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Body Language Studio Ballet Program
Body Language Studio's Ballet Program offers a comprehensive and holistic ballet education for students ages 3-18 who seek training to develop their ballet technique, stamina, and artistry. Our students are passionate, driven, coachable, and embody our core values: Education, Joy, Growth Mindset, and Excellence. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing dance or dance education at the collegiate or professional level.
Core Elements of Our Ballet Program
Holistic Ballet for Every Body
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Our program provides rigorous, personalized training tailored to individual needs, regardless of size, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc.
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Our training regimen focuses on individual artistry rather than conformity; applying ballet technique to each dancer’s unique facility.
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Our ballet history education is honest and inclusive; therefore cultivating informed dancers.
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Our teaching practices do not include physically or mentally harmful methodologies and promote culturally appropriate and celebratory portrayals of characters.
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Our teaching methodologies are rooted in dance science - which prioritizes longevity and technical excellence over antiquated ideologies and aesthetics.
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Our knowledgeable and decorated instructors possess qualifications including: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT), Certified PointeSafe Teacher, over 80 years combined years of teaching experience, and more!
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Our commitment to annual continuing education ensures our faculty stays current with the latest advancements in dance training.
Pointe Training for Safety & Longevity
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Our pointe training follows a progressive overload approach in order to safely build strength and endurance.
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All dancers pursuing pointe training must undergo pointe readiness testing administered by a PointeSafe Certified Teacher, which helps reduce injury risk.
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Our proprietary Ballet Pointe Track System prepares our students for collegiate and professional level ballet training.
Ballet Faculty
LEA APARIS
Owner & Executive Director
Ballet, Yoga, Mental Skills Training, Student Teacher Training Program
Lea is the Owner and Executive Director of Body Language Studio. She has been a dance instructor for over 2 decades and has taught classes in many, many dance styles. She started dancing at age 3, and grew up competing nationally in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop choreography, lyrical, musical theater, and acrobatics. She was a competitive cheerleader at Newport High School, danced for the Seattle SuperSonics Dance Team for 3 seasons, and has a Minor in Dance from the University of Washington. She has been a guest performer in numerous local productions; she was a founding member of Daniel Cruz's hip-hop crew, Cruz Control, and Elmer Pizarro's, Team BoogieZone Breed, and danced Salsa for Corazon Dance Company. She has also been a judge for Team Dance Competition.
She has a BA in Economics and worked in sales, e-commerce, and database marketing for several companies, including Alaska Airlines and Expedia Inc., and was a copywriter for the Downtown Bellevue Network for over half a decade. Her hobbies include fitness, singing, traveling, cooking, meditation, metaphysics, and dancing in her living room with her family! Teaching and mentorship are her passions, and she enjoys helping her students develop body awareness, confidence, charisma, and a growth mindset. After dedicating 20 years to a personal yoga practice, she is now also a certified yoga instructor. She and her husband, Jerome (BLS Co-Director and founder of Body Rock Breaking), keep very busy with their 2 young children who also love dance!
SAMANTHA WEISSBACH, NASM-CPT, YES
Ballet Program Director
Ballet, Pointe, Cross Training
Samantha Weissbach, NASM-CPT, YES (she/her) is the Ballet Department Program Director at Body Language Studio. A passionate teacher with over 15 years of teaching experience, Samantha's goal in her ballet classes is to facilitate a safe and evidence-based learning environment that focuses on excellence in technique and artistry while helping dancers cultivate self-awareness, curiosity, and bravery.
Over the past 3 decades, Samantha has trained at various establishments and summer intensive programs but received her primary training through BLS (formerly Cornerstone Studio), Ballet Bellevue, and Emerald Ballet Theatre. A lifelong learner, Samantha continues her learning journey with annual continuing education seminars, freelance professional work, and weekly classes & cross-training.
Awards & Certifications
National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer
National Academy of Sports Medicine Youth Exercise Specialist
Danscend Mental Wellness Certified Dance Educator Level 1
PointeSafe Certified Instructor
2022 Dance Educators Association of Washington's Annual Educator of the Year Award
Additionally, Samantha is the Owner and a Senior Pointe Shoe Fitter at Dancewear Center, is a member of pointe shoe fitting resource ThePointeShop+ (home of the Progressive Pointe Method, and is a member of Danscend's Council, an organization that brings mental wellness to the forefront of dance training for dancers, educators, and professionals.
Photo Credit: Muñoz Motions
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DR. ERA TERRY, PT, DPT
Instructor
Ballet, Pointe, Cross Training
Era has been involved in dance for over 30 years with a dance education that includes Joffrey Ballet, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder Ballet, Chattanooga Ballet, and Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts. While pursuing her B.S. in Exercise Science, Era taught and danced professionally with Chattanooga Ballet in Tennessee.
Era moved to Seattle in 2017 after receiving her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Columbia University in NYC. She has taught, danced, choreographed, and provided injury prevention lectures locally at various dance institutions. She loves continuing to teach and choreograph while practicing physical therapy at Kinetic Physical Therapy in West Seattle.
Era is currently a board member and clinic organizer for Seattle Dance and Performing Arts Medicine (SeaPAM). As a physical therapist, she has worked with dancers of Pacific Northwest Ballet, Whim W’Him, Hubbard Street Dance Company, Joffrey Ballet, and Cornish College of the Arts.
Era’s teaching style focuses on imparting anatomical and biomechanical knowledge to the dancers to minimize injury and maximize technique while emphasizing artistry and joy of movement in dance.
ANDREA HINES
Instructor
Ballet, Variations
Andrea was born and raised in Washington and has been dancing since she was four years old. Andrea started her ballet training at Tacoma City Ballet from 1999-2001, then transitioned her training to Evergreen City Ballet under the careful training of Wade Walthall and Kevin Kaiser until 2012. Andrea returned to the ballet world in 2019, where she rejoined Evergreen City Ballet on the administrative side as their Volunteer Coordinator, as well as their Secretary on the Board of Directors. After a 12-year hiatus and having a baby, as an aspiring freelance dancer, she gets her primary training from former Pacific Northwest Ballet Soloist, Joshua Grant, at Dance Conservatory Seattle and Evergreen City Ballet.
When Andrea is not in the studio, you can find her cooking with her husband, drinking a delicious latte, or chasing her son around the house!
EMMA NEILSON
Instructor
Ballet, American Barre Technique, Certified Flexistretcher Instructor
Emma Neilson started dancing at age 4, when she first started studying Scottish Highland Dance. She danced competitively throughout the greater Northwest until the age of 8, winning numerous medals and awards and passing several medal tests through the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance (SDTA). She then moved into competitive figure skating for four years, and during this time took her very first ballet class at age 13. She trained professionally at the International Ballet Academy (IBA) in Bellevue, WA under the direction of Vera Altunina and Francois Serre y Berga. Emma performed with the International Ballet Theatre, resident company of IBA, dancing roles in The Nutcracker and Don Quixote. She also spent summers training at Whitman’s Summer Dance Lab, Summer at Cornish at Cornish College for the Arts, and IBA’s Summer Program. She graduated from high school and Shoreline Community College in 2017 with her AA in Psychology. Emma is currently a Seattle based freelance dance artist, and has performed professionally with Dance Conservatory Seattle, Westlake Dance Center, The Guild Dance Company, Evoke Productions’ Full Tilt as well as guesting with local ballet studios and other independently produced projects. Emma is also a Certified American Barre Technique Instructor and a Certified Flexistretcher Instructor.
MELISSA KOH KRIENKE
Guest Faculty
Ballet, Pointe, Variations, Partnering, Improvisation
Melissa Koh Krienke started dancing at age 3 and has been teaching for 14 years. She graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a BFA in dance, trained at Ballet Chelsea’s pre-professional program, and is trained in Mat Pilates. Melissa has also performed and taught locally and internationally, and currently dances and choreographs for Equipoise Dance. In addition to choreographing and teaching ballet, she serves as the Director of Operations at Dancewear Center, where she fits pointe shoes and is responsible for all daily operations.
Performances & Summer Training
Annual Nutcracker Ballet & Cultural Dance Intensive
This unique 1-week intensive focuses on ballet technique and various cultural dance styles taught by master guest teachers. This unforgettable experience broadens dancer education and cultural appreciation.
Dancers who attend our annual intensive:
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Learn from master guest teachers, gaining insights and techniques from renowned professionals.
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Receive a private, early audition for Body Language Studio's Annual Production of The Nutcracker.
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Create lasting memories in a supportive and enriching environment.
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Draw inspiration from diverse dance traditions, fueling your artistic expression.
BLS’s Annual Nutcracker
Our annual Nutcracker offers a fresh take on the traditional ballet, featuring tap-dancing Soldier Doll, breaking, acrobatics, and culturally appropriate and celebratory portrayals of characters. Dancers undergo an audition process to be selected for these performances where they have the opportunity to showcase their growth!
Dancers who participate in our annual Nutcracker:
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gain valuable stage experience in a professional production
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further develop their artistic expression
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boost self-confidence by performing in front of live audiences
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develop teamwork skills and foster a sense of community among peers
Annual Spring Ballet
Our annual Spring ballet offers our dancers a chance to explore and perform different ballet styles and repertoire. Dancers undergo an audition process to be selected for these performances where they have the opportunity to showcase their growth!
Dancers who participate in our annual Spring ballet:
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Gain experience and confidence in the audition process.
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Enhance their performance skills by participating in a diverse and changing repertoire.
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Strengthen technical abilities with challenging and diverse choreography.
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Are given the opportunity to explore and perform different styles of ballet.
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BLS Ballet Select Competition Team
Our award-winning competitive ballet team at Body Language Studio provides dedicated dancers with rigorous training and the opportunity to showcase their skills in regional and national competitions. Dancers chosen for BLS Select desire to challenge themselves, grow as dancers, and be part of an elite team.
Dancers who participate in BLS Ballet Select:
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Receive intensive and advanced ballet training to refine technique and artistry.
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Perform in regional and national competitions, gaining valuable stage experience.
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Gain constructive feedback from industry professionals to improve skills and performance.
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Travel to various locations and network with dancers, instructors, and professionals in the dance community.