IGNITE STAFF

 KATIE BLACK, Owner/Director - IGNITE Dance & Yoga, Katie’s passion for life and making a difference is expressed through her love of dance, yoga, relationships with those she teaches and works with, and also as a wife and mother of two loving little girls.  She opened IGNITE in September of 2010, and with ongoing love and support of family and friends, Katie is excited to be celebrating year 9!
Katie’s background includes extensive training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, hip hop, musical theatre, acro, and voice.  Her professional dance career has taken her to travel to six continents, with highlights including; dancer and aerialist onboard Holland America Line cruise ships, Master Class Instructor and Choreographer, National Dance Competition Adjudicator, Assistant Choreographer to Patti Columbo and John Charron, Assistant Casting Director - Stiletto Entertainment, dancer with Lionel Richie at the Wynn Hotel opening in Las Vegas, locally seen onstage acting, singing, and dancing in “42nd Street” at the Village Theatre.
Certified through 8 Limbs Yoga Centers based in Seattle, Katie’s experience with yoga has transformed her classes, focusing on proper alignment and injury prevention.  She now leads retreats alongside her sister and IGNITE Yoga Manager Krista Kline.
Katie has recently received national recognition for her choreography, winning the nomination, one of nine jazz routines in the nation, in the 2017 Industry Dance Awards, and again in 2018 for a contemporary/open piece.  This season, Katie has received three nominations for the 2019 Industry Dance Awards, one of which routines was also awarded the Al Gilbert Tap Award.
Katie and IGNITE have recently been awarded the “Gold Daisy Winner 2018” in both dance and yoga by Macaroni Kid.
Katie is so proud of and thankful for her IGNITE staff, and grateful for the incredible families she has gotten to know as her own over the last nine years.  She hopes to inspire passion and strength for all students to follow their dreams, and live life to the fullest. 
Live the joy that dance brings to your life, and make a difference! 

 Jessica found her love for dance throughout her 8 years of competitive cheer. At age 15, she found herself searching for something more. When IGNITE opened, Jessica’s knowledge of dance was focused only on Hip Hop. With the help and influence of her instructors, that knowledge expanded to all different styles of dance. She has competed in many styles, including Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, and Contemporary. Jessica is currently sharing with others her love and passion for dance by teaching all different ages of Hip Hop. She is also the manager, and a choreographer for the IGNITE competition team. She loves being involved with the kid’s growth, and feels incredibly lucky to be a part of the IGNITE family. 

 Master teacher, performer and choreographer, Brittany Mains draws from her 15 years of dance training when in front of a classroom or on a stage. With a focus in Contemporary and Hip Hop, Brittany also possesses training in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Pilates and Yoga. Brittany has danced for artists including Macklemore (‘Dance Off’ official music video), Beat Connection (Capitol Hill Block Party) and has worked on various projects with Macklemore’s main choreographer, Anna Matuszewski. A native of Seattle, Brittany’s artistic ambitions led her to Los Angeles, California to pursue her professional career. She joined a performing arts company known as The Young Americans where she expanded her training in all forms of dance as well as broadened her knowledge in acting, vocal and choral training. Brittany traveled to countries including Russia, Germany, Spain, Gibraltar, Holland, Poland, France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Japan and South Korea teaching music and dance as a part of The Young American’s Outreach Program. Brittany also performed in the Macy’s Thanks Giving Day Parade, and has worked extensively with master teachers including Alex Little, Doug Caldwell and Daniel Cruz. Currently, Brittany works as a choreographer for the Seattle based studio, IGNITE and has been traveling around the country as a guest choreographer for various studios. Brittany has received numerous choreography awards from Spotlight Dance Competition, Rainbow Dance Competition, Hollywood Connection Regionals, Velocity Dance Competition, Masquerade Dance Competition, Revel Dance Competition, Move Dance Completion, Spotlight Nationals, Thunderstruck, Hollywood Connection nationals and many more. Most recently one of Brittany's pieces was nominated for the "Industry Dance Awards" in Los Angeles California and had the honor of attending this prestigious event. Brittany is also on the panel of judges for Kids Artistic Review on the weekends in various cities around the United States. Coming this Fall, Brittany will be teaching for Kids Artistic Review Convention; teaching jazz and contemporary all over the nation! Brittany believes in the power of dance and its ability to enhance the mind, body and spirit. Using dance as an outlet to relieve all emotions and connect with others on a level beyond words, has helped her in all walks of life. Through her teaching, she hopes to share this gift with all of her students. 

 Heather Roche was born and raised in Honolulu, HI where she first discovered her love for dance. At the age of 9, she aspired to be on stage. Since then, she has trained in jazz, ballet, hip hop, modern, pointe, contemporary, hula, Tahitian, and aerial work. She furthered her studies by earning a BA in Dance from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. During her experience at LMU, she had the opportunity to work with choreographers based in LA, such as Sonya Tayeh and Tina Landon. She has also choreographed pieces that were recognized by the university and presented at the American College Dance Festival. Her professional career began with an opportunity to dance in the 2008 VMAs with the artist Rihanna. From there, Heather had the opportunity to work with international companies such as Norwegian Cruise Lines, Legends in Concert and Cirque du Soleil. With over 16 years of teaching experience, Heather has enjoyed sharing her knowledge of dance to students of all ages. Through her teachings, she has strived to guide dancers towards a successful dance experience. Heather believes we should be great dancers in the studio and on the stage, as well as great people in our community. 

 Xaviera Vandermay has shared her knowledge and love of dance as an educator for twenty years.  Born in Seattle, she trained at Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Washington Academy of Performing Arts, and on scholarship at Spectrum Dance Theater, Joel Hall Dancers and Center (Chicago), and Giordano Dance Center (Chicago).  Having found a mentor in Joel Hall, she is proud to be certified in teaching his Jazz Floor Barre Technique and feels fortunate to be able to continue to share his legacy.  Ms. Vandermay's live performing credits as a professional dancer include Spectrum Dance Theater under the direction of Donald Byrd, Chicago based choreographers Duwayne Pendarvis and Jennifer Gage, and onstage as a back up dancer for Neil Young, VASSY, The Bad Tenants, and Fly Moon Royalty. 

Deeply passionate about collaboration, she has served as Creative Director/Producer/Choreographer for live performances with musical acts Future Shock, Rain City Jazz Orchestra, Whitney Mongé, Naomi Wachira, Mike illvester, The Bad Tenants, Adra Boo, Caela Bailey, Dark Hip Falls, LIV T, and Fly Moon Royalty.  She's appeared in music videos for Thunderpussy, Shabazz Palaces, and Caela Bailey and choreographed for music videos for Naomi Wachira and a series of videos with metal band Vespera as well as films work with directors Andrew Sobey, Nils Osmar, and Ilvana Muratovic.  Through her company 3rd Shift Dance, she has an ongoing collaboration with climate scientists Ethan Campbell and Dr. Amber Ismael, with a dance/nature film in the works with media partner Hmmm Productions and with film scoring by musician Justen Weber.  3rd Shift Dance is the Company-in-Residence at YAW Theater and Xaviera is a Class of 2019 Cornish Playhouse Arts Incubator resident.  

 Growing up in Salt Lake City, Addy trained at Children’s Ballet Theatre where she eventually became a soloist with their company. Some of her favorite roles were the Cheshire Cat in Alice and Wonderland, and the Fairy Queen in Thumbelina. She also enjoyed performing in Ballet West’s Nutcracker, dancing with Utah Opera and Pioneer Theater Company productions, and winning Runner Up Sterling Scholar for Dance for the State of Utah. While attending Brigham Young University on dance and academic scholarships, Addy grew to love ballroom dance and switched disciplines, becoming a member of their world famous Ballroom Dance Company, the U.S. and Blackpool Formation Champions, and touring with them to Europe and the South Pacific. Addy has taught and choreographed for ballet studios, after-school programs, and community groups. Her goal is to teach children the proper technique while connecting their hearts to the music so that being onstage becomes a comfortable and beautiful place to move. 

 I am a homegrown Seattleite, grew up in Bellevue and went to Newport High school. Gymnastics was my life from the age 3 to 15. I was one of the youngest elite gymnasts in our state while competing for Puget Sound gymnastics in Puyallup. After gymnastics, I took up track and the pole vault. I was an All American pole vaulter at Washington State University. After I graduated from WSU, I decided to go back to my roots and coach gymnastics at my families gym, Gymnastics East. I have coached pre-team kids all the way through level 10. I retired from coaching full time once my daughter started Kindergarten. I now focus on choreography for gymnasts, selling essential oils, and coaching tumbling at Ignite! 

Ashley started dancing at the age of four and originally comes from North of the border in Vancouver, Canada! She is trained in many dance styles including Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Ballet, and Musical Theatre.  She competed in many competitions locally during her studio years and was lucky to travel to places such as Nevada and California to train with world renowned teachers. Ashley has also danced for many events leading up to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, was a dancer in the main stage shows at the Pacific National Exhibition for a decade, and has even danced for the Queen of England!!! After graduating from high school, Ashley taught dance for two years at local dance studios in Vancouver. After those two years, she decided she wanted to take her dancing to a professional level so she set off to be a dancer on Holland America Cruise Line. This was a great opportunity for Ashley as she got to travel the world while doing what she loved!!!  Six years later and she is back on land having travelled to over 100 countries around the world in places such as Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and the Mediterranean having danced in over twenty five different production shows onboard!Ashley has taught dance for the last three years since moving to Seattle. She took a little time away from the studio this winter to have her first child, Emma Rose and is overjoyed with the addition to her family!

 Sage Overman has been dancing since she was 2 1/2 years old. She has been a competition dancer since the age of 8 and currently dances on IGNITE’s competition team. Her favorite styles of dance are contemporary and lyrical and loves floorwork and tumbling! At the age of 11 she backup danced popular Disney singer, Becky G, and looks forward to more of these opportunities. This is Sage’s first year teaching at IGNITE and she brings a fresh new vibe to the kids. Sage was accepted into a prestigious summer intensive, Flux Factor, where she will train alongside Jaci Royal’s Royal Flux dancers. On top of finishing our her career at IGNITE, Sage hopes go one day dance professionally!  

 Brenda was born in Portland, OR and started dancing at an early age in Ballet and Tap. She was a member of a troop that performed Tap and Jazz through-out the Portland metropolitan area. She started teaching dance at the age of 15, while entering competitions and performing with a troop until entering college. At Cornish she studied many different styles of dance with a focus on Ballet and Modern, while also continuing Tap with a studio on Capitol Hill. Brenda graduated from Cornish College of the Arts located on Capitol Hill in Seattle, WA with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance. After college she taught at several studios thought-out the Pacific North West including the Boys and Girls club in Seattle. Brenda is currently raising a family in the Snoqualmie Valley area. 

Jamie has been practicing yoga for almost half of her life. Her practice has continuously evolved to

support each chapter of her life. From daily vinyasa to gentle prenatal, to cultivating stillness and

looking inward, yoga continues to enrich Jamie’s well being. Jamie has been teaching since 2010.

She has her 200 hr certification from 8 Limbs Yoga Centers in Seattle and continues to study with the

teachers there while she works toward her 500 hrs. She has been fortunate to study with some

fantastic teachers. Her continual growth as a practitioner and teacher has been most influenced by

Sarah Powers, Shari Friedrichsen, Melina Meza, and Anne Phyfe Palmer. Jamie is also a certified

prenatal instructor through Colette Crawford and the Seattle Holistic Center. She is very inspired by

yogini mamas to be and believes in the numerous benefits of yoga through pregnancy, birth, and

motherhood.

Currently, Jamie teaches Vinyasa and Yin to all levels. Her classes are filled with lighthearted energy

as you move through creative sequences with breath awareness. She encourages curiosity and

playfulness to discover and nurture connections within the physical and energetic bodies. Also

influenced by yoga’s sister science, Ayurveda, her practice and teaching are influenced by the

benefits of seasonal practices as well.

 BREANNA DECKER has discovered that yoga is a way to share her passion for a healthy, active and self-aware lifestyle. She completed her 200 hr. RYT with 8 Limbs Yoga Center. Born and raised in the Snoqualmie Valley, Breanna is a local gal intending to inspire her students to embrace self-love and their own spark. “Stepping into this yoga journey has transformed my life and I believe the practice of yoga goes far beyond the mat”. Breanna enthusiastically anticipates the opportunity to share continued mindful growth with you. 

 Aaron has always been a very active person participating in sports and other outdoor activities, and spends all his time trying to get to the next physical activity. About 7 years ago, he started getting interested in yoga after numerous sports injuries. Since he started practicing consistently, the physical therapist has not seen him once. Aaron found that with a gentle yoga practice and self-awareness you can strengthen all the muscles of the body equally, lessening the frequency of sports injuries. On a higher level yoga also helps Aaron connect spiritually with what he needs, both mentally and physically, simply based on the fact that yoga is a moving meditation. Aaron’s formal yoga training was with Corepower Yoga in Seattle, WA in 2009. “I love bringing what makes me happy to those around me. Teaching people how to do the thing I absolutely love is like a dream come true for me. My style is relaxed, invigorating and supportive, with a flow that is aimed at any level so that I can bring people of all physical abilities to a comfortable yet challenging yoga practice” 

 DAÑELA LEWIS began her training in Southern California at the Palos Verdes Ballet School, as well as with Roland Dupre and Joe Tremaine. She has performed with various dance companies including San Francisco Ballet, Bella Lewitzski Company, and The Henry Mancini Dancers. Dañela has participated in workshops with Tandy Beal, The Moving Company, Alwin Nikolais, Joe Bennet, and Pilobolus. Dañela has been a Ballet Mistress and instructor at several studios in the Northwest including Elizabeth’s Dance Dimensions, International Dance Theatre, and Cornish and has participated in Artist in Residency programs around the country. She is currently a ballet instructor at Issaquah Dance Theatre and Westlake Dance Center. Dañela was a member of Dance Educators of America, from 1975-82, and provided movement training for the 1984 United States Men’s Downhill Ski Team. Her experience, energy and love of dance inspire all who dance with her. 

 ZAYDI went from high school bboy, turned professional choreographer/teacher, and comes from a diverse background in hip hop expertise. Winning multiple accolades and scholarships through his career, he is always striving the be the best in what he does. Whether it be his hard hitting, quick capabilities, or his slow R&B pocket, the unconventional dancer has plenty to offer in his teachings. “To me, art is religion. Not everyone believes in it, and not everyone can practice in its ways, but once you understand what it has to offer, there is no going 

Krista Kline, Yoga and Dance instructor. Krista began dancing at age 6. Her passion grew as she continued training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical/contemporary, modern, and hip hop. At age 18 she was traveling the world as a professional dancer on board the cruise ships of Holland America Line. Krista’s passion for dance lead her to exploring the mind and body benefits of yoga. She has studied under master teachers Melina Meza, Chiara Guerrieri, Jenny Hayo, and Anne Phyfe Palmer at 8 Limbs Yoga Centers and completed her 200 hour certification recognized by the worldwide Yoga Alliance in 2014. Since completing her certification, Krista continues to seek out and train with master teachers Schuyler Grant, Noah Maze, and Scott Schwenk out of Los Angeles, California. Krista’s classes are rooted in alignment and breath work. She aims to help students to create space in their minds and bodies to feel strong, open and empowered in their lives. Her unique and intelligent sequencing is intended to encourage “mindfulness through movement”. She loves connecting with students of all ages through weekly class offerings, workshops and retreats. 

 At a very young age Josephine was influenced by the arts and philosophy of the Hindu culture, including yoga and meditation. Her mother was an avid participant in east Indian culture and often visited Ashrams and pujas. Chanting and other practices were a norm in her household, setting this example for her daughter, Josephine grew up with a profound connection to the practices of yoga and meditation. At an early age Josephine discovered Hatha yoga and made the practice and study of asana a part of her life. As she travelled and grew she was blessed to have many teachers who inspired her to deepen her study. She also took a month long journey through India where she had the privilege of taking instruction from the one hundred and four year old Swami Nanda Ji Maharaj and Iyengar teacher Suryans Thakur.
“It is a never ending process that I have dedicated myself to. I believe yoga practice is more than what we do on our mats; It is a way of living and one of many paths which opens the self to unique potential” Josephine’s philosophy on yoga, is that she is the fortunate one, who is given the opportunity to share and inspire others to practice. Her style of teaching is fundamentally alignment based and she aims to create a safe environment so that the asanas are fun, flowing, and at times challenging where her students leave feeling both nurtured and invigorated. 

 KEVIN WANG decided to blend his passions for piano and taekwondo and discovered dance as a new form of expression after moving to the Seattle area. Combining movement and music, Kevin aspires to create powerful and purposeful art that can be understood and felt by all. Focusing on hip hop and contemporary, Kevin has also trained in jazz in ballet, and has experience with singing and acting as well. He attends the Lakeside School in Seattle and currently competes with IGNITE. 

I have been practicing (and loving!!) massage for over 13 years, after receiving my training at Brenneke School of Massage in Seattle (now Cortiva Institute). I continue to fill my “toolbox” with different techniques, modalities and experiences that I bring to my bodywork.

I don’t have a set “sequence” or routine, I’ve never given the same massage twice. I listen, with my hands and with my heart. Most of the time my eyes are closed when I work. I bring my intuition, experience, energy and work together with my clients to create and construct a truly unique, healing massage.

A deep need and a sincere curiosity brought me to yoga. In the beginning, it was the physical experience I was seeking, and craving. Similar to mountain running and backpacking, it was an avenue to push myself physically, just to BE in this beautiful experience with my body. Later, as I allowed myself complete permission to be open to other healing skills, I started to understand the way it could and would change the way I practice my life.

My Mom has been my most powerful and constant teacher, bringing the practice into our home and into her grade school classrooms, but I have also been blessed with practicing and learning from incredible teachers throughout the Pacific Northwest. Most recently, with the beautiful teachers and my fellow trainees at Shakti Vinyasa Yoga, where I completed my teacher training.

I want to inspire curiosity and authenticity in my students. I strive to foster a space for exploration, possibility and FUN. I make every class an invitation to GROW.

 TEPHANIE LYNN MERROW discovered she loved teaching at 19, when she started teaching preschool. While getting her master’s degree in Theatre Arts (acting and dance) she found a love of physicality.
Loving to learn as much as to teach, she assisted the Clowning and Stage Combat teachers and could be sighted working in the scene shop, actually hanging from the rafters or light grids. Her mom says she
figured out how to flip out of her crib at 1…literally. These days Stephanie teaches Acting and Dance at Cornish College of the Arts, Backstage Dance Studio and Sno Springs School. She also teaches Acrobatics and “Cirque” at Backstage. Her aging body and curious spirit begged for Yoga as her heart and mind refused to slow down and in 2013 she added a 200hr RYT to her long list of certifications. Now she teaches Yoga at IGNITE! 

Yoga Instructor

Bio Coming Soon…

Zumba Instructor

Bio Coming Soon…

I knew I loved Zumba the very first time I tried it.

As a homeschool mother of four, it gave me a creative and physical release that I loved (and needed)!

I was shocked when, in just a few months of 3 or 4 classes a week, I had lost a noticeable amount of weight, developed muscle tone, and increased my energy level.

I have found teaching zumba to be even more fun because I get to watch others have the same experience. And I love watching people who have never danced before come in and learn how.

It is absolutely my favorite part of the day!

Zumba Instructor

Bio coming soon