Meet our Faculty
DENELE SWEET
Academy Director
Small Business Owner
Dance Instructor
Choreographer, 25+ years
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"It is my lifelong dream come true to serve my community with our very own 'Fame'-style performing arts school. I am deeply committed to the success of each and every one of our Academy students."
MISS COURTNEY
Academic Director
Academy 4th-12th Grade Teacher
Tumbling & Acrobatic Instructor
M.S.Ed., 2005
Acrobatic Arts Certified
USA Gymnastics Safety Certified
Specialty: Acro, Tumbling, Academics
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"I love the 'goosebump moments' when you can see a child succeed after months or years of hard work on a skill. You can see all the pieces click into place, and witness the joy and sometimes happy tears, that come with a job well done."
MISS SUE
Office Administrator
Business and Management training in leadership, customer service as well as training others.
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Managed 10 restaurants, which included the second busiest in the US in Silicon Valley.
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My favorite part about Encore is seeing the children grow in both academics as well as dance. As a faculty member I enjoy being part of dynamic group of humans.
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"Be yourself; everyone else is taken".
MISS ANA
Academy Kindergarten Teacher
M.A.Ed., 2013
Specialty: Developing Bilingual curricula for all ages including videos production and art.
"My goal is to inspire and support
life-long learners. I believe in
creating a culture of respect and
community in every classroom I
am a part of."
MISS ELIZABETH
Academy Teacher
35+ Years Teaching Experience
Specialty: Native fluency in Spanish & English, basic ASL teaching techniques
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"Enthusiasm and creativity allow me to find new ways to keep subjects fresh and interesting to different ages and generations of students. I developed effective programs for students K to 12th grade encouraging play, free expression and curiosity while advancing on curriculum goals. It is my experience that academic progress and communication skills quickly improve when students are challenged, motivated, and taught with an emphasis on cultural awareness."
MISS TIFFANY
Academy Homeroom Teacher
Specialty: General Education 3rd-4th Grades, Hip-hop, Cheerleading & Athletics Coach.
"I have a great love for education and dance, while also imbedding confidence in children. I am passionate about ensuring that children have every available opportunity in education to be successful."
MISS CHELSEA
Academy Teacher
Academy 1st -12th Grade Art History and Leadership
BS - Sales and Marketing
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Professional Artist, Children's Book Illustrator, Social Media Coordinator for a global Mental Health Wellness Non-Profit Organization.
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My favorite thing about Encore Academy is watching the spectacular growth of the children and the brilliant emphasis on individualized learning.
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"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do." - Georgia O'Keeffe
MISS MICHELLE
Academy 1st Grade Teacher
B.S.E.Ed, 2003
Specialty: Pre-K through 3rd Grade Education
"I love working in a place where children of all ages can dance, learn, and play in a fun environment.
My favorite part of teaching little kids is watching their growth and development from the beginning of the year until they graduate and go on to kindergarten."
MISS EMILY
Academy Preschool Teacher
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MISS CC
Dance Instructor
Cecchetti Ballet Certified
Specialty: Ballet, Lyrical,
Contemporary
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CC began rigorous training in the ballet world at a young age, playing classical roles such as "Clara" in the Nutcracker Ballet. She has studied with a wide variety of well-known teachers in the areas of ballet, Spanish flamenco, Chinese, character, and modern dance. CC is certified in all levels of Cecchetti ballet training.
MISS NORMA
Dance Instructor
B.S. Dance
Competition Choreographer
Specialty: Jazz, Hiphop
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"Encore is a truly special, inclusive safe place for children to learn and express themselves through the art and physicality of movement. I've loved watching my students grow, not only as dancers, but also as creative, compassionate, hard-working people."
MISS ALEXA
Dance Instructor
Competition Choreographer
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Alexa began dancing at a very young age, and teaching dance at age 15. She has studied Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, African, and Aerial and Acrobatics. Alexa has performed and choreographed nationally, internationally, and professionally with Pixie Dust Productions and The Jefferson Dancers, and is an award-winning dancer.
She has been certified to teach Acrobatic Arts and AcroDance Preschool Arts through Acrobatic Arts. Alexa is currently perusing an associate's degree in fitness & nutrition at Lower Columbia College.
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Alexa has been dancing since the age of 7 and never stopped. From Ballet and modern to Jazz and Tap, don't forget Hip Hop and Acrobatics, she's danced around the US and internationally. With dancing her passion she began teaching dance to others in high school, then in 2022 she moved to the Oregon Coast where she looks forward to continuing to inspire young dancers to strive to the best of their abilities.
MISS KRYSTI
MISS KATIE
MISS JENNY
Academy Teacher
English Language Arts grades 4-12
B.A. English/M.A. Education plus certification
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I am 5 decades young and am looking forward to the next 5 with genuine love, curiosity, learning, adventure, and expansion!
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I love these kids! Each one is a unique, lovable wonder.
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"It is the way of all things that the night ends and the light returns. The light always returns." -Brian Andreas
MISS HALIE
Academy After School
MISS FARAH
Dance Instructor
MISS MICHELLE
Academy 1st-3rd Grade Teacher
B.S.E.Ed.
Specialty: Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade Education
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"I love working in a place where children of all ages can dance, learn, and play in a fun environment. My favorite part of teaching little kids is watching the growth and development from the beginning of the year until they graduate and go on to kindergarten."
MISS SUZANNAH
Dance Instructor
Acrobatic Arts Certified
Specialty: Ballet, Tumbling
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Suzannah has studied both Vaganova and Cecchetti ballet styles, jazz, tap, modern, and tumbling. Discovering her passion for teaching as a teenager, it led her to study set and costume design as well. She is delighted to continue her dream of teaching at Encore.
MISS JENNY
Academy 4th-12th Grade Teacher
B.A. English
M.A.Ed
Specialty: Humanities
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"It is my great privilege and joy to guide and adventure along with young people as they discover and become their best selves."