Julie Mcmurray – Director
Julie began her Ballet training when she was 4 years old. She studied with Gwen Barker, and also studied Jazz with Colleen Corkery, Suzanne Duckworth and Jo Emery through High School. She choreographed and performed in Orchesis while at Central Washington University for 2 years, then moved to Seattle to attend Cornish College of the Arts for dance. Julie performed with the Cornish Dance Theatre 3 out of the 4 years she attended Cornish. She also performed at Meany Hall with the Washington College Dance Festival. Julie began teaching while at Cornish and realized this was her true love. She graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance in May of 1987 and in 1991 took an intensive course with the Royal Academy of Ballet to become an RAD instructor. Julie has been teaching for 21 years and loves teaching students of all ages. Her goal as a director and teacher is to provide strong technique in a positive, happy atmosphere.
Katie Hubbard - Ballet, Modern
Katie graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance in May of 2002. While attending Cornish she was selected for the position of Ballet Tutor. In Oak Harbor, she taught Ballet, Tap and Jazz to children of all ages. She performed locally in Seattle with independent student artists as well as with the Cornish Dance Theatre, and is now a member of Chimera Dance Theater. Katie has been teaching with us since 2002 and has become a strong backbone to our Ballet program.
SARAH LOFGREN - modern, lyrical
Sarah Lofgren acquired her BFA in Dance Performance at Chapman University while on a talent scholarship. At Chapman she had the opportunity to work closely with Sean Greene, Cyrus Parker-Jeanette, Tiffany Billings, and Jennifer Backhaus. She graduated magna cum laude and with departmental honors. Sarah's choreography has been performed at The Gulf Islands Festival, E.P.I.C., Beyond The Threshold, Seattle University, Chapman University and Whitworth University. She's performed with Impulse Dance Company and Chimera Dance Theater. She was also a founding member of KDC Outreach, an organization to raise funds for charity through their Dance For Hope concerts and is the director of Chimera Dance Theater. Sarah has been teaching at Woodinville Dance Academy since 2003.
TUKWILA ZIMMERMAN - Jazz, lyrical, ballet
Tukwila graduated from Cornish College of the Arts in 2004 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Tukwila’s love is Jazz dancing. She has choreographed for numerous dance productions, including “Grease” for Broadway Bound Children’s Theatre,“Calendar Girls” and “Shaharazad” for Island Choral. Tukwila joined our faculty in 2004. We are excited to have her and enjoy seeing her bring her excitement and enthusiasm for Jazz to our students.
heather eichhorst - ballet
Heather joined our staff September 2009. She began her professional career with the Grand Rapids Ballet at the age of fourteen. She continued to perform there while studying at the Interlochen Arts Academy, which she attended on scholarship, danced numerous leading roles, graduated with Honors, and later returned as an instructor. Following Interlochen, she danced with and choreographed for the Louisville Ballet. Heather's choreography has been performed throughout the United States and she has won two Monticello Awards for Best Emerging Choreographer. She has also studied at Juilliard, under Benjamin Harkarvy, former Director of the Julliard School of Dance, and with the Joffrey Ballet. She recently was awarded a Bachelors in Fine Arts, with Honors, from Cornish College of the Arts' Professional Dance Program. Other performing credits include pieces by Mark Morris, Alex Ketley, Helen Starr, Alun Jones, Shawn Currin and Seattle's own Sonia Dawkins, Jason Olberg and Betsy Cooper. At present, she is beginning her second season with ARC Dance in Seattle under the direction of Marie Chong. Heather's passion for dance and teaching has already influenced our dancers greatly and we are thrilled to have her at Woodinville Dance Academy
lauren groen - Hip Hop, jazz, tap, ballet
Lauren has been dancing for 19 years and has been teaching for 6 years. She has been a member of many dance groups in the area including Seattle KittyKats and Street Hop. She is currently the director of Passion Dance Company. Lauren teaches with much enthusiasm and always has a smile on her face! We love having Lauren as one of our instructors at Woodinville Dance Academy.
marc castillo - Hip Hop
Marc has been dancing for over 30 years. He was the head judge for the “World Hip Hop Championships” for four years. He has also traveled all over the world teaching Hip Hop Master classes, the last one in China. He has taught before at the Woodinville Dance Academy teaching Hip Hop, Jazz, and “Street Hop”- WDA’s Hip Hop Dance Team. Marc took off the last three years to start another career in Video Production and now is looking to combine it with his dance career. He has performed and choreographed for Film, TV, and Theatre. We are happy to have Marc back with us!
jovon miller - tap
Although he's only been doing it for four years, Jovon Miller has already made his mark and has established himself as one of the up and coming young lions of tap dance. In just his second year of tap, Miller was one of ten recipients nationwide (one of two dancers) for the prestigious Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Heineken USA Performing Arts Scholarship Award for 2009-2010.As a hoofer, Miller has performed at Benaroya Hall, Meydenbauer Center, at the Masters of Lindy and Tap Young Talent Showcase, for King 5 News, and with various artists such as Greta Matassa (five time Earshot jazz vocalist of the year). Although he is most well known for his tap skills, in 2010 Miller graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in dance focusing on Modern. Miller is also a Lindy hop dancer and has placed in several competitions including but not limited to Pacific Northwest Lindy Hop Championships, Battle of Swing Seattle, and the Savoy Swing Jam. His invocative choreography in Modern, Contemporary, Lindy, and Tap has given him wide recognition in the dance scene. We are excited to have Jovon join us this year!
lauren kettner- ballet
Lauren Kettner’s early dance training began in Ballet, Tap, and Jazz at Mercerart Dance. In high school she trained at Cornish College of the Arts Preparatory Dance Program, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and Velocity Dance Center. In 2007, she graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a BFA in Dance Performance and earned the Outstanding Senior in Dance Performance award. She has danced professionally with Dance Arizona Repertory Theatre, ARC Dance Seattle, and the Cabiri. Currently, Lauren is the Dance Master for the Cabiri; Seattle’s own aerial dance company. She has also trained with Circus School of Arizona, Duo Madrona, and SANCA Seattle. Lauren began her student teaching program at 12 years old. Her approach to movement emphasizes technique and expression with a passion for performance. Lauren’s strong academic understanding of movement translates into the classroom, teaching her students concepts of anatomy, physics, and history. Outside of Dance, she also holds a Bachelors of Science from the University of Washington in Mathematics and Economics, plays flourishing Scottish tenor drum with Elliot Bay Pipe Band, volunteers for the Girl Scouts, and dabbles in flying trapeze. We are excited to have her join us!
megan hauk - ballet, tap, jazz
Megan trained with us at Woodinville Dance Academy from 2003 until she graduated High School in 2009. She is now attending Cornish College of the Arts in the Dance Department. We have been excited to watch Megan grow as a dancer, performing with Cornish Dance Theater as well as teaching with us here at Woodinville Dance Academy. She began training to teach with us in 2006. Taking a short break to continue her schooling, she joined us again in 2010. She has become a wonderful teacher and dancer. We love having her back with us again on the teaching staff!
kelly kileen - hip hop
Kelly also trained with us at Woodinville Dance Academy, taking Hip Hop from 2003 until 2007. She trained extensively with Marc Castillo, beginning at first to be a teachers assistant, then substituting for him as well. Kelly has an exciting positive attitude which draws students to connect easily with her kind friendly way of teaching. She started teaching her own classes in 2009 and has developed her own following of kids who love taking from her. We are glad to have her back again this year.
terry mckinnon - hip hop
Terry has been training people in different formats of fitness for 25 years in Seattle and on the Eastside. His background includes 38 years of dance in Hip Hop, Break-Dance, Contemporary, Theatrical and Lyrical Jazz. He has been instructing group exercise and aerobics for 16 years. Formats include Cardio Kick Boxing, Cardio Hip Hop, Cardio Salsa, Athletic Conditioning and Circuit Training. He also has 38 years of experience in the Martial Arts. Disciplines include Tai Kwon Do, Thai Kick Boxing, Muay Tai, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Capoeira, Judo and Jujitsu. Terry has taught and coached for Competitive and Recreational Gymnastics for kids, Cheer for cheerleading teams, Drill and Dance Teams and Fitness Competitions. He’s also taught break dancing to kids, teens and young adults. Terry recently performed in the 2009 Nutcracker as the King Rat and Abraham Coffee for Bellevue Arts. We are excited to have Terry join us this year at the Woodinville Dance Academy!