Instructors

 

The Director of Auburn Dance and Music Center, Mr. Robert Smith, is a life member of Dance Educators of America and is also one of the charter members of Dance Congress.

 

He has had extensive dance training from some of the finest teachers in the country, including Caird Leslie, Nana Gollner, Paul Petroff, Robert Joffrey, Ofga Ziceva, Joseph Levinoff, Ruthanna Boris, Thalia Mara, Dimitri Romanoff, Hentry Danton, Rochelle Zide, Alexandra Danilova, Vassili Sulich, Valentina Oumansky, Bill Martin-Viscounty, Andra Corvino, Gail Grant, and Joseph Carow.

 

Mr. Smith’s tap training includes classes with Denny Hoctor, Jules Stone, Louis Da Pron, Jack Stanley, Ernest Carlos, Phil Black, Paul Draper, and Violet Holmes (Radio City Music Hall).  During jazz training, he worked with Eugene Loring, Matt Mattox, Luigi, Stanley Hahn, George Jack, Peter Gladke, Harry Woolever, Danny Carroll, and Betsy Haug.

 

 

  

 

 

Monica Boldizsar has been dancing since she was three years old and began teaching at age fourteen.  She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical/modern, kickline, and various fitness fomats.

 

She has performed in many dance shows and competitions, and had the opportunity to back up dance for Sir Paul McCartney when he came to town in 2002 for his World Tour.

 

Monica shares her passion for dance by teaching several classes at Auburn Dance and Music Center, and believes the strength of a dancer lies in technique and discipline.  She continues her dance education to suit the needs of her students. 

 

   

 

   

 

 

 A dancer all her life, Akemi Segawa has studied her craft since age three.  Trained professionally in jazz, tap, hip hop, ballet, modern and lyrical, Akemi brings a wealth of dance skill to her students at Auburn Dance and Music Center.  Akemi’s experience spans studio, school teams, and professional exposure to create a well-rounded portfolio that lends a distinct style to her choreography. 

 

In her teaching, she attempts to create an environment that maximizes her students’ abilities to grow as dancers.

 

Akemi has performed professionally in the Seattle nightclub circuit and has been on the faculty of New City Dance in Burient.

 

Akemi is thrilled to be part of our staff and looks forward to sharing her skills with students of all ages.  When she’s not choreographing, Akemi enjoys winter sports and spending time with her husband Rob.

 

     

 

 

 Akio Segawa has been a student of dance since the young age of seven and is a graduate student of Auburn Dance and Music Center.  He has extensive training and performing in jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, lyrical, and other forms of dance.

 

In 2002, Akio had the opportunity to be a backup dancer for Sir Paul McCartney when he performed his World Tour at the Tacoma Dome.  He performed and danced in several musical productions at the Auburn Avenue Theater.

 

Akio’s classes are a fusion of theater tap and rhythm tap, and is always the highlight of our annual showcase.  In creating choreography, Akio introduces novel and clever ideas using styles and music from the past as well as the present.  His winning personality and great love of dance brings to each class a fun way to learn. 

 

 

 

    

 

 Amy Craig grew up dancing in the Pacific Northwest.  Years of instruction in tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, and hip hop has helped her to become one of Auburn Dance and Music Center’s favorite preschool teachers.

 

Amy become a teacher in 2005 after two years of student teaching at Auburn Dance and Music Center.  Her goal is to inspire children to fall in love with dance, just as she has, through fun creative movement.  She loves sharing her enthusiam, energy and love for dance with the students she teaches.

 

Amy feels that teaching children how to dance is one of the most rewarding jobs within the arts community. She says, “While at times challenging, I try to make a difference in little lives.”