Our Instructors
Brianna Jones
Artistic Director
Brianna Jones is a classically trained ballet, modern, and jazz dancer for the last 26 years. She has performed all across the United States and Canada, including Maui, Philadelphia, Toronto, Portland, and Seattle. Brianna has been a dance instructor and choreographer since 2012. She began choreographing as a contract worker for USC Seattle, which is a production company that hires world-class talent to perform at music festivals around Washington State. In 2016 Brianna began teaching ballet at Center Stage Dance Academy in Lacey, WA. In 2017, she helped open Inspired to Move Dance Academy also in Lacey, WA, as a ballet, modern, and jazz instructor. Later in 2017, Brianna joined the staff at Southwest Washington Dance Center as a ballet and pointe instructor. Brianna has a BA in Psychology from the University of Washington and also studied at Centralia Community College and Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA.
For the 2023 dance season, Briana will teach Ballet 4, 5, & 6, Ballet Partnering and works with our Ballet Company. Briana also serves as the Artistic Director for Nutcracker and our Spring Dance Concert.
Bailey Moon
Bailey Moon has been part of our SWDC family for most of her life. Beginning classes early on, she trained with our staff for 19 years. Bailey has taken every style of dance offered at SWDC and expanded her dance horizons through intensives and master classes across the country. Prior to returning to teach at SWDC, Bailey worked for the Walt Disney World in Florida as a Character Performer.
She has choreographed for school musicals, competitive dance teams and is the producer/choreographer for the Miss Lewis County Scholarship Program. She is a graduate of Washington State University and works full time at the Washington State Farm Bureau. This is her 8th year teaching at SWDC.
For the 2023 dance season, Bailey will teach Jazz 6, Tap 4, and work with the Jazz company.
Sandra Young
Sandra Young begins her 7th year of teaching at SWDC. She has 11 years of training in ballet from SWDC instructors, Intensives, and CLI Studios. She has danced with the SWDC Company for 7 years performing in recitals, and in the ballets Nutcracker, Coppelia, and Cinderella. She has performed multiple times in Dance Festival Northwest, Olympia Dance Festival, Dance to Make a Difference, and Dancepalooza in Seattle. Her time as a choreographer began as a teen creating gymnastics and cheerleading choreography, then later in life moved on to choreographing for aerobics classes and children's musicals. As a teacher at SWDC she has choreographed multiple level appropriate pieces for class enrichment and recitals from world famous classical ballets. She also has an Associates Degree from Centralia College. Sandra likes to encourage people of all ages to take the time to courageously cultivate their natural abilities, and that it is never too late and so rewarding.
For the 2023 dance season, Sandra will be teach Ballet 2, 3 and Adult Ballet.
Gideon Newkirk
Gideon Newkirk returns for his 5th year teaching for SWDC. Gideon began his dance training with SWDC. He went on to train with Phillip Beamish in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Gideon also studied under various Master Teachers and at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. He has many years experience as a personal trainer and a gymnastics coach. Gideon is a Licensed Massage Therapist. Gideon also has professional performance experience. He brings an amazing knowledge of how to train dancers to properly use their muscles and to help them avoid injuries. Gideon will be teaching Ballet 4 & 5, Guy’s Class and Co-teaching Partnering.
For the 2023 dance season, Gideon will teach Ballet Partnering, Body Mechanics, Guys Ballet/mobility/conditioning and Boys Ballet.
Danielle Brosco
Danielle Brosco begins her 27th year of teaching at SWDC. She has a BFA from the University of California-Irvine and also did graduate level study in choreography, performance and student teaching at UCI. Danielle brings 32 years of teaching and choreography experience to her classes. She was also the Founding Artistic Director and choreographer for Blacken Tan Dance, a professional modern dance company.
For the 2023 dance season, Danielle will teach levels 3, 4 and 5 of Modern and work with the Modern Performing Company. Danielle will also serve as the Artistic Director for the Nutcracker, Dance Festival Northwest and Spring Dance Concert this year.
Stacy Jones
Stacy Jones returns to teach and inspire dancers for her 25th year at SWDC. Stacy began her dance training at age 5 at the Linda Wagner School of Dance where she studied ballet, tap and jazz. Stacy also was a competitive gymnast for 6 years and continued in the field of coaching gymnastics until she found SWDC in 1995.
Stacy has been part of our Nutcracker since its inception 25 years ago: first as a cast member and dancer then as a choreographer. She continues to dance and perform with our modern dance company. Stacy also toured with the modern dance company, Blacken Tan, under the directorship of Danielle Brosco.
In 2020, Stacy was honored by Cultivating Inclusion - Lewis County for her passion and dedication to all students. Her teaching reaches beyond the walls of our studio as she volunteers as the Miss Lewis County’s Little Sisters choreographer and volunteers her dance expertise with our surrounding school districts. For the past 10 years, Stacy has Directed our Summer Dance Camps through the Parks and Recreation Departments.
For the 2023 dance season, Stacy will teach Parent/Toddler, Creative Movement, Modern 1/2, Adult Stretch & Tone, and all AcroArts Classes.
Mike Orr
Trained and employed as an engineer and an accountant. No prior dance or gymnastics experience.
Introduced to artistic gymnastics by a friend's daughter in the mid 1980's. Through on-the job training, was then involved in teaching recreation and pre-team classes.
Introduced to rhythmic gymnastics at the Goodwill Games in Spokane in 1990. Developed a basic understanding of the sport through workshops and training videos.
Introduced to the Dance Center by another gymnast in 2003. Was allowed to set up the recreational rhythmic gymnastics program we have today.
Also assist another teacher in tumbling and pre-acro classes.
USA Gymnastics Professional member in the Rhythmic discipline.
I am involved in this sport because I respect how difficult it is. I enjoy teaching it to young girls and teenagers, and watching them develop skills.
For the 2023 dance season, Mike will teach all levels of Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Amanda Brossard
Amanda Brossard has been a dancer at SWDC for many years. She is currently a Senior at Napavine high school. She has completed 10 years of dance, mainly studying at Southwest Washington Dance Center but, has also attended courses at Polaris Dance Theatre and Cornish College of the Arts. Her training consists of Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Partnering, and Tap. Amanda is also part of our competition program and has attended MOVE Dance Competition and Convention, Act 1 Talent, and Groove Competition with a solo, duet, and production number. She has been a substitute teacher in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, and Modern for the past year and now teaches all levels of our Lyrical classes and tap. Her most loved place is on a stage with the lights shining down and a big audience watching. Amanda’s favorite thing about dancing is to perform and give people the gift of dance.
For the 2023 dance season, Amanda will teach Tap and Lyrical Jazz.
Ava McGregor
Ava McGregor is returning for her 3rd year as our Hip Hop teacher. She is senior at W.F. West High school. Ava has been dancing at Southwest Washington Dance Center for 12 years My training consists of Ballet, Modern, Acro, Tap, Hip hop, Jazz, and Lyrical. She is part of the Modern, Ballet, and Jazz performing companies.
For the 2023 dance season, Ava will teach Hip Hop 1, 2, 3, & 4.
Myah O’Neill
Myah is returning for her 3rd year of teaching at SWDC. She has been dancing for 10+ years with training in ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, and lyrical. She is a student at Centralia College pursuing a degree in Education. Her plan is to become an elementary school teacher. Myah has a passion for teaching children, and finds it very special to share her love of dance with them.
For the 2023 dance season, Myah will teach Pre-Ballet, Pre-Jazz, Ballet 1, 2, & 3, and Jazz 1.
Hannah Feaster
Hannah Feaster has been dancing at SWDC since 2010, taking classes in Ballet, Modern, and Jazz. She has performed in Nutcracker, Dance Festival, School Tours, and the Spring into Summer recital. She began teaching in 2020, and attended Pacific Northwest Ballet School’s Teacher Seminar. She has participated in Master Classes at multiple dance studios across Washington State.
For the 2023 dance season, Hannah will teach Pre-Ballet, Ballet 1, 2, & 3.
Angela March
Angela has danced for 18 years in 3 different states. She joined SWDC in 2016 as a dancer, and she is beginning her 2nd year as a teacher. She is trained in Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical, Acro, Partnering, and Country Line Dancing. She attended Cornish College of The Arts Summer Dance intensive 2 years in a row, and was accepted into their BFA Dance program. This past year Angela has helped start up a satellite program of the Winlock Dance Center in Morton as a Tap/Ballet, and Jazz/Hip-hop instructor. She has experience teaching Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Hip-hop, Ballet, Tap, Partnering, and Country Line Dancing. Her favorite part about dance is being able to show the next generation of dancers the strength, family, and love that comes from dance.
For the 2023 dance season, Angela will teach Modern 3-4 Combo and Teen/Adult Modern.
Julia King
Bio coming soon.
For the 2023 dance season, Julia will teach Tap 2, 3 and Musical Theater.
Cory Stajduhar
This is Cory’s second year teaching all levels of Acrobatic Arts classes here at SWDC. Cory has been involved in various forms of movement since he started doing martial arts at the age of 13.
He began teaching gymnastics in 1992 and has continually been a part of acrobatics since he began. He has taught both competitive and recreational gymnastics in Lewis, Pierce, and King County.
Cory also enjoys various forms of dance including ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop and ballroom.
While living in Seattle, he performed with the Eastside Moving Company and was also involved in modern, ballroom, hip hop and jazz performances both as a student and as an instructor. He has also taught Latin Dance here at SWDC and plans on expanding the classes he teaches.
Cory is a musician/recording artist and also speaks several languages. Prior to teaching here at SWDC, he worked as a Spanish interpreter for thirty years both here in Lewis County and King County.
For the 2023 dance season, Cory will teach all levels of AcroArts.
Savanna Riordan
Bio coming soon.
For the 2023 dance season, Savannah will teach Jazz 2, 3 and 5.
Adrien Zimmer
Adrien Zimmer has been dancing with SWDC for 12 years studying the styles of Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Acro, Modern, and Hip Hop. He is a Junior at WF West high school in Chehalis. Not only has he studied at SWDC, but he has also studied at intensives at Polaris Dance Theatre in Portland, OR. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he continued his training through ZOOM classes, intensives with CLI Studios, and Travis Wall’s Break The Floor convention. Adrien received 9th place overall teen solos with the GROOVE virtual dance competition, as well as multiple overall scores with Industri Dance Convention virtually.
For the 2023 dance season, Adrien will teach Jazz 1.
Rachel March
Bio coming soon.
For the 2023 dance season, Rachel will teach all levels of All Abilities classes.
Tanya Zimmer
Bio coming soon.
For the 2023 dance season, Tanya will teach All Abilities for ages 5 - 16.
Lizzie March
Bio coming soon.
For the 2023 dance season, Lizzie will teach Adult All Abilities.