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    GAYLE D. STAKER

    CHOREOGRAPHY, INSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE

  • Everyone dance!

    Regardless of experience, age, or ability, even if you feel you have "two left feet," I will teach you HOW to enjoy dancing! Let me help you connect to the music and your body so you

    feel comfortable, confident, & most importantly, have a fantastic time dancing!

  • By sharing my award-winning choreography & movement specialty with numerous dance studios, theaters, schools, & dance companies such as Burien Actors Theatre, Seattle Public Schools, Bellevue Youth Theatre, Afsaana Dance Company, the Bellingham Theatre Guild, the Idiom, Bellingham Dance Company, etc.), this shows how much I enjoy working with novices to professionals, children to people of advanced years, people of various abilities, cultures, & languages.

    Together, we'll create the best dance experience for you!

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    TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

    My lifelong study of dance includes ballroom, hip-hop, jazz, cabaret, musical theater, Bollywood, Bhangra, BollyHop, line dancing, Middle Eastern folk, belly dance, and more. My fluidity in dance styles helps me to easily teach you how to move and connect to the music for each individual style. My choreography and performance have won multiple awards in Bellingham and Seattle.

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    CHOREOGRAPHY & MUSICAL THEATER

    As a choreographer for multiple theaters & dance companies- professional and community level, adult and youth- I love to create the magic! Choreography, education, and instruction are available for professional, community, and school level theatrical productions, schools, treatment programs, dance and cheer teams, & any group who would like to dance!

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    GROUP INSTRUCTION & PRIVATE LESSONS

    I offer private instruction and choreography for adults and youth who are wanting to improve in dance, as well as prepare for special occasions such as the first dance at a wedding, pageantry, and more. Group classes are also available, click here for current opportunities to dance with me or contact me to create your own!

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    PARTIES & SPECIAL EVENTS

    Want to plan a memorable experience for a special event? Let's work together to create a spectacular performance for your flash mob, corporate team builder or event, parade, bachelorette, birthday, anniversary, or any other event that would benefit from custom choreography and dance!

     

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    PERFORMANCE

     Check here for a list of events where I will be performing a variety of dance styles at various venues!

    Also, I am an ordained minister and wedding officiant.

    Please contact me if you would like to discuss booking a performance at your event.

  • TESTIMONIALS

    "In the last 2 years, I've known Gayle as a teammate, dance instructor, mentor, and dear friend. Hardly, can she ever be just one. She asserts true professionalism, thoughtfully planning, customizing and paying attention to details while also leading with a refreshing lightheartedness and a unique humor that make people smile. She is a naturally-born teacher, effectively articulating her proficiency of knowledge in dance and music and instilling self-empowerment and in each of her students. Her creativity, enthusiasm, collaborative-nature, and compassion are contagious. Gayle's high quality of work and her talents match her ability to make anyone who chooses to work with her feel comfortable, welcomed, and appreciated."

    – Christine C.- professional dancer

     

    "Gayle transformed me from a doughy comedian to a passable dancer; when we first met she was choreographing a production of A Chorus Line. I've also taken private classes with her, and developed a warm-up routine that's kept me light on my toes and uninjured in numerous stage combat, clown tumbling, and dance situations. Look no further! She's the one."

    – Glen B.- professional actor, comedian, and dancer

     

    "When it came time to ask someone to choreograph our first dance for the wedding, it was a no-brainer! She worked out steps that were basic, easy, and convinced us to step just slightly out of our comfort zone to really make it come together. She can take two clumsy people with no dance experience and create magic. She can work with large groups of people to choreograph a Broadway-esque musical number for a local community theater and do one-on-one tutoring for those that need the extra help. She is thoughtful, considerate, energetic, positive, and immensely wonderful to work with in any capacity. I highly recommend Gayle for any sort of dance/movement/choreography needs."

    – Rachel S. - bride and theater professional

     

    "Gayle is an experienced and fun dance instructor. As a person that has danced in the best schools and performed for over 40 years in San Francisco, Boston, and Chicago and beyond, and taught group exercise for over a decade, I am very picky about my instructors. Gayle is a fantastic, creative and fun choreographer, a wonderful dancer, and effectively teaches to all the levels of students in the room. I love her classes and couldn't recommend her more highly!"

    - Tina H.- professional dancer

     

    "Gayle was amazing! She provided my girls with a fun, well thought out routine. A week later they are all still talking about how easy it was to learn because Gayle teaches in such a fun way. Her free spirit was a breath of fresh air!"

    - Dena G.- coach for middle school dance team

     

    "Gayle is a wonderful, amazing friend and dance instructor! My husband Ryan and I took a 2 hour dance lesson from her in preparation for our first dance at our wedding. We laughed and had so much fun as she helped us figure out what to do for our dance. She taught us how to rumba and within 2 hours my husband (who had never danced before) and I had a plan for our big day! She gave us the gift of dancing together, something we will always have and be able to use for the rest of our lives! I highly recommend Gayle as your dance teacher! Her love of dance and teaching shows throughout the lesson. She truly cares about her students, and every lesson is a personalized session for you!"

    - Corrina D. bride, music educator, and musician

     

    "Gayle is an amazing dance instructor who breaks down moves and explains them in a very relatable manner. She is very inclusive of everyone and every class I have taken with her she adjusts her style to be inclusive of all experience and knowledge levels. Her enthusiasm and love of dance is contagious - no matter what style she is teaching!"

    - Shawna G.- dancer in Gayle's group classes

     

    "Could not be happier with dance lessons. I'm a poor dancer who had made significant progress in a short amount of time. Gayle is very easy to work with and creates and comfortable environment for learning."

    - Micheal A.- ballroom dancer

     

    "Gayle is the best! I took her BollyHop class and she is fun, welcoming, and encouraging to all dancers. She is an amazing dancer and great teacher. I highly recommend her to everyone!"

    - Hannah R.- professional dancer

     

    "Gayle really works well with all types of performers. She genuinely enjoys people and it shows. She modifies the movement to fit the performer and makes it accessible. Definitely recommend!"

    - Cheryl P. - director for musical theater

     

    "Gayle is an amazing teacher and we had so much fun learning from her. Both of us are rather uncoordinated and we went into our first lesson with a lot of anxiety. Gayle was not only great at teaching at our pace and being patient, but she had us laughing and it ended up being one of our favorite wedding preparations. Everyone at the wedding loved our dance and it went so smoothly. We can't thank Gayle enough for making our first dance beautiful and fun!"

    - Nyka and Liz O.- newlyweds

     

    "When I was planning my wedding, I knew exactly who I would choose to officiate the ceremony. Gayle is such a loving and thoughtful person, I could not think of anyone else to officiate for me. Her approach was full of support, she took time to ask me the cadence of the ceremony, she didn't bat an eye when I made a little last minute change, and was fully open to creating the experience my husband and I were looking for. Gayle's background working in multilingual communities, in performance, and leadership really shone though at my wedding and she helped me create a beautiful day that I will always remember."

    - Tara H.- bride

     

  • MEDIA

    flash mob- "I Will Survive"

    Choreography, instruction, & performance by Gayle D. Staker

    Western Washington Campus, Bellingham, WA

    drum solo improvisation

    drumming by Waseem of M.B. Orchestra

    Harissa - Seattle, WA

    "Scream" by Michael and Janet Jackson

    Choreography, instruction, & performance by Gayle D. Staker

    Bellingham Circus Guild, Bellingham, WA

    wedding reception- first dance

    Choreography & instruction by Gayle D. Staker

  • Contact Me

    Let's discuss your interest in my instruction, choreography, performance, or more!

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