About Terrel

I’ve taught for local studios such as Washington Academy of Performing Arts, Premiere Dance Center, and Kirkland Dance Center, Parks and Recreation agencies, the PRO Club, and University of Namibia in Africa. I tend to stay where things are organized, have a good facility, and the organization matches my philosophy that dance is something you can move in and out of, and you don't have to take 8 hours/week just because you get good at it. There are so many fun things to try in this area and I think dance is a great way to learn something new, develop focus, practice teamwork, get exercise, and have fun. I have taught for Redmond Parks since 2001 and appreciate the people and philosophy.

When I was younger, I studied and performed with the Louisville Ballet and Ballet Met (Columbus, OH). Personal dance highlights include being named Ohio’s Junior Miss state talent winner (with dance), attending the Governor’s Summer Institute for the Gifted and Talented in the Arts (Ohio), being a founding member of Carnegie Mellon’s Dancer’s Symposium (Pennsylvania), and choreographing/performing for the Namibian National Dance Show (Africa).

Before I had children, I focused on classes for seven-adult, but developed toddler and preschool curriculums after witnessing the joy my young daughter found in dance. Then in 2001, I had the great experience of being selected for and completing a nine-month certification program with King County Arts Commission/ArtStar centered on teaching Arts to children. After several more years of research, I developed infant curriculum and occasionally offer Mom&Baby and Toddler classes.

Complementing extensive dance experience, I have significant child-related experience outside of dance: I’ve served as a PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support) Board Member as well as Bellevue Community College’s Family Advocate and have studied child development and early childhood education. I live in Redmond with my husband and 2 children. After our 22-year old cat died recently, we went out and replaced her with 3 cats, bringing our total to 4 – my husband thinks we’ve crossed the line into ‘crazy cat people’.

Photo by Kaelyn Lefferts

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