INSTRUCTORS
Briana Conley
Miss Briana began her dance journey at the age of nine taking her first hip hop class. She later grew into other classes such as jazz, lyrical/contemporary, ballet etc. Briana has been teaching since she was 14 years old. And been dancing for 18 years. She was also a competitive dancer for 6 years and has won numerous awards from competing. Her love of dance is what makes her keep teaching and passing down the love of dance. Creating a safe and fun environment for all dancers!
DeLonda Driver
Ms. DeLonda has been a dancer and gymnast since she was 3 years old. She studied ballet, jazz and tap until she was 18 years old. After graduating from college, she got married and had three beautiful children.
As an adult, she was missing dance and decided to return, adding lyrical and hip hop to her repertoire. She soon began teaching gymnastics and then dance classes to the local community.
She now primarily teaches gymnastics but loves to sprinkle a little dance into her choreography. She is a fun teacher who challenges and celebrates all of her students.
Dezmond Garcia
NW hip-hop dancer and choreographer; Dezmond Garcia started his journey as captain of his high school dance team where they received state and national championships.
He received his training under Daniel Cruz, Valicia Valliani and Joselitto Castillo, along with many other influential dancers and choreographers.
He has roots in many styles of dance such as ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, and Bollywood. Dezmond was accepted into Cornish College of the Arts and has performed in many venues here in the northwest such as World Of Dance, Beamer Breakdown, Cruz Control and much more.
He continues to share his love and passion for dance both in the classroom and online.
Heather Spidle
Ms. Heather Spidle is a member of Jeweled Scarab Dance Company. She has been dancing for 9 years and has mastered multiple styles of belly dance and is excited to share her passion with her students at Charisma School of Dance. Ms. Heather is a mother and a dog trainer by day. Ms. Heather will be starting her teaching journey at Charisma this summer!
Jacob Rodvelt Gamlieli
Jacob is a third-generation dance instructor in a family of great dancers. His 37 years of experience and devotion came through the tapestry of various studios, classes, conventions, and performances, encapsulating the very essence of the dance studio life. From his earliest steps, Jacob was enveloped in the performing arts world of tap, ballet, and jazz, under the tutelage of his family members who owned and operated dance studios – an environment where dance wasn’t just a passion, but a way of life.
Expanding his repertoire beyond the foundational styles, Jacob soon delved into lyrical, hip hop, acrobatics, step dancing, and aerial silks, embracing each discipline with fervor. In his teenage years, he honed his skills through competing in dance competitions while simultaneously refining his technique with a professional ballet school. Among his numerous accolades shines the prestigious Mr StarPower World Championship award for tap, a testament to his unparalleled mastery and artistry.
Transitioning seamlessly from student to mentor, Jacob embarked on his teaching journey while pursuing his education at Pacific Lutheran University. Subsequently, he ventured into entrepreneurship, founding and successfully selling two dance studios, leaving an indelible mark on the local dance community. Today, Jacob’s influence extends far and wide as he imparts his expertise to aspiring dancers across the Pacific Northwest.
As a teacher, Jacob’s forte lies in his innate ability to connect with each student, fostering a supportive environment where individual growth flourishes. His unwavering passion for understanding their aspirations ensures that every student receives the personalized attention they deserve, guiding them towards realizing their fullest potential. Whatever the dream, Jacob stands as a steadfast ally, dedicated to helping his students transform their aspirations into reality.
Jasmine Wright
Jasmine Wright (dance artist, actor, mom, yoga teacher, and former police officer) is originally from Tacoma, WA where she began her dance training as a little girl with Charisma School of Dance. After performing for Walt Disney World and Disney Live touring shows upon graduating high school, she studied Dance/Music at the University of Washington and graduated with honors in 2015. Jasmine then pursued the Mark Morris Dance Group intensive program in New York before performing briefly with DASS Dance back in Seattle. She then moved to Los Angeles to further her experience in dance, acting, and stunt work. In addition to being apart of a dozen different theatrical plays both in LA and Seattle, her performance work has also spanned across television media networks such as TNT, Amazon Prime, Pure Flix, and SyFy. She currently teaches dance, yoga, and adult fitness in the Lakewood area in addition to her acting work.
JoLee Watson
Kaleb Barnhart
Kaleb Barnhart began his dancing career at 6 years of age with Ms. Laura Berry with Classical Youth Ballet. Kaleb then began dancing with Charisma School of Dance in Lakewood, WA. He studied ballet, jazz, tap, acrobatics, hip hop, contemporary and lyrical. He has won top honors at several dance competitions along with several scholarships. Kaleb also held the title of “Mr. Spotlight 2017” from Spotlight Dance Competition. Kaleb has been an assistant teacher at Charisma School of Dance and also has been assisting with hip hop instructor Dezmond Garcia. During his downtime, Kaleb enjoys photography, vintage cars and of course, dancing!
Kari Hovde
Founder and Executive Director, Kari Hovde is the beacon of guiding light for The Backstage Foundation. Her passion to love and serve others exudes both personally and professionally. She is an accomplished dance educator of over 25 years, active and involved community leader, business owner of K Properties NW, and a fine arts philanthropist. As a Graduate of Pacific Lutheran University and Seattle Pacific University, Kari maintains an educational background in Marriage and Family Therapy. She received her fine arts training, enrichment, and mentorship from Olympic Ballet, Seattle Civic Dance Theater, and Charisma School of Dance. Professionally, Kari is a natural leader and facilitator, whether being involved on local community boards or leading her team at K Properties NW, Kari brings a caring and genuine heart to every space she occupies. Her ability to inspire, motivate, and create meaningful connections is a quality that has garnered her both praise and adoration in the community. She cares deeply about the growth opportunities available to everyone she meets and this is what has allowed her to be successful consistently in all endeavors of life. Kari enjoys teaching dance classes, volunteering with organizations focusing on the improvement and growth of children, mentoring teens, and spending time with friends and family.
Kayla Honeysett
Kimberly Sample
Kimberly Sample has spent the last 25 years in the dance world. Starting as a student, she spent a number of years trying out a variety of dance styles including ballet, jazz, tap, and lyrical. She competed with her studio team as a teenager before discovering that her passion was in teaching. After a couple years as a dedicated assistant teacher, she spent a decade at Dance Explosion in Puyallup as an instructor. She gained an expertise in instilling the building blocks of dance, with a focus on ballet, and specializing in working with three to eight year olds. In the past few years, she has been thrilled to return to Charisma, where her dance journey had begun, now as a student, a parent, and an instructor.
LaTeisha Baek
My name is LaTeisha Baek and I’ve enjoyed being actively a part of dancing for the past 20 years. At an early age, I began my finding my passion for dancing right here at Charisma School of Dance. After graduating high school, I decided to strengthen my skills and further my knowledge of dance by attending Western Oregon University. Shortly after my acceptance to WOU, I was given the opportunity to showcase and expand my abilities in the Universities dance program while also landing a spot on the WOU dance team. In 2009, my love for dance began to broaden. I suddenly gained interest in attending Cornish College of Arts where I eventually graduated from with my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. A couple years into college at Cornish, I was given an amazing opportunity to perform Jason Ohlberg’s Choreography. After learning so many aspects of the dancing world, I decided to share my knowledge of dance with others. 2013-2015 I spent most of my time teaching at Freedom Dance Center, while also subbing at the amazing Charisma School of Dance for Ms. Erin. I’ve gained so much love and passion for dance over there years performing as sugar plum fairy for Charisma’s Nutcracker in 2013, performing as a back-up dancer in 2014 for the Miss U.T.O.P.I.A, and belly danced in 2017 for the Burlesco Divinio Wine to Rome play. While being very grateful to have all the opportunities that I’ve had, my love for teaching at Charisma has always been there. When working with my students, I strive to create supportive atmospheres and highly encourage my dancers to build confidence within themselves, as well as stepping out their comfort zones.
Maria Stirbis
Miss Maria started dancing at age 3, and she began teaching classes and choreographing tap, ballet and jazz routines at age 12, at her mother’s dance studio, Meredith’s School of Dance, in the Yakima Valley. She attended dance conventions with her mother in New York City, Las Vegas, Portland and Seattle, and she has choreographed productions for 25 dancers in several dance recitals. She taught aerobics and kickboxing aerobics at Upward Bound in Moses Lake, and then went to law school at University of Puget Sound, Tacoma.
She became an attorney at Liberty Law in Lakewood. In 2010, she found Charisma, and she has been all smiles since. Maria teaches recreational tap classes at Charisma. She has two daughters, aged 19 and 22, and both of her daughters were competition dancers at Charisma.