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Erin Brinkerhoff and students working on ballet steps in the new Silverdale studio. |
The Dance Gallery Inc, now The Dance Gallery of Music & Dance, owned and operated by Kara Morkert and Erin Brinkerhoff, has a new beat to dance to in Silverdale.
After a few months of hard work to convert the cinder block grey look of the old landmark J&R Tavern to a beautiful studio, The Dance Gallery of Music & Dance opened it’s doors in Silverdale on Jan. 8. “I can’t believe it… but my joints can,” said Morkert.
The location on Silverdale Way by Red Apple Market was perfect for this duo to fulfill their need to expand to another community. Morkert said, “20 miles (to Port Orchard) is too far to travel for some to experience the school.” Brinkerhoff added, “It’s a bold move but, we really wanted to work with Silverdale.”
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Sidney Wiese, age 8, is taking her first piano lesson from Brianna Lobbett at the new Silverdale location. |
Along with the already outstanding dance curriculum, both Silverdale and Port Orchard studios will ad a music program with instruments, voice and music theory. The studio will allow parents to kill two birds with one stone by having children attend music and dance classes in one building. With adding the music classes and sound proof rooms, Morkert and Brinkerhoff have added some well known music instructors to the mix: Kevin Nortness of Seattle, Mike Karnes of Silverdale, Diane Beegle of Silverdale, and Brianna Lobbett of Port Orchard. Brinkerhoff added, “Kara & I are blessed to not only have a great staff, but wonderful customers.”
Just as their past and current instructors, all the new instructors hold a college degree in music or dance and generally share a love for the Arts. “It’s (the Arts) a fabulous activity for girls and boys,” Brinkerhoff said.
The Dance Gallery Inc was a first place Co-Dance National Award winner and recently had the honor of being one of only five dance studios across the nation to represent the United States at the “Young Tanzsommer Stars of Tomorrow” program in Austria in 2004.
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Erin Brinkerhoff teaching a ballet class to 4&5 yr olds. |
Morkert and Brinkerhoff, who are Business Journal 40 Under Forty class of 2005 honorees, have worked hard to achieve an experience for students taught by professionals to assure the best training possible. Past students have been awarded scholarships to study at Cornish University, University of Washington dance program, Orange County High School for the Performing Arts, Ballet Magnificat, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, The Edge Dance Center in Los Angeles, and Pacific Northwest Ballet summer programs.
The Dance Gallery of Music & Dance is not only for the young. Adult classes are also available. “I love to see a 5 year old’s face when they start and than see a 30 year old student have the same look… it’s just that look,” Morkert said.
Both the Port Orchard and Silverdale studios are open Monday-Saturday with dance and music classes all week. Each studio has apparel for sale. To learn more about The Dance Gallery of Music & Dance, visit www.thedancegalleryinc.com or call (360) 895-9214 or (360) 698-2393. |
