Teachers

We at Backstage Dance Studio are very proud of our staff of professional dance teachers and the accomplishments they have made, which include: degrees in dance and child development, professional work on stage and screen, and membership to respected dance organizations. All of our teachers share a common philosophy: we believe that students should enjoy, as well as learn, the art of dance, the joy of movement, and an appreciation for music while developing self-confidence and discipline. Our teachers are dedicated to the art of dance and are constantly updating their material and technique by attending professional dance conventions held throughout the United States. Students are provided the opportunity and are encouraged to attend the conventions with our teachers.

Marty Roberts - Marty is the Studio Owner and Director, as well as a teacher of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and pointe. She started dancing in Bellevue with JoAnn McKimson at age 7. Throughout her teenage years, she spent summers studying with First Chamber Dance Company, as well as traveling to New York and Los Angeles to study with such greats as Luigi, Frank Hatchett, Joe Tremaine, and Phil Black. She continues to travel around the country to participate in conventions and workshops, always furthering her education. Marty’s goal is to share her knowledge and love of dance with all her students.

Shari Bernhardt - Shari teaches tap, and is an experienced dancer and choreographer. She received her training in Los Angeles, New York, and Spain. She danced professionally in Las Vegas and Reno for five years and was involved with the Broadway Touring Company of “42nd Street.” She has operated her own dance studio and taught at various studios in the Seattle area for over twenty years, including Backstage since 1987. She has spent several summers in Portland, Oregon studying tap from such greats as Savion Glover, Diane Walker, Eddie Brown, and various tap masters. She also served as a teacher assistant for tap master Carnell Lyons. Shari hopes to share her knowledge of tap, not only technically but also the history of the art, with her students through the use of videos and different rhythm instruments.

Lisa Buettner - Lisa has been teaching ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and lyrical for eight years. She received her training in the Seattle area and at Bellevue Community College. She participated in dance shows for eight years at the University of Washington, and also danced with the Eastside Moving Company and Fusion Dance Company. Lisa has always loved working with children and loves to dance--especially hip hop! She enjoys seeing the progress that students make from the beginning of the year to Spring Show time, and hopes to spread her love of dance through each individual that she teaches. She strives to provide a fun learning environment for her classes.

Michelle Chandler-Smith - Michelle teaches modern, lyrical, jazz, ballet, hip hop and lower level tap. She began dancing at age 12 and received her BA in Dance & Theatre from Chapman University. Michelle studied intense choreography and kinesiology as well as dance history. She has been with Backstage since 1996 and before beginning her family with her husband, danced with the Eastside Moving Company in Bellevue, and Fusion Dance Company in Seattle. Michelle has traveled throughout the United States expanding her knowledge of dance through many conventions. She is inspired to share her love of dance with dedicated young people willing to learn what she has to offer.

Leta Frisch - Leta Anderegg Frisch teaches ballet and pointe. She was a full Ford Foundation Scholarship winner to the School of American Ballet in New York, a ballet major at the University of Utah, and a principal dancer with the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet. She has taught ballet in the Seattle area since 1986. She has been a member of our Backstage faculty since 1999.

Rhonda George - Rhonda teaches ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical and pointe. She has been dancing for over twenty-five years and has been on the faculty at Backstage since 1990. She received her training at JoAnn McKimson School of Dance, Marty Roberts Dance Studio, Backstage Dance Studio, Bellevue Community College, Tremaine Dance Studio in Studio City, California, and Star Struck Dance Studio in Durham, Oregon. Rhonda continues her dance education by attending several conventions/competitions each year and she continually learns and grows from working with her students. She hopes to pass on the joy, love, respect, appreciation and enthusiasm that she has for dance.

Donna Hamilton - Donna teaches Jazz, Ballet, and Lyrical. Dancing for 28 years, she brings a wealth of various styles and techniques to her teaching. Originally from the East Coast, Donna trained in NJ, FL and PA with well-known choreographers, including Suzy Miller, Ronen Koresch and Joseph Taylor. She began her professional dance career as a teenager, performing in Philadelphia, Atlantic City and New York City. After moving to Puget Sound in 1998, Donna became involved in the dance community in the Pacific Northwest. She is a previous member of the ARC Repertory Company and has taught at several area dance studios. Although her job at a software development company keeps her busy, Donna’s real love is dance. Donna has a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and lives in North Bend with her husband Jim, and children Abigail. Emily and Michael.

Erin Hocevar - Erin teaches Hip Hop at Backstage. She started dancing at age 16 at Allegro Dance Academy in Kent and later went on to further her dance education in college. After recently earning her B.F.A in dance from Virginia Intermont College, Erin returned to Seattle teaching various genres of dance as well as developing choreography for competitions and pageants throughout Washington. She hopes to share with her students and audiences the magic she found in dance.
 

Jenny Ingram - Jenny teaches Terrific Twos, Creative Movement, Ballet, Tap and Jazz! She previously danced on the Backstage Competition Team for two years and with the Eastside Moving Company at Bellevue Community College. This is Jenny’s fifth year of teaching dance and she loves it! She fills her spare time working at Starbucks in the wee hours of the morning. She has attended various dance workshops and conventions throughout the U.S. and loves to share her knowledge and passion for dance with others.

Danela Lewis - Danela began her training in Southern California at the Palos Verdes Ballet School and continued with Roland Dupre and Joe Tremaine. She has performed with various dance companies including San Francisco Ballet, Bella Lewitzski Company and the Henry Mancini Dancers. Danela has participated in workshops with Tandy Beal, The Moving Company, Alwin Nikolais, Joe Bennet, and Pilobolus. She has been a Ballet Mistress at several studios in the Northwest and has participated in Artist in Residency programs. Danela was a member of Dance Educators of America from 1975-1982 and provided movement training for the 1984 United States Men’s Downhill Ski Team. Her experience, energy and love of dance inspire all who dance with her.

Pam Miller - Pamela Miller teaches Terrific Twos and PreBallet and is in her third year of teaching Creative Movement at Backstage. Pam has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Physical Therapy and started out working with handicapped children in public schools in Minnesota and also here in Washington state. She loves children and has worked with them for “over” 20 years. In her much younger years, Pam competed in gymnastics and was also a cheerleader. Pam has taken Ballet, Tap and Jazz classes at Backstage.

Tani Ohashi - Tani teaches Hip Hop and Jazz. She has been dancing since the age of six and was a member of the Backstage Competition Team for eight years, where she took part in several award winning routines including top placements in national competitions. Now attending Cornish College of Arts for design, Tani plans to pursue a career as a graphic designer while, through teaching, continuing with her love of dance. She hopes to share her knowledge and passion for dance with her students while watching them grow and having loads of fun!

Brittany Pulliam - Brittany has been teaching all over the Eastside for the past nine years. She holds a Zoology degree with a focus on anatomy and physical therapy from the University of Washington where she also minored in Dance. Brittany is very active in the local musical theatre community. She has performed with Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Opera, Village Theatre, and in the world premiere of Yankee Doodle Dandy at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. Brittany’s favorite roles include Maggie in Brigadoon, Lois/Bianca in Kiss Me Kate and Susan in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. You can see her this winter in Cats at Issaquah’s Village Theatre. Through teaching, Brittany aspires to help prepare the next generation of performers.