Studio Director: Lea Ann Metting
Lea Ann holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University of Texas. She and her family (husband of 17 years and daughter Bonnie, born in 1997), moved to Sherwood in the spring of 2002. Lea Ann has been dancing since she was three. Dance, the arts, and sports have always been a big part of her life. She has been competitive in dance, cheer leading, drill team, gymnastics, diving and swimming. She brings years of management to Sherwood Dance Academy.  Lea Ann is passionate about dance and believes "dance is so important to our young children because it teaches them creativity, discipline, self-esteem, physical fitness, balance, concentration, determination and expression - all things that when combined together, give them wings to fly!"

 

Instructor: Rachelle Meyer
Rachelle has been dancing since she was four and teaching for 12 years. She has studied ballet under several principals for the Kirov Ballet of Russia, the Houston Ballet, and the Bolshoi Ballet. She received her Tap and Jazz training from Westside Dance Academy. "I love the freedom I have to explore and create with my students. I love the open, creative team spirit and the friendly small town atmosphere I get with Sherwood Dance Academy. I am very happy to work at a school where the students well being comes first and new ideas are always welcome. The possibilities in our studio are very exciting." Rachelle is also a photographer, choreographer, artist, and musician. In her "spare" time, Rachelle is working diligently to start a performing company at SDA.
She teaches: Little Movers, Ballet, Jazz, Tap

 

Instructor: Andrea V. Lawhead
Before she was even born, Andrea loved to move!  She is a full time company member of Portland's DO JUMP! Extrememely Physical Theatre and performs aerial dance and "actor-batics" in Portland and across the country.  She earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts and Dance from Western Oregon University, graduating summa cum laude.   Her favorite dance styles include Bellydance, Modern, Non-traditional Partnering, Tap, and Highland.  Choreography is on of her passions, and her works have been performed on university, community, and professional theatre stages.  She studied Bellydance with Sharoni in Port Orchard, WA and Hannah in Lake Oswego.  Andrea started teaching at SDA in 2004 and established the Bellydance and Acro programs.  Currently she is also a student of Highland Dance and competes throughout the Northwest.  Andrea believes, "the exploration of movement is the exploration of our very souls."
She teaches: Bellydance

 

 Assistant Studio Director/ Instructor: Liana Riley
Liana began her training at the age of 11 at Modern Dance Technique with Donna Blatt-Ervin in Corvallis, Oregon, where she studied the techniques of Martha Graham, Lester Horton, and Jose Limon.  With MDT she performed in the Annual Spring Celebration of Dance for 11 years, the Annual Dance Gallery for five years, lectures, demonstrations, and performances for the Majestic Theater Education Program, and the Corvallis Community Theater's production of Magdelena.  Liana started her experience leading dance classes at the age of 16 as one of Donna's teaching assistants, and at 18 she began teaching dance classes for MDT.  At the University of Oregon, Liana began to explore other forms of dance including hip-hop, African, and ballroom.  Since moving to Portland in 2005 she has continued dance training in modern, ballet, hip-hop, jazz, bellydance, lyrical, and tap.  She commutes weekly to Corvallis to teach at Donna's Modern Dance Technique program.
She teaches: Modern, Hip Hop, Ballet, Creative Movement

Instructor: Kindal Spearin
Kindal has been dancing since she was four with Jeanie Morris. Ms. Morris introduced her to Summer Dance Lab (SDL) which was started by a gentleman associated with The Joffrey School of Ballet. Kindal studied ballet, jazz, modern, and theatre during the 3 summers she spent at SDL. During high school and college she studied under Barbara Remington, who formerly danced with the Royal Ballet and Joffrey. While dancing with her, she held soloist and core roles in several ballets including Paquita and Nutcracker. Her freshman year in college, she studied ballet and modern at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, which is home to the International Ballet Competition. Kindal is married and recently had a baby. She teaches beginning through advanced teen/adult ballet.
She teaches: Ballet

 

Lisa's Mom took her to her first dance lesson at the age of three in Oklahoma City and she was hooked.  She gravitated towards ballet and spent the next sixteen years taking classes every evening and summer internships.  She danced on her high school drill team in Texas, and after her family moved to Oregon, she danced on the West Linn High School Dance Team.  She continued dancing through college and helped create and coach the Western Oregon State College Dance Team.  After college she coached the West Linn High School Dance Team for two years.  Her husband's job moves them frequently which has allowed her to teach all over the country.  She is happy to be teaching here at Sherwood Dance Academy.  Lisa says "the most important part of being a dance instructor is to instill a love of dance in those you are teaching, no matter their age or ability.  There is so much to gain through a love of dance- self confidence, appreciation for art, self expression, and joy."
She teaches: Tap, Ballet 

 

Instructor: Jan Capperauld
A student, teacher, competitor, and performer of Highland dance since childhood, Jan will always thrill to the sound of bagpipes. As a young dancer in Los Angeles, she competed at Highland Games, performed on television shows and at public and private events, did movie publicity work, once danced for King Abdullah of Jordan, and also taught dance. After relocating to the Pacific Northwest, she joined the performance troupe of the MacKenzie Dance Company and in 1988, under the tutelage of Bonnie MacKenzie, became a certified Member of the British Association of Teachers of Dance, Highland Branch. Believing that inside each of us soars the spirit of dance, Jan is excited to be part of Sherwood Dance.
She teaches: Highland

 

Instructor: Elizabeth Eckstein
Originally from Columbus Ohio, she lived and studied in Chicago for 5 years before moving to the Portland area in 2005. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and Musical Theatre and Dance from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Elizabeth began dance training at the age of three and has won numerous national dance competitions in tap and jazz. She has trained with Broadway greats such as Jacques D'Ambrois, Keith Stewart, Amy Splitt and Stella Kane to name a few. She has appeared in television commercials, performed in nearly 3 dozen theatre products, and choreographed several musicals. She was a member of her high school drill team, flag corps, and show choir as well as coaching junior drill teams throughout the central Ohio area. Elizabeth is enjoying her family, the outdoors, art, reading, biking, and hiking when she is not teaching. She has an intense passion and enthusiasm for dance, music, and theatre - she is thrilled to be able to teach and share her love and knowledge with the students of SDA. "I wish to provide my students an opportunity to experience the joy and wonder in the beautiful art of dance."
She teaches: Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre/Voice, Pom Pom

Marie is a graduate of the University of Iowa and has a Bachelor of Science in Sports Health and Leisure Studies.  In addition to teaching dance classes Marie coordinates the activity and social service programs at a local retirement community and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).  Marie began her dance education at Dennet Block's Dance Studio in Ocheyedon, Iowa and at a Dance Studio in Sheldon, Iowa under Tina McCurray.  Marie has studied acrobatics, ballet, Pointe, modern, and Jazz.  Marie continued to study dance at the University of Iowa by taking numerous classes.  A highlight for Marie was having had the opportunity to perform at Super Bowl XXX in Arizona and in the Orange Bowl in Miami.  Marie has taught Acro and Dance classes in her hometown of Sheldon and in Iowa City, Iowa.  Marie feels honored to have the opportunity to teach classes at Sherwood Dance Academy and enjoys sharing her knowledge and hopes to pass on the joy that dance can bring.