Please note that we have no teenagers or student teachers on our staff. All of our instructors are Dance Professionals and our fully accredited staff instructs all classes, from 4-year-old pre-Tap or Ballet to advanced level classes. We think all levels and all age groups deserve the best and we know our exceptional staff can deliver the best training possible!
Tony Loupe teaches rhythm tap and Hip Hop. Rhythm Tap, sometimes referred to as “Classical Tap”, is what most of you would think of as good old “Hoofing”. Tony has a remarkable background, having studied with many of the Master Tap teachers in the country. Tony started out in the Jefferson Dance Program and went on from there to have an exciting performance career. Tony will be offering Beginning and Intermediate/Advanced Rhythm Tap classes and an Intermediate/Advanced Teen Hip Hop class.
Michelle (Billings) Price studied all forms of dance starting at age 4. She grew up helping her Mom, Mary Louise, in Tap classes and knows her complete curriculum. Michelle used her dance skills throughout high school as Aloha High School’s dance team captain and later on the U of O dance team. Michelle has studied at L.A. studios, like The Edge, working with top teachers and choreographers. Besides teaching Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop for us here at the studio, Michelle also has a Masters degree in Education and teaches Special Education for the Hillsboro school district. Michelle is a natural teacher with patience that never ends.
Still another alumni of Billings, Jen Church, teaches Beginning Teen/Adult Jazz. Jen is in great shape and loves to start new dancers out on a path toward flexibility and strength. Jen’s students are always so impressed with her perfect stretch they want to know her secrets. It would be hard to find a nicer and more conscientious teacher than Jen.
Mr. Casey Davenport is a wonderful dancer who has made Ballet his life’s work. His foundation training, discipline and dedication came from Caroline Kaiser, founding Director of High Desert Dance Arts. He has also studied with John Gardner of Pacific Festival Ballet and James Canfield of Oregon Ballet Theatre. Casey has also worked with many other Master teachers in assorted Master programs. His study of music theory, anatomy and dance medicine took place at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School. Casey will be teaching all Ballet classes above the Ballet I level. He is excited to be working with the Billings students and we are sure his model of excellence will be a great example for our dancers.
Jayne Calmer, our Gymnastic coach, has an amazing background in the sport of Gymnastics. Jayne was on her way to the Olympics when knee injuries unfortunately put her on the sidelines. She went on to have a very impressive college career and has done an excellent job of motivating and instructing our dancers to be the best gymnasts they can be. Jayne is very conscientious and all of her students respect her.
Michelle started out as Mark Billings’ dance partner at age 7. Little did we know they would someday get married! Michelle grew up in the Billings program and trained extensively in all forms of dance including Ballet, Lyrical, Tap, Jazz and Gymnastics. She has gone on to study Hip Hop and Jazz with many of the top choreographers in the country! Michelle’s artistic choreography and high-energy classes are always in demand. As an accomplished gymnast herself, Michelle loves to add the excitement of Gymnastics to her choreography. Michelle heads up our Jazz and Hip Hop Departments and she is a great technician who loves to help students perfect their technique.
Julie Jacobsen started dancing at 4 years old here at Billings and went on to study all forms of dance. She was the original “Dr. Pepper” girl, dancing with Ray Bolger in the commercial, did several music videos, including Paula Adbul’s “Cold Hearted Snake”, and traveled extensively doing trade shows before settling down to have her 3 children. Julie teaches Tap and Jazz.
Paige has been dancing since the age of two and teaching at the age of thirteen and from that point knew that it was her calling to inspire all ages how to dance to the sounds of music and to express what was in their hearts through movement. She is a very well rounded in her dance training. She has studied and taught extensively in the Ballet, Pointe, lyrical, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Modern, Tap, Clogging, ballroom, tumbling, cheer and the musical theater genres. Before joining BDC she spent a two years on staff teaching for the world renowned Arthur Murray school of ballroom dance. Paige has a very obvious passion for all disciplines of dance and a fun loving infectious personality. Having an extensive and diverse background allows her to create an exciting and uniquely fitting class for all age levels and abilities. In her words "I am so excited to call Billings Dance Center my new home and to become a part of the family" and we are so excited to have her on the BDC team.
Krystle Hass has many years of teaching experience under the direction of Casey Davenport. She is a beautiful young dancer, with experience in Ballet, Jazz and Tap. Krystle is studying education at college and we are very excited to have her on our staff.
Hun Kim teaches our Boys’ Hip Hop and Break dancing class. He is a young man with a great deal of talent, and has honed his Breaking skills as a member of the Aloha High School break dance club.