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, and 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, Modern and Hip Hop at CGDA and also works as a freelance 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.

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.

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!

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 joy began her dance training at the age 4 at CGDA. She studied ballet, jazz, hip hop and tap and was on of the first CGDA Company Dancers. After graduating from CGDA, Christa joy went on to continue her dance training in Eugene, OR. She added African, modern, swing, salsa, and contemporary to her training and danced with the Bomb Squad under the direction of Allison Franco. Christa joy then moved to Portland, OR and began teaching hip hop and lyrical at Cami Curtis Performing Arts Center and joined Eclectic, an adult performing company where she had extensive swing and partnering training for a production of Guys and Dolls.

Christa joy now is a member of Push Jones, a hip hop and jazz performing company under the direction of Evie Graham and Allison Franco. She continues her training in hip hop, ballet, jazz, contemporary, and lyrical at Vega Dance+Lab, OBT, Conduit Contemporary Company, and Groove Nation. Christa joy is committed to her continued education in all forms of dance and attends workshops such as Monsters of Hip Hop and The Pulse Tour every year.

The reason I love & teach ZUMBA is you don't "have to be" a dancer. You just need to be willing to have fun, while getting in a great workout.

I grew up in a very athletic family in Salt Lake City, Utah. Skiing, swimming and then finally settling on gymnastics at the age of 11. In 1975 I became an Elite (Olympic level) gymnast and continued through 1978, retiring from that sport at the ripe age of 17. Since then I have participated, and still participate today in many sports. I am an avid believer in physical fitness and I, along with my dear friend, Annie Simonds, am very excited to provide Gorge residents with the opportunity to participate in this fun, easy & effective workout. Come join the PARTY!

I am married to one of the nicest guys around, Tad. We share life's journey with our beautiful, free- spirited 5 year old daughter, Jacy and 3 fabulous dogs, Blu (beagle), Diesel & Pepper (blue heelers). I also keep busy with two of our other businesses, Hood River House Sitters and Gorge Wedding Officiant.

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.

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.

Portland native Heather Wright began dancing at the age of 14 with the Milwaukie High School Dance Team and was introduced to a variety of genres: ballet, jazz, modern and hip-hop. As a senior, Heather was named team captain and selected for the OSAA All-State Dance Team. Her love of dance grew from there and earned her a scholarship with the Boise State Mane Line Dancers where they competed and won three USA National Championship titles.

Since then Heather has dance taught dance all over the West Coast as an UDA instructor and also spent two seasons performing with the Idaho Stampede Dancers. Most recently, Heather lived in New York City and studied contemporary, lyrical, broadway, jazz-funk, street-jazz and hip-hop at Broadway Dance Center while also working in TV production. Heather currently teaches Jazz at Columbia Gorge Dance Academy and continues to take classes at Vega Dance Lab.