Home of the BrainDance

“The BrainDance integrates mind and body and may be adapted for all ages and abilities.” ~ Creative Dance Center

The Creative Dance Center, a nonprofit organization, nurtures self-expression, creativity, and learning through joyful and meaningful dance experiences. Using innovative teaching methods to unite body and mind, we provide an environment where people of all ages communicate, connect, collaborate, and create using the art form of dance.

When the Creative Dance Center first opened its doors to the community, it offered twenty classes to 100 students. Today there are over forty classes offered to 450 students, infants through adults. The teaching philosophy at CDC is a nationally and internationally recognized teaching methodology called Brain-Compatible Dance Education. It has evolved to include the BrainDance, developed by CDC founder Anne Green Gilbert, which is utilized by people of all ages around the world. At the Creative Dance Center, the BrainDance is done in many variations as a warm-up in every class.

We’ve danced near & far.

The Creative Dance Center is a proud member of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), Dance Educators Association of Washington, and daCi USA (dance and the Child international). Our shared history with these advocacy and education organizations is longstanding, rich, and deep.

Our dance company, Kaleidoscope, has toured internationally in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Russia, Canada, Brazil, The Netherlands, Jamaica, Taiwan, and Denmark and has performed nationally in Washington, D.C., Oregon, Massachusetts, Philadelphia, Utah, and all over Washington State. Collectively, Kaleidoscope has danced for hundreds of thousands of school children in public and private schools in the Northwest. Our directors are frequent presenters at national and international dance and music conferences. 

Interested in learning from an instructor who has presented at an international conference? Register for one of workshops for professional development and personal enrichment.

Let’s Connect!

Creative Dance Center
12577 Densmore Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98133

(206) 363-7281
info@creativedance.org

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About Creative Dance Center

Mission, Vision & Values

The Creative Dance Center, founded in 1981, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing dance education and performance opportunities to people of all ages.

Our Mission:
Connecting body and mind to transform lives through dance. 

Our Vision:
A joyful and collaborative community that knows how to move and how to move the world.

Our Values: 

Joy
Dance should be fun! Our atmosphere is warm, friendly, and supportive, encouraging laughter, curiosity, imagination, and play.

Creativity
Our progressive approach to dance shifts between student-centered and teacher-directed activities, exploring, discovering, collaborating, and sharing tools for self-expression.

Community
We are a diverse community – we welcome all ages, sizes, personal and cultural identities, backgrounds, and abilities. Working together we build connections through dance.

Caring
We inspire each other to grow through reflection, positive reinforcement, and feedback, in a space where movement is meaningful and a dancer’s whole self is honored.

Philosophy

We prioritize multi-sensory learning.

Our classes are rich in multi-sensory experiences. We believe that strengthening cognitive, social, and emotional skills is just as important as developing strong and healthy bodies. We like to think of our dance classes as serious fun! At CDC the emphasis is on education and enjoyment.

At CDC, our students:

  • are given the opportunity to explore and learn together, creating a special time for bonding and building social relationship skills
  • practice fundamental movement patterns (BrainDance) and dance skills; learn names of body parts and anatomical structures, and develop correct alignment
  • respond to a variety of music in a joyful way while exploring musical concepts
  • learn movement vocabulary; connect words with movements, and discuss and evaluate choreography
  • move through space with ease and safety; explore relationships between people and objects; copy movements and practice patterns that increase proprioception – the body’s sense of itself in space
  • learn movement patterns and sequences; solve problems through movement; create and perform movement phrases and dances to metered music and counts
  • explore opposing dance concepts that expand the emotional and physical repertoire; reflect on feelings generated through movement
Staff & Board of Directors

Staff

General Inquiries info@creativedance.org

Terry Goetz

Director of the Creative Dance Center & Faculty

Terry Goetz (she/her) is Director of the Creative Dance Center in Seattle, Washington. Terry has been on faculty of the Creative Dance Center since 2000 and began training intensively with CDC Founder Anne Green Gilbert in 1997. She teaches Nurturing Baby, Parent/Toddler, and Parent/Child Creative Dance classes and Ballet and Modern Dance for older children and adults. Terry has taught in preschools and elementary classrooms as a teaching artist, and in studios throughout the Seattle area since retiring from Pacific Northwest Ballet where she danced from 1988-1995. Prior to performing with PNB, she was a member of Pittsburgh Ballet Theater from 1986-1988. During her career, Terry performed works by George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, José Limón, Antony Tudor, Lar Lubovitch, Mark Dendy, Merce Cunningham, Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Ohad Naharin, Petipa, and Bournonville, as well as performing full-length classical works.

Terry presents workshops locally, nationally, and internationally, training dance teachers, early childhood specialists, educators, and teaching artists in BrainDance and Brain-Compatible Dance Education. She has presented at the National Dance Association and National Dance Education Organization conferences. Terry has taught for the International daCi (Dance and the Child) Finnish Chapter, the daCi National Gathering at the University of Washington, the daCi World Congress in Copenhagen and Adelaide, Australia, the Kuopio International Dance Festival, the Edmonton and Indiana Orff Schulwerk Associations, the East Asia Regional Council of International Schools Conferences held in Shanghai (2013) and Manila (2016), Hubbard St., and at universities in the US (The Hartt School, East Carolina University, University of Washington, University of Tampa, Skidmore College, Hofstra University) and Canada (University of Alberta). She worked with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in WA state as a Dance Specialist developing updated state-wide K-12 Learning Standards for Dance. Terry is an active member of the National Dance Education Organization and served as President of the Dance Educators Association of Washington. She co-directs the One-Week Refresher Course for the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers with her colleague Anna Mansbridge. In 2015 Terry was honored as Dance Educator of the Year at the Fall DEAW Conference. This annual award is presented to dance educators working in the state of Washington who exemplify excellence in dance education.

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Bronwen Houck

Kaleidoscope Dance Company Artistic Director

Bronwen Houck (she/her) is a Seattle native and life long student of the Creative Dance Center, having started classes at CDC as an infant! Bronwen was a member of Kaleidoscope Dance Company from 1984-1993, performing in and around Seattle and traveling with the company to Japan, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. She studied modern dance under Ze’eva Cohen at Princeton University where she earned a Certificate in Theatre and Dance as well as a BA in Art History. Bronwen completed the Summer Dance Institute in 2010 and joined the CDC faculty in 2014, teaching creative dance to babies through kindergartners. Bronwen has taught creative movement classes in preschools and elementary schools, using the Brain-Compatible Dance Education curriculum, and has taught BrainDance workshops to elementary and high school students and adults. She served as the Treasurer on the CDC Board of Directors from 2017-2019. Bronwen joined the CDC staff in 2019 as Administrative Director. In September 2023 she took over as Kaleidoscope Artistic Director. Bronwen is beyond thrilled to step into this role, leading the dance company that influenced so many areas of her life.

A professional photographer by trade, Bronwen also acts as CDC studio and Kaleidoscope/Mosaic Dance Company photographer. Bronwen’s photographs have appears in the New York Times, Seattle Times, Dance Magazine, Seattle Bride, and TimeOut New York. She has worked extensively in the Seattle theater and film industry as a still and BTS photographer, for such clients as The Seattle Rep, PNB, Shoes & Pants Productions, Mechanical Dreams and renowned filmmaker Wes Hurley. Bronwen’s photos appear in “Brain-Compatible Dance Education, 2nd Edition” and “Creative Dance for All Ages”. Photography work and details on hiring Bronwen Houck Photography for dance, theater, family, fine art or event photography can be found at www.bronwenhouckphoto.com.

Bronwen is the proud daughter of CDC and Kaleidoscope Founder Anne Green Gilbert.

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Darrah Parker

Adminstrative Director

Darrah Parker (she/her) has extensive experience working both in front and behind the scenes of arts organizations. Having spent most of her life immersed in the world of art, theatre, and music, few things bring Darrah more joy than fostering creativity in the next generation. After spending her childhood attending classes and performing at a nonprofit children’s theatre, she earned a BFA in Theatre from the University of Florida and an MA in Theatre Education from Emerson College. She has taught for Seattle Children’s Theatre and Youth Theatre Northwest as well as managed programs for the EMP (now MoPOP) and Seattle ReCreative. Before joining Creative Dance Center, Darrah was the Managing Director at Roaring Mouse Creative Arts Studio. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, drawing, reading, thrift store shopping, and seeking out the perfect latte.

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CJ Cousins

Registrar & Kaleidoscope Admin Specialist

CJ Cousins graduated from Ohio University with degrees in Adventure Recreation and Outdoor Education.  This led her to work with youth in the outdoors in a variety of ways, teaching environmental education, working in classrooms, and co-chairing the Art Docent program in a public elementary school.  CJ has also managed a climbing gym, been a white water rafting guide, and spent hours planting trees in many forests. As an adult CJ discovered the joy of dancing and both she and her daughter are students at the Creative Dance Center. CJ joined the CDC staff in 2021. In her spare time, CJ likes to rock climb, backpack with her family, read books, make art, and just be outside in nature.

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Bri Wilson

Marketing & Communication Specialist

Bri Wilson (she/her) was raised in a small northern Michigan town, where she started dancing at age seven. She earned her BFA in Dance from the Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA Program at Dominican University of California, and supplemented her collegiate training with intensives at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Movement Invention Project. She moved to Seattle in September 2018. Since then, she has worked with Elia Mrak, The Three Yells, Beth Terwilleger + The Gray, and Marlo Martin + badmarmarDANCE. She has presented her own work at 12 Minutes Max, Full Tilt Dance Festival, LAUNCH, and Seattle International Dance Festival and has choreographed on both Kaleidoscope Dance Company, and thePROGRAM, eXit SPACE Dance’s pre-professional training program. In 2019, she was certified in brain-compatible dance education at the Creative Dance Center in Seattle, and in 2022 graduated from the Teaching Artist Training Lab offered by ArtsWA. Her classes are places for movers of all ages and abilities to explore their creativity, connect with their peers, and feel at home in their bodies.

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Anne Green Gilbert

Founder & Faculty

Anne Green Gilbert (she/her)founded the Creative Dance Center and Kaleidoscope Dance Company in Seattle, Washington in 1981 and the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers in 1994.  She was the Director of CDC from 1981 – 2014. Anne has had a varied teaching career starting as an elementary school teacher, moving on to dance and pedagogy classes at University of Illinois Chicago and University of Washington, then teaching children’s dance classes at Cornish College and Bill Evans/Dance Theatre Seattle before starting the Creative Dance Center. She was an adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University for many years and taught for Lesley University’s Outreach Masters Program for ten years. Anne taught infants through adults at Creative Dance Center for 30 years. She continues to teach older adults at CDC. Anne trains teachers through the Summer Dance Institute and CDC Educator workshops. For 40 years she conducted hundreds of workshops and residencies across the United States and abroad. Anne developed the BrainDance, a focusing warm-up exercise, in 2000. The BrainDance is used in many schools, studios, and homes around the world. Anne is internationally recognized for her work with young artists and the creative process. She has choreographed dances for university dance companies as well as local Northwest dance companies and Kaleidoscope Dance Company.

Anne is the author of Teaching the Three Rs Through Movement (1977)Creative Dance for All Ages (1st edition 1992, 2nd edition 2015), Brain-Compatible Dance Education (1st edition 2006, 2nd edition 2019), Teaching Creative Dance DVD (2002) and BrainDance DVD (2003/2016), as well as numerous articles. Anne has also collaborated with composer Eric Chappelle on the CDs, BrainDance Music and Music for Creative Dance Volumes I-V. Anne is an active member of the National Dance Education Organization, and Dance and the Child International (daCi). Anne served on the daCi board for twelve years. Anne is founder and Past President of the Dance Educators Association of Washington, an organization promoting quality dance education in all Washington State schools K-12. As a member of the Arts Education Standards project, she helped write the Washington State Dance Standards and Learning Goals. Anne is the recipient of several awards including the National Dance Association Scholar/Artist award in 2005, the National Dance Education Organization Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, the Lawrence Tenney Stevens American Dance Award for her work with boys and men in dance in 2014, and the American Dance Festival Balasaraswati/Joy Ann Dewey Beinecke Endowed Chair for Distinguished Teaching in 2016.

Anne is the mother of three amazing Kaleidoscope alums and grandmother of seven dancing grandchildren. She lives in Seattle with her talented husband, David.

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Founder

Anne Green Gilbert

Board of Directors

Shannon Barnes, Carrie Dossick (President), Meagan Fanaras (Vice President), Louisa Fish-Sadin, Chris Forgy, Audrey Lowry (Secretary), Lindsay McAleer, Robbi A. Moore, Tshedzom Tingkhye, John Tynes, Wendy Polidori (Treasurer).

 

Faculty

Katie Beddoe

Faculty

Katie Beddoe (she/her) is excited to work with the Creative Dance Center! She graduated from WWU with a BA in Applied Theatre. Katie grew up on the stage performing in musicals but pivoted from performance in college when she discovered theatre for social justice and wellbeing. She has been teaching and directing children’s theatre since 2013. She has taught with the Evergreen School, Doorstep Arts (UK), Bainbridge Performing Arts, Cstock, and started her own theatre company before the pandemic. Katie emphasizes the process of creativity and collaboration with her students, guiding them to “strengthen their strengths” as performers. Katie has worked alongside Carly Squires Hutchison, a fellow teaching artist, over the last year on theatre/social-emotional learning projects for young people, which is how she was introduced to the Creative Dance Center. She says, “I love teaching drama and creative movement to the theatre-curious. In my classroom, we will explore how we can express ourselves and tell stories through movement. I look forward to making art with you!”

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Tiffany Bierly

Faculty

Tiffany Bierly (she/her) is a Seattle-based educator, choreographer and performer, with an MFA in Dance from Texas Woman’s University as well as a BA in Theater and a BS in Kinesiology from Pennsylvania State University. Her dance education began at Kennedy Dance Centre in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania under the ownership of  Joan Kennedy-Kirkpatrick, a.k.a. “Mrs. K,” whose teaching philosophy was highly inspired by Anne Green Gilbert. Having been gifted this amazing foundation, the honor to teach at Creative Dance Center feels full circle and rewarding. Over the past eleven years, Tiffany has instructed dance and fitness classes at various universities, studios, and senior centers. She is passionate about teaching because she enjoys watching students gain and contribute knowledge that will help them, not only in the context of the class at hand, but also in other aspects of their lives. In every class, she incorporates critical thinking, inter/intrapersonal skills, creative problem solving, and most importantly, maintaining an open and curious mind. Tiffany has performed throughout Pennsylvania and DC for Elisha Clark Halpin, across Texas for Nadia Dosal, Christie Bonade, Sarah Gamblin, and in dance films presented internationally directed by Jordan Fuchs, Melissa Sanderson and Yea Jean Choi. Since relocating to Seattle, Tiffany has performed for Melissa Sanderson, Emily Curtiss, Peter Kohring, Leah Russell, LanDforms Dance, and Gedney Barclay. Additionally, she is the ‘tiff’ part of tiffana, a collaborative duo with Ana Puzycki. tiffana has presented work in ‘Monomyth I’, curated by Tuyavale Artist Collective as well as ‘Soft Concrete I’ curated by Meredith Pellon. Currently, Tiffany is engaged in research with Sara Caplan investigating embodied memories.

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Sara Caplan

Faculty

Sara Caplan (she/her) is a contemporary dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist originally from Dedham, MA. She received her BA Theatre: Dance Performance and her BS in Biology from The Pennsylvania State University in 2013 and her MFA in Dance from the College at Brockport in 2017. She has performed in works choreographed by Kendra Portier, Laura Petersen (NY), Maura Keefe, and Beth Gill. Since moving to Seattle Sara has performed in Soft Concrete III, Velocity’s Bridge Project, and Full Tilt. She has presented works in various theatres and urban venues in Pennsylvania and New York as well as in Seattle. Sara has 10 years of experience teaching in studio and has taught at the Pennsylvania State University, The College at Brockport, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and Slippery Rock University.

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Katie Daugherty

Faculty

Katie Daugherty (she/her) is a Seattle-based artist and is thrilled to be teaching at the Creative Dance Center. An active educator, performer, choreographer, and miniature maker, you can find her throughout Seattle sharing her passion for the arts. Katie holds a BA from the University of Washington (UW) with a major in dance. Katie began teaching at a preschool in 2020 which supplied her with a valuable foundation for teaching toddlers. In 2022 she began teaching dance and has since taught at the Creative Dance Center, All That Dance, University of Washington, and University Child Development School . In each class Katie teaches she aims to build a communal space that values exploration, fun, and supporting one another. Katie has performed works by Brian Brooks, AVID – A Vehicle for Improvised Dance, Alexandra Bradshaw-Yerby, Rachael Lincoln, Alethea Alexander, and Jennifer Salk, among others.

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Anne Green Gilbert

Faculty

Anne Green Gilbert (she/her) founded the Creative Dance Center and Kaleidoscope Dance Company in Seattle, Washington in 1981 and the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers in 1994.  She was the Director of CDC from 1981 – 2014. Anne has had a varied teaching career starting as an elementary school teacher, moving on to dance and pedagogy classes at University of Illinois Chicago and University of Washington, then teaching children’s dance classes at Cornish College and Bill Evans/Dance Theatre Seattle before starting the Creative Dance Center. She was an adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University for many years and taught for Lesley University’s Outreach Masters Program for ten years. Anne taught infants through adults at Creative Dance Center for 30 years. She continues to teach older adults at CDC. Anne trains teachers through the Summer Dance Institute and CDC Educator workshops. For 40 years she conducted hundreds of workshops and residencies across the United States and abroad. Anne developed the BrainDance, a focusing warm-up exercise, in 2000. The BrainDance is used in many schools, studios, and homes around the world. Anne is internationally recognized for her work with young artists and the creative process. She has choreographed dances for university dance companies as well as local Northwest dance companies and Kaleidoscope Dance Company.

Anne is the author of Teaching the Three Rs Through Movement (1977)Creative Dance for All Ages (1st edition 1992, 2nd edition 2015), Brain-Compatible Dance Education (1st edition 2006, 2nd edition 2019), Teaching Creative Dance DVD (2002) and BrainDance DVD (2003/2016), as well as numerous articles. Anne has also collaborated with composer Eric Chappelle on the CDs, BrainDance Music and Music for Creative Dance Volumes I-V. Anne is an active member of the National Dance Education Organization, and Dance and the Child International (daCi). Anne served on the daCi board for twelve years. Anne is founder and Past President of the Dance Educators Association of Washington, an organization promoting quality dance education in all Washington State schools K-12. As a member of the Arts Education Standards project, she helped write the Washington State Dance Standards and Learning Goals. Anne is the recipient of several awards including the National Dance Association Scholar/Artist award in 2005, the National Dance Education Organization Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, the Lawrence Tenney Stevens American Dance Award for her work with boys and men in dance in 2014, and the American Dance Festival Balasaraswati/Joy Ann Dewey Beinecke Endowed Chair for Distinguished Teaching in 2016.

Anne is the mother of three amazing Kaleidoscope alums and grandmother of seven dancing grandchildren. She lives in Seattle with her talented husband, David.

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Terry Goetz

Faculty

Terry Goetz (she/her) is Director of the Creative Dance Center in Seattle, Washington. Terry has been on faculty of the Creative Dance Center since 2000 and began training intensively with CDC Founder Anne Green Gilbert in 1997. She teaches Nurturing Baby, Parent/Toddler, and Parent/Child Creative Dance classes and Ballet and Modern Dance for older children and adults. Terry has taught in preschools and elementary classrooms as a teaching artist, and in studios throughout the Seattle area since retiring from Pacific Northwest Ballet where she danced from 1988-1995. Prior to performing with PNB, she was a member of Pittsburgh Ballet Theater from 1986-1988. During her career, Terry performed works by George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, José Limón, Antony Tudor, Lar Lubovitch, Mark Dendy, Merce Cunningham, Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Ohad Naharin, Petipa, and Bournonville, as well as performing full-length classical works. Terry presents workshops locally, nationally, and internationally, training dance teachers, early childhood specialists, educators, and teaching artists in BrainDance and Brain-Compatible Dance Education. She has presented at the National Dance Association and National Dance Education Organization conferences. Terry has taught for the International daCi (Dance and the Child) Finnish Chapter, the daCi National Gathering at the University of Washington, the daCi World Congress in Copenhagen and Adelaide, Australia, the Kuopio International Dance Festival, the Edmonton and Indiana Orff Schulwerk Associations, the East Asia Regional Council of International Schools Conferences held in Shanghai (2013) and Manila (2016), Hubbard St., and at universities in the US (The Hartt School, East Carolina University, University of Washington, University of Tampa, Skidmore College, Hofstra University) and Canada (University of Alberta). She worked with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in WA state as a Dance Specialist developing updated state-wide K-12 Learning Standards for Dance. Terry is an active member of the National Dance Education Organization and served as President of the Dance Educators Association of Washington. She co-directs the One-Week Refresher Course for the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers with her colleague Anna Mansbridge. In 2015 Terry was honored as Dance Educator of the Year at the Fall DEAW Conference. This annual award is presented to dance educators working in the state of Washington who exemplify excellence in dance education.

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Gail Heilbron

Faculty

Gail Heilbron (she/her) has a BA (Psychology), MA and MFA in Dance/Theater from Case Western Reserve University. Gail’s training since a young girl was with the modern dance pioneers and their companies such as Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Erick Hawkins, Merce Cunningham, Alwin Nikolais, Murray Louis, Paul Taylor, and Twyla Tharp. She later became an associate artist with the Erick Hawkins and Bill Evans dance companies. She has been teaching ages 3 – adult at the Creative Dance Center since its founding, grateful for the mentoring of Anne Green Gilbert. She has been a dancer, teacher, and choreographer for 49 years. From 1978-2003 Gail was Co-Artistic Director with Jesse Jaramillo and Clay Taliaferro (Associate Artistic Director) of Co-Motion Dance. Co-Motion Dance was a repertory modern dance company featuring hundreds of dances by modern dance pioneers as well as award winning national and international choreographers. Performing throughout the US, Canada, and China, Co-Motion’s extensive dance education programs impacted approximately three quarters of a million students in about 1600 schools and school districts in the Pacific Northwest.

Gail served on many dance faculties in universities, colleges, schools, and studios throughout the country, including Western Michigan University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Cincinnati, Cleveland Modern Dance Association; locally, University of Washington, Cornish College of the Arts, Spectrum/Madrona Dance Studio, Bill Evans Dance Seattle as well as the Creative Dance Center. Gail was a founding board member of the Dance Educators Association of Washington and served on the Washington State Office of Public Instruction and Washington State Arts Commission’s task force to create dance as a basic form of public education curriculum. Gail is also a certified Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® Trainer since 1999. She was named to Who’s Who in the West. She is grateful for the opportunity to share the joy of dance through teaching, choreographing or performing and the gift of being part of the Creative Dance Center.

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Ranita Hollinshed

Faculty

Ranita (she/her) has been dancing for thirteen years, training primarily in hip hop. Starting her dance journey at the age of 12, Ranita began taking classes at Westlake Dance Center. She instantly knew that she had found her passion in dance and later joined her high school dance team, Shorecrest Hip Hop, at the age of 15. In 2017, Ranita decided to take a break from dance to focus on work and her future. By the end of August 2018, she realized that dance was supposed to be her future and began taking classes again. Aside from hip hop she enjoys training in the following styles; contemporary, jazzfunk, commercial dance, Afro, popping, and house. She continues to train at Westlake Dance Center and takes private lessons from instructors in the community. When Ranita is not training you can find her teaching at Creative Dance Center, Duvall Performing Arts where she has been an instructor for the last 3 years, and coaching at Shorecrest High School as the Hip Hop team’s head coach. In July of 2023 Ranita attended CDC’s Summer Dance Institute for Teachers deepening her understanding of brain-compatible dance education as a teaching practice.

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Annie Hughes

Faculty

Annie Garlick Hughes (she/her) is the dancing mother of two energetic boys and one independent daughter. She believes that dance can be a vehicle to greater creativity and enrichment regardless of age or experience. Annie grew up in Utah where she danced with Brigham Young University’s Children’s Creative Dance Program. In high school she began teaching at local studios and trained with the Step-up program at Ririe-Woodbury dance company. During her undergraduate education, she was a member of various dance groups including Artsbridge, Kinnect, Dancesemble and Contemporary Dance Theater (CDT). As a part of CDT she performed in India and various parts of the United States. She has also studied dance in China and enjoys integrating cultural research into her work.

After completing her BA in Dance Education from Brigham Young University, Annie taught dance in the public school system, after-school programs for elementary school children, and various studios. Since moving to Washington she has developed a dance program for the Everett YMCA and taught virtual dance to students across the country. She took the Summer Dance Institute (2021) and is excited to
be a part of the Creative Dance Center.

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Carly Squires Hutchison

Faculty

Carly Squires Hutchison (she/her) is honored to be a part of the Creative Dance Center summer team since 2017! She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and Minor in Dance Performance from Central Washington University. A musical theatre performer herself, Carly is a passionate teaching artist, director, and choreographer. She has taught dance and musical theatre with Village Theatre, Foundry10, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Backstage Dance Studio, Spectrum Dance Theatre, and Central Washington University (CWU). Carly has directed and/or choreographed with Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE, Drama School at Seattle Children’s Theatre, Issaquah Middle School through Youth Theatre Northwest, and Everett, Blanchet, Newport, Liberty, and Auburn Riverside high schools. Additionally, Carly has performed locally with Village Theatre, StoryBook Theater, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Taproot Theatre, Seattle Musical Theatre, Wooden O (Seattle Shakespeare), and SecondStory Repertory. Carly brings a buoyant and positive attitude to her teaching and loves seeing her students grow in their technical abilities as well as their life skills learned through the arts. She says, “The arts are a way to connect communities and get to know people from all different walks of life. While learning songs and dances we are learning to work together, take turns, speak kindly towards ourselves and others, and have fun while trying something new. Sometimes trying new things can be scary, but if you’re in a supportive environment it can be invigorating, and that’s my goal for camp!” Carly attended the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers, training in Brain-Compatible Dance Education, in 2018.

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Kechelle Jackson

Faculty

Kechelle Jackson (she/her) was born in Seattle, Washington. She participated in many youth and high school programs: Dance, Cheerleading, Track & Field, Basketball, Skiing, Softball, Volleyball, and Steel Drum. These experiences allowed Kechelle to be active in her community and shaped the way she relates to the world and others. In 2004 Kechelle began working with youth through the Washington Reading Corps. After two years of service she relocated to California, working for the City of Sacramento as a Human Service Coordinator supervising an after school program for middle school students. Returning to Seattle in 2008, Kechelle became a preschool teacher, enrolling in a degree program for Early Childhood Development. Upon completion of the program she worked in the classroom for about 5 years, taking on additional roles as mentor supervisor and small group enrichment teacher. In 2012 and 2014 Kechelle attended the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers held at the Creative Dance Center, training under Anne Green Gilbert. At SDIT she learned about Brain Compatible Education and how to facilitate and assess quality movement experiences for young children. Upon completion of the two-week intensive Kechelle was empowered to construct a unique program that specializes in providing quality experiences for young children by combining her knowledge and expertise as Early Childhood Educator with BrainDance and Brain-Compatible Education. Emerald City Creative Arts (ECCA) was established in 2013 and now provides movement enrichment services in over 10 schools across the greater Seattle area. Since joining CDC’s faculty in 2013, Kechelle has immersed herself in our teaching methodology, assisting and working directly with Anne Green Gilbert. She teaches Parent-Child, Creative Dance, Dance & Art, Hip Hop, Inclusive Hip Hop for Tweens/Teens as well as Summer Camps integrating art and dance. Working together with learning communities, young children, and families to foster and enhance social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development has been an incredible self-reflecting journey. Kechelle truly enjoys the work she does and plans to continue to share the gift of movement.

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Anna Mansbridge

Faculty

Anna Mansbridge (she/her) is Artistic Director of Kaleidoscope Dance Company and Mosaic Dance Company. She is originally from Australia and the UK, and now resides in Seattle, WA. She holds a First Class Honors Degree in Dance and Education from Bedford College, UK, and an MFA in Choreography and Performance from Mills College, CA. She has been on faculty at the Creative Dance Center since September 1999 teaching all ages. She has created many dances for Kaleidoscope Dance Company and co-directed the company with Anne Green Gilbert for 5 years before taking over the Artistic Directorship upon Anne’s retirement in July 2014. Mosaic Dance Company was first formed by Anne in 2006. After a hiatus Anna reconvened the company in the Fall of 2018 to offer additional performance opportunities to interested CDC students. Anna is also the Founder (in 2000) and Artistic Director of Seattle Early Dance, a company dedicated to recreating dances from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. She has directed/choreographed a number of early operas and concerts locally with Pacific Musicworks, Cornish College of the Arts, University of Washington Music Department, and Early Music Seattle. Her choreography for Christoph Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice (1774) presented by University of Washington School of Music and Pacific MusicWorks at Meany Theater, was descried in a review in the Seattle Times as “effective and beautiful.” In addition, Anna has directed a DVD titled Baroque Basics: An Introduction to the Dance and the Music of the Baroque Period, and she has taught early dance workshops in the US, Europe and Asia.

Anna has been an adjunct instructor at Cornish College of the Arts and the University of Washington, and she is the former Chair for daCi USA (dance and the Child international). She organized the very successful 5th National Gathering at the University of Washington, Seattle, June 2014. Anna co-directs the one-week Summer Dance Institute for Teachers at the Creative Dance Center with Terry Goetz, and she gives workshops in Brain-Based Dance Education locally, nationally and internationally.

 

 

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Robbi A. Moore

Faculty

Robbi A. Moore (they/them), from Hamden, CT, began dancing at New England Ballet and continued at Dee Dee’s Dance Center and New Haven Ballet. They are an alumnus of Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, the Ailey Summer Intensive, Cunningham Trust Workshop, Jacob’s Pillow’s Commercial Dance Program, and the Complexions Intensive. Robbi graduated magna cum laude from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program and has danced with Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre, The Steps Repertory Ensemble, AATMA Performing Arts, Whidbey Island Dance Theatre, Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center, Karin Stevens Dance, the Guild Dance Company, Kinesis Project Dance Theater, The Gray, PRICEarts, Coriolis Dance, Trial and Error Productions, Khambatta Dance Company, VCBynum Arts and Education, and Spectrum Dance Theater. Robbi recently worked for The Village Theatre as Associate Choreographer for “Little Shop of Horrors” and Ballyhoo Theatre’s production of “Shapeshifters.”

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Joel Nyland

Faculty

Joel has been dancing since age 3 and has been a leader in our Adaptive Dance program since it began. Joel shares: “I am a twenty year old dancer and songwriter.  I have danced mostly in my imagination my whole life because my brain functions differently and my body does not follow its instructions.  Learning the BrainDance has increased my ability to move my body.  I love helping others see the power of dance.”

A daily advocate for the spelling community, Joel is a “Spellebrity Ambassador” for the International Association for Spelling as Communication (I-ASC). “I am proud to use a letterboard to communicate,” Joel has spelled to advocate that nonspeaking people need to be recognized as intelligent human beings. Joel’s words and actions remind others to be kind and useful. He has performed his original songs in the Neurolyrical Café and at Boards & Chords. His first full album Presume Competency featuring Joel’s songs with contributions by Caden Rainey is available on Amazon Music and iTunes.

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Amanda Oie

Faculty

Amanda Oie (she/her) is from Seattle, WA and trained under Pat Hon’s mentorship in the Preparatory Dance Program at Cornish College of the Arts, where she went on to receive her BFA in Dance. Attending summer dance programs at The Ailey School in NYC sparked her interest for exploring and training in other forms of dance. She has a strong Ballet and Modern background and is also a versatile performer and teacher in Jazz and Musical Theatre Dance. Amanda has danced with ARC Dance Company, Walrus Dance Company, Maureen Whiting Dance Company and has worked with local choreographers Wade Madsen, Vivian Little, and Daniel Linehan. Her choreography has been presented at On The Boards’ 12 Minutes Max, Velocity Dance Center and Northwest Film Forum.  Amanda teaches Creative Movement, Ballet and Modern at Maple Valley School of Ballet and is thrilled to join the Faculty at Creative Dance Center.  As a teacher she is excited to inspire students to find their love and passion for dance and discover expression and technique through the joy of movement. Amanda attended CDC’s Summer Dance Institute for Teachers in 2015 and continues to embody brain-compatible dance curriculum throughout her teaching practices.

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Jay Tan

Faculty

Jay Tan’s love for dance began at 15 when he participated in a cultural festival that incorporated various art forms to promote peace. From there, he dabbled in both Modern Contemporary and Hip Hop for two years, before fully immersing himself in Hip Hop and its culture. Since then, Jay has directed 2 dance companies in Singapore, served as a director for Hip Hop Connxion, and founded an Indiana based kids Hip Hop dance company ‘Jaywalkerz’. Jay has also provided artistic direction for the opening ceremony of the first Youth Olympic games held in Singapore, as well as produced, and directed a 2 hour long dance musical that was based loosely on the game ‘Clue’.
Today, Jay is a producer and storyteller at Microsoft, and continues to be passionate about mentoring the next generation of changemakers through hip hop. He believes that dance is a powerful tool and language to leverage in building a strong community of youth who will propel society forward in the many decades to come. Jay’s classes focus on students discovering their innate qualities through movement, connecting deeper with their bodies, and honing their individual voices. He constantly strives to ensure that students feel safe enough to take risks and fosters an environment that spurs his students’ creative energy in new directions.

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Marika Theofelis

Faculty

Marika Theofelis (she/her) is a Seattle native and dance educator with a passion for sharing the social, emotional, physical, and mental benefits of brain-compatible dance education with young people and the adults that serve them. She grew up dancing at local studio All That Dance, studying a range of genres – ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and modern. Marika performed at On The Boards’ 12 Minute Max while in high school and was a leader in the assistant teaching program at ATD, which sparked her passion for teaching early on. She holds a B.A. in Dance and Business from the University of Oregon. During undergrad studies, Marika taught creative movement at a neighborhood studio. After graduating she returned as a full time teacher to All That Dance and became the director of the Mentee (assistant teaching) Program, which she grew and led for the next five years. Marika has performed in a dance video created by Shannon Mockli in 2015 for Velocity’s Strictly Seattle Showcase. She also has worked with Seattle and Bellevue Fire Departments to create promotional videos using dance. Marika attended the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers in 2016, training with Anne Green Gilbert in BCDE. Marika is now implementing this teaching method across Seattle full time, with a focus on increasing access to dance in our communities. Marika teaches in after-school, early-learning and enrichment programs, as well as in temporary housing settings. She is currently teaching through Seattle Parks and Recreation, Moving Minds Dance, Emerald City Creative Arts, and is CDC’s community engagement teacher, sharing weekly dance with children at Mary’s Place and Mercy Housing locations. Marika believes that dance enriches lives and she strives to provide a safe and fun space for people of all ages to explore their relationship with themselves and the rest of the world through music and movement.

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Bri Wilson

Faculty

Bri Wilson (she/her) grew up in northern Michigan, where she trained at the Crooked Tree School of Ballet under Heather Raue, Karrie Benedict, and Stephanie Overton. During her time there she supplemented her training with summer intensives at Ballet Chicago, Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet, Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet. After graduating in 2014, she attended the Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA Program at Dominican University of California, where she graduated summa cum laude in May 2018 with a degree in Dance and a Minor in English with a Creative Writing Emphasis. Throughout her collegiate years she studied at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s summer and winter programs, and at Movement Invention Project in New York City. While at the latter, Bri had the opportunity to learn from Sidra Bell, Shannon Gillen, Elia Mrak, Troy Ogilvie, Shamel Pitts, and Alexandra Wells. In 2016, Bri collaborated with Northern Dance Project, a multi-disciplinary collective of dancers and visual artists based in Petoskey, Michigan. Their work centered around the relationships between humans and the natural world and how the two can co-exist and challenge each other. In addition to continuing her work there, Bri also frequently collaborates with Michigan-based musicians, foster, Clam, and Ghost Dream. She currently lives in Seattle, where she has worked with The Three Yells, Elia Mrak, Beth Terwilleger + The Gray, Maia Durfee, and Hannah Rae. Bri has presented her own work at 12 Minutes Max, and has performed in Converge Dance Festival 2019, soft concrete I, and NextFest Northwest.

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Tom Bergersen

Accompanist

Tom Bergersen (he/him) is a dance accompanist and musician. He has accompanied modern dance classes at the Creative Dance Center for over 20 years. As a dance accompanist he works with the University of Washington Dance Department, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and many local dance studios. He has worked previously with Bochinche’s school program and with master modern dance educator, Bill Evans. Currently Tom performs with the Seattle based Latin Jazz group Sonando.

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Andrew Rishikof

Accompanist

Andrew Rishikof (he/him) is a native of Montreal, having performed as a drummer, percussionist, dance accompanist and teaching artist for the last twenty years. Andrew studied Jazz Performance and Percussion at the McGill Conservatory of Music (Montreal), Berklee College of Music (Boston), and Drummer’s Collective (New York). He holds a degree in Social Sciences from Marianopolis College (Montreal) and completed a residency in Computer Assisted Music at Musitechnic (Montreal). He has performed internationally in Jazz festivals, radio, television, film, theater, and album projects. Album highlights include Cirque du Soleil’s Dralion; Rufus Wainwright’s debut album, Rufus Wainwright; two Quebec Billboard #1 albums: Les Maringouins Chantent La Bolduc (1995), and Panavision by Lili Fatale (2001); and the soundtrack for the film, 2 Secondes (1999 Max Films) which garnered a Cannes Film Festival selection and two Felix award (Canada’s Oscars) nominations. As a solo Dance Accompanist Andrew has worked with renowned Ecole Nationale de Cirque, in Montreal, the Universite de Montreal, and dance companies Atelier de Danse Moderne and Studio 303. Moving to Pittsburgh in 2002 Andrew took over duties as Resident Accompanist for Dance Alloy Theater under the direction of Beth Corning. Andrew’s artistry extended into numerous outreach activities where he was engaged in gifting children of all ages and backgrounds with the exciting world of rhythm and musicality. Subsequently, Andrew co-designed a grant-awarded creative movement course, mixing mathematics and movement, meeting Pennsylvania academic standards. In 2005 Andrew joined the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust where he accompanied numerous Master classes by international dance companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Urban Bush Women, and Doug Varone and Dancers. At Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Andrew’s comprehensive music/dance background contributed to its outreach programs where he helped to grow and improve the program as a partner and advisor. Currently living in Seattle, Andrew has been a solo accompanist at the Creative Dance Center for eight years. A leader in dance education, CDC’s strong mission and dedicated talent has inspired new opportunities for Andrew, including teaching drumming to special-needs children and adults, helping them realize broader choices in their expression. There is a unique interdependent relationship between music and movement that Andrew continues to explore with fascination, and the desire to pass along these insights to an enthusiastic new generation is his reward.

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What is Brain-Compatible Dance Education?

Brain-Compatible Dance Education is a structured methodology for teaching dance using our 5-part lesson plan and strategies that create an environment in which the brain is ready, willing, and able to learn. Developed by our Founder, Anne Green Gilbert, this holistic approach allows students the opportunity to become skilled dancers, critical thinkers, innovative creators, successful collaborators, and respectful responders. Our teachers use the BCDE components, including BrainDance and the dance concepts, to guide students through an engaging experience, enjoyable for all types of learners and movers. Our students are given the opportunity to learn dance skills and also to develop their own creative ideas and voices through movement explorations, improvisation, and choreography. Brain-Compatible Dance Education supports joyful and transformative learning and self-expression! 

 

 

What is the BrainDance?

The BrainDance, developed by Anne Green Gilbert, is a sequential and holistic exercise based on developmental movement patterns healthy human beings naturally move through in the first year of life. We continue refining these movement patterns throughout our lives. The BrainDance integrates mind and body and may be adapted for all ages and abilities. At the Creative Dance Center, the BrainDance is done in many variations as a warm-up in every class. The BrainDance patterns are:

  • Breath
  • Tactile
  • Core- Distal
  • Head-Tail
  • Upper-Lower
  • Body Side
  • Cross Lateral
  • Eye-Tracking
  • Vestibular

 

Summer Professional Learning Programs

Our Summer Professional Learning Programs (Online Summer Workshop Series and in-person Summer Dance Institute for Teachers) are designed for educators, dance teachers, arts specialists, and therapists who wish to deepen their understanding of Brain-Compatible Dance Education and the BrainDance. Through movement and discussion, participants experience sample lessons based on Anne Green Gilbert’s five-part conceptual lesson plan and the brain-compatible principles on which it is based. Discover how incorporating these principles into your teaching and workplace can positively affect class management, behavior, learning, and focus. Explore cutting edge dance pedagogy and best practices in the ever-evolving laboratory of our Summer Professional Learning Programs. We offer a Certificate of Participation and Transcript of courses and hours attended upon full completion of the Foundational or Refresher Course.

 

Anne Green Gilbert

SDIT Director

Anne Green Gilbert (she/her) founded the Creative Dance Center and Kaleidoscope Dance Company in Seattle, Washington in 1981 and the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers in 1994. She was the Director of CDC from 1981 – 2014. Anne has had a varied teaching career starting as an elementary school teacher, moving on to dance and pedagogy classes at University of Illinois Chicago and University of Washington, then teaching children’s dance classes at Cornish College and Bill Evans/Dance Theatre Seattle before starting the Creative Dance Center. She was an adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University for many years and taught for Lesley University’s Outreach Masters Program for ten years. Anne taught infants through adults at Creative Dance Center for 30 years. She continues to teach older adults at CDC. Anne trains teachers through the Summer Dance Institute and CDC Educator workshops. For 40 years she conducted hundreds of workshops and residencies across the United States and abroad. Anne developed the BrainDance, a focusing warm-up exercise, in 2000. The BrainDance is used in many schools, studios, and homes around the world. Anne is internationally recognized for her work with young artists and the creative process. She has choreographed dances for university dance companies as well as local Northwest dance companies and Kaleidoscope Dance Company.

Anne is the author of Teaching the Three Rs Through Movement (1977)Creative Dance for All Ages (1st edition 1992, 2nd edition 2015), Brain-Compatible Dance Education (1st edition 2006, 2nd edition 2019), Teaching Creative Dance DVD (2002) and BrainDance DVD (2003/2016), as well as numerous articles. Anne has also collaborated with composer Eric Chappelle on the CDs, BrainDance Music and Music for Creative Dance Volumes I-V. Anne is an active member of the National Dance Education Organization, and Dance and the Child International (daCi). Anne served on the daCi board for twelve years. Anne is founder and Past President of the Dance Educators Association of Washington, an organization promoting quality dance education in all Washington State schools K-12. As a member of the Arts Education Standards project, she helped write the Washington State Dance Standards and Learning Goals. Anne is the recipient of several awards including the National Dance Association Scholar/Artist award in 2005, the National Dance Education Organization Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, the Lawrence Tenney Stevens American Dance Award for her work with boys and men in dance in 2014, and the American Dance Festival Balasaraswati/Joy Ann Dewey Beinecke Endowed Chair for Distinguished Teaching in 2016.

Anne is the mother of three amazing Kaleidoscope alums and grandmother of seven dancing grandchildren. She lives in Seattle with her talented husband, David.

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Dionne Kamara

SDIT Faculty

Dionne Kamara (she/her), a former member of Urban Bush Women performance company, is currently a resident teaching artist in New York City. Dionne teaches creative dance integrating academic curriculum to children in public schools, enabling them to express their thoughts and ideas through the art of dance. She has taught creative and traditional West African dance in schools, community centers and cultural institutions in the New York metropolitan area for many years and also teaches creative dance to infants through adults in several NYC studios. Dionne has been an SDIT faculty member since 2003.

https://www.dionnesimonekamara.com/

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Educator & Community Workshops

Join us at the Creative Dance Center as we laugh, learn, discover, and dance throughout the school year. Educators, dance teachers, teaching artists, early childhood specialists, OTs and PTs, and parents are welcome. Led by CDC staff, workshops focus on Brain-Compatible Dance Education and BrainDance. Guest presenters share work that complements CDC’s holistic and somatic approach to learning. Workshops are held at CDC in our beautiful, open ADA accessible studio and/or online. We offer a Certificate of Participation upon full completion of an Educator/Community Workshop. Discounts for multiple registrations and clock hours may be available. 

 

Kaleidoscope & Mosaic Dance Company Histories

.Kaleidoscope is the longest-running modern dance company in Seattle, founded in 1981 by Anne Green Gilbert. The company was then directed by Anna Mansbridge from 2014-2023 and is currently directed by Bronwen Houck. Mosaic, CDC’s junior company, offers additional performance opportunities for interested CDC students. The dance companies are based at the Creative Dance Center located in the historic Haller Lake Community Club in North Seattle.

Who Performs

Kaleidoscope is a modern repertory company of young people between the ages of 7 and 17. Mosaic is a company of dancers ages 7 to 13. Membership in Kaleidoscope and Mosaic is by invitation from the company director, Bronwen Houck.

Who Has Worked with Us

Kaleidoscope has worked with well-known choreographers including Pat Graney, Bill Evans, Tom Truss, Dani Tirrell, Jay Tan, Noelle Price, Maya Soto, Christian Swenson, Vincent Thomas, Shirley Jenkins, Jurg Koch, Paige Barnes, Eva Stone, Mary Kay Bisignano-Vadino, Debbie Gilbert, Joanne Petroff, Ellie Sandstrom, Nia-Amina Minro, Robbi A. Moore, and Peter Kyle. 

Where We’ve Performed

Kaleidoscope has toured internationally in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Russia, Canada, Brazil, The Netherlands, Jamaica, Taiwan, and Denmark and has performed nationally in Washington, D.C., Oregon, Massachusetts, Philadelphia, Utah, and all over Washington State. They are also a frequent presenter at national and international dance and music conferences. Collectively, Kaleidoscope has danced for hundreds of thousands of school children in public and private schools in the Northwest and across the globe. 

When We Perform

Kaleidoscope presents an annual Spring Performance Series, Kaleidoscope in Concert, which showcases pieces created by professional choreographers and Kaleidoscope dancers’ choreography, and an annual winter concert, Gift of Dance, highlighting the dancers’ own choreography. We perform several community concerts throughout the year as well. Kaleidoscope is available to come to your school or venue to perform for your community.

Our Graduates’ Legacy

Our graduates utilize the Kaleidoscope skills of collaboration and creativity in a variety of settings: dancing professionally, attending college, teaching, and working in fields such as health, research, design, education, technology, and the arts. You can read about alums here.

How to Join

There is no audition required. A passion for dancing, performing, and a commitment to rehearsals are very important. All Kaleidoscope Dancers are required to take weekly modern dance classes at the Creative Dance Center. If you are interested in your child being considered for a place in Kaleidoscope please download and review the Statement of Interest and contact the Artistic Director, Bronwen Houck at bronwen@creativedance.org

 

Creative Dance Center History

In 1981, the Creative Dance Center’s first home was in the Russian Center on Capitol Hill. Anne Green Gilbert had previously directed the Dance Theatre Seattle Children’ s Program for five years in that location. Winter of 1982 brought growth and change as Anne moved the Creative Dance Center to the former Lake City Elementary School and filed for incorporation and nonprofit status. The Creative Dance Center was granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in February 1983. CDC moved to the former Jane Addams Middle School in the fall of 1984 and remained there until the summer of 1995 when CDC relocated to the Haller Lake Community Club, its present location.

When the Creative Dance Center first opened its doors to the community, it offered twenty classes to 100 students. Today there are over forty classes offered to 450 students, infants through adults. The teaching philosophy at CDC has evolved to include the BrainDance and is now a nationally and internationally recognized teaching methodology called Brain-Compatible Dance Education.

Anne Green Gilbert retired as CDC Director and Artistic Director of Kaleidoscope Dance Company in July 2014. She continues to teach classes at CDC and through her teaching, books, DVDs, and the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers she has touched the lives of thousands of students and educators. The Creative Dance Center is now under the Directorship of Terry Goetz; Anna Mansbridge is the Artistic Director of Kaleidoscope Dance Company. Terry and Anna have worked and trained with Anne Green Gilbert since the 1990’s and are thrilled to maintain and develop the school and dance company which were the focus of Anne’s life for 33 years. Terry and Anna share the same passion and belief that dance can change lives and deepen learning.

Our Founder

Anne Green Gilbert founded the Creative Dance Center in 1981. Having danced her whole life, experiencing the positive and sometimes not so positive aspects of studying dance, Anne wanted to create a school that not only developed dancers with skill and technique but also nurtured the creative possibilities within.

  • A school that balanced the mastery of movement with the artistry of expression.
  • A school where students learned to dance and danced to learn.
  • A school that would make teaching and learning a joyful and meaningful experience for teachers and students.
  • A school that taught people, not just dance steps.

Soon after establishing the Creative Dance Center, Anne created Kaleidoscope Dance Company to give performance opportunities to the young dancers at the school. She believed that young people, given the opportunity, could perform at a professional level, create their own sophisticated choreography, and enrich the lives of others through dance. These goals are an integral part of the dance company to this day.

Anne is the recipient of several awards including the National Dance Association Scholar/Artist award in 2005, the National Dance Education Organization Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, the Lawrence Tenney Stevens American Dance Award for her work with boys and men in dance in 2014, and the American Dance Festival Balasaraswati/Joy Ann Dewey Beinecke Endowed Chair for Distinguished Teaching in 2016.

 

Anne Green Gilbert

Founder & Faculty

Anne Green Gilbert (she/her)founded the Creative Dance Center and Kaleidoscope Dance Company in Seattle, Washington in 1981 and the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers in 1994.  She was the Director of CDC from 1981 – 2014. Anne has had a varied teaching career starting as an elementary school teacher, moving on to dance and pedagogy classes at University of Illinois Chicago and University of Washington, then teaching children’s dance classes at Cornish College and Bill Evans/Dance Theatre Seattle before starting the Creative Dance Center. She was an adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University for many years and taught for Lesley University’s Outreach Masters Program for ten years. Anne taught infants through adults at Creative Dance Center for 30 years. She continues to teach older adults at CDC. Anne trains teachers through the Summer Dance Institute and CDC Educator workshops. For 40 years she conducted hundreds of workshops and residencies across the United States and abroad. Anne developed the BrainDance, a focusing warm-up exercise, in 2000. The BrainDance is used in many schools, studios, and homes around the world. Anne is internationally recognized for her work with young artists and the creative process. She has choreographed dances for university dance companies as well as local Northwest dance companies and Kaleidoscope Dance Company.

Anne is the author of Teaching the Three Rs Through Movement (1977)Creative Dance for All Ages (1st edition 1992, 2nd edition 2015), Brain-Compatible Dance Education (1st edition 2006, 2nd edition 2019), Teaching Creative Dance DVD (2002) and BrainDance DVD (2003/2016), as well as numerous articles. Anne has also collaborated with composer Eric Chappelle on the CDs, BrainDance Music and Music for Creative Dance Volumes I-V. Anne is an active member of the National Dance Education Organization, and Dance and the Child International (daCi). Anne served on the daCi board for twelve years. Anne is founder and Past President of the Dance Educators Association of Washington, an organization promoting quality dance education in all Washington State schools K-12. As a member of the Arts Education Standards project, she helped write the Washington State Dance Standards and Learning Goals. Anne is the recipient of several awards including the National Dance Association Scholar/Artist award in 2005, the National Dance Education Organization Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, the Lawrence Tenney Stevens American Dance Award for her work with boys and men in dance in 2014, and the American Dance Festival Balasaraswati/Joy Ann Dewey Beinecke Endowed Chair for Distinguished Teaching in 2016.

Anne is the mother of three amazing Kaleidoscope alums and grandmother of seven dancing grandchildren. She lives in Seattle with her talented husband, David.

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Resources

If you wish to deepen your understanding of Brain-Compatible Dance Education, please visit our resource page to purchase books and DVDs written and produced by Anne Green Gilbert. Discover music by Eric Chappelle that beautifully supports BCDE and BrainDance.

We also have free informative articles about BCDE, BrainDance, child development, and more that are ready to download! We also invite you visit our resource page to learn about some of our favorite organizations whose work aligns with the holistic and somatic approach of CDC.

 

Affiliations

The Creative Dance Center is a proud member of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), Dance Educators Association of Washington, and daCi USA (dance and the Child international). Our shared history with these advocacy and education organizations is longstanding, rich, and deep. 

National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)

NDEO is dedicated to advancing dance education centered in the arts for people of all backgrounds, envisioning a nation that affords every citizen equal access and opportunity to quality dance arts education regardless of gender, age, race or culture, socio-economic status, ability or interest. CDC faculty are regularly invited to present workshops on BrainDance and Brain-Compatible Dance Education at the annual NDEO national conference. Anne Green Gilbert was awarded the NDEO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. 

Dance Educators Association of Washington (DEAW)

DEAW (co-founded by Anne Green Gilbert and the state affiliate of NDEO) supports and advocates for the dance community in WA state. CDC teachers have served and currently serve on the DEAW Board, as President and Board members. CDC has hosted DEAW conferences onsite and CDC teachers share our teaching methodology at DEAW conferences. CDC Director Terry Goetz was awarded DEAW’s Dance Educator of the Year in 2015. 

dance and the Child International

daCi USA and daCi International celebrate the power of dance by bringing people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures together to experience dance as creators, performers, and spectators. Anna Mansbridge served as the President of daCi USA and Kaleidoscope Dance Company has performed at daCi national and international conferences since 1991. In 2014 the daCi National Gathering was held in Seattle, organized by Anna Mansbridge and supported by CDC staff and Kaleidoscope parent volunteers. 

Getting Here

Driving Directions

Creative Dance Center is located in the beautiful Haller Lake Community Club in a residential neighborhood just off Aurora Avenue North.

12577 Densmore Avenue North is just south of the North 128th Street and Densmore Avenue North intersection.

From Aurora Avenue North, go east on N 128th Street. Northbound on I-5, take the NE 130th Street exit. Southbound on I-5, take the NE 145th Street exit.

From either exit, head west and turn south on Meridian N and west on N 128th.

Parking & Additional Info

We have plenty of free parking in our free front and back lots. Our office is located next door to the north at 12583 Densmore Ave. N.

Visit tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/ for convenient bus routes from your neighborhood.

Interviews ~ Testimonials ~ Press

Words of Praise

“I spent my first years in dance at CDC, from ages 7 to 14, learning from many wonderful teachers. As a professional dancer, I am grateful for the foundation I received in creative and modern dance. CDC is proof that young dancers can understand and apply sophisticated dance concepts; I arrived at conservatory deeply familiar with compositional concepts that were new to my classmates. Learning to dance in a supportive and non-competitive environment has been a great gift. At CDC, dance was about expression and exploration as well as discipline, a combination I still strive to bring into the studio every day.”

~ Aaron Loux, member Mark Morris Dance Group

 

Executive Director featured in Dance Teacher Magazine

Read this article, featuring CDC Director Terry Goetz, on the importance of fostering an understanding of anatomy in dancers of all ages. Learn how our teachers use anatomical terms to build body awareness, improve technique, and aid in multisensory learning.

 

Read the Article

 

Words of Praise

“Dance at CDC is always the highlight of the week! The collaborative, supportive, nurturing atmosphere at CDC has given us many new friendships, which will surely last a lifetime. As an educator and parent, I truly appreciate the opportunity to let every child learn at their own pace and learn from the collective wisdom of the group.”

~ Siva Sankrithi and son Sarang (age 4)

Kaleidoscope Review: Men in Dance

For the 10th anniversary, ATG/MID partnered with the Lawrence Tenney Stevens Trust Award to honor Anne Green Gilbert, founder of Creative Dance Center and Kaleidoscope Dance Company, and a Seattle dance staple. Following a short film about the collaboration between sculptor Stevens and American modern dance pioneer Ted Shawn, producers introduced Gilbert and explained her vital work teaching boys in dance and her support of the ATG/MID Festival.

~ Charlotte Hart, Seattle Dances

Read the Review

Words of Praise

“CDC does an amazing job facilitating dance classes that cater to the developmental growth of our toddlers. They provide a safe space for our parents and toddlers to express themselves freely…Our Mary’s Place staff, kids, and parents love dance class.”

~ Marta Asfew, Youth Services Director, Mary’s Place

An Interview with Our Founder

“A teacher of prodigious vision, she has done more than just run a successful school and dance company for the past 33 years: Gilbert has pioneered new teaching methods, established state-wide dance organizations, received national dance teaching honors, mentored dance teachers from around the world through her Summer Dance Institute for Teachers, and, perhaps most importantly, touched countless lives with her passion for dance.”

~ Mariko Nagashima, Seattle Dances, 2014

Read the Interview

 

Words of Praise

“Our daughter dances with her heart and soul. We wanted to find a school that would celebrate her natural love of dance…CDC is that place. We’ve seen her self-confidence strengthen – her inner light is on fire when she dances and CDC has kindled that to be even brighter.”

~ Sara Betnel

An Interview With Our Executive Director

“Creative dance is seen as free authentic movement, while traditional dance training is skills or technique based. Anne sees value in both, that it’s important to develop a technical toolbox alongside a creative voice. And she developed a five-part lesson plan that gives students tools they can use to develop as dancers, artists and people. 

Stance on Dance, 2018

Read the Interview

 

Words of Praise

“I thank CDC for providing a safe environment where differences in ability are welcomed and everyone is learning a respectful language to discuss their unique movement abilities. One of the great benefits my family has received from CDC is learning to talk about how we move and how others move.”

~ Kari Nyland and children Joel (age 19) and Kaela (age 17)

Kaleidoscope Review: Men in Dance

What may have stolen the show, however, were the evening’s youngest performers from Kaleidoscope Dance Company in That’s Why (1996). Dedicated to the late Jesse Jaramillo, an original faculty member at Creative Dance Center who passed away this year, the work dealt with why young boys dance, the ridicule this sometimes creates, and why they do it anyway. Danced with unbridled freedom and joy, it was a portrait of kids just learning how to express themselves. Though the form is still coming, the passion for movement is already there, providing proof that the next generation of men in dance is well on its way. 

~ Mariko Nagashima, Seattle Dances

Read the Review

Words of Praise

“Nurturing Baby class…provided a fun way to support Maisie’s development in all areas. She loved interacting socially with her peers and I learned ways to play with her at home. I connected with other new moms and always left feeling recharged. CDC has had such a positive impact on both our lives. I’m grateful.”

~ Laura Flynn and daughter Maisie (age 1)

An Interview With Kaleidoscope's Artistic Director

Listen to this interview from Dance With Teachers: The Podcast featuring our Artistic Director, Anna Mansbridge, speak on her experience as a choreographer, dancer and educator. She has been on our faculty at the Creative Dance Center, Seattle, since the Fall of 1999 teaching all ages and directing both of our dance companies, Kaleidoscope and Mosaic.

Listen to the Interview

Words of Praise

“From 3 months to 3 years, CDC has provided my son with a rich and respectful experience developing his confidence and creativity as a dancer. As a parent and educator, I love…the way CDC teachers value and make time for each and every student.”

~ Angela Carey and son Xander (age 3)