Faculty
Artistic Director
June Taylor-Dixon
School Founder and Artistic Director
RAD Registered Teacher
June Taylor-Dixon began her formal ballet training in Coventry, England at the Pattison’s Academy of Dance and Drama. Pattison’s Academy merged academic studies with extensive performing art education. Upon the completion of her rigorous training, she graduated as an Associate of the following: Cecchetti Ballet Society, Royal Academy of Dance, International Dance Teacher’s Association, and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance. She then began her professional career, first dancing in a small company in England, then continuing her career with musical theater productions in the west end of London. Later, she toured as a musical theater dance and comedy duo, eventually going on to dance with the Wiesbaden Stadtsopera company in Germany.
Upon retiring from the stage, she chose to teach what she loved. She underwent further training as a teacher, and received teaching certificates from the Royal Academy of Dance, the International Dance Teacher’s Association and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance. She then founded a school and opened a pre-professional jazz company in Wiesbaden, Germany. As the artistic director and founder of her school, she offered a strong curriculum based in the Royal Academy of Dance and Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance modern syllabus. Under her tutelage, fourteen of her students became associates of the International Dance Teacher’s Association. Many of them later went on to teach and open their own dance schools.
In 1983, Miss June moved to Portland, Oregon to be married to Wayne Dixon. Following her passion for dance education, she founded June Taylor’s School of Dance in 1984. Her keen eye for detail and heartfelt devotion to her students are only a few of the reasons her studio is the prestigious school it is today. Many of her students have gone on to dance in professional ballet companies (American Ballet Theater, Ballet Idaho, Colorado Ballet, Eugene Ballet, Greensboro Ballet, Houston Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theater and Pacific Northwest Ballet), compete as finalists in international ballet competitions, and gain acceptance to distinguished schools (The Australian Ballet School, The Banff Centre, Carolina School of the Arts, Goh Ballet Academy, Houston Ballet Academy, Indiana University, School of Oregon Ballet, and Suny Purchase).
Resident Faculty
Kim Schroeder A.R.A.D. (Associate to the Royal Academy of Dance)
RAD Registered Teacher
Instructor of Ballet, Tap and Jazz; Office Manager
Kim received her training with June Taylor-Dixon at June Taylor’s School of Dance. During those 14 years she completed all 15 levels of the Royal Academy of Dance, which earned her the title, Associate to the Royal Academy of Dance, (ARAD). From there she was accepted into the Milwaukee Ballet II program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While in Milwaukee she danced in many works by Michael Pink, including Dracula, The Nutcracker Suite, Don Quixote, Swan Lake and Scheherazade.
After completing 2 years with Milwaukee Ballet II, Kim performed in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland with Burklyn Ballet as “Alice” in Alice in Wonderland. The following winter she was invited down to Key West to be in the 2007, 2008 & 2010 productions of the Nutcracker Key West. In 2009 Kim moved down to Key West where she started teaching ballet, tap, jazz and social dance as well as choreographing and managing at the Coffee Mill Dance Studio. She has performed and choreographed throughout the Key West community with Paradise Ballet Theater, Key West Contemporary Dance Company, Key West Burlesque, Keys Kids and The Waterfront Playhouse’s productions of Spamalot and The Producers. In 2016 she moved back to Portland.
Rebecca Hasler
RAD Registered Teacher
Instructor of Ballet and Jazz
Rebecca Hasler began her dance training at June Taylor’s School of Dance at age 11. She completed her Royal Academy Grade exams and went on to Vocational exams, successfully passing her Intermediate Foundation through to Advanced 1. She was accepted into Northwest Dance Theatre and danced in Coppelia, Alice in Wonderland, Les Sylphide and Snow Queen in the Nutcracker.
In 2006 she decided to pursue a teaching career and enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dance for two years teaching program with June Taylor-Dixon as her mentor. In 2008 she gained her teaching diploma and was invited to teach at the Regional School of Ballet in Corvallis where she taught classes of every age level as well as beginning and intermediate Jazz, beginning Pointe, and adult ballet. On top of dance instruction, she took on the responsibilities of office manager while helping to coordinate and choreograph for the Nutcracker and Spring recital. In the Fall of 2010, Rebecca returned to the Portland area and is thrilled to be teaching at June Taylor’s School of Dance again.
Natalie Johnson
Instructor of Ballet and Jazz
Natalie grew up in the Beaverton area and studied ballet and jazz under Miss June’s teaching for over 10 years. She completed all vocational Royal Academy of Dance exams through Advanced, earning the A.R.A.D member title, and was also accepted into Northwest Dance Theatre with whom she performed through graduation.
Natalie went on to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise & Movement Science with a minor in Dance at the University of Oregon, and she continued to expand her performance experience in a broad range of dance styles all four years.
After many years working in the physical therapy field and a season of getting married and starting a family, Natalie became certified as a fitness instructor with a local Xtend Barre studio. There she trained and taught adult classes that fused ballet and Pilates principles for a dynamic, lengthening & strengthening challenge.
In 2021, Natalie was honored to be asked to return to June Taylor’s School of Dance as a part-time instructor and hopes that her lifelong love of movement expression encourages the next generation of dancers.
Jackie Foltz
Certified Instructor of Pilates and Stretch & Tone
Jackie began dancing at age three, and went on to train with the Ballet Conservatory of South Texas, Houston Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theater, June Taylor’s School of Dance, and Northwest Dance Theater. She has performed lead roles such as Cinderella, Snow White, Clara, Snow Queen, and Sugarplum Fairy, as well as soloist roles in Paquita, Coppelia, Don Quixote, and Graduation Ball. She danced with June Taylor’s School of Dance and Northwest Dance Theater until her graduation in 2020.
After high school, Jackie went on to complete a Bachelors of Science in Human Biology and a Masters of Science in Global Health from Stanford University. Here, she received her certification in pilates instructorship, and went on to teach a variety of ballet-style pilates/yoga fusion workout classes. Jackie loves Pilates because it allows her to combine her passion for dance with a powerful form of cross-training that enhances overall muscle tone, flexibility, strength, and alignment. She enjoys helping others improve their physical performance, and empowering them to feel stronger, healthier, and more confident in their bodies.
Jackie is currently a medical student at Oregon Health and Science University. She is ecstatic to be back home in Portland and teaching at June Taylor’s School of Dance.
Guest Faculty
Laura Haney
Instructor of Jazz and The Ellové Technique™
Laura Haney grew up in Colorado Springs, CO, and attended Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, MA, where she studied dance and music. She was a member of River North Dance Company and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, was a featured performer in the First National Tour of Fosse and a cast member of the Broadway musical A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden for two seasons.
Laura was a company member of BodyVox from 2005-2008 and most recently performed with Lane Hunter Dance. She is a certified Pilates, BeMoved®, and Ellové Technique™ instructor and has taught numerous dance workshops and master classes across the country. She continues to teach dance in the Portland area at the studios including BodyVox, June Taylor’s School of Dance, and Reed College. Laura spent 12 years directing the dance program and student company at Multnomah Athletic Club and is now the Business Manager for The Ellové Technique.
M’Liss Stephenson
Instructor of Modern
Born in Indianapolis, IN where she began studying dance as a child, performing in many Nutcracker productions with Indianapolis Ballet Theatre. She graduated from a performing arts high school and then earned a major in Modern Dance at the University of Utah.
M’Liss was accepted as a full-time student at the prestigious Alvin Ailey School in New York City. That led to performances with Milton Meyers and Jolie Maffie. M’Liss is a founding member of Polaris Dance Theatre with current roles as a dancer and Rehearsal Director for Polaris Dance Theatre as well as the Junior Company Rehearsal Director. In addition to her passion and experience in dance, M’Liss is a world-class synchronized swimmer. She has competed in, as well as coached, synchronized swim teams in national, international and world competitions.
Rachel Fleming
RAD Registered Teacher
Instructor of Ballet, Tap and Jazz
Rachel Fleming is a native of Portland, OR where she studied classical ballet (R.A.D.), jazz and tap with June Taylor-Dixon from the age of 7. In addition to her studies at June Taylor’s School of Dance, Rachel continued her dance training at the University of Oregon and San Jose State University and has worked with tap mentors Lou and Patti Richards and Janet Descutner.
Rachel has received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance from the University of Oregon and is a certified Royal Academy of Dance teaching member. She has performed with The Skylark Tappers, University of Oregon Repertory Dance Company, Santa Clara Ballet and Northwest Dance Theatre. Rachel has been teaching at June Taylor’s School of Dance since 2002 and hopes to encourage and inspire the love of dance in each of her students.
Laura Green
RAD Registered Teacher
Instructor of Ballet
Laura Green, born in Beaverton, Oregon, began her dance training at June Taylor’ s School of Dance at the age of 12. She has completed Grades 3 through 8 of the Royal Academy of Dance examinations as well as Intermediate through Advanced 1 of the RAD Vocational exams. She is currently working towards her Advanced 2.
Miss Laura has been teaching ballet at June Taylor’s since 2005 and received her Royal Academy of Dance Teaching Certification in October 2008. In addition, Miss Laura has been teaching beginning Tap, Ballet, and Creative Movement at the Conestoga Recreation Center in Beaverton since 2006. She has taught from ages two to eleven and has lead and co-taught a number of dance camps over the summer for the Parks and Recreation Center. Miss Laura currently dances with Northwest Dance Theatre and has performed in Coppelia, Alice in Wonderland, Les Sylphides, Paquita, La Bayadere and the Nutcracker.
Thorey Mountain
RAD Teaching Certificate
Instructor of Jazz
Thorey Mountain, who is English/Icelandic, has recently returned to Portland following an extended stay in the UK where she was Head of Jazz Dance at two of the foremost vocational ballet schools, Elmhurst School for Dance in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet and The Dance School of Scotland which is affiliated with Scottish Ballet. She also taught Mattox Jazz technique at London Studio Centre, a highly respected performing arts college. During her sojourn in Britain Thorey also obtained her BA Honours degree in Theatre Dance (Dance Education) and her Masters (an MPhil in Educational Studies – Dance). She was also the Birmingham based tap tutor for the wildly successful West End production of Billy Elliot. In recent years she has been thrilled to see three of her students star in the role of Michael on the London stage.
After full time training in classical ballet and theatre arts at Arts Educational School, Thorey continued her studies with Anna Northcote before becoming a member of the Sadler’s Wells Opera Movement Group. She also studied with American jazz dancer and choreographer, Matt Mattox and danced with his Jazzart Company at the Edinburgh Festival and at the Roundhouse in London. Thorey appeared in the original West End productions of Applause, Pippin and A Chorus Line and had the unique opportunity of working with Bob Fosse. She also appeared extensively in BBC television productions, commercials and films, notably The Slipper and the Rose for Mark Breaux.
Bettina Megowan
Instructor of Strength and Flexibility
Bettina Megowan was born and raised in Lahr, Germany. In her childhood and youth she competed in rhythmic gymnastics, receiving her training at the German National Training Centers in Stuttgart and Dusseldorf. She was a member of the of the German National Team for rhythmic gymnastics from 1981 to 1987 and competed in many national and international competitions including the World Championships in Valladolid, Spain in 1985.
After retiring from competition, Bettina went on to study at the University of Freiburg and earned a Masters of Education in Exercise & Sport Science and Geography with a minor in English in 1996. The same year she moved to the US with her husband Noah Megowan .
In 2001 Ms Megowan received her Oregon teaching license for Physical Education and German from Portland State University. She taught a Canby High School and Lake Oswego High School before taking time off for her three daughters. In 2013 she completed the Education Foundation and Leadership program at George Fox University and added a Health Education endorsement.
Bettina was an instructor at the School of Oregon Ballet Theater for the past three years. She has worked on flexibility and strength with all levels to support the dancers’ development in their classical ballet education.
Jessica Zisa
Instructor of Ballet
Jessica Zisa began her Royal Academy of Dance training at June Taylor’s School of Dance, where she completed her Grade 3 through Advanced 2 examinations with Distinction under the instruction of June Taylor-Dixon. In 2002, she went on to continue her professional dance training at the Goh Ballet Academy in Vancouver, B.C.
She performed extensively with the Goh Ballet Company through China and British Columbia. She began dancing professionally with Colorado Ballet in 2005. She later went on to dance with Eugene Ballet and Ballet Idaho, and in 2009 began teaching at Ballet Idaho. Miss Jessica returned to Portland, and began teaching at June Taylor’s School of Dance in 2010. Miss Jessica currently serves as social media and public relations coordinator for June Taylor’s School of Dance.
Cameron Smith
Instructor of Ballet and Jazz
Cameron Smith hails from Portland, Oregon where she was trained in the Royal Academy of Dance method under Marjorie Soriano. Ms. Smith also trained extensively in tap and jazz at June Taylor’s School of Dance in conjunction with her technical ballet training. Ms. Smith has had an impressive professional dance career spanning fourteen years. She has danced as a soloist with Houston Ballet, principal with Ballet Memphis and principal with Ballet Florida.
In her career she danced a wide range of both contemporary and classical roles by some of he dance worlds most renowned choreographers like Glenn Tetley, Paul Taylor, George Balanchine, Ben Stevenson, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Christopher Bruce, William Forsythe, James Kudelka, Trey McIntyre, Stanton Welch, Vicente Nebrada, Lila York, Mark Godden, Sean Lavery and Peter Martins.
Ms. Smith has been teaching since she herself was a student. She has been involved in teaching programs throughout her dance career at Houston Ballet Academy, Ballet Memphis School, at studios throughout South Florida and at the New American Youth Ballet and Conservatory. She has choreographed for Ballet Florida Step Ahead, Northwest Dance Theatre and for Jupiter Dance Academy.
In addition to teaching at June Taylor’s School of Dance, Ms. Smith is also the assistant artistic director of Northwest Dance Theatre. She is please to be back in the Portland area to share her experience and knowledge with the future dancers of tomorrow.
Chauncey Parsons
Instructor of Ballet
Born in Santa Barbara, California, Chauncey Parsons began dancing at age 12, at the Santa Barbara Ballet Center, under Michelle Pearson and Denise Rinaldi. At 15, he was accepted into the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C., where he trained for three years under Vladimir Djouloukhadze. After graduating, he performed for the State Street Ballet, under Rodney Gustafson, for two years. In 2002, he joined the Colorado Ballet as a soloist under Martin Fredmann, and in 2004 was promoted to the rank of principal dancer. In 2008, he joined OBT as a soloist under Christopher Stowell, and was promoted to principal in 2009. Over the course of his career he has danced a wide variety of roles, including Basil in Don Quixote, Count Albrecht in Giselle, Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. Further, he has danced leading roles in Balanchine’s Rubies, Emeralds, Tarantella, The Nutcracker, and Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Michael Pink’s Dracula and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Agnes De Mille’s Rodeo, Nicolo Fonte’s Bolero and Never Stop Falling (In Love), Paul Taylor’s Company B, and others.Ballet
Natalie Press
The Ellové Technique®
Natalie Press was born in Portland, Oregon, where she started her pre-professional dance training under the direction of Laura Haney and Erin Zintek. She continued her training at the Boston Conservatory and graduated (Magna Cum Laude) in May 2017 with a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance, with a focus in pedagogy and modern technique. After graduation, Natalie relocated back to Portland where she performed with Polaris Dance Theatre for the 2017-2018 season. She is now a freelance artist and teacher in the Portland area. Most recently, she has started her own Health Coaching business, Veggie Divas, with her mom. She became a certified Ellové Technique® instructor in 2018 and is honored to be part of such a groundbreaking practice.
Sally Smith
Instructor of Modern Dance
Sally started her dancing journey at age six in North Yorkshire England, where she studied jazz, tap, ballet and modern. She knew at a very early age that she wanted to dance and eventually become a dancing teacher. To help realize this dream she attended a professional dance College in London for three years, continuing to study all aspects of dance and gain teaching credentials.
Sally danced professionally in Europe, the Middle East and aboard six cruise ships before getting married and putting down roots in Seattle. She feels blessed to have found the British Dancing Academy, as the training is everything she grew up doing herself. The almost thirty years of teaching experience that she has gained there have helped shape the person she is today.
Sally has spent weeks away at Chichester University, England on a dance teacher’s courses being trained by the creative team that put together the modern curriculum for the ISTD. She is excited to bring all of the knowledge that was gained there and at the many other courses in Canada she has attended, to her students.
“ It is an honor to help students to achieve their own goals. The joy and excitement of seeing the changes dance can bring to all students, never fades”
Ethan Schweitzer-Gaslin
Instructor of Ballet
Ethan is from western Massachusetts and began studying ballet at age five at Amherst Ballet. Ethan has trained on scholarship at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), as well as at summer programs at several schools around the country. After graduating from the UNCSA high school boarding program, he spent two years as an apprentice with Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) before joining Ballet Idaho in 2014. In addition to dancing with Ballet Idaho, he also performs with ARC Dance Company in Seattle and with Project Flux Dance. Ethan has been a semi-final Silver and Bronze medal winner and a two-time finalist at Youth America Grand Prix, and has performed as a guest artist at the Men In Dance Festival in Seattle, the Sweet Pea Festival in Bozeman MT, and Treefort Music Festival. Ethan has studied dance composition and improvisation techniques at UNCSA, and has choreographed for dancers at Boston Ballet School, Houston Ballet II, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Northwest Dance Theatre, and Ballet Idaho. Ethan has had the opportunity to perform many full length classics and original works, and has been featured in choreography by George Balanchine, Ethan Stiefel, Christopher Stowell, Anne Mueller, Edwaard Liang, Wen Wei Wang, Penny Saunders, Alejandro Cerrudo, Lauren Edson, Daniel Ojeda, and Peter Anastos, including in the title role in Anastos’ Peter Pan. Outside the studio, Ethan works as a Ballet Idaho Learning Through Dance outreach program Teaching Artist, and he is currently a part time student at Boise State University.
Helia Megowan
Instructor of Ballet
Helia Megowan started in rhythmic gymnastics, but began her formal ballet training at age five with School of Oregon Ballet Theater. She took her Intermediate through Advanced Two Royal Academy of Dance exams with June Taylor-Dixon, and earned Distinction on each one. She trained for one year at the John Cranko School in Stuttgart, Germany, and attended summer courses at School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, and Houston Ballet Academy. Additionally, she coached a Rhythmic Gymnastics team during her senior year of high school. Next year, she will be studying Biology at the University of Oregon Honors College as well as dancing in Eugene Ballet’s Pre-Professional Division.
Randy Davis
Instructor of Jazz
Texas-born, Randy Andre’ Davis was raised in Germany and Portland, Oregon. It was in Portland that Randy began his dancing ‘career’ and is a heralded alumnus of Jefferson Dancers, where he both performed and studied technique from world-renowned instructors in jazz, tap, modern, and ballet. Through his wide array of training and performance playbills, Randy has evolved into a very fluid instructor, choreographer, mentor, and performing artist.
Randy has been seen in numerous Broadway shows and National tours throughout his career. His palette of performances includes the Broadway Revival of “Guys & Dolls” with Peter Gallagher, Faith Prince and Nathan Lane with a featured role in the Crapshooter Ballet. In “Cats,” Randy embodied the challenging and beloved role of Mistoffelles; and enthralled audiences on stage and film as Noodler the Pirate in Cathy Rigby’s “Peter Pan”. Essential as a Dance Captain, Randy assisted in the original Broadway production of “All Shook Up,” featuring the music of Elvis. Randy was one of the select actors that appeared at the famed Apollo for the theatre history-making opening of George C. Wolfe’s “Harlem Song”.
In addition to his skills as a dancer, singer, and actor, Randy has a full-bodied portfolio of choreographed work. He assisted in the restaging of the National Tour of “All Shook Up” and became the Children’s Director and Stager for the National Tour of “Whistle Down the Wind.” In Japan, Randy choreographed the “Japanese Musical Review” for several of Tokyo’s theaters. Across the country, Randy’s choreography has been in demand by numerous upscale dance studios for the restaging of “Guys & Dolls,” “All Shook Up,” and numerous other musicals.
Randy’s clean, crisp tap dance style has resonance with audiences around the globe. He has performed for the White House on two occasions. On his first visit to the White House, Randy performed a tap solo at the request of the White House after having seen Randy’s performance in “Hot Mikado.” On a second visit, Randy and the cast of “The Harlem Song” performed to honor the history of the show’s content and represent the Apollo Theatre as well.
His diverse stage work also includes directing such musicals as ‘Ain’t Misbehaving’ and ‘All Nite Strut,’ as well as developing a new Musical Review, ‘A Stompin in Harlem,’ with fellow performer Michelle Robinson. In addition, Randy continues to work in the community, mentoring and instructing elementary & high school student productions.
Known for his straight-forward, Broadway-standard, instruction; his style and charisma as a performer transfers seamlessly to his well-thought-out, teaching methodology that supports his, ‘you WILL be able to do this,’ attitude, which focuses on preparing students for a career in the performing arts as he encourages future performer’s to reach their goals, with the same guidance and support was given.
Shaun Keylock
Instructor of Limón Modern
Shaun Keylock is an award-winning choreographer, director, teacher, and dancer based in Portland, Oregon. Driven by his long-standing interest in new movement research and cross-disciplinary collaboration, Keylock launched his own dance company in 2018. A Jose Limón trained teacher, Shaun will be teaching Limón Modern for students at June Taylor’s School of Dance.
Katelyn May
Instructor of Ballet
Katelyn started dancing when she was 7 at June Taylor’s School of Dance. There, she completed all examinations in the Royal Academy of Dance curriculum.
In 2006, she moved to Houston to join Houston Ballet’s professional school, Houston Ballet II, for two years before joining the main company in 2008. While with Houston Ballet, she originated many soloist roles in ballets by Artistic Director Stanton Welch, including roles in Maninyas, Marie, Romeo and Juliet, and Tapestry. Other memorable roles with Houston Ballet include Christopher Bruce’s Ghost Dances and Rooster, Alexander Ekman’s Cacti, and Wayne McGregor’s Dyad 1929.
In 2017, she moved to Sarasota to join The Sarasota Ballet of Florida. There, she had the opportunity to dance principal roles in Sir Fredrick Ashton’s works, such as Meditation from Thaïs, “Titania” in The Dream, and Rhapsody. Other notable experiences include leading roles in Paul Taylor’s Airs and Brandenburgs, Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring, and David Bintley’s Still Life at the Penguin Café.
Andrea Parson
Instructor of Contemporary
Andrea began dancing in the late 1980’s to the country records played in her family living room and in her mother’s aerobics classes. At the age of three, she began studio dance training in Hillsboro, Oregon where she learned the basics. She began choreographing at a young age, making dances for friends and family, and often improvised down grocery store aisles. With dreams of becoming a “serious dancer”, she furthered her studies at the Joffrey Ballet, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and Loyola Marymount University, where she received a BA in dance in 2009. After graduating she joined Northwest Dance Project in Portland, Oregon, where she received a Princess Grace Dance Fellowship award in 2010. For 11 years she performed nationally and internationally, as well as choreographed contemporary dance works for the project company and students. Andrea enjoyed dancing in more dramatic roles such as Hedda Gabler and Carmen. A love of drama and storytelling led her to self-produce three dance theater pieces for live theater and film. She’s currently in residence with Portland-based organization, From the Ground Up, and os creating a new solo autobiographical work, You Can’t Be Serious, that blends dance and stand-up comedy. She teaches and choreographs throughout the greater Portland area and is also on faculty at Pacific University.
Zachary Carroll
Instructor of Ballet
Zachary began his formative dance training with the legendary Ballet Russe dancer George Zoritch in his native Tucson, Arizona, and continued at The National Ballet School in Toronto, Ontario. Throughout his 25+ year performing career, he performed as a soloist and principal dancer with Oregon Ballet Theatre, Ballet Arizona, Minnesota Dance Theatre, and Ballet West. As a member of Portland’s own BodyVox for more than a decade, he toured widely, performing in Germany, Italy, India, and Japan. He also served as the director of BodyVox 2 for 4 years. Zachary has been on the faculty of Columbia Dance, New Vision, and daVinci Arts Middle school, and is a current member of faculties of The Portland Ballet, Steps PDX, Open Space, OBT, and BodyVox. Zachary holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance from St Mary’s College, where he graduated with honors. He is a frequent guest teacher for schools and Summer Intensives both in Portland and throughout the country.
Corina Gill
Instructor of Ballet
Corina Gill grew up in Southern California and trained in the Cecchetti method. She danced professionally at San Diego Ballet, Ballet Tech, Ballet Pacifica and State Street Ballet before joining Los Angeles Ballet at its launch in 2006. There she was personally coached by co-directors Colleen Neary and Thordal Christensen and danced the principal roles in an extensive list of ballets.
In 2009, Ms. Gill joined Boston Ballet where she was later promoted to second soloist. While there, she toured internationally and performed in many great venues around the world, including the Kennedy Center and London Coliseum and worldwide dance festivals in Canada, Spain and Jacob’s Pillow. She worked personally with William Forsythe and was a part of his 2019 premiere of “Playlist” and its creation. Her reperatoire includes ballets by Jiri Kylian, Jorma Elo, Alexander Ekman, George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Christopher Wheeldon, Norbert Vesak, Leonid Yakobson, Helen Pickett, Harold Landers, Mikko Nissinen, Val Caniparoli, Jose Martinez, John Neumeier and John Cranko.
As a teacher, Ms. Gill has taught company classes, master classes, directed rehearsals and coached for YAGP at various institutions throughout the United States and internationally, including Cecchetti USA, Southern California Ballet, Canyon Concert Ballet, Sultanov Russian Ballet Academy, Oregon Ballet Theatre School, Northwest Dance Project and Hualien Dance in Taiwan . She was on the faculty at both Boston Ballet School and Harvard University’s Dance Center before moving to the Portland, Oregon area. Ms. Gill is mat certified by the Pilates Method Alliance and has her master’s certificate in Non Profit Management and a BA in dance. Ms. Gill began teaching at June Taylor’s School of Dance in 2020, where she is delighted to add her talents to an already wonderful group of instructors.