MEDIA RELEASE

New teachers and new dance classes are featured on the Fall calendar for West Hawaii Dance Academy, as well as ongoing ballet classes for every level.

Following a successful Spring showcase performance, West Hawaii Dance Academy is continuing to offer ballet classes for girls and boys as young as 3 years of age. Also on the schedule are junior hip hop, adult hip hop, classical ballet, jazz and beginning ballet classes for adults.

Midori Satoh teaches pre-ballet and primary ballet for ages 3 to 8 years Monday and Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings.

Megan Chapman teaches Wednesday evenings for those seeking pointe or jazz classes to fit work and school schedules.

Jenna Power is teaching our junior hip hop class on Thursday afternoons. She also teaches beginning Ballet 1 on Mondays.

Power grew up in Kona studying ballet and jazz at West Hawaii Dance Academy. Along with intensive workshops each summer, she also studied at Ballet Hawaii and 24/7 dance studio on Oahu. After graduating high school, Jenna moved to San Diego where she received a university degree in dance.

After college, she studied at The Academy of Performing Arts in San Diego as well as EDGE studio in Los Angeles. Power has now returned full circle to teach at the studio where she was taught.

WHDT also welcomes back teacher Lee Vinson, who returns to the academy on Thursdays for adult hip hop, after masterminding the recent production of “A Chorus Line.”

Master Trainer Virginia Holte will conduct several GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® workshops throughout the winter period. For those who need to update certification or just need a workout, call the academy for information.

Holte also teaches intermediate ballet and pointe on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Ballet classes for 5-10 year olds, instructed by Claire Hollinger are scheduled Wednesday afternoons at Waikoloa Community Center and Friday afternoons at Anna Ranch in Waimea.

Holte also teaches adult ballet, pointe and pilates classes Fridays at Anna Ranch.

“Our teachers in Kona and Waimea are dedicated to making the dance experience enjoyable for everyone. We can help keiki realize their dreams of moving with grace and with confidence,” Holte said. “It might take a couple of weeks to get into the rhythm, but they get it eventually and love to feel the beat. We really hope to instill healthy habits that will make them real winners.”

Classes start at $56 per month.

For information on all our classes, call 329-8876 or visit: www.whdt.org