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Meet Our Instructors

   Jacelyn Tappert: Owner, Instructor in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Tumbling, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre Dance

     Jayce grew up dancing and tumbling in her mom’s studio The Body Shop.  She was a competitive gymnast with River Bend Gymnastics Team until her early teens. She also enjoyed participating in the performance team - Starletts, which was taught  with help from Mrs. Borg (who was a former Rockette:).  She started teaching Jazz, Tap, and Tumbling at the age of 13 at her mom's dance studio. She took a short break to earn her Bachelors Of Science in Nursing degree and worked  as a Registered Nurse in Maternity for 7 1/2 years before jumping headlong into her lifelong passion for dance.

   

    Jayce also enjoyed dancing at the Young Musicians and Artists Performing Arts  camp during her summers in High School and College. There she studied Jazz, Tap, Ballet and was introduced to African American Ballet.  Jayce has also loved being involved with theatre, as an actor, dancer, and choreographer with The Theatre Company of The Dalles and Encore Performing Arts, as well as choreographing for the local high school drama department.

   

    It has been a secret lifelong dream to own and run a successful dance studio just like her mom. She is looking forward to bringing the love of dance and movement as well as technique and passion to dancers

of all ages and abilities.

 

 Welcome to all!

  Mimi McDonell:  Instructor in Ballet, Certified Pilates Instructor

  Mimi was a competitive gymnast with Gymnastics Incorporated in Seattle . In college, she fell in love with ballet, studying for three years at UC Santa Cruz with Marcia Quigley (formerly of Ballet West). After college she took classes at the Cornish Institute in Seattle , Pacific Northwest Ballet School of Dance, and several other studios.

     Mimi’s medical school did not offer ballet classes (darn!), but she did manage to sneak in a few classes through the years. She started dancing ballet again on a regular basis in 2001, first with Val Pattee-Renner here in The Dalles (thanks Val!) and then at the Columbia Gorge Dance Academy , with Nancy Clement and Theresa Mason.

   She is thrilled to be part of Studio Élan, and truly believes that it is possible to develop a lifetime love of dance and movement, no matter what age you start!

 

    Hillary Schilling - Hip Hop Fusion/Jazz/Ballet Instructor

    Hillary began dancing at a young age at the Paul Barlin Dance Studio in the Seattle area. She took a variety of classes including jazz, ballet , and hip hop. In Middle School, she performed with an award winning dance team lead by acclaimed choreographer Marc Castillo. She then joined her High School dance team and was recognized as a member of the Washington State's All -State Jazz ensemble during her senior year.

    Dance has always held a special place in her heart and she is beyond thrilled to have it play a larger role in her life once again. She moved to The Dalles area in 2005 and feels blessed (as do we) that she has discovered Studio Élan. Joining the Studio Élan team of instructors truly is a dream come true and she can't wait to share her love of dancing with her students!

                                           

  Cora Sawyer - Tap Instructor

   Growing up, Cora Sawyer spent many many hours in local dance studios. She began tap and gymnastics with Mrs. Borg in her preschool years. Cora focused in on tap studies under Leslie Maley during her mid- school years. Through her high school years Cora studied and accompanied ballet classes with Linda Hoffman. Tap became an exciting part of Cora's life again about 10 years ago and now she has the privilege of sharing that joy with Studio Élan tappers!

 

 

 Marsha Morrison - Beg/Intermediate Adult Tap Instructor

    Marsha first took dance lessons at age 6 and performed in tap, baton twirling and other dance forms through high school. Performing in The Theatre Company’s My Fair Lady in 2000 piqued her interest in dance again and she started tap dancing in 2001, taking classes from Val Pattee-Renner, Suzie Zitzelberger and Donna Underhill before coming to Studio Élan for advanced tap in 2005. 

 

  Abby Fiegenbaum - Tap Instructor, Jazz Assistant

    Abby started taking dance classes at the age of 3. She participated in tap, jazz and tumbling classes at The Dance Club. After only 2 years of dance, she started competing at the age of 5 in tap and jazz at several competitions each year. She enjoyed helping teachers with other classes whenever she could. In middle school, she became an assistant to several tap classes taught by Leslie Maley.

   In 2007, Abby began her first tap class at Studio Élan. The following year, she became a full-time student at the studio. She began assisting with several classes right away and started teaching later in the year. Dance has always played a big part in Abby’s life and she is looking forward to sharing her passion with all of her students.

 

 

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Susan Erickson - Certified Yoga Instructor  

    Susan Erikson grew up in Central Oregon where she was the only kid on the block doing yoga. She holds a Masters degree in education and has taught Spanish and English as a second language here and abroad. As a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance, Susan has devoted her time to teaching yoga and stress education classes at MCMC for over nine years.  Susan brings her love of teaching and passion for yoga to Studio Élan. 

 

Jeremy Gillette - Tae Kwon Do Instructor

  Jeremy has been involved in martial arts since the age of 10. He has taken Tae Kwon Do, Hap Ki Do, Karate and Judo. He spent the majority of his martial arts training in Tae Kwon Do. He has been approved to instruct by Master Level Black Belts Chris and Linda Norton of Hermiston through whom our class will test and Master Choi in Gresham.

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 Ann Stanley: Certified Pilates Instructor

Caroline Elliott: Certified Pilates Instructor

 

 

 

 

      

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This site was last updated 02/14/10