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Rachael Forstrom
Executive Artistic Director
Rachael has been teaching, choreographing, and performing professionally for over 20 years. Mrs Forstrom received her BFA in Dance from Ohio University in 2003, with an emphasis on Performance and Choreography. During her time as Artistic Director at Momentum, she has staged 12 full length ballets including: The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Swan Lake, Coppelia, & Sleeping Beauty as well as producing two seasonal performances for Contemporary and Creative Dance programming yearly. In 2019, Mrs Forstrom created and produced MERGE NW, a pre-professional youth dance festival fostering community and connectivity. As a teacher, Rachael is dedicated to creating a positive learning environment where all ages and abilities are welcome. She believes in focusing on dance as a holistic experience while providing high caliber technical training.
Nikki Wells
Contemporary Program Coordinator & Instructor
Jazz & Tap
Nikki Wells is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, earning a BFA in Visual Art in 2007. Originally from Houston, Nikki studied ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance at Dew Ann Cotten Dance Academy for 15+ years. She also spent 3 years dancing with the University of Houston Dance Ensemble before moving to Seattle in 2004. A teacher at Momentum since 2005, Nikki has had the pleasure of teaching all levels of jazz, tap, and ballet and creating original choreography for the studio’s biannual productions.
A singer, dancer, and actress, Austin has been honing her triple-threat ability since childhood. She grew up among the Lake Washington studios of Spectrum Dance Theater, the company her mother, Jenny Hillock, co-founded. And, with two parents as dancers, Austin developed a passion for the performing arts at a young age. After training at Spectrum for many years, as well as Seattle Children's Theater, Austin studied at Dance Fremont! during her teen years.
Austin Sexton
Rehearsal Director
& Instructor
Ballet, Jazz & Contemporary
Mario Manansala
Instructor
Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary,
Hip-hop & Partnering
From a young age, Mario has always loved moving to the beat of the music! Mario has found his passion for dance while dancing various shows with Momentum Dance Ensemble. Mario has danced with Moscow Ballet (on full scholarship), and Evergreen City Ballet. He has attended summer courses with Evergreen City Ballet, Momentum Dance Ensemble, and International Ballet Theater. He has been accepted into the Oregon Ballet Theater and Joffrey summer course & year-round program both on a full scholarship or partial.
Mr Carver Cox is a dedicated and passionate dancer who has danced with industry leading instructors throughout the south sound, as well as attending yearly workshops with L.A.‘s Tony Bellissimo. He has spent the last year and a half being mentored by Charles Carson and currently dances professionally with the Hip Hop Crew Icon Lion.
Tristan Carver-Cox
Instructor
Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary
Hip-Hop & Partnering
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Julie Marinucci
Creative Program Coordinator & Instructor
Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, & Creatives
Miss Marinucci is so grateful to become a part of the beautiful, compassionate and talented family that is Momentum! She hails from her hometown of Philadelphia, PA and is loving exploring nature in the PNW throughout Burien, West Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula where her family goes for a relaxing weekend. Miss Marinucci began dancing at age 3 when her mother introduced her and her cousin to Pre-Comb (Ballet/Tap/Jazz), the rest was history.
Denise Smithhisler
Instructor
Tap, Jazz, Ballet & Creatives
Denise Smithhisler, Teacher Denise started dancing at the age of 7. At 23, she opened her own dance studio which she ran for 31 years. She taught Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Acrobatics and Musical Theater to students ages 3 to 65. Her students have performed at Disneyland twice, a Seahawks half time, 3 Sonic's games, Silverwood Theme Park and numerous community events. Denise has been teaching at Momentum since 2016.
Kathleen O’ Grady-Graham
Instructor
Irish
Kathleen O’ Grady-Graham comes from a varied dance background. She began taking dance at an early age in areas of ballet, tap, jazz, Polynesian and Irish. She started taking Irish dance from the Keane-Raney School and joined the non- competitive Northwest Irish Dancers in 1992 and was one of the founding company members as well as an instructor. She then joined the competitive school of Tony Comerford School of Irish Dance and competed in the North American Irish Dance Championships and the Western regional Oireachtas. She also is the main Irish ceili and set dance caller for the area and calls Irish dances at the Tractor Tavern and for the Vashon Island Celtic Society regularly.
Erin Taylor
Instructor
Irish
Erin Taylor is an Irish Dancer who has competed locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. She has danced since her formative years, first with the Keane-Raney School, the Doonan School of Irish Dance, followed by Rosemary Turco School of Irish Dance, and completed her competitive tenure with the Tony Comerford School of Irish Dance in Seattle. Mrs. Taylor was a member of the Comerford School's 2004 World Irish Dance Championship team placing 3rd in figure choreography.
Angelina Manansala
Instructor
Ballet & Creatives
Angelina started dancing at the age of 3 years old!
She is trained in various styles such as Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Character, and Character Acting.
She has attended summer intensives with Joffery Ballet, Momentum dance Ensemble, and Evergreen City Ballet. She has been accepted into the Oregon Ballet theater summer program. She has also performed with the Moscow Ballet!
She has a strong passion for educating the next generations of dancers! She loves seeing her students enjoying this great art form of dance in her weekly classes!