Our Faculty
NICKI LOUD
CO-OWNER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
CO-DIRECTOR OF TRILOGY DANCE COMPANY
JAZZ, MUSICAL THEATRE, CONTEMPORARY, TODDLER/COMBO CLASSES
Nicki, an original member of Trilogy Dance Company, trained with Turning Pointe Dance Centre from the time it opened in 1995. In the summer of 2001, she was presented the national title of New York City Dance Alliance Senior Outstanding Female Dancer, beginning a six-year journey touring with the convention, first as an assistant and eventually as a faculty member. In addition to her time with NYCDA, Nicki has had the honor of traveling the world assisting many renowned choreographers including Andy Blankenbuehler, Mia Michaels, Doug Caldwell, Joe Lanteri and Cris Judd. Since then, Nicki has lived in both New York City and Los Angeles where she worked on “So You Think You Can Dance”, Seasons 2 and 8, as assistant choreographer to Tyce Diorio and also assisted Mark Meismer with his choreography for “Dancing With The Stars” guest artist, Martina McBride. In 2007, her choreography debuted at the Joyce Theater in NYC in the Rock n’ Roll show, “REVOLUTION”, which toured North America through Spring of 2009. Nicki has been awarded honors such as Outstanding Choreographer at Youth American Grand Prix, Best Choreographer at the 2012 Dance Awards, and is a three-time Capezio A.C.E. Awards Finalist. After being invited to showcase her work at the YAPG National Gala in NYC, ‘Nvitational’ in LA and ‘Dancing Under The Stars’ in Utah, Nicki’s choreography took her to Paris, France where she and long-time friend, Zack Benitez (D.W.T.S. France) set a piece on the famous French television show, ‘Vivement Dimanche’. Nicki has spent the last four years in Alabama teaching on faculty at Troy University, coordinating TROY Dance Theatre and acting as Chair of the Alabama Dance Council Audition Committee. After 16 years of pursuing her professional career, Nicki has returned to her roots at recently purchased Turning Pointe Dance Centre, ready and excited to share her knowledge and experience with our next generation of young artists.
AMY CORYER SUGAWARA
CO-DIRECTOR OF TRILOGY DANCE COMPANY
HIP HOP, TAP, COMBO CLASSES
KATHY SCHARP
BALLET, POINTE
Kathy received early ballet training in her native Michigan with Marjorie Randazzo and later, extensively, at CAS Ballet Theatre School in Ann Arbor, under the direction of Carol Radovic. After graduating high school, she studied Bournonville technique in Copenhagen, Denmark with famed Royal Danish Ballerina, Toni Lander Marks. Vaganova classes were also offered there, paving the way for a life-long love and appreciation of this demanding, beautiful and expressive style of ballet.
In 1980, Scharp and Radovic co-founded the non-profit, Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre, where Scharp was a Principal Dancer and Choreographer; and later Co-Artistic Director, Ballet Mistress and Vice President on the Board of Directors. Her favorite roles have included the lead in “Carmen”, Dying Swan in “Carnival of the Animals”, and Arabian and Snow Queen in “The Nutcracker”.
From the mid 1980s – late 1990s Scharp studied under many Vaganova and Bolshoi trained teachers, including Luba Gulyaeva, Mikhail Lavrovsky, Ninel Kurgapkina, Genrikh Mayorov, Ludmila Sakharova, Ludmila Synelnikova and Edward Villella. During those years Scharp also received Vaganova method teacher training with Jurgen Schneider (American Ballet Theatre) and Janina Cunova (Australian Ballet).
In 2010 Scharp founded Russian Ballet Theatre School, in Ypsilanti, MI, where she taught Vaganova ballet technique, pointe, partnering and conditioning classes, and directed and choreographed many in-studio chamber pieces as well as theatre productions, most with live music. In 2014, Washtenaw Indie Awards/Think Local First of Ann Arbor awarded Russian Ballet Theatre School “The Big Leap” Award, for successfully creating a thriving business despite all the risks.
Then in the Spring of 2016, a long-time dream of relocating to the Pacific Northwest became a reality, and Scharp and her husband, Jake relocated to Corvallis with their 2 dogs, Violet and Tulip. Scharp is honored to have an opportunity to teach at Corvallis Academy of Ballet.
MacKenzie Parfitt
COMBO CLASSES, JAZZ, LYRICAL
Mackenzie Parfitt has such a love for dance! Following her mothers footsteps who attended Cornish, she found her home at Turning Pointe at the age of 4. She was a member of Trilogy Dance Company until graduation and spent those years as part of the company traveling and competing, winning numerous scholarships and performing as a dancer of the year finalist with New York City Dance Alliance. She has choreographed and set pieces for Trilogy, Footlights Dance Studio, IGNITE, and previously was the assistant coach for Roosevelt High School in Seattle, choreographing their hip hop and running a contemporary team. She has trained in Jazz, Lyrical, ballet and hip hop and believes that dance gave her the ability to express herself without words and taught her the true meaning of commitment and self discipline. She loves sharing her experiences and passion with other dancers! Dance was always Mackenzie’s first love, until recently when she had her son Luxson. Aside from dance, she loves to be a mama, spend time outside, good music and watching life through her sons eyes.
VICKY NORTH
TODDLER/PRESCHOOL, COMBO CLASSES, BEGINNING BALLET
Vicky North has loved dance and performing since a very early age, at 3 she was already dancing on stage. She has been teaching children dance for many years, beginning in Houston, Texas as an assistant for her mom, then taking over Sullivan School of Dance. While running her own studio she became the resident choreographer and class director at Houston International Theater School. She has choreographed numerous musicals, a Macy’s New York Thanksgiving Day Parade performance, as well as outreach programs in Houston Independent School District. At the present Vicky is an elementary school teacher in Everett Public Schools and continues trying to find ways to engage children in dance and theater in her new career. She is very excited to join Turning Pointe, and to help our youngest dancers enjoy dance and performing as much as she does.
MIRANDA KNORR
TECHNIQUE, FLEXIBILITY, IMPROV, MODERN
Miranda Knorr, a native of Rochester, New York began dancing at age three training in various styles. She received her B.F.A in Dance with a concentration in Performance and Choreography from Coker College in South Carolina. Here, she obtained the opportunity to work with leading choreographers Teena Marie Custer, Adele Myers, Seán Curran, Contra Tiempo, and performed in Trisha Brown’s work, “Set and Reset”. Expanding her artistry, she choreographed solo, duet, and group works, including a trio “Color Coating” adjudicated by legendary Chuck Davis. Knorr has performed at the SCDancing Festival, concerts at the American College Dance Festival, SCAHPERD, and Coker College. Following graduation she resided in Florida, educating students about her passion in contemporary and improvisation while exploring her choreographic artistry. During her time in Florida, she was named the Assistant Director of a pre-professional dance company expanding her leadership skills as well as mentoring dancers to continue their education within the dance industry. She strives to encourage dancers to find their own intricate artistic style and path through expressive movement and storytelling.
BRITTANY KITTS
STRENGTH, CONDITIONING, YOGA
Brittany Kitts is an educator and a coach. She studied exercise science, physical education and health at Seattle Pacific University, where she became a multi-year All-American in Track and Field. Brittany has a Master’s Degree in Education and has been coaching ages elementary to high school for 18 years in track and field, basketball and volleyball. For the past 13 years, Kitts has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and runs a small private business in Athletic development for athletes in multiple sports. Brittany is currently on faculty at Monroe High School where she is a physical education teacher, coach and yoga instructor.
NATASHA SERGIYENKO
BALLROOM
Originally from Ukraine, Natasha has trained and competed worldwide in International Latin and International Standard ballroom dance. Her awards and titles include Champion of Ukraine in International Latin Dance, three-time Champion of Ukraine in Formation Teams, third in Ukraine for Ten Dance, eighth in European and World Formation Teams, winner of “Cup of Slavic People” and “Star of Ukraine”, United States Rising Star Finalist, and the 2010 Professional Latin Winner of “Desert Classic” and “Seattle Star Ball”. In addition to her distinguished professional career, Natasha completed her education at Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts and has coached both Ukrainian and US Nationals Champions, including finalists at Worlds and Blackpool Dance Festival, the most prestigious ballroom dance competition in the world. Natasha is currently located in Everett, WA where she is co-owner of First Class Ballroom and is excited to join the TPDC family, giving her the opportunity to share her wealth of knowledge and passion for dance with the next generation of artists.
Guest Teachers
BRI WILSON
BALLET, MODERN
Bri Wilson was raised in a small northern Michigan town, where she started dancing at age seven. She earned her BFA in Dance from the Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA Program at Dominican University of California, and supplemented her collegiate training with intensives at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Movement Invention Project. She moved to Seattle in September 2018. Since then, she has worked with Elia Mrak, The Three Yells, Beth Terwilleger + The Gray, and Marlo Martin + badmarmarDANCE. She has presented her own work at 12 Minutes Max, Full Tilt Dance Festival, and LAUNCH, and has choreographed on both Kaleidoscope Dance Company, a youth modern dance collective, and thePROGRAM, eXit SPACE’s pre-professional training program. In 2019, she was certified in brain-compatible dance education at the Creative Dance Center in Seattle, and in 2022 graduated from the Teaching Artist Training Lab offered by ArtsWA. Her classes are places for movers of all ages and abilities to explore their creativity, connect with their peers, and feel at home in their bodies.
KRISTINA KOUMAEVA
GUEST TEACHER
Kirsten Barron Kinney
GUEST TEACHER
Kirsten Barron Kinney graduated cum laude from the University of California, Irvine in 1997 where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Choreography and in Dance Performance. While attending UCI, she was a member of Donald McKayle’s modern company Etude Ensemble, Fresno Ballet under the direction of Donald Bradburn, and has returned to UCI as a guest choreographer for Bare Bones Dance Theatre in 2007, and as a guest performer for the Donald McKayle’s Tribute in 2009.
Kirsten moved to Seattle where she has enjoyed her focus on dance education, became a certified Pilates instructor, and freelanced as a dancer and choreographer over the last 25 years. Kirsten has directed youth programs, worked with many local and national dance schools and organizations such as the Gotta Dance, Westlake Dance Center, Cornish Summer Prep Program, Dance Masters of America, and has been involved in many of Seattle Theatre Group’s Education and Community Engagement. Kirsten performed as well as choreographed for the band, Queensrÿche in their cabaret-style rock concert, En L’air Dance, and Westlake Dance Center’s Sign of the Times. Kirsten is a former coach for the Shorecrest Hip Hop Team, and co-produced SC Hip Hop presents Physical Poetry with her husband, Rex Kinney.
Kirsten became involved with Seattle Theatre Group about 15 years ago as a teaching artist for STG’s DANCE This Intensive. Since then, she has been a part of the faculty for the DANCE This Camp, the finale choreographer for DANCE This Performance, DANCE This at Folklife, Finale choreographer and featured choreographer for Global Party, and the rehearsal director for the commission of Donald McKayle’s piece Shaker Life from Songs of the Disinherited (1972). She loves her role as teaching artist for Dance for PD® which she joined in 2018, and looks forward upcoming programs with STG.
Kirsten takes a holistic approach to dance education and is passionate about teaching dancers to understand dance technique, body mechanics, dance history while embracing their own artistry. She uses improvisation, choreography, a variety of somatic practices, and relies on dance as a common denominator for bringing people together. Kirsten loves to remain a student always…she is inspired by all kinds of dance from all cultures, from her students of all ages and abilities, and loves sharing her experience and knowledge about the art of dance with others.
KISHA VAUGHAN
GUEST TEACHER
Kelly peters
GUEST TEACHER
Kelly Peters is a Ballroom Dance Instructor and Choreographer who began her love of dance at the age of 2 and joined the competitive line by age 7. In her early years she competed with the Summit Dance Shoppe in Minneapolis, Minnesota in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, and Musical Theater. Her family moved west when she was a teen and Kelly continued to find success winning awards and competing as an independent dancer throughout Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. After high school she went on to tour professionally with musical theater and children’s theater companies where she traveled and performed across the United States, Canada, Dubai, and Europe. After 3 years of touring, Kelly decided to stay more stationary and followed in her mother’s footsteps to pursue a career in ballroom dancing with Arthur Murray Dance Studios. She has worked, competed, and trained students and professionals in multiple studios along with managing one of the top 5 Arthur Murray studios worldwide. Kelly has also partnered with Special Olympics Washington and The Alzheimer’s Association developing dance and instructor training to promote inclusivity through the power of dance.
Studio Photos Provided by Jean Johnson Portraits.
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Contact
(360) 668-8732
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