Faculty

Annette Lago, founder and director of Dance Arts, has studied dance for nearly two decades. She graduated with a BFA in Dance from the University of Washington in 1995, and has been teaching Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical and Hip Hop to students of all age/ability levels at local studios for the past eight years.

In 1999, Annette founded the Dance Arts Performing Company (formerly Dance X). Since it's inception, the competing team has more than quadrupled in size and has won numerous awards at regional competitions. The team also performs her choreography at local schools, retirement homes and festivals such as the Puyallup Fair, Maple Valley Days and Renton River Days.

Her philosophy is that the best teachers are always students themselves. She continues to take regular classes as well as attend conventions and workshops including DEA, DMA, Tremaine, LA Dance Force and PNB's annual instructor training seminar.

Erin Hatch-Nielson, a native of Arizona, has danced both nationally and internationally. Her pre-collegiate experience includes performances at Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Carnival Cruise Ships, in addition to being a semi finalist in the Miss Arizona Pageant.

She recently graduated from Brigham Young University with a BFA in Dance, and during that time she received the Modern Choreographer of the Year Award for two consecutive years from the BYU Dance Department.

Over the past eight years, Erin has choreographed/taught dance and gymnastics at studios across Arizona, Idaho and Utah. From creative movement for toddlers to adult hip hop, she loves the teaching aspect of dance more than anything.

Corinne Jacobson is a Seattle area native and graduate of the British Dancing Academy(completing all R.A.D. and I.T.S.D. exams), in addition to training with the Joffrey Ballet. Her performing credits include work with renowned liturgical dancer Betsy Beckman, the Radost Company, and at the Nutcracker Ball.

Corinne is currently a member of the Eastside Moving Company, where she serves as dancer and choreographer. She also choreographs and performs liturgical dance at her church.

She has been teaching ballet, jazz and hip hop to children for the past four years at various elementary schools through the Eastside Enrichment Program and is excited to join our studio.

Chantrelle is currently a member of the Eastside Moving Company, where she performs a repertoire including Modern, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and Jazz. In the last several years, she has taught gymnastics at Emerald City Gymnastics Academy and Gymnastics East.

In addition to continued training, Tamara is also a local performer, most recently having been a singer/dancer in Bellevue Civic Theater's "Jesus Christ Superstar", directed by Kent Phillips.