STAFF
Julane Stites- Artistic Director
Julane Stites has been a dedicated dance educator in the Northwest for over thirty years. As a former company director of the Jefferson Dancers, she views her current directorship of Dance West as yet another opportunity to share her vast background with a community committed to quality arts education. Dance was practically a genetic trait in her family, the trade being passed on from her grandfather, Carl Kelly, to her mother, Merleen Stites, then on to her.
Julane was raised in her mothers studio and her skills matured at a very young age. At twelve, she was selected to perform the lead child's role in the Bolshol Ballet's Northwest debut. By the time she was sixteen she was featured on Broadway in the original - cast, principle roles of The Happy Time and Promises Promises. Her credits also include appearances on the David Frost Show, Saturday Night Live, The Tony Awards, The Ed Sullivan Show and numerous commercial and industrial shows. Upon her return to Portland in 1981, Julane became artistic director of "A Moving Force," a dance company that was sponsored by Mt. Hood Community College. At the same time, she co - directed The Stites Center with her mother. She was honored with the Willie Award for best choreography of "West Side Story" which she did for Portland Civic Theatre. Throughout the years she has complied a large body of choreographic works that have received high praise and recognition. In 1984, her "Yellowjackets" jazz trio won 1st place in New York City at the National Fred Astaire Contest. In 1998 her choreography opened the door for the Jefferson Dancers to perform at the International High School Dance Festival and in 2000 and 2002, won the same honor for the Arts & Communication's Dance West and Seabury Hall Preparatory School in 2004. Specializing in tailoring work for concert, video and community events. Julane's credits also include Knott's Berry Farm. Disneyland, Columbia Sportswear and Avia Eugene and Oregon Symphonies. She was responsible for the original choreography in Will Vinton's "California Raisins" commercials, which reached national audiences. She is a regular guest artist at Seabury Hall Preparatory school in Makawao, Hawaii and a revered master teacher of the Kneeland Methodology. Julane takes pride in knowing that she has been a part of the lives of many professionals working in the field of dance and abroad. Sharing in their success is a fulfilling experience. |
Felice Moskowitz - Dance Instructor
Felice Moskowitz brings over thirty years of diverse teaching experience to the Arts & Communications Magnet Academy. Graduating with a degree in English her passion had always been dance and her dream to teach dance in the public schools. Her first opportunity came with the Jefferson Dance program where she taught at the high school and also in many middle schools in the Portland area. She coordinated the annual recitals, choreographed for the dance performance Ensemble at Jefferson, and arranged bookings for the Jefferson Dancers. Her training includes studying with some of the finest teachers and choreographers in New York, LA, Seattle and Portland. Some of her choreographic credits include: The Wiz, Music Man, Guys and Dolls, Once on this Island, Fiddler on the Roof and Footloose.
Summers are spent at the prestigious Idyllwild School of the Arts in Southern California where she teaches and choreographs musical theater. Felice has been an active member of the International Network for Performing and Visual Arts Schools and served as Dance Chair for the Oregon Association of Physical Education. She is responsible for connecting professional performers and artists with public school performance curriculum. |
Jason Davis- Dance West Ballet Master
Jason Davis is a native of Tucson, Arizona and began his dance training with Mary Beth Cabana at Ballet Arts in Tucson. He attended numerous summer dance programs including the Universal Ballet Academy, the School of American Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet School, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and Ballet Aspen's men's program. At fifteen, he joined the Universal Ballet Academy ( Kirov Academy ) under the direction of Oleg Vinogradov.
In 1992, Jason joined the San Francisco Ballet School and after one year, joined the company. For eleven seasons, Jason danced with the San Francisco Ballet where he performed in many classic ballets as well as organized choreography by Mark Morris, Stanton Welch, Yuri Possokov, James Kudelka, William Forsythe, and Helgi Tomasson among others. Jason has been teaching ballet for 16 years and is a licensed teacher by the state of Oregon. He has taught at Ball Elementary, Da Vinci Middle School, West Sylvan Middle School, Jefferson High School, and Stites Performing Arts Center. Jason enjoyed directing and choreographing the Vancouver Dance Theatre which includes the full length Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake Act 3, and Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra. Jason spends his summers teaching on various faculties including The Portland Ballet, Vancouver Dance Theatre. Columbia Dance Ensemble, the Northwest Professional Dance Project, and Repertory Ballet of New Mexico and directing the dance program for the Young Musicians and Artists Summer Program. Currently Jason is the ballet teacher at the Arts & Communications Magnet Academy and Ballet Master for Dance West in Beaverton and is the principal at The Portland Ballet. Jason and his wife Michelle, have three young children: Ariana, Andrew and Isabel. |
Terry Brock - Tap Dance Instructor
Terry Brock has a diverse background which includes multiple choreographic works and an international performing career. She has performed and taught at tap festivals worldwide, from New York City, through Canada and Europe, and is currently artistic adviser for the Vancouver Tap Society, BC Canada. The 2010 Winter Olympics featured Terry's Canadian tap students in the opening ceremony viewed by millions worldwide. She has shared the stage with legendary stars including Gregory Hines, The Nicholas Brothers, Ben Vereen and Shirley MacLaine to name a few. Terry has choreographed and performed with the famous Duke Ellington's son, Mercer Ellington, and has created repertory for the Oregon Symphony and appeared with the San Francisco and Seattle symphonies. Terry is regarded as one of the leading female tap contemporaries today, having been honored at U.C.L.A along with her idols Eleanor Powell and Ginger Rogers. Terry is also the conservator of Miss Powell's choreography, and is the chosen recipient of "Ellie's" tap shoes and travel trunk.
Most recently Terry received a Fulbright Specialist Award, and proudly represented U.S. Ambassador interests in conjunction with Prague, CZ. In addition to performance and choreographic projects, Terry teaches privately and is most appreciative to be on the gifted staff at ACMA where she is inspired daily by her peers and their talents. Terry's passion to train and inspire the next generation thrives. |
Kemba Shannon - Dance Instructor
Kemba Shannon received her BFA from Towson State University and trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Martha Graham School, the Edge, Lula Washington, Peridance, and Morgan State University. She has taught dance classes at UCLA, Loyola Marymount, El Camino College and Portland State University among others. Kemba's stage credits include: The Lion King (LA cast), The Color Purple (Broadway cast), Cirque du Soleil (Zumanity), Aida and FAME. Kemba's ambition and drive have won her world recognition with icons MADONNA ("Drowned World Tour"), PINK (Try This World Tour"), Celine Dion ( Taking Chances World Tour"), RIHANNA (Nike Rockstar World Tour), Kanye West, R. Kelly and FANTASIA just to name a few. Her television credits include: American Dreams (NBC), Oscars ("Chicago" Performance), MTV Music Awards (Pink performance ), the Emmys (Kristin Bell performance), World Music Awards (Kanye West & R. Kelly), NAACP Awards and the Grammy's.
Kemba's multifaceted dance style continues to inspire her students to be fierce and dance with their heart and soul. |
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Arts & Communication Magnet Academy
Dance West 11375 SW Center Street Beaverton, Oregon 97005 Tel: (503) 672-3700 ext.9 Email: Click here |
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