Bremerton Dance Center Staff
Photo By iklilgregg.com
|
Mallory Morrison (School Director, Ballet, Modern, and TWIRLING Toddlers)Mallory received her training with Bremerton Dance Center and joined PDT as a dancer in 1998. Much of Ms. Morrison’s dance education also stems from attending several summer dance intensive across the US. As a PDT dancer, Ms. Morrison toured with the company to France, in 2001 and in 2006, she performed at Disney World and with the Royal Caribbean Cruise line tour. Outside of PDT she has had professional opportunities to perform with Dance This! a company based in Seattle and as a backup dancer in Cheri Moon’s, One More Crazy Summer. In 2008, Ms. Morrison graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration through Central Washington University. In the summer of 2005 Mallory attended Jillana's Technique in Taos, for teachers and in 2010 she attended the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet Teacher's Program. She is also a certified ABT Teacher for levels Pre-Primary through Level 3. Ms. Morrison received the Kitsap Sun’s 20 under 40 for 2015 and the Women of Achievement for Arts, Culture, design from the YWCA in 2016. As the Assistant Artistic Director Ms. Morrison hopes to inspire every dancer to reach his or her highest aspirations.
|
Photo By iklilgregg.com
|
Nicole Cisler (Ballet Mistress)Nicole trained with Stanley Holden, Charles and Phillip Fuller, and as well as Cynthia Young in Los Angeles. She also studied with Melissa Hayden at North Carolina School of the Arts. She then went on and danced with Ballet Omaha, Cincinnati Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet. After retiring from ballet she attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison to receive a Psychology Degree. Nicole and her husband, Jason, have three boys; Malcolm, and the twins, Nathaniel and Zachary, who keep them very busy.
|
Photo By Hootcreek Photography
|
Betsy Conger (Ballet Mistress)Betsy has been teaching ballet at BDC for more years than she can remember and has been involved with PDT in various capacities, including: Orchestra manager, choreographer, set designer, stage hand and many roles in between. Betsy received her dance training at Cornish College of the Arts where she performed with the Cornish Ballet. She danced with members of the First Chamber Dance Company, as well as other independent choreographers, in the Seattle area. Betsy feels PDT/BDC offers many opportunities to participate creatively in the dance world, whether as a dancer, teacher or choreographer.
|
Photo By iklilgregg.com
|
Ryan Posey (Tap Program)Ryan began dancing 20 years ago in Port Orchard where he studied Tap and Jazz. Ryan began dancing with Peninsula Dance Theatre and Bremerton Dance Center in 2007. He was also a Principal member with PDT for 10 years. He now teaches the Jazz and Tap classes at Bremerton Dance Center, where he uses the Al Gilbert Tap Syllabus for the Tap classes. Ryan is also a seasonal Choreographer with CSTOCK in Silverdale where he choreographed Footloose, Mary Poppins, Shrek the Musical and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He received the award for Best Choreography for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for the 2014-2015 season with CSTOCK.
|
|
Jason Cisler (Ballet, Men's program, Pas de DEUX)Jason trained with Harid Conservatory, Virginia School of the Arts, San Francisco Ballet, and went on to dance with Richmond Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet. Jason received an Industrial Engineer Degree form University of Wisconsin, Madison, and currently works at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
|
|
Rika Rossing (Jazz)Rika grew up in Victoria, BC and Honolulu, Hawaii and has had a passion for dance and choreography since childhood. She was a competitive gymnast for 10 years and became a level 9 All-Around Regional Champion in 2005. She received her BFA in Performing Arts from Naropa University in 2012, and soon after began teaching dance and gymnastics in Hawaii. She has experience teaching classes including jazz, tumbling, hip hop, tap, ballet, and song & dance. Rika has become a respected gymnastics floor routine choreographer in the last 9 years, having created over 100 routines and counting for some of the top gymnasts from the state of Hawaii. Rika performed professionally for over 3 years as a dancer and singer in multiple shows in Waikiki, including Legends in Concert Rockahula Waikiki from 2017-2019. In 2020 she danced for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, where she got to live the dream of traveling and dancing professionally in high quality ballroom and commercial dance shows. Throughout her career she has trained in many dance styles ranging from jazz, modern, swing, hula, Tahitian, hip hop, ballroom and improvisation. She is beyond excited to start her journey teaching jazz classes at Bremerton Dance Center.
|
|
Alexix Smith (Ballet)
Alexix began her training at the age of 4 and started her professional track at 12 years old. Alexix has trained and performed with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, American Ballet Theatre, The Rock School of Dance, Alonzo King Lines Ballet gaining experience in classical ballet, contemporary ballet, modern, tap and jazz. Her training has taken her around the world to places like Shanghai China, California, and New York City, and she has had the opportunity to grace major stages like The Kennedy Center in Washington DC, New York City Center, and The Joyce Theater in New York. Alexix has found a new passion in teaching and hopes to grow and nurture students' artistry and passion for dance.
|
|
Meaghan Smith (Imagine Program, Ballet)Meaghan began dancing at Bremerton Dance Center in 1995, where she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance, and also performed as a company dancer with Peninsula Dance Theatre. While attending Central Washington University for Fashion Merchandising she danced with Orchesis Dance Company and obtained her minor in Dance. As well as performing with Orchesis, she choreographed, worked as the Costume director, and taught Stage Makeup Classes. Meaghan has been teaching at Bremerton Dance Center and choreographing for Peninsula Dance Theatre’s Junior Company since 2012 and looks forward to teaching for years to come.
|
|
Lawan Morrison (Founding Director)Lawan Morrison is the founding director of Bremerton Dance Center. She has been providing dance instruction to Kitsap County for over forty five years, and has taught dance since 1958. In 1972, she founded Peninsula Dance Theatre and currently serves as PDT’s Artistic Director. As a choreographer, she has collaborated with directors throughout the local area, including Oregon and Montana.
In 2002, Ms. Morrison received the YWCA's coveted "Women of Achievement Award." She is an avid member of the "Red Hat Club." An active member of the West Sound Arts Council board, Ms. Morrison has worked to promote the arts in the greater Kitsap community for many years. Ms. Morrison has twice served as president of Regional Dance America/Pacific. In 2006, she had the honor of hosting the RDA/Pacific Dance Festival. Twenty-two dance companies from the pacific region participated in the festival. |
Photo By iklilgregg.com
