Dance
Immerse yourself in the world of dance. Learn from faculty members who have mastered multiple forms of dance and pioneered their own. Join a community of collaborators and innovators shaping the Seattle dance world, and beyond.

Contact Improvisation

Alia Swersky
Alia Swersky is a movement artist, performer and educator deeply engaged in dance improvisation, durational time-based art, film, site-specific work, and environmental installation. She is an artist and an educator with degrees from Cornish College of the Arts and an MFA in dance from the University of Washington.
Her artistic path over the last two decades has been shaped by this yearning for deep and meaningful connections with people and places. As a co-creator, ritual maker, and a “horizontal” director, Alia seeks to touch others through dance, somatic presence, vulnerability, and fierceness. Her work ranges from full audience participation to intimate acts of One-to-One performances, site-specific dances for film and live performance, as well as durational time-based art that includes physical acts of endurance, repetition, stillness, subtlety, singing, soft energetic grace, abstraction, caricature, and a deconstruction of clichés such as extreme high femme expressions. Her teaching and art-making seek to create practices that embrace endurance on stage and in life as acts of resistance, resilience, release, and beauty.
As a performer, Alia has also toured nationally and internationally as a member of the LeGendre Performance Group and has performed in the works with many Seattle artists, some of which include The Maureen Whiting Company, Khambatta Dance Company, Jurg Koch, KT Niehoff, and Salt Horse.
As an educator, she has taught at Cornish College of the Arts for sixteen years and in the Seattle community at Velocity’s Strictly Seattle Festival, and the Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation (SFDI). She was a long time Co-artistic director of Dance Art Group (DAG), a non-profit organization that promotes the practice and appreciation of dance and somatic education in the Seattle area, including the Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation.
Embark on a transformative dance experience with the Contact Improvisation class led by teaching artist Alia Swersky. Delve into the realm of spontaneous movement, where you'll explore the language of touch, weight-sharing, and fluid connections. Guided by Alia's expertise, you'll discover new dimensions of expression, embracing the art of
Alchemy for Pleasure: Embodying Expressive Arts Therapy through Creativity and Movement Course

Jessica Jobaris
Jessica Jobaris is a Seattle-based choreographer whose dance-theatre works warp perception, guiding audiences to reconsider what is sacred and what is profane. In 2010, she launched Jessica Jobaris & General Magic, a dance-theatre company dedicated to nurturing artistic risk and community connection through dance. Jessica has taught nationally and internationally, receiving funding for her works from city, state, and corporate organizations. Jessical also holds a MA in Counseling Psychology (LMHCA) from The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, and runs a private practice in Seattle.
Are you wanting to move in an embodied and freeing way that brings you pleasure? This immersive 6-week dance/movement series is part movement meditation and part psycho-education as we explore permeability and pleasure through embodied states of moving. *EAT* is the acronym for Expressive Arts Therapy, a therapeutic approach to movement that
Workshop: Alchemy for Pleasure: Embodying Expressive Arts Therapy through Creativity and Movement

Jessica Jobaris
Jessica Jobaris is a Seattle-based choreographer whose dance-theatre works warp perception, guiding audiences to reconsider what is sacred and what is profane. In 2010, she launched Jessica Jobaris & General Magic, a dance-theatre company dedicated to nurturing artistic risk and community connection through dance. Jessica has taught nationally and internationally, receiving funding for her works from city, state, and corporate organizations. Jessical also holds a MA in Counseling Psychology (LMHCA) from The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, and runs a private practice in Seattle.
Are you wanting to move in an embodied and freeing way that brings you pleasure? This dance/movement workshop is part movement meditation and part psycho-education as we explore permeability and pleasure through embodied states of moving. *EAT* is the acronym for Expressive Arts Therapy, a therapeutic approach to movement that utilizes other
Amapiano Fundamentals

Kiné Camara
Kiné Camara is a dance artist and educator based in Seattle, WA, but you can often find her in Paris and Johannesburg as well.
She began dancing traditional Senegalese styles professionally at 8 years old, and teaching in 2005, under the direction of her father, Master Drummer and Dancer, Ibrahima Camara, of the National Ballet of Senegal. In 2019, she shifted gears to the world of Afro, training in a mix of styles including Afrobeats, Azonto, Ndombolo, Amapiano, and Afrohouse.
She loves bringing her passion for dance to the stage, and has performed with artists including Uncle Waffles, Asake, Tiwa Savage, Sauti Sol, and Archie. She has also dance and hosted with nightlife events such as the “Tune4Tune” series at Neumos, and “Private Piano” both in collaboration with KEXP DJ, Lace Cadence.
She is currently teaching Amapiano classes, and has taught with organizations like The University of Washington, the University of Florida, Vashon Island Center for the Arts, The Overlake School, The Union Cultural Center, Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Repertory Dance.
In this 6-week progressive series, you'll familiarize yourself with Amapiano dance rhythm, technique and culture. Class will initially focus on practicing grooves, steps and footwork patterns, and as the course progresses will apply those elements to freestyle and choreography. Amapiano is a music and dance genre from South Africa, popularized by
House Foundation with Majinn

Majinn
Majinn is a queer, disabled, mixed Black dance artist and educator who utilizes their training in multiple dance forms to find and express their whole self. They believe that to be the best dancer and person they can be they need to continuously push their own comfort zone. Majinn works to help guide people in becoming more confident and connected in their bodies, find joy in their movement and be able to speak their voices primarily through Black social dance forms. One of Majinn’s biggest goals in dance is to spread the histories of Black social dance forms in and out of academia so that the cultures are learned and more respected. They also aim to give back to the communities that these art forms were created from through any way they can. Majinn’s art is for them and the communities they come from, always striving to be authentically themselves in their movement and work You can find Majinn under Majinn_Mike on Instagram
Courses Taught
These classes will teach you various foundational steps and variations in House dance as well as focusing on the jack, footwork and lofting. There are different warm ups I utilize but we always have some type of leg and plank exercise and will incorporate warm up combinations as well. We work on connecting the movements in your body and learning to
Hip Hop Foundation with Majinn

Majinn
Majinn is a queer, disabled, mixed Black dance artist and educator who utilizes their training in multiple dance forms to find and express their whole self. They believe that to be the best dancer and person they can be they need to continuously push their own comfort zone. Majinn works to help guide people in becoming more confident and connected in their bodies, find joy in their movement and be able to speak their voices primarily through Black social dance forms. One of Majinn’s biggest goals in dance is to spread the histories of Black social dance forms in and out of academia so that the cultures are learned and more respected. They also aim to give back to the communities that these art forms were created from through any way they can. Majinn’s art is for them and the communities they come from, always striving to be authentically themselves in their movement and work You can find Majinn under Majinn_Mike on Instagram
Courses Taught
These classes will teach you various foundational steps and variations in Hip Hop dance as well as the foundation of bounce, rock, roll and skate. There are different warm ups I utilize but we always have some type of leg and plank exercise and will incorporate warm up combinations as well. We work on connecting the movements in your body and
Creative Movement (Saturday)
Creative Movement is structured to develop the skill sets needed to work within group dynamics, as well as the skills for active listening and following directions. Through the use of imagery and imagination, children will move in fun and dynamic ways while developing gross motor and cognitive skills.
Creative Movement (Wednesday)
Creative Movement is structured to develop the skill sets needed to work within group dynamics, as well as the skills for active listening and following directions. Through the use of imagery and imagination, children will move in fun and dynamic ways while developing gross motor and cognitive skills.
Pre-Ballet (Saturday)
As children progress from Creative Movement to Pre-Ballet, further development of age-appropriate skills in relationship to group dynamics, coordination and rhythm are emphasized. While still keeping a fun and light-hearted environment, the focus at this level is to provide students with opportunities to increase their understanding of dance
Ballet 1 (Saturday)

Erricka Turner Davis
Erricka Turner Davis has performed with Poetry+Motion, 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Chamber Dance Company, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Opera, Sankofa Theatre, Oakland Ballet, and Spectrum Dance Theater. She received her BFA in Ballet Ed. with Honors from The University of The Arts, Philadelphia, PA, and her MFA in Dance from The University of Washington, Seattle, Wa. She also completed 2019-2020 TAT Lab. She has choreographed, taught, and lectured at Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center, SOAR Academy, Jack and Jill of America Honoree Ball-Seattle Chapter, Broadway Performing Arts Center (11 Days of MLK, Jr.), Harlequin Theatre (Soul on Fire, Let The Good Times Roll), Spectrum Dance Theater, Northwest Tap Connection, ARC School of Ballet/ARC Dance Productions, Tacoma School for the Performing Arts (SOTA), Allegro Performing Arts Academy, Ensemble Ballet Theatre, Irene’s School of Dance, Ballet Bellevue, Evergreen State College, Northwest Dance Intensive, Evergreen City Ballet, Rainier Dance Center, University of Washington Dance Series, and other venues throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Ballet 1 emphasizes progressive development of proper technique, body alignment, and classical line. Increased focus on strengthening the core of the body is taught so that students maintain healthy physical progression through the levels. More ballet vocabulary is introduced and greater emphasis on stretching and flexibility is part of classroom
Ballet 2 (Monday)

Cynthia Jordan
Cynthia Jordan began her journey as a ballet dancer performing in Spokane and Seattle. With a BA in Dance from Mount Holyoke College and an MFA in Dance from the University of Washington, Cynthia has been dancing and teaching professionally for decades. Jacob’s Pillow summer dance program, the Spokane Ballet, and the UW Chamber Dance Company include just some of her notable career highlights as a professional dancer.
Ballet 2 emphasizes progressive development of proper technique, body alignment, and classical line. Increased focus on strengthening the core of the body is taught so that students maintain healthy physical progression through the levels. More ballet vocabulary is introduced and greater emphasis on stretching and flexibility is part of classroom
Ballet 2 (Wednesday)

Cynthia Jordan
Cynthia Jordan began her journey as a ballet dancer performing in Spokane and Seattle. With a BA in Dance from Mount Holyoke College and an MFA in Dance from the University of Washington, Cynthia has been dancing and teaching professionally for decades. Jacob’s Pillow summer dance program, the Spokane Ballet, and the UW Chamber Dance Company include just some of her notable career highlights as a professional dancer.
Ballet 2 emphasizes progressive development of proper technique, body alignment, and classical line. Increased focus on strengthening the core of the body is taught so that students maintain healthy physical progression through the levels. More ballet vocabulary is introduced and greater emphasis on stretching and flexibility is part of classroom
Ballet 2 (Saturday)

Erricka Turner Davis
Erricka Turner Davis has performed with Poetry+Motion, 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Chamber Dance Company, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Opera, Sankofa Theatre, Oakland Ballet, and Spectrum Dance Theater. She received her BFA in Ballet Ed. with Honors from The University of The Arts, Philadelphia, PA, and her MFA in Dance from The University of Washington, Seattle, Wa. She also completed 2019-2020 TAT Lab. She has choreographed, taught, and lectured at Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center, SOAR Academy, Jack and Jill of America Honoree Ball-Seattle Chapter, Broadway Performing Arts Center (11 Days of MLK, Jr.), Harlequin Theatre (Soul on Fire, Let The Good Times Roll), Spectrum Dance Theater, Northwest Tap Connection, ARC School of Ballet/ARC Dance Productions, Tacoma School for the Performing Arts (SOTA), Allegro Performing Arts Academy, Ensemble Ballet Theatre, Irene’s School of Dance, Ballet Bellevue, Evergreen State College, Northwest Dance Intensive, Evergreen City Ballet, Rainier Dance Center, University of Washington Dance Series, and other venues throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Ballet 2 emphasizes progressive development of proper technique, body alignment, and classical line. Increased focus on strengthening the core of the body is taught so that students maintain healthy physical progression through the levels. More ballet vocabulary is introduced and greater emphasis on stretching and flexibility is part of classroom
Ballet 3 (Monday/Wednesday)

Cynthia Jordan
Cynthia Jordan began her journey as a ballet dancer performing in Spokane and Seattle. With a BA in Dance from Mount Holyoke College and an MFA in Dance from the University of Washington, Cynthia has been dancing and teaching professionally for decades. Jacob’s Pillow summer dance program, the Spokane Ballet, and the UW Chamber Dance Company include just some of her notable career highlights as a professional dancer.
Ballet 3 emphasizes progressive development of proper technique, body alignment, and classical line. Increased focus on strengthening the core of the body is taught so that students maintain healthy physical progression through the levels. More ballet vocabulary is introduced and greater emphasis on stretching and flexibility is part of classroom
Modern 1 (Monday)

Erricka Turner Davis
Erricka Turner Davis has performed with Poetry+Motion, 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Chamber Dance Company, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Opera, Sankofa Theatre, Oakland Ballet, and Spectrum Dance Theater. She received her BFA in Ballet Ed. with Honors from The University of The Arts, Philadelphia, PA, and her MFA in Dance from The University of Washington, Seattle, Wa. She also completed 2019-2020 TAT Lab. She has choreographed, taught, and lectured at Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center, SOAR Academy, Jack and Jill of America Honoree Ball-Seattle Chapter, Broadway Performing Arts Center (11 Days of MLK, Jr.), Harlequin Theatre (Soul on Fire, Let The Good Times Roll), Spectrum Dance Theater, Northwest Tap Connection, ARC School of Ballet/ARC Dance Productions, Tacoma School for the Performing Arts (SOTA), Allegro Performing Arts Academy, Ensemble Ballet Theatre, Irene’s School of Dance, Ballet Bellevue, Evergreen State College, Northwest Dance Intensive, Evergreen City Ballet, Rainier Dance Center, University of Washington Dance Series, and other venues throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Modern 1 students develop basic contemporary dance concepts through proper technique, and alignment. Some of the concepts learned are; use of torso, on balance off balance, floor work and inversions, move with weight and powerfully through space, and use of breath. As students progress through the levels longer choreographed phrases will be
Modern 2 (Monday)

Erricka Turner Davis
Erricka Turner Davis has performed with Poetry+Motion, 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Chamber Dance Company, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Opera, Sankofa Theatre, Oakland Ballet, and Spectrum Dance Theater. She received her BFA in Ballet Ed. with Honors from The University of The Arts, Philadelphia, PA, and her MFA in Dance from The University of Washington, Seattle, Wa. She also completed 2019-2020 TAT Lab. She has choreographed, taught, and lectured at Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center, SOAR Academy, Jack and Jill of America Honoree Ball-Seattle Chapter, Broadway Performing Arts Center (11 Days of MLK, Jr.), Harlequin Theatre (Soul on Fire, Let The Good Times Roll), Spectrum Dance Theater, Northwest Tap Connection, ARC School of Ballet/ARC Dance Productions, Tacoma School for the Performing Arts (SOTA), Allegro Performing Arts Academy, Ensemble Ballet Theatre, Irene’s School of Dance, Ballet Bellevue, Evergreen State College, Northwest Dance Intensive, Evergreen City Ballet, Rainier Dance Center, University of Washington Dance Series, and other venues throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Modern 2 students develop basic contemporary dance concepts through proper technique, and alignment. Some of the concepts learned are; use of torso, on balance off balance, floor work and inversions, move with weight and powerfully through space, and use of breath. As students progress through the levels longer choreographed phrases will be
Jazz 1 (Wednesday)

Emma Ruhl
Emma Ruhl is a local Actor, Dancer, Dance Educator, and Choreographer who loves to perform and teach, taking every opportunity to share her love of dance and theater with others. She started dancing at 3 years old and has studied a wide range of dance styles including Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Swing, and Hip Hop. By the age of 8 she had been introduced to the world of Musical Theater where she had the opportunity to embrace her love of dance, theater and singing in one place. She is a graduate of the University of Washington’s Dance Program.
Jazz 1 students explore classical jazz technique, with a strong theatrical influence (broadway, musical theater, funky, and contemporary styles in a energetic atmosphere. An extension of a dancer’s training, Jazz is a great way to learn isolated rhythmic body movements that incorporate full body movements.
Jazz 2 (Monday)

Emma Ruhl
Emma Ruhl is a local Actor, Dancer, Dance Educator, and Choreographer who loves to perform and teach, taking every opportunity to share her love of dance and theater with others. She started dancing at 3 years old and has studied a wide range of dance styles including Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Swing, and Hip Hop. By the age of 8 she had been introduced to the world of Musical Theater where she had the opportunity to embrace her love of dance, theater and singing in one place. She is a graduate of the University of Washington’s Dance Program.
Jazz 2 students explore classical jazz technique, with a strong theatrical influence (broadway, musical theater, funky, and contemporary styles in an energetic upbeat atmosphere. An extension of a dancer’s training, Jazz is a great way to learn isolated rhythmic body movements that incorporate into full body movements with turns and leaps.
Creative Process

Alia Swersky
Alia Swersky is a movement artist, performer and educator deeply engaged in dance improvisation, durational time-based art, film, site-specific work, and environmental installation. She is an artist and an educator with degrees from Cornish College of the Arts and an MFA in dance from the University of Washington.
Her artistic path over the last two decades has been shaped by this yearning for deep and meaningful connections with people and places. As a co-creator, ritual maker, and a “horizontal” director, Alia seeks to touch others through dance, somatic presence, vulnerability, and fierceness. Her work ranges from full audience participation to intimate acts of One-to-One performances, site-specific dances for film and live performance, as well as durational time-based art that includes physical acts of endurance, repetition, stillness, subtlety, singing, soft energetic grace, abstraction, caricature, and a deconstruction of clichés such as extreme high femme expressions. Her teaching and art-making seek to create practices that embrace endurance on stage and in life as acts of resistance, resilience, release, and beauty.
As a performer, Alia has also toured nationally and internationally as a member of the LeGendre Performance Group and has performed in the works with many Seattle artists, some of which include The Maureen Whiting Company, Khambatta Dance Company, Jurg Koch, KT Niehoff, and Salt Horse.
As an educator, she has taught at Cornish College of the Arts for sixteen years and in the Seattle community at Velocity’s Strictly Seattle Festival, and the Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation (SFDI). She was a long time Co-artistic director of Dance Art Group (DAG), a non-profit organization that promotes the practice and appreciation of dance and somatic education in the Seattle area, including the Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation.
This series offers an opportunity to dive deep into embodied practices as a way to discover and share creative offerings through the expression of the body. There is nothing needed other than to come as you are and trust the well of resources within you. Class will guide participants through different "scores and structures", qualities and states
Workshop: Emerging Dance Teacher Training

Lex Ramierez
Lex Ramirez (she/her) is a queer, Latinx teaching artist from Oakland, CA who has been teaching dance in Seattle, WA since 2013. She has an extensive background in teaching artistry, community engagement, program creation and DEI work. Her experience includes working and consulting for Seattle Theatre Group's education and community engagement programs as well as teaching numerous workshops for MoPop, University of Washington, Cornish, Seattle U, Seattle Public Schools and more. Lex has a keen understanding of what it takes to be a successful teacher in both dance and program facilitation. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and space to support emerging teachers.
Not all people are equipped to be dance teachers. But how do you even find that out? Where is there a place to be vulnerable in the practice of teaching and receive constructive feedback in a low-risk environment? Emerging Dance Teacher Lab will provide that space for you! This workshop will help you assess why you want to teach dance, how to
Jazz 2 (Wednesday)

Emma Ruhl
Emma Ruhl is a local Actor, Dancer, Dance Educator, and Choreographer who loves to perform and teach, taking every opportunity to share her love of dance and theater with others. She started dancing at 3 years old and has studied a wide range of dance styles including Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Swing, and Hip Hop. By the age of 8 she had been introduced to the world of Musical Theater where she had the opportunity to embrace her love of dance, theater and singing in one place. She is a graduate of the University of Washington’s Dance Program.
Jazz 2 students explore classical jazz technique, with a strong theatrical influence (broadway, musical theater, funky, and contemporary styles in an energetic upbeat atmosphere. An extension of a dancer’s training, Jazz is a great way to learn isolated rhythmic body movements that incorporate into full body movements with turns and leaps.
Teaching Artists
Alia Swersky
Jessica Jobaris
Kiné Camara
Majinn
Marie Chong
Lex Ramierez
Cynthia Jordan
Erricka Turner Davis
Emma Ruhl
Cornish is committed to making our courses available for anyone who demonstrates financial need and interest through discounts and financial assistance. Seniors 55+ receive a 15% discount with proof of age. Students of any age or military may request financial assistance. For senior, military, or student financial aid, please fill out the form prior to registration.
