Theater Director

Rachel graduated with a bachelor's degree in Theater and Performance Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. After obtaining her teaching credential from Cal State Long Beach, Rachel moved to northern California where she taught both Theater and English. During her tenure as a high school Theater teacher she wrote, directed and produced multiple plays and lip sync musicals. She also produced a full-length film which highlighted the school and its diverse student population. Rachel appreciated being able to adapt the pieces to the students’ specific talents, languages and musical abilities. She enjoyed working with different choreographers, set designers and the local community to put on successful performances.

Through her teaching and assistance many of her students have gone onto Cal State colleges and U.C.’s including U.C. Santa Barbara Theater and UCLA Theater and Film school.

While at Groove Studios Rachel looks forward to teaching acting classes, working on theater productions, and offering private lessons for monologues, speeches or audition pieces.

Hip Hop Director

Kialee is 19 and has been dancing for 16 years. She began dancing at Harbor Dance, joining the first ever mini hip hop competition team. She competed from the ages of 8-18, earning scholarships to train in LA and even competed at Monsters Nationals where she took fourth place. She has also performed in sports halftime shows and as a backup dancer at the Puyallup Fair.

She graduated high school after doing full time running start with an emphasis in business. She decided to do running start to focus on her training and teaching development.

Her teaching career also began at Harbor at the young age of 15 where she was then tasked with taking over the competition hip hop program at just 17 years old. Since then, she has expanded her teaching to studios including Freedom Dance Center and Industry Athletics and Movement, working alongside other teachers and leaders in the Seattle dance community. Her choreography has been seen on competition stages, showcases, and college sports halftime shows. She was also featured in Showstopper magazine as a member of Dancers Across America- a campaign in which one dancer from each state is chosen for their outstanding impact on the dance community.

Kialee has a passion for watching students reach their full potential both on and off stage as both humans and dancers. She pushes her students to be the best she knows they can be even when they don’t see their own potential. She hopes to reach as many dancers as possible and encourages an environment of kindness, perseverance, hard work, and dedication.

Instructor / Social Content Creator

Aubrey’s dance journey first began in 2008. After moving to Washington at the age of six, she joined Academy of Dance where she danced on their competition team for 12 years.

Growing up as a societally recognized “plus-size” dancer, Aubrey always struggled with body image. Throughout her teenage years, she decided that body type should never be the reason a dancer chooses not to pursue dance and strives to show young dancers that they can work professionally regardless of what they look like.

Aubrey has since been a part of Academy of Dance’s Pre-Professional program, a Dancewear Center Ambassador, and has received several dance scholarships, some including being an NRG Electro-Tapper, receiving AMDA scholarship money, and over half the tuition paid for her current school, Dean College.

Currently, Aubrey is studying Dance at Dean College in Franklin, MA and she is in a BA program that allows her to double major in Arts and Entertainment Management. During her first year she has already been cast in several showcases put on by the School of Dance and is a part of Dean’s hip-hop dance team, Synergy.

During her time at Dean, she looks forward to continuing her education, deepening faculty connections, and growing her repertoire of dance which also teaching at Groove Studios and developing Choreography during her down time.

Dance Education / Certifications:

- BA in Dance from Dean College (In-Progress)

- Progressive Ballet Technique Certified Teacher

Vocal Coach

Becca Kaaukai is the Administrative Assistant for Spectrum Choral Academy, Northwest Choir Camps and Youth Choir Festival NW. Becca currently sings with Spectrum Accord! — the adult group for Spectrum Choral Academy.

A lifelong choral singer and musician, Becca sang soprano under the direction of Mike Allen as part of South Kitsap High School Concert Choir, Chamber Choir & Highlighters. She studied voice with Joy Fraser for 3 years. During her time in Highlighters, they attended the 2001 Montreaux Jazz Festival and won the Mt Hood Jazz Festival competition in 2001.

She then continued singing with Olympic College in Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz Ensemble 2, Chamber Choir and Jazzline. She studied voice with Susan Trainer for 3 years. Becca performed the role of Susanna in Olympic College's production of Marriage of Figaro in 2003, toured to Thailand in 2004 and was a Music & Academic Scholarship recipient from 2002-2004.

Becca was accepted to University of Washington's Music Department for classical voice performance study, but decided to change her major, graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology in 2006. She then completed her MBA in Global Management in 2010.

Becca has worked with Stephanie Charbonneau (Artistic Director for Spectrum Choral Academy) and her choir programs, festivals and camps from summer 2000 to the present. She has worked in every possible capacity as staff and volunteer including camp counselor, chaperone, volunteer, rehearsals coordinator, festival staff, voice coach, section leader, theory instructor and administrative. She worked for various companies in administrative support from 2002-2016, then left her full-time career to be a stay-at-home homeschooling mama to her daughter who has been dancing for 3 seasons, singing with Spectrum Choral Academy for 3 seasons and practicing Taekwondo for 2 seasons.

Becca finds great passion in helping singers establish a strong foundation of vocal health focusing on breath support, posture and technique allowing her students to take these foundations in all areas of vocal performance

Instructor

Erynn Bosch has been apart of the Port Orchard dance community for over 30 years. Dance started out as a way for her mom to get her involved with after school activities, soon it became a hobby and then it became her passion, performing became her home. Her dance career has given her the opportunities to dance in various parts of the world such as The Bahamas, performing on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and touring Austria with Young Tanzsommer. She has been invited to perform for Carnival Choreographers Ball and to judge dance competitions in Canada. She has won many awards for choreography, costuming and even music editing.

Erynn has been involved in many aspects of “studio life" from student, teacher, owner and now parent. In her 25 years of teaching she has come to value the relationships she makes with her students and sees it as one of the most important aspects of teaching. With tap being one of her favorite genres of dance to teach she has watched her students develop a love of tap that has not only helped them develop the confidence to be more successful in a tap master class setting but also in their other dance classes. “Their success is my success.”

She now lives in Port Orchard with her husband, three sons, two cats, a dog and bearded dragon.

Instructor

Gwyneth Bridges is an American model, dancer, and actress. She was both the United States of America's Teen New York 2022 and Teen Washington 2021. She is a runway fashion model for Fall New York Fashion Week 2022 & 2021. Currently, she has wrapped production as a lead, in the feature film “The Warren.”

Other Experience:

Gwyn has walked the runway for multiple designers including Milla Hoffman Couture and Marc DeFang. She is an award winning competitive dancer and dance company member. Presently, she is a student at South Kitsap High School where she studies Child Care Basics and received her Certification from Washington State. She also is a triple letter athlete and is recognized as on the All States Cheer Team.

Dance Experience / Certifications

- Heat Regional Assistant 2023/2024

- Heat Force Company Member 2023/2024

- Pro Reveler 2024/2025

- Joffrey West LA 2024 - Certification

- AMDA Scholarship Recipient 2024

- United States of America's Teen Washington 2021

Instructor

Nicole trained with Stanley Holden, Charles and Phillip Fuller, and as well as Cynthia Young in Los Angeles, as well as at North Carolina School of the Arts with Melissa Hayden. She then went on and danced with Ballet Omaha, Cincinnati Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet, where she danced roles such as, Dark Angel in George Balanchine's Serenade, demi-soloists in Who Cares?, Theme and Variations, and the principal role in Allegro Brilliante. She also danced the Polka girl in Paul Taylor's Company B, and David Parson's Bachanalia. After retiring from her professional career, she attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison where she received a bachelor's degree in Psychology. Nicole also has a Stott Pilates certification in Mat and Reformer.

Instructor

Chelsea is a tried and true Kitsap resident who began studying ballet at 3 years old locally. As she grew in ability, Chelsea joined the Dance Ensemble Northwest dance company under the direction of Michael Folotico in the Cecchetti style. After high school graduation from North Kitsap High School, Chelsea attended Western Washington University in Bellingham and earned a Bachelor degree in Sociology of Family and Organizations, also taking the opportunity to study ballet at the university and danced in the production, New Music New Dance.

After college, Chelsea moved back to Poulsbo with her husband and began working at The Galletta School of Dance and Performing Arts under the direction of Lynn Galletta in the RAD style. While there, Chelsea began learning how to teach ballet and continued studying ballet, working with the company on their original and classical ballets and musicals as a choreographer, teacher, occasional performer, and eventually, assistant director. Chelsea then began working with Tanya Bleil-Johnson by co-directing Peter Pan, teaching ballet and preschool combo classes with Just For Kicks and choreographing yearly Nutcracker dances. 

In her career, Chelsea has performed such title roles as the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, Rose, and Sugar Plum Fairy several times in the Nutcracker. She has also preformed character roles as the Crocodile in Peter Pan and the Nanny in the Nutcracker.