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DANCE INSTRUCTORS & STAFF
MISS LEA
Lea Aparis is the Owner and Executive Director of Body Language Studio, where she has been teaching and mentoring dancers for over 25 years. Beginning her dance journey at age three, she went on to compete nationally in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, musical theater, hip-hop, and acrobatics. She was a competitive cheerleader at Newport High School, performed for three seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics Dance Team, and earned a Minor in Dance from the University of Washington. Her professional credits include guest performances in local productions, founding membership in Daniel Cruz’s Cruz Control hip-hop crew and Elmer Pizarro’s Team BoogieZone Breed, salsa dancing with Corazon Dance Company, and judging for Team Dance Competition.
Beyond the studio, Lea brings a breadth of experience in business and the arts. She holds a BA in Economics, has worked for Alaska Airlines and Expedia Inc., and spent over five years as a copywriter for the Downtown Bellevue Network. She is also a certified yoga instructor and currently serves as a Business Management Consultant for the UW Foster School of Business.
Lea’s passions extend to fitness, travel, cooking, singing, astrology, and metaphysics, but her greatest joy is dancing in the living room with her husband, Jerome, and their two children. She believes in teaching with heart, helping students develop body awareness, confidence, charisma, and a growth mindset both in and out of the studio.
JEROMESKEE
Mr. Jerome, a.k.a. B-boy Jeromeskee, is our Co-Director and founder of Body Rock Breaking, our championship-breaking training program. He started B-boying in 1996 and has been performing and competing ever since. He is a member of several competitive B-boy groups – 2x world champion Massive Monkees, DVS Crew, and what was the Seattle SuperSonics Boom Squad. Massive Monkees is the 1st American crew to win the title of R-16 B-Boy Master World Champions in Korea.
Jeromeskee has participated in, judged, and won numerous B-boy events throughout the world, in the U.K., France, Denmark, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Taiwan, Poland, Ukraine, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Canada, and all over the U.S. He was a featured performer on Dancing With The Stars, the MTV Video Music Awards and Europe Music Awards, competed on MTV’s Americas Best Dance Crew, and was one of the coaches on MTV's "MADE: I Want To Be A B-boy." He is part of the team that choreographed and appeared in the award-winning music video, “Downtown,” for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and choreographed for and performed live with Macklemore, all around the world. He has danced in commercials and on TV, including The Ellen Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and The Today Show.
With over 20 years of teaching experience, Mr. Jerome is passionate about inspiring the next generation, passing along his wisdom, and instilling a growth mindset in all of his students.
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MISS ANDREA
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!
MISS CHELSEA
Chelsea is our Sr. Studio Manager and a cornerstone of Body Language Studio’s teaching team. Over the last decade, she has worn many hats at BLS, from leading classes to choreographing award-winning performances. Trained competitively in ballet, jazz, hip-hop choreography, lyrical, contemporary, and tap, Chelsea brings versatility and passion to the studio. She currently teaches tap and is a National Title-winning choreographer for our competition teams. Her creative touch is also behind the choreography for our annual production of The Nutcracker.
Chelsea began her dance training at Emily’s Dance Arts in Bellevue and expanded her dance and arts journey at Bellevue Youth Theater and Village Kid Stage, participating in main stage productions while dancing and competing. She has further honed her craft under the guidance of renowned professionals such as Karida Griffith, Thommie Retter, Mia Michaels, and many more, enriching her diverse dance background.
Chelsea holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Washington State University, and her love for movement is matched only by her enthusiasm for the WSU Cougars! Her deep understanding of body mechanics, combined with her competitive dance background, allows her to inspire dancers of all ages and levels—whether recreational or competitive.
When she’s not in the studio, Chelsea enjoys crafting, gardening, attending sporting events, live theatre, and traveling. Her multifaceted interests bring a creative and dynamic energy to everything she does, both inside and outside the studio.
MISS ERRIN
Errin is a Pacific Northwest native who started dancing at the age of two. At a young age, Errin competed nationally in hip hop and jazz and is trained in a variety of dance styles such as tap, lyrical, modern, and ballet/pointe. She is a former student of Cornerstone Studio where she performed in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and recitals. She danced with the Hazen High School Drill team when they won the WIAA drill/dance state competition three years in a row. Then, she went on to complete five seasons as a Seattle Sea Gal/Seahawks Dancer. In between cheering, she received her degree in Strategic Communication, with a highlighted interest in social justice, from Washington State University. Errin is also a high school dance team assistant coach and dance/drill judge for WIAA. Errin is excited to give back to her community while exercising her passion for dance by teaching hip-hop classes here at BLS. She enjoys a fun high-energy class environment. She likes to focus on rhythm, musicality, and synchronization. Outside of dance, Errin loves traveling and being around her family, friends, and pets.
MR. FRANK
Frank's background is different from many other instructors in that he started dancing at the "late" age of 18, when he decided he wanted to learn something new in college. Despite having no initial dance experience or guidance, he fell in love with the artform and pursued it fervently as his creative passion. From humble beginnings teaching himself K-Pop dances from 0.5x speed YouTube videos, Frank is now becoming a prominent figure in the Seattle community as he now teaches his own classes and choreographs performances for local dance shows.
Frank specializes in choreography and has trained and performed with many street dance teams in the Seattle scene such as Studio 3 Company, AMP'D, RTHMZ, and ZenFunk Crew. Alongside choreography, he also immerses himself in street dance culture by participating in local freestyle sessions and battles. Foundationally, he specializes in Campbellocking (or "locking"), but has also trained in popping, hip hop, and house dance. Outside of dance, Frank has a B.S. in Psychology and is currently pursuing a Master's of Social Work in hopes of working in mental health in the future!
Pulling from his background in psychology and mental health, Frank's approach to dance focuses on being grounded in technique, but also being tuned in with one's feelings and psychological state in order to learn more effectively and express more powerfully. He also believes strongly in the importance of history and culture, emphasizing the importance of recognizing street dance as African-American culture and understanding how they came to be. As a teacher, Frank's goal is not just to pass on knowledge, but also to inspire his students, like how his own teachers did for him.
MR. KEVIN (K-VO)
Kevin Vo, also known as K-VO, is a dancer whose journey has been shaped by passion, community, and creativity. Starting out as a young breaker in the Pacific Northwest, Kevin was drawn to the energy and storytelling of hip-hop culture. He trained consistently, building his foundation in power moves and tricks, while developing his own style rooted in musicality and expression.
A major turning point in Kevin’s career came when he connected with Art of Movement (AOM), one of Seattle’s most respected crews. Being part of AOM gave him mentorship, inspiration, and a direct link to a global community of dancers who carried the legacy of breaking across the world. With AOM, Kevin learned the importance of discipline, originality, and representing both culture and community through dance.
At the same time, Kevin’s vision expanded. Alongside close friends who shared his dedication, he founded Illicitz, a crew built on loyalty, creativity, and the drive to push each other forward. Illicitz quickly became more than just a crew — it became a family and a platform for Kevin to build jams, and performances that showcase not only skill but also culture and community unity.
Today, Kevin continues to grow as both a dancer and mentor. Whether competing, teaching, or building with the community, he represents both AOM and Illicitz with pride, honoring the pioneers before him while creating new pathways for the next generation.
MISS LYNELLE
Lynelle is a seasoned dance instructor and a student favorite. With more than 20 years of choreography and teaching experience, she has competed and performed regionally and nationally in jazz, hip hop, contemporary, ballroom, and more. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes technique, flexibility, performance, and teamwork. Also a fitness professional, Lynelle makes an effort to introduce her students to Pilates and yoga and instill the importance of creating healthy habits for the mind and body at any age. Lynelle is also a nationally award-winning high school drill team coach, dance/drill judge for WIAA, and traveling choreographer for Tribe 99.
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MISS MELISSA
Melissa Koh Krienke is a dancer, teacher, and artist here in the Pacific Northwest. She started dancing ballet at the age of 3 and her passion grew from there. Melissa trained through high school with Ballet Chelsea and got her BFA in dance from Cornish College of the Arts. She has performed with Beth Terwilliger, Converge Dance Festival, the Chihuly Garden and Glass, Dance This, Bridge Project, Tint, PRICEarts N.E.W., Forthun+Rome Dance Theater, Intrepidus Dance, Seattle International Dance Festival, Trillium Dance Collective, Equipoise Dance, and Carnegie Hall.
Melissa is now dancing professionally, and teaching Ballet, Pointe, and Contemporary.
MR. NOAH
NOAH RANOLA began his journey at BLS at just 10 years old, and the studio has been his home ever since, shaping who he is today. Now, as both a teacher and professional dancer, Noah brings his passion full circle to inspire the next generation.
A protégé of world-renowned dancer Mr. Jerome Aparis, Noah became one of the youngest members of the legendary Massive Monkees crew. He actively competes in battles across North America, showcasing his skills and love for breaking. Beyond the stage, Noah is also a professional hairstylist and a Coach with Breaking Boundaries, where he fosters positive change in youth through breaking across the broader Seattle area.
MISS SAMANTHA
Samantha Weissbach, NASM-CPT, YES, SFC (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
National Academy of Sports Medicine Stretching & Flexibility Coach
Grow Your Confidence training with Kirsten Kemp (Mindset Coaching for Dancers)
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
Samantha Weissbach (she/her)
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MISS SHELEEN
Sheleen fell in love with dance at the age of four. Since then, she has trained in multiple styles, achieved countless awards, and completed her IDTA dance exams with top honors. She was selected as one of South Africa’s top 16 dancers to join the Cape Dance Company and toured with them. She has also choreographed and performed in a wide range of professional productions - including music videos, television features, corporate showcases, and a Seahawks halftime show.
Sheleen began instructing dance at 12 years old and continues to bring deep passion and purpose to her teaching. She strives to cultivate strong technique, creative expression, self-confidence, and a growth mindset in her students. Her love of choreography shines through in her work and has helped her dancers earn multiple awards.
Beyond the studio, Sheleen is the founder of Purple Splash Studios, where she creates products, workshops, and coaching experiences that help children and adults become the best versions of themselves. She is a certified creative arts therapy practitioner, life coach, and multi–Amazon and Etsy best-selling author/illustrator. Before launching her wellness career, she received a triple major in business and spent a decade working in marketing, product/program management, and event coordination.
When she’s not dancing or creating, Sheleen enjoys spending time with her family (she’s a proud mom of two), practicing yoga, exploring nature in the Pacific Northwest, reading, or traveling.
APPRENTICE TRAINING PROFRAM
Leadership Development at Body Language Studio
At Body Language Studio, we believe dance education is more than learning steps—it’s about cultivating leadership, confidence, and community. That’s why we offer a Leadership Development Program designed to guide dancers on a journey from assisting in class to leading with excellence.
Apprentice Training Program
Our Apprentice Training Program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to learn through mentorship with experienced faculty. Apprentices work alongside teachers, leading small portions of class, supporting classroom management, and even creating short choreography. With guidance from their mentors, apprentices gain valuable skills in communication, leadership, and teamwork while learning how to set a positive example for younger dancers.
Student Teacher Experience
As dancers advance in our program, they may step into the role of Student Teacher—an opportunity to design warm-ups, lead full classes, and put their creativity into practice. Student Teachers receive supportive, ongoing training to ensure they feel confident and prepared, while still having the safety net of mentorship and feedback from our staff. This hands-on experience empowers them to grow as leaders, role models, and educators while developing professionalism that will serve them both in and out of the studio.
Building Future Leaders
Through intentional mentorship, structured training, and real classroom experience, our Leadership Development Program nurtures dancers into poised, capable leaders. Whether our students go on to become professional dance educators or apply their skills in other areas of life, they leave our program with confidence, maturity, and the ability to inspire others.
MISS JOSIE
Josie has been dancing since the age of 3. She is trained in contemporary, lyrical, jazz, ballet/pointe, and also competes on the BLS Select Team. Josie has always been drawn to learning, adapting, and sharing her love of movement with others.
Over the years, Josie has developed a strong interest in teaching and mentoring young dancers. She believes that fostering confidence, creativity, and growth in her students is essential to helping them reach their full potential—both inside and outside the studio.
In addition to her dance background, Josie recently passed the Parapro Assessment, earning her qualification to work with students with special needs. This experience has deepened her understanding of individualized learning and inclusion. She is committed to creating a supportive and encouraging environment where every student feels seen, capable, and inspired to learn through movement.
MISS MIA
Mia Nelson is a Student Teacher and Teacher Assistant at Body Language Studio, where she is excited to share her love of hip hop to young dancers. She has been dancing for over 14 years, exploring styles including hip hop, lyrical, jazz, and hula. Mia loves helping students build confidence, have fun, and express themselves through movement, and she enjoys seeing them grow as dancers and performers.
Beyond teaching, Mia enjoys exploring music, learning new choreography, and connecting with the dance community. She believes in fostering a positive, encouraging environment where every student can thrive and find joy in dance.
MR. ROWAN
Rowan has been breaking with Cornerstone/Body Language Studio since second grade. He's performed in the studio’s production of The Nutcracker three times and joined the Body Rock Breaking Crew in 2023. Now a teacher apprentice, Rowan loves seeing younger dancers enjoy breaking the way he has the past ten years, and watching them grow with every class. Outside of dance, Rowan is a bass vocalist with the award-winning Vox Lumini Choir at Hazen High School, plays electric guitar, and sings rock music. After graduation, he plans to study music and political science in college..
MR. ZACK
Zack Thompson has been breaking since the age of 7. He has been with BLS for 5 years and this will also be his fifth year on the multiple award winning competition team. He is passionate about dance and loves the freedom of expression that comes with breaking. This is his third year of assistant teaching and he truly enjoys working with young students to help them
develop their dance skills and style.
GUEST INSTRUCTORS
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MR. GLEN
Glen, aka B-boy Armagedden, was first introduced to breaking in 1995 while living in Japan as a "military brat." Shortly afterward he moved to Seattle, WA, and quickly immersed himself in the local B-boy community. He is a member of world-renowned, 2x world champion B-boy crew Massive Monkees and performed with what was the Seattle SuperSonics Boom Squad and in opening acts for numerous major recording artists. In his early years, his energy went towards perfecting power moves; due to consistently showcasing his energy, precision, and attention to technique, his notable signature move became his head spin.
Much of his adulthood has been spent living and traveling within the US and abroad to numerous countries, most recently back to Japan, and he made it a goal to connect with the local dance communities in each location. He is now based out of Seattle again and is passionate about spreading dance as a way to empower and enrich youth, with goals for working towards future efforts to expand his reach.
MISS EMMA
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 highschool 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. She currently teaches at Body Language Studio and International Ballet Academy.
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MISS ERA PT, DPT
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.
MISS McKENNA
McKenna has been dancing since the age of 5, with the majority of her training coming from Cornerstone/Body Language Studio. She took classes in ballet, tap, jazz, and pointe, was part of the performing group and competition team, and also danced in the annual Nutcracker. McKenna has a lot of experience working with and teaching kids from her time as a Manager and Activities Director for a local Childcare Center. She is currently a student at the University of Washington and plays the trombone in the Husky Marching Band!
MISS RAQUEL
Despite her Venezuelan roots, Raquel fell in love with Polynesian cultures at the age of 12. In 2010, she met Sandi Stevens, owner and founder of Ohana Arts. Meeting Sandi greatly impacted Raquel and Hula became a prominent part of her life. She was trained and hired to be a professional Hula performer in the state of Florida. In the Ohana Arts Studio, Raquel began teaching keiki (children); it was there that she gained a passion for teaching kids the art of Aloha through song, dance, and music. Having the opportunity to perform with some of the best companies and performers in South Florida, she lead out on productions both small and large including a children’s episode on PBS Kids, the city of Hollywood’s annual production “Dragons and Drums,” and the Mango Festival at the Botanical Garden in Miami Gardens. Raquel is now married and the mother of two little girls. She especially enjoys sharing the stage with her husband and looks forward to the time she can share it as a whole family. Raquel has decided that no matter where she lives, she will always carry and share the spirit of Aloha with her community!