arts, The Triple Door, Taproot Theatre, and Showtunes. Recently, she choreographed Sweeney Todd for The 5th and Cinderella for Village Theatre. Previously she received a Gregory Award for Best Choreography for Newsies at Village. As a performer she has been featured on notable stages across the US as well as toured internationally with The Honey Taps and Vox Dance Theatre. She is passionate about exploring rich storytelling through movement with her students and inspiring each individual to unlock their potential.
AMINDA
BOWEN
Littles Program
Aminda Bowen (she/her)
Bio coming soon!
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ABIGAIL
DAANE
Ballet 3+ and Open Ballet
Abigail Daane (she/her) grew up dancing in the Pacific NW, earning her Advanced certificate from the Royal Academy of Dancing in high school. She later studied under Rose and Charles Flachs in the Vaganova technique in Massachusetts. Although ballet has been her primary focus, she has also studied jazz, hip-hop, ballroom, modern, breakdancing, and a bit of tap. Abigail also has over 20 years of teaching experience, from pre-k through advanced levels in ballet and she enjoys the continual challenge to improve her own art.
She has performed most recently with the Woodland Park Players in Seattle, Aspire Repertory Theatre(!), New Vision Dance Company in Issaquah, WA, and Dance Conservatory Seattle. Previously, she danced with Peninsula Ballet Theatre in San Mateo, CA, Foothills Conservatory of the Arts in Seneca, SC, and choreographed for The Quarry Lane School, Carondolet High School, and De La Salle High School, Concord, CA.
KATE
KINGERY
Parent & Tot Creative Movement,
Future Stars: Intro to Musical Theatre
Kate Kingery (she/her) is a Seattle based director, choreographer, teaching artist and performer. She grew up in Denver, CO where she started dancing at age three. At age nine she performed in Oliver! And she was hooked! After earning a BA in Music from Carleton College in Minnesota, Kate moved to Chicago to study dance. While in Chicago she trained at Joel Hall Dance Center, Hubbard Street Chicago, and Gus Giordano. All the while, she was also performing in dance and musical theater productions.
Kate moved to Seattle to play ultimate frisbee and was thrilled to discover a vibrant dance and musical theater community! She has been professionally performing, choreographing, directing, and dancing throughout the area ever since. Kate has recently focused on directing and choreographing elementary school and middle school musical theater productions. She has also had the pleasure of choreographing high school and adult productions. You may have seen her work at Robert Eagle Staff MS, Greenwood Elementary, Woodland Park Players, Westlake Dance Center, VAM, Driftwood Players, Kitsap Forest Theatre, Seattle Musical Theatre, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, or Eastlake High School.
Kate believes everyone can be a performer! She finds joy in sharing her passion for singing, dancing, and acting. She considers her students fellow artists. In her teaching she works to empower her students to step into the classroom or onto the stage with confidence, to live in the moment, and to fully embody their art.
TAYLOR
NIEMEYER-SYMONS
Babywearing Movement Class
Taylor (she/her) is a Seattle-based musical theatre performer, choreographer and educator, as well as a postpartum doula and the mother of two tiny humans! You may have seen her work onstage at the 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre or on the national tour of Disney's The Little Mermaid. Taylor has had the opportunity to perform the iconic original choreography of A Chorus Line and West Side Story, both at The 5th Avenue Theatre. As a teaching artist and choreographer she has worked with The Seattle Rep, Village Theatre KIDSTAGE, Taproot Theatre, Seattle Pacific University and The University of Washington. In addition to over a decade of teaching dance, Taylor worked as a Gymboree play & music instructor, supporting parents and their little ones, ages six weeks through five years and she recently taught dance to the amazing community at Ballard Senior Center. She truly enjoys sharing her love of theatre, music, and dance with people of all ages!
ELIZABETH
POSLUNS
Parent & Tot Creative Movement
Babywearing Movement Class
Elizabeth (she/her) has been dancing and working with kiddos for over 20 years as a choreographer, teacher and director. She is a graduate of Tacoma School of the Arts and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. She has performed and choreographed locally for many regional stages including Edmonds Driftwood Players, Secondstory Repertory and Reboot Theatre. In 2021, after the birth of her second child she became a postpartum doula and is excited to bring an element of parent support to her classes at Aspire.
NATALIE
THOMPSON
Pre-teen Dance, Theatre
Natalie Thompson (she/her) bio coming soon!
JIMMY SHIELDS
Contemporary Musicals Workshop
Jimmy (he/him) was born in Honolulu, HI and moved to the Pacific Northwest as a toddler as a result of his father’s Military orders. His strong passion for the arts began at a very young age. Already singing and dancing by the age of two, Jimmy began his formal dance training in all disciplines at the age of 8 while attending Elk Plain School of Choice, an arts elementary.
If you are local to the greater Seattle area, you may have seen Jimmy acting on stage at Village Theatre, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, and ACT Theatre. As a Director/Choreographer, you may have seen his work with Showtunes Theatre Company, Seattle Rep, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Theatre Puget Sound and Tacoma Arts Live. Students that have trained with Jimmy have gone on to dance with Debbie Allen, Adam Lambert, Ciara and Ed Sheeran.