About Us

Ms. Barbara
Barbara Walshe has been dancing since the age of 4 and loving it. She minored in dance while getting her degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in dance education at Cal Poly State University. While in college, Barbara danced and choreographed for Orchesis Dance Company. Her senior thesis was writing the curriculum and teaching a tap class for the university. After graduating, Barbara worked as a lecturer at Cal Poly teaching tap and methods of teaching dance. She did contract work going into elementary schools and even the state prison. Barbara opened In Motion, a dance studio focusing on adults in 1999. Her studio taught children and adults dance and theater classes and hosted the beginning of Variable Velocity a modern dance company in San Luis Obispo, CA. Upon getting engaged, she moved to Hollister, CA to teach dance and human biology at San Benito High School. In 2002, Barbara and her husband moved to Bellevue, WA. She got certified as a personal trainer through NASM and got back into teaching dance at Cornerstone Studio. After having her first daughter, Barbara went through training at Nurturing Pathways® to further study the neurological impact of movement for the first 3 years of life. Barbara taught a variety of classes for the past 5 years at Cornerstone under the direction of Cheryl Satterfield. In addition to her studio work, Barbara choreographed The Nutcracker for Eastside Dance Theatre and worked with the Newport High School Colorguard and Seattle’s Events and Adventures. Barbara enjoys all styles of dance but focuses on teaching ballet, modern, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and tap.

Ms. Dayna
Dayna Willet has been dancing since the age of four, starting her classical training at British Dancing Academy in Kent Washington. While there she took ballet classes for fourteen years, as well as, twelve years of tap, and six years of jazz and modern. In addition to taking classes, in her later years at British she was also required to partake in yearly examinations and choreographing for the examinations and various auditions. At the end of each year she was involved in the studios productions of classics such as Cinderella and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In her last year at the academy, she danced the part of the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz. In 2006, Dayna started attending the University of Washington to study Speech and Language Pathology in hopes of becoming a Speech Therapist. While at the University, Dayna took ballet classes and an alternative movement class. Last year she taught three ballet classes and one jazz class at Cornerstone Dance Studio. She now wants to expand her dance experience by sharing her enthusiasm and experience to others who want to enjoy dance.

Ms. Camille
Camille Strawn was a teaching assistant at Blue Dog Dance last year. Even though she is 16 years old, she has 11 years of experience in dance and gymnastics. She participated in competitive gymnastics for five years and was on the junior Olympic National Team. Among her numerous achievements is a gold medal she received at at the Junior Olympic National Championships in Palm Springs, CA.



  

Why a Blue Dog?
In deciding to open a new studio, Barbara began brainstorming names. During one brainstorming session, she looked over and saw her daughter playing with a stuffed blue dog. She wrote it down, but quickly went back to creating more ideas. In the end, it seemed to be the name that not only was most fitting for Barbara’s personality, but also had little connotations with dance. It is a name that will allow the studio and its dancers to create its meaning and reputation.

Blue Dog Dance Philosophy
Blue Dog Dance believes that dance can be explored as an art form, can provide a physical and expressive outlet, can build character, and can be used as a springboard into other art forms. Blue Dog Dance intends to build a community of dancers who can achieve their goals. Goals can range from pursuing excellence in dance physically, getting regular exercise, working together to create performances, or building on leadership skills. Blue Dog Dance believes that competent instruction involves knowledge, personal relationships, positive encouragement, and – of course – good times.