OUR TEAM

Amy Bodnar

Owner/Director
​Amy has been dancing for over 20 years.  She started her dance training in Las Vegas, Nevada with the Silver Doll Dancers at age 5, and continued her training throughout high school, college, and beyond at  Culture Shock Dance Center, Academy of Performing Arts, Millennium Dance Complex, The Edge, and Westlake Dance Center. Amy has studied hip hop, jazz, contemporary, ballet, cheer, and tap, and started competing at the age of 6. During her time in San Diego she was a member of hip hop dance companies Funkanometry San Diego and PGN Dance Company. 

Amy graduated from the University of San Diego (USD) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy.  At USD, she was a 4-year member of the Dance Team, began choreographing her second year on the team, and served as Captain during her junior and senior year. She came on as the Assistant Coach after graduation and was later named Head Coach.  In addition to her dance classes she is also a PiYo certified instructor.

She has taught dance since she was 16 years old, and has spent the last few years pursuing her dream and teaching/coaching dance full time to students of all ages and styles. Amy took over as Director of Dance Elite in May 2015, and came on as the new owner in May 2017. Amy is excited to continue to build a sense of family and community at the studio and bring dance/music education to all our students.

Irene Beausoleil

Dance & Yoga Instructor
The Greater Chicagoland Area may be where she started, but Irene Beausoleil now calls the Pacific Northwest home. Classical Vaganova ballet technique, Irish Step Dancing and Musical theater came as part of her early dance training, alongside orchestral and folk music traditions. She traveled to Seattle to attend Cornish College of the Arts and graduated with a BFA in Dance in 2012. Immediately after, Irene co-published a dance photography essay, Moments of Truth, and performed in several local festivals.

Irene most recently completed her certification as a Yoga instructor through the 8 Limbs program in Seattle.​  Irene began her journey in yoga as a student in 2011 under the guidance of Ellen Boyle as part of her undergraduate training in Dance at Cornish College of the Arts. Despite injuries and challenges with recurring pain management, the practice of moving with an open heart and mindful spirit quickly became a refuge as she worked toward graduation and transitioned into full time employment. An opportunity to deepen her practice came around in 2017 when she started training to become a teacher through the 8 Limbs 200 RYT program. The program emphasized a well-rounded Hatha style that takes into consideration the yogi’s current ability level, goals for alignment and opportunities to deepen valuable parts of the individual’s practice. Irene often incorporates Asana modifications into her series and deep attention to the breath.  

Susan Crandell

Susan is starting her third year as part of the Dance Elite faculty. Susan has been classically trained in ballet, as well as jazz, lyrical and tap. A former Seahawks Seagal, Susan loves being able to share her passion for dance with our young dancers. She is excited for the upcoming school year and our second year production of the Nutcracker, which she will be helping to choreography and continue her role as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Gabriella Dumpit

Gabriella has been dancing and performing in the Seattle community for the past 22 years. Trained in classical Ballet, she quickly found her passion for Jazz at the age of eight and has been dancing the style ever since. Gabriella grew up as a competitive dancer, both in studios and on her High School team, allowing her to grow and explore many styles of dance including contemporary, modern, hip-hop, prop & production, etc. In college, she was part of the University of Washington Dance Team, performing throughout the community and at various sporting events, and was also part of the University of Washington Cheerleading Program dancing for the Pom team at Football and Basketball games. During her senior year, she traveled with the UW Men’s Basketball team to LA where they won the Pac 10 Championship (Go Dawgs!). 

​Gabriella continues to perform each year during Westlake Dance Center’s Sign of the Times show and was recently a part of their performing company, The Black Floor Collective. When she is not teaching dance, Gabriella enjoys spending time with her husband, son and new born daughter, and two spoiled kitties.
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Leah Fadenrecht

Leah, originally from the Snohomish area, received most of her training right here at Dance Elite.  She was involved with assisting children’s classes and competing around the Pacific Northwest with the Amplify Competition Dance Team.  Leah graduated from Central Washington University with degrees in Dance, Film Production Management and History. While attending school she was also a member of the CWU Dance Team and Orchesis Dance Company, where she had opportunities to work with the Khambatta Dance Company, Tacoma Dance Collective, Portland Ballet, and Freddie-Lee Heath, National Dance Educator 2010.

​Leah has traveled to perform various contemporary/modern pieces for the APPHERD Gala, National Dance Association and, to our very own Seattle, to perform in an awarded piece by New Mexico Masters Dance Instructor Crystal Fullmer for the Shape America Gala. This year Leah is teaching a variety of classes, as well as, working with the Elite Performing Company. When she is not at the studio Leah enjoys doing pilates and spending time with family and her pup Eva.

Dade Glaser

Dade Glaser started tap dancing at British Dancing Academy when he was four and started ballet when he was in 7th grade. In high school he trained at the Evergreen City Ballet in ballet, modern, and hip-hop preforming in many roles such as Russian, Arabian, and Caviler in The Nutcracker and Benno in Swan Lake. He also performed in Cinderella, and Giselle as well as other works created by Wade Walthall, and Kevin Kaiser. In 2006 he attended a summer intensive at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. Dade was invited to be a company member of DASSDance, a contemporary company based in Seattle in 2008 and preformed "Fighting Water" in Bumbershoot '09 and Langston Hughes. Other shows with DASSDance include "Untitled 1982" preformed at Washington hall and toured to Manhattan NYC and "Tale of Ten Green". Dade has taught 2 years of ballroom dance at Arthur Murray dance studios, as well as various classes, performances, and choreography with Whidbey Island Dance Theater since 2010.

Pon Nuth

Ponorak Nuth, also goes by "Pon". He is a recent graduate from Lynnwood High School. Pon started dancing when he was 10 years old, he is trained in Hip hop and break dancing. Pon gained a lot of his dance experience from Kontagious Performing Company. There he was named one of the youngest captains at 12 years old. With KPC he competed at World of Dance (WOD) and has performed at many different shows including Pista Sa Nayon, and Unrated. He's taken workshops from the Connection in Mukilteo and has danced alongside dancers from Rated Next Generation (RNG) who've made it to MTV's, America's Best Dance Crew. Pon has a strong love for dance and is only getting stronger. He's excited to teach at Dance Elite and is humbled by the opportunity!​

Kory Rigler

Kory grew up dancing in the Seattle area starting at 2yrs old! As a young teen she danced on the competition team for two different studios and participated in both local and national competitions. At age 15 Kory started college, auditioned into her school’s dance company and performed with them for two seasons. At 18 she felt a calling and joined the U.S. Army Reserve as a medic. She missed dance terribly while away but came back from training ready to teach and it has been her passion ever since. Kory has trained in tap, jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, swing, musical theatre dance, and even clogging! She was part of a local theatre program at what is now known as Edmonds Heights as an actor, dancer, choreographer, and assistant director, and has also performed as a vocalist various times over the years. She is a graduate of the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers at the Creative Dance Center, and has taken many classes and workshops on anatomy and physiology, and kinesiology. 

Kory is also a 200hr Registered Yoga Teacher with Veteran's Yoga Project certification for trauma sensitive teaching. She is currently a community lead for Vetoga, which is a non-profit that provides yoga, meditation, and healing arts for Veteran’s and their families.

Kendal Ruland

Kendal Ruland is a classically trained dancer, teacher, choreographer, and  certified Gyrotonic Trainer. She has spent the last decade teaching at  various dance schools in the PNW and choreographing for local high  school's seasonal musicals. Kendal's training includes Washington  Academy of Performing Arts, International Ballet Academy, San Francisco  Conservatory, LINES Ballet, San Diego City Ballet, and an apprentice  with Ballet BC. She loves teaching the traditional disciplines of dance  while encouraging students to explore their own style of movement. ​

Julian Young

Julian Young started dancing at Santa Barbara City College under the instruction and influence of Kay Fulton and Pamela Lappen. He continued his training at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Cornish College of the Arts and the Ajkun Ballet School. Julian has had the opportunity to perform many roles in classic ballets & modern works from Le Sacre du printemps(Rite of Spring), Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty and Giselle to Hunters & Shaker Life(Songs of the Disinherited). Julian is currently dancing with Ajkun Ballet Theatre(NY) and has performed with Opera Pacifica, Evergreen City Ballet, DASSDance, Northwest Ballet Theater, International Ballet Theater, Olympic Ballet Theater, San Diego Dance Theater, Seattle Theater Group and has performed works by Blythe Barton(SD Dance Theater), Monica Bill Barnes(NY), Daniel Wilkins(SEA/NY), Kabby Mitchell(SEA/Pacific Northwest Ballet), Jennifer Porter(Pacific Northwest Ballet), Juanjo Arques(Het Nationale Ballet), Mark Haim(SEA/ADF), Jean Isaacs(SD Dance Theater), Donald Byrd(Spectrum Dance Theater) & Donald McKayle(NY/UC Irvine)
“Still, some of the dancers, notably Julian Young...were as good as any special effect, combining smooth gymnastic moves with alternately aggressive and tender dance.”

-Michael Upchurch, Boost festival 2011

Casey Younger

Casey grew up dancing from ages 4 to 18 in the Seattle area, training in tap, jazz, ballet, modern, and hip-hop. She competed in several dance convention competitions during that time, taking home multiple trophies in tap. At Edmonds-Woodway High School she was on the dance/drill team and served as captain her senior year. While earning her Bachelors in Fine Arts at Washington State University, Casey continued to take tap and jazz classes as she could, while also serving as a varsity athlete for three years on the women’s rowing team (her team took 4th in the nation, Division I, her senior year!). During graduate school in Oxford, England Casey was a member of her university’s dancesport (ballroom dance) team, competing around the country in waltz and quickstep. During this time she also studied jive, Viennese waltz, tango, Argentine tango, and cha-cha. Today Casey continues to hone her skills by taking advanced tap classes whenever possible. Since 2014, she has been an active board member, choreographer, and performer for Charity Dance Project, a volunteer organization that puts on one show each year to raise money for a different cause. Outside of dance, Casey is a full-time graphic designer and software developer. One her favorite activities is traveling – 47 countries and counting so far! Casey’s favorite dance genre has always been tap, and she is so excited to pass on her rhythmic passion at Dance Elite!

Jilyan Wolfe

Miss Jilyan was born and raised in Massachusetts before moving to Arizona to obtain her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education at Arizona State University. She has taught in studios, middle schools, high schools, and day & overnight camps in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Arizona and Washington. Predominately trained in Modern and Jazz, Miss Jilyan has also studied Ballet, Tap, and Acrobatics. She holds a teaching certification through Acrobatic Arts and recently completed the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers at the Creative Dance Center, expanding her knowledge of Brain Compatible Dance Education.
 
Miss Jilyan takes a personal approach to teaching dance. Her focus is on combining proper technique while exploring self-expression, confidence, and personal growth. She is dedicated to educating dancers about all areas of dance including its rich history, kinesiological principles and choreographic methods. More than anything, Miss Jilyan is focused on having fun in the classroom and creating a love for dance and movement. She is excited to continue to work with the warm and welcoming community that Spotlight has created for dancers, families, and staff.

Andrew Piro
Music Instructor
When Andrew was 7 his mother brought home a 100 year old upright piano from a recently closed church and began studying under Valerie Shields. At Bishop Blanchet High School, Andrew performed in the school's pep bad, chamber ensemble, the pit orchestra for the school musicals, and in the award-winning jazz band. After graduation, Andrew studied digital audio technology and classical piano performance at Shoreline Community College. He also joined a local death metal band called Evangelist as a bassist and vocalist. Over the course of six years, Evangelist played over a hundred shows, toured the West Coast four times, and wrote and released two studio albums, which Andrew engineered and mixed.