She has made her home here in Everett, WA where she is focusing on teaching, directing and choreography.  Laura offers instruction in the areas of voice, tap, jazz, hip hop, performance techniques, piano, and general mayhem.  She is the Director of our Applause Players Musical Theatre Troupe.  This is a growing theatre group of youth and adults who put on an annual professional production. 

Alison - Applause Studio Assistant Director / Dance Instructor / Performance Troupe Coach

Sid -  aka: Mr. Alison, is Soundman, Recording Engineer, Webmaster, Occasional Performer, and Heavy-Stuff Carrier. 

Since Alison's REAL dream job as a creator/performer for Sesame Street is probably not realistically attainable while living on the west coast, she is grateful for the chance to lead students of all ages to the joy that is to be found in music and dance – through lessons and experiences at Applause Studio.  Alison's complete Bio 

Sid is also a very talented and versatile performer.  He also contributes to Applause Studio in many ways that support our performances and studio business.  Sid's complete Bio  

Damian -

Hip Hop & Break Dance 

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Olson Photography

Albee is a force to be reckoned with in the local hip hop scene. His dancing and his choreography have been seen on numerous stages at area events, including Seahawks games, and at The Seattle Center and other community festivals and fairs. He has danced in and choreographed numbers for a variety of television specials and industrial films, for clients that include Nike and 24 Hour Fitness. His extensive training includes time with Ryan Foster, Ryan Chandler, Anika M., Mindy Lu, Kari Lee, Cameron Lee, Hayato, Danielle Cruz, Yoshio Wright, Monsters of Hip Hop, LA Elite, Tony Testa, Chris Jones, Courtney Miller, and Ivan K. Albee is also self taught, with a natural brilliance for original and athletic choreography that makes him an unforgettable stand-out among his peers and his fans alike. His gentle ways, combined with unbounded enthusiasm and drive, make him the kind of teacher that inspires true loyalty among his students. The hip hop dance team that Albee coaches for us is a major audience attraction at our performances and recitals. We are honored to have him as a part of our wonderful team of Applause Studio dance instructors.

Miss Lisa obtained her early dance training in performing arts programs throughout Atlanta, GA. She then received her Bachelors of Science in Education Degree from the University of Georgia’s Dance Department. She moved to New York City and performed with the Marianna Beckerman Dance Company and Brian Carr Light Curve Dance Company for several years. Lisa acquired a Masters in Fine Arts Degree at New York University’s Tisch Dance Department. She continued on to the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in NYC to focus her teaching perspective on composition and form of modern dance. After becoming a CMA (Certified Movement Analyst) at LIMS, Lisa moved with her fiancé to Seattle, WA where they are beginning their lives as West Coasters.

Miss Megan grew up dancing in the Everett, Washington area. Her early training began at Alderwood Dance Spectrum in Lynnwood, WA. She also trained at Johnson & Peters Tap Dance, High Step Dance Academy and with the Gavaghan Irish Dancers during middle and high school. After high school Megan spent a year studying modern and ballet at Columbia College Chicago. While in Chicago she also trained in tap under Jimmy Payne, Jr. Megan earned her B.F.A. in Dance Choreography and Performance from Western Washington University. She was the recipient of the Monica Gutchow Dance Arts in Education Scholarship 2007/2008 and received the Mentoring Undergraduates Grant from the W.W.U. Foundation. While at Western she performed in reconstructions of James Kudelka’s Soudain, l’Hiver Dernier, Hannah Kahn’s Only, and Mark Morris’ New Love Song Waltzes. She has taught many forms of dance at studios in Lynnwood and Bellingham. Megan looks forward to teaching the future generation all she has learned about the dance arts!

Miss Jeana started taking dance classes at the age of three.  Before she came to Applause, she studied ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop & lyrical at locations such as Pacific Chamber Ballet, Olympic Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Westlake Dance.  She’s been coaching and doing choreography for the Lynnwood High School dance team "Royal Impact" since 2002.  Jeana is the mother of 2 adorable children, and they love it when she turns on the music so that they can just go crazy dancing around the room together!  Many students got to know Jeana this past year as she substituted for her sister Joyleen, who is now in California pursuing a professional career as a dancer!  (Go Joyleen!!)  Jeana keeps it fresh and has fun - visiting other studios for drop in classes whenever she gets the chance.  She is happy to finally be an OFFICIAL member of the Applause family.

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Olson Photography

Miss Deborah began her study of dance at age eight, receiving instruction from Ruth Brinkerhoff and Mary Adams.  She studied under the Royal Academy of Dancing (RAD) curriculum, taking exams each year and progressing with excellent marks.  Miss Deborah also danced with Brigham Young University’s Theatre Ballet, and also with their world-renowned Ballroom and Folk Dance teams.  Deborah's complete Bio

Miss Debra - Applause Studio Artistic Director, Marketing Advisor, Website Designer, Art Instructor, Vocal coach, Acting Instructor & Kindermusik teacher.
Debra was born with an artistic flare. She has studied all forms of crafts, Art, and performing art throughout her life time, and continues to learn new skills as often as she can. She loves children, which has made her last 2 years of teaching art at Express Yourself Studios a pleasure.

After partnering to purchase the studio, She has been enjoying the opportunity it has brought for her to use her Marketing skills.  She is looking forward to her new endeavors: developing the art program for Applause Studio, continuing to develop this website,  and teaching her Kindermusik & art classes.  Debra's complete Bio

Miss Chari has been involved with music since the tender age of 5 when she began piano lessons.  At the age of 10, she began accompanying both high school choirs and church choirs.  She started playing professionally at the age of 15.  By the age of 18, Chari was a published composer and recording artist.  She has continued composing and arranging music over the last 20 years. Chari has studied with some of the best professionals in the business: Dean & Craig Kaelin & Kenneth Cope – just to name a few.   Chari has taught both piano and voice for over 20 years.  At her busiest, she taught 160 piano students a week at her piano studio in Georgia.  Chari also has an extensive background in musical theatre… and has performed in, directed, produced, arranged and written original scores for a number of wonderful stage productions.  Miss Chari has directed children’s choirs in several different states with great success. She brings to Applause Studio a vast amount of enthusiasm, skill, experience, a love of music and children --  and her very contagious joy  --  all together in one delightful package!

Rene was born and raised in California. She started dancing when she was 9 years old at Kaye Dougal’s School of Dance. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, clogging, folk dance, ballroom and musical theater.

She continued her dance studies at Brigham Young University where she gained more dance experience in precision and modern dance. While at BYU, she danced on the Folkdance Team and also began teaching fitness classes. Rene loves to choreograph and has had many opportunities to choreograph with church, school and community groups.

Rene's complete bio

Miss Irena is pleased to find a local studio that is eager to reach out to the large Russian community in our area, and we are pleased to have her!  (Studio director Miss Alison has traveled to Russia twice, and enjoys her many friendships with those she met during her travels.) Irena’s ballet classes are specifically targeted at Russian speaking students.  (Although she speaks English fluently as well.)  In Russia, Irena studied at the Zdanov Pioneers Palace Dance School of St. Petersburg, focusing on the Vaganova method of ballet.  This instruction was lead by Nina Nikalaevna Bazukina, a former principle dancer with the Kirov Ballet.  Character dance instruction was under the direction of Luisa Nikalaevna Titova, a graduate of the Perm School of Dance.  While still living in Russia, Irena performed with the Lenconcert Dance Group, frequently sharing the stage with Russian pop and rock stars.

Pam has been performing and teaching jazz, ballet, lyrical jazz, and hip hop for over 30 years, all across the country and in Europe.  Highlights from her career as a singer and dancer include time as a member of the NBA Sacramento Kings “Fastbreak” Dance Team, a performer with Paramount’s Great American Theme Park, and with the “Shoji Tabuchi Theatre” in Branson, Missouri.  Pam's complete bio

Joyleen has been dancing for 18 years, and has been trained in a variety of dance styles ranging from: ballet, jazz, lyrical and modern to hip hop and gymnastics.  She started the Royal Impact dance team for Lynnwood High School and for three years was the active  coach/captain and choreographer. She has also been on separate competitive dance teams earning many awards for her abilities and choreography. After graduating in 2005 she studied at Cornish College of the Arts where she trained with Pat Hon, Wade Madsen, Michelle Miller, Gerard Theoret, Deborah Wolf and Donald Byrd. Joyleen has the capability to teach all different styles and enjoys working with all ages beginning to advanced levels.

Shannon hails from Wyoming, and has lived in Washington since 1985. As a child, she made good use of her freedom by exploring her environment and drawing what she saw. Her mother set a marvelous example by always seeking out new ways for creative expression, and that example and encouragement have helped Shannon to do the same. She also credits art teacher Billie Sessions with opening up the flood gates to many different art mediums and ways of approaching art. Shannon feels very passionate about her art, making it a point to draw every day. She continues to take new classes and learn new mediums, and she enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills with others.

Shannon's complete bio

Michelle - Hip Hop Instructor  

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Olson Photography

We have been glad to have her here at Applause Studios.  Michelle's complete Bio

Kevin - Hip Hop Instructor