BARCLAY SHELTON DANCE CENTRE
Leanne Shelton - Director Emeritus ( Jazz, Dance Theatrics)
Leanne began her training under George and Florence Barclay at the age of 7, which included touring as a Barclay Girl and performing in the greater Seattle area. In 1967, she received a scholarship from the Barclays to study classical ballet under Ruthanna Boris of Ballet de Monte Carlo at a summer intensive at the University of Washington. She continued studying classical ballet, modern, and character at the UW for 5 years, studying under Ruthanna Boris, Ben Johnson, and Eve Green, as well as guest artists Karen Irvin, Norman Walker, Gwen Barker, and Merce Cunningham. Leanne also danced with the UW performing company for 3 years. During this time, she was an assistant to Florence Barclay and began teaching for Barclay Studios in 1969.
In her 40+ years as a dance educator, Leanne has had the privilege of teaching and nurturing dancers of all ages, from the very youngest in the preschool classes to high school students and beyond. She has stayed current with dance trends, studying under Luigi and Frank Hatchett in New York, Gus Giordano in Chicago, and attending various dance conventions where she has taken classes from Michael Rooney, Joe Tremaine, Mia Michaels, and many others.
Through Barclay Shelton Dance Centre, Leanne has carried on the Barclay Tradition: teaching, performing, and serving the community by providing not only quality dance instruction but instilling in her students her own passion for dance along with the value of discipline, commitment, and hard work; qualities which will serve them well both in dance and in life.
Stacie Brown - Co-Director (Ballet, Modern, Dance Theatrics)
Stacie has been teaching dance at BSDC since 2003. She has a degree in dance from the University of Washington where she studied under artists such as Hannah Wiley, Betsy Cooper, and Mark Haim. While at UW, Stacie danced with the Chamber Dance Company, partaking in a modern intensive with Diane Gray from the Martha Graham Dance Company and performing in the northwest premiere of Graham's 1931 masterpiece Primitive Mysteries. Her continuing education includes classes in ballet, jazz, lyrical, and modern from instructors such as Joe Tremaine, Pilobolus Dance Company, and ballet and modern artists in the greater Seattle area. Stacie lives with her husband and 2 daughters in Ballard.
Pam Gaines (Combo, Split, Tap)
Pam has been teaching dance at BSDC since 1986. She grew up dancing and later teaching for Margaret Tapping Dance Studios in Seattle, from age four through college. Pam attended the University of Washington, where she studied ballet with Ruthanna Boris. Her career as a school teacher gave Pam the opportunity to choreograph countless productions at the elementary, middle and high school levels as well as develop a dance program at Northshore Junior High. She has choreographed for several community theatre groups, Choir of the Sound, and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance's Pink Glove Video. For the past twelve years Pam has been the choreographer for Summer Fun!, a performing arts camp for children. Dance has always been and remains a constant and a passion in her life.
Nicole Cox - Co-Director (Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Dance Theatrics)
Nicole has been teaching at BSDC since 1997. She began her dance education at Barclay Shelton, studying under Leanne Shelton, Kiki Bennett, Jeff Schmidt, Sue Johnson, and Pam Gaines. She has attended numerous dance conventions, taking classes in jazz, ballet, and contemporary from renowned teachers and choreographers including Joe Tremaine, Linda Bernabei-Retter, Mandy Moore, Keri LaGrand, Tyce Diorio, Wade Robson, Desiree Robbins, and Doug Caldwell. Nicole lives in Everett with her husband, daughter, and two cats.
Molly Hooper (Tap, Hip Hop)
Molly has been teaching at BSDC since 1997. She started dancing at the age of four at Barclay Shelton, studying jazz, tap, ballet and pointe. After graduating from the University of Washington Molly moved to San Francisco where she joined Freeplay Dance Crew, a hip hop performing company. She choreographed and performed with them from 2002 - 2005. She also taught teen hip hop classes at the San Francisco YMCA and adult classes at Gorilla Fitness. Molly returned to Seattle in 2010 and rejoined the Barclay Shelton staff. She keeps her style current by attending dance conventions and taking classes in tap, hip hop, and jazz from teachers such as Laurie Johnson, Tony Bellissimo, Derrick Schrader, and Marty Dew. In addition to teaching classes, Molly is the Director of Partnership Marketing at NextAdvisor, Inc. and owns Vivi Dot, a line of handmade accessories.
Sue Johnson (Split , Jazz)
Sue has been teaching at BSDC since 1980. Her dance education started in early elementary school at Barclay Studio under George Barclay, Florence Barclay, Michael McBain, Wayne Wade, and Leanne Shelton. Sue earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Western Washington University where she studied with Barbara Arms from New York City Ballet, who studied under George Balanchine. She has attended many dance conventions including Hollywood Dance Experience, Tremaine, LA Danceforce, and Dupree. Sue is married with two full grown children and two grandchildren, who she enjoys taking care of one or two days a week.
Tara Locknane (Tap, Combo)
Tara has been teaching at BSDC since 2002. She grew up dancing at The Dance Studio of Redmond and then went on to the University of Washington, where she was a cheerleader for three years. After graduation, Tara spent two years as the coach and choreographer for the squad and has continued to be a part of the UW Cheer program as an interview committee member and an audition judge. Tara has traveled with the Barclay Shelton staff to Las Vegas for teacher conventions and classes, learning from artists such as Laurie Johnson, Joe Tremaine, Desiree Robbins, Tyce Diorio, and many others. In addition to working with her husband at their family business, Tara is the mother of three teenage daughters.
Lisa McWayne (Ballet, Jazz)
Lisa McWayne has been teaching at Barclay Shelton since 2002 and began her dance education there at the age of 4. She attended Western Washington University where she was a member of and choreographed for the school dance team. She has attended dance conventions along with other members of the Barclay Shelton staff. Outside of the dance studio, Lisa is a special education teacher for the Northshore School District.
