Instructors

Jen Philips

Jen fell in love with dancing in her mid-20s in Denver, CO, after a friend kept asking her over and over to come to a dance class. After saying "no" dozens of times, Jen finally said YES! The rest is history in the making.

For the last 30 years she has taught thousands of people the art of Ballroom, Latin, Swing, Country, and Nightclub partner dancing, as well as line dancing. Her passion is teaching people how amazing they can be.

Are YOU ready to say YES?

Zoe Sorensen

This is Zoe. She has been dancing ballet for over 17 years and minored in dance in college, always dreaming of becoming a choreographer. As a nurse pursuing a master’s degree in psychiatry, Zoe is passionate about improving mental health through movement. She believes dance can provide a safe and supportive space to explore emotions, and she hopes to share that gift with the community. Whether you want to try a new skill or simply find a creative outlet, Zoe’s classes offer a safe environment where self-expression and movement come together.

Megan Allen

 

Megan has several years of experience in dance, theater, and choreography. You may have seen her in past LST and MTW performances, as well as working with Stage Kids.

Years ago, she danced with the Hepcats Swing Club (where she first met Derry) and she's excited to rekindle her love for swing dance here in the valley.

Tap dance is her favorite, and she has a passion for teaching beginners. Ironically this is the very place she learned to tap dance!

Anna Dundas

Anna found Lindy Hop here in Wenatchee in the year 2000 and has been having a blast ever since. She has passionately studied Lindy Hop, Blues, Balboa, and other related dances originating in the 1920’s-40s and has had the privilege of training with many legends of this art form. She has contributed to many dance communities across the Pacific Northwest as a teacher, DJ, organizer,  promoter, and performer for many workshops and exchanges over the years and is thrilled to come home to share the joy that is swing dance with her community.  She believes that anyone can dance and that dancing  brings communities together to authentically connect through movement, music, history, and fun. Anna prioritizes accessibility and hopes that classes provide a safe place to express yourself and have a great time!

Aurora Mor

 

Aurora Mor has been dancing for 33 years. She is classically trained in ballet from the Royal Academy of Dance and American Ballet Theatre. By 24, she had performed with multiple dance companies and appeared on stages, in parades, a music video, and at many special events across Washington, California, New York, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Her career has evolved to include many roles, such as a soloist, instructor, model, actor, production assistant, and choreographer with four dance companies. She is also certified to teach Yoga and Zumba.

At Studio 509, Aurora’s goal is to share the artistry of ballet as both an expressive art form and an accessible daily practice. She is passionate about building community through group classes, partner work, and performance opportunities, while also mentoring dancers who wish to pursue their craft at a professional level. Visit her website to register, sign waivers, and discover more at auroramorballet.com

Lisa Marie Aqabal

Lisa Marie has a background in bellydance and Flamenco, but has most recently found her dance home in salsa and bachata. For Lisa Marie, dancing is about joy, connection, and community. Driven by a desire to bring people together through music and movement, Lisa Marie started Salsa y Más in Wenatchee—a welcoming space for all ages and backgrounds to share the love of Latin dance. Whether you're brand new or a seasoned salsero, she believes everyone belongs on the dance floor.

Michelle Hood

Michelle has been dancing for over 30 years – first ballet and then ballroom and salsa dancing. She competed professionally a long time ago and now enjoys teaching all forms of partner dancing in American, International and Club styles. She moved to Wenatchee five and a half years ago with her family and is excited to offer the community another opportunity to dance.

Bill Posey

I was first introduced to Qigong in Honolulu 30 years ago, and has been a mainstay in my life ever since. Ten years later I learned Tai Chi. The practice of both seems to bring me into a state of grace. I've been sharing these meditative art forms with others for two decades now. And now that I'm retired from construction and design  I'm hoping to share them a lot more often. 

If Tai Chi sounds a little intimidating to you then please join us in Qigong, which is super easy to learn and with 95% of the same benefits of Tai Chi. 

  "Stillness through Movement" I've titled them. Both classes will still the mind, improve balance, strength, flexibility, posture, and increase joy and clarity in one's life. But don't take my word for it. Come and find out for yourself.

Blessings to you all.

Bill

Yesenia Lopez

Yesenia was a competitive dancer for over 10 years, mainly focused on tap dancing. She was born and raised in the Valley and is so excited to be teaching in the community. Tap dancing has been a big part of her life and she is passionate about bringing that energy and sharing that enthusiasm for tap dancing and help grow a love for it right here in the Valley!

Curtis Grant

I started dancing the end of 2014 with a Waltz class as an avenue for structured creativity, and I've been taking classes and dancing ever since. I have experience in Ballroom, Swing and some Latin styles; all mostly in the social setting. I take dance with me when I travel, and have found that dance can help create bonds which transcend spoken language and culture. Dance is more than a set of choreographed steps, it's a conversation.

Derry Fitzsimmons

Derry always thought that dancing is one of those cultured things that one should learn. In 2000 (Y2K), he was attending junior college at WVC and discovered that the Hepcat Swing Dance Club had just started on campus and so he went to their first meetup, at which they were demonstrating the Lindy Hop (an ironically UNcultured dance haha). It looked insane and everyone seemed to be having a blast so he was hooked. Swing dance is his first love, but after a six month stint in Buenos Aires, Tango is a close second. Since then he has danced all over the world and taught for over ten years here in the Wenatchee valley.

Apart from the love of dance, he sees the power it has to positively change people's lives by getting them out of the house and interacting through authentic connections both on and off the dance floor.

Your name here

Have something you'd like to teach? Let us know! We'd love to help you share your passion with others. Acro yoga? Zumba? Rope Bondage 101? LOL, seriously, it could work out great.