Susan Sorensen Owner & Artistic Director Send Email >> Jazz Hip Hop Modern Company

Susan Sorensen holds a BS in Education, specializing in Physical Education and Dance, from Texas Tech University. She studied at Southern Methodist University, Texas Tech University, Brookhaven College, Moonslice Dancer Theatre, Buster Cooper School of Dance, Houston Ballet. Mrs. Sorensen taught P.E. and Dance for the Dallas Independent School District for 7 years. She also worked as an independent artist, performing with Contemporary Dance/Ft Worth, Brookhaven Dancer’s Theatre, Donna Marie-Moham Dancers, Diana Taylor Dancers, Lubbock Civic Ballet and e. donnette durham & dancers. She teaches Jazz and Hip Hop at CGDA and also works as a free lance choreographer. Choreography credits include, Carousel, How to Succeed in Business, 100 Degrees in the Shade, On the Verge, Private Eyes, Zombie Prom, West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast and Grease.

Nancy Clement Director, Ballet Department Send Email >> Creative Ballet Ballet Pointe Company

My ballet training began at age 7 in Mtn. View, California under Richard Opaterny. I was awarded a Ford Foundation Scholarship at age 10, which allowed me to dance 5 days a week plus 2 summers of intensive study in New York at Harkness House and School of American Ballet. Teachers there included David Howard, Maria Veigh, Alexandra Danilova, and Antonina Tumkovsky. I also studied one summer at San Francisco Ballet School with Harold Christensen and Anatole Vilzak. I graduated from University of Utah with a BFA, in Ballet, magna cum laude. There my teachers included Mattlyn Gavers, Bene Arnold, and my favorite; Toni Lander, Prima Ballerina with the Royal Danish Ballet. During my first year at the University, I was invited to apprentice with Ballet West, then under the direction of Willam Christensen. I then joined the company, and danced for four years under the direction of Bruce Marks in such ballets as Serenade, Carmina Burana, Nutcracker, and Coppelia. After leaving Utah, I moved to Aspen, Colorado where I met my husband Mike, had our 2 children, Christina and Michael, and began my ballet teaching career by starting the Ballet Aspen Academy. We moved to the Gorge in 1989, and I have been teaching ballet here since. One of my most rewarding accomplishments is producing and directing the student production of Nutcracker Ballet held each year in December as a benefit for FISH and hospice of the Gorge.

Charlotte Arnold Founding Director, CGDA Send Email >> Tap

My dance career began at age three with a tootsie roll and the promise of much fun to come under the extraordinary tutelage of vaudevillian soloist, Eleanor Borg; my mentor and, proudly, her protégé. Her spirited teaching and great foundations continue to be an inspiration to me today, as are my parents, Joan and Connie Smith, who encouraged and supported my lifelong dance career. Since the age of 14, I have been privileged to study and dance with the following great Masters of Tap: Charles Honi Coles, Cholly Atkins, Harold Nicholas, Savion Glover, Emery Clay, Richard Billings, Carneil Lyons, LaVaughn Robinson, Buster Brown, Eddie Brown, Steve Condos, Sam Weber, Fred Strickier, Lane Alexander, Derick Grant, Lee Green, Josh Hilberman, my favorite classy ladies: Lady Di (Diane Walker), Brenda Buffaiino, Heather Cornell, Lynn Daily, Teny Brock, Roxanne Butterfly, Jeannie Hill and my dear Ballet friend, Margaret Dallman. My greatest accomplishments (PRIDE and JOY!)... My lifelong relationship with my husband and partner of 35 years, Richard, and my three incredible children; Jacob, Nicholas and Meredith (all of whom, by the way, including my husband, are great dancers too!) And of course, watching the “Halos of Happiness” from backstage and in class of those I teach! I encourage everyone to find time in their lives to dance! Stay young at heart!

Theresa Mason Send Email >> Creative Ballet Ballet Pointe Company

Theresa Mason started dancing at the age of eight. She began her ballet training with Leigh Salsibury in Concord, Ca, continued with the Showalter School of Dance in Walnut Creek Ca, and from there went into San Francisco and trained with Alan Howard and the Pacific Ballet Co. She attended Lassen College and obtained her A.A. degree as well as a Vocational Teaching Degree in Dance. While there she danced with Tanya Braunstein and the Lassen College Moving Co. She later taught ballet for three years at Lassen College in the P.E. Dept, during which time she also ran her own ballet school for children which continued for nine years. In 1989 she moved to Hood River and began teaching at the Bridgewater Dance Theatre for three years before joining the Workout Dance and Fitness Center, now the Columbia Gorge Dance Academy, where she has been teaching since 1994.

Susan Shepherd Send Email >> Jazz

My dance career started at the age of 3 In Arizona with Ballet. I was going to be a prima ballerina. I added Tap and Jazz in middle school, ready for NYNY and Broadway at age 10. In College I discovered modern dance and dreamed of touring Europe. It has been my honor to study with Anita Du Pratt, Tracy Durbin, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Conduit Dance, Centrum Art Center, Rip Parker and Bill Evans. I am a mother of two, married to my childhood sweetheart, and we love raising our family in the Gorge. Dance is my lifelong passion and it is a dream come true to share dance with my students.

Christa Chandler Send Email >> Hip Hop

Christa Chandler began her dance training at age 4, taking her first ballet class with “Teacher Theresa” at The Studio, which is now the Columbia Gorge Dance Academy. She continued her ballet training at CGDA for fourteen years, adding hip hop, jazz and tap in her tenth year of dance training. She feels privileged to have studied under all of the current instructors at CGDA. Christa trained and performed with the CGDA Company for one year before graduating a year early from high school to move to Eugene, OR. While in Eugene Christa continued in ballet, jazz and hip hop at LCC and at the Eugene School of Ballet, also adding African and modern to her training. She studied with Cheryl Lemmer, Florabelle Mosses, Allison Franco, Margo VanuUmmerson, Amy Baker, Anita Stanford and students from the Martha Graham Dance Company. Aside from performing at LCC, Christa was asked to perform with Allison Franco’s hip hop troupe, The Bomb Squad and performed at the Hult Center in “Phenomenon” and at the McDonald Theater in “Down4it”. She also studied and performed with Amy Baker of Hosanna Dance Studio. Since returning to Hood River, Christa has taught hip-hop classes through Community Education as well as choreographing and performing a hip-hop piece for her group Joy Dancers, consiting of students from CGDA. Christa will be continuing her dance training at Vega Dance Lab in Portland.

Makalea Send Email >> Polynesian

Makalea is the Founder and Director of Pa Hula Ohana, a Polynesian Dance Troupe, and she has danced professionally for over 15 years. She is experienced in teaching dance, piano, music and theatre arts, has taught at many workshops, consulted and planted dance ministries in California, and has directed, produced and choreographed community musical productions. In addition to teaching and entertaining, she enjoys leading worship and speaking at public events, churches and outreach venues, as she has had the privilege to be the key-note speaker for many of these. Her passion however, is to use her talents to help others receive the gift of “life in all its fullness” through sponsorship as a World Vision Artist Associate. Makalea and her students have won numerous Regional, National and High Point Awards for her Polynesian dance and choreography. Among her extensive credits, she has performed with local and internationally known Recording Artists, including performances with George Kahumoku, Jr. and Daniel Ho in Concert, Michelle Kiba and many others. She and her Troupe have entertained for the annual Big Kahuna Race and Cement Ship Festival in Santa Cruz, CA and many stores for product marketing and grand openings such as Macy’s, Nordstrom and Trader Joes.

Jana Hannigan Send Email >> Brazilian

Jana Hannigan grew up in a very artistic household. After completing a BFA in Art, she went on to receive her MFA in Modern Dance from the University of Utah. It was there that she also began studying Brazilian music and dance. Since then she has been teaching creative dance, composition and Brazilian dance to many populations including children, adults, special needs, handicapped and at-risk students.

Michelle Fox Send Email >> Tap

I started dancing when I was 3.  I took ballet through the Glendale Parks and Rec in California. When I was 8, I stated with the Studio for Dance in Glendale and studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Breakdance and performing arts.  At the age of 10, I auditioned and received 1 of 3 positions as a dancer for a movie premiere our studio was hired for entertainment purposes.  I became an assistant Tap/Ballet teacher for ages 4 to 8.  At the age of 11, I was a member of an Elite Tap group that toured and competed in the Southern California area.  I studied with Stephanie Fritz, who was retired from the French Ballet as well as Janice Neyman-Babon, who was a Disneyland dancer as a child.  She went on to become a member of the original cast of Hello Dolly! with Carol Channing on Broadway and was a backup dancer in the film “Bye Bye Birdie”.  I’m currently studying Tap with Charlotte Arnold who has given me the opportunity to attend the International Tap Festival in Vancouver B.C.  Being able to meet and take classes from Tap Masters has been a dream come true and I can’t wait to further my education.