Courses
Instructor(s)
- Geof Alm
- Meg McLynn
- Tory Franklin
- Winnie Westergard
- Beverly Poole
- Brad Taylor
- Daniel Goody
- Emilia Kister
- Nikki Rice
- Sarah Lavin
- Soo Hong
- Alia Swersky
- Dan Shafer
- Ellen Forney
- J. Gordon
- Leanna Keith
- Maja Sereda
- Majinn
- BC Campbell
- Charles Sheaffer
- Ian Bond
- Jessica Jobaris
- Kate Falconer
- Kevin Drake
- Kyungjin Kim (KJ)
- Lex Ramierez
- Paul Lebel
- Renee Plevy
- Robynne Raye
- Ruthie Dornfeld
- Silas Berlin
- Zorn Taylor
- Andrew Joslyn
- Barry Sebastian
- Brian Miller
- Brynne McGregor
- Carolyn Hall
- Casey Curran
- Chelsea Cook
- David Taylor Gomes
- Fumi Amano
- Jeff Brice
- Jimmy Shields
- Kate Jaeger
- Kelly Ash
- Kiné Camara
- Larry Calkins
- Lauren Boilini
- Lily Hotchkiss
- Lucie Baker
- Nicole Beerman
- Samar Abulhassan
- Sarah Bixler
- Zoe Crago
String Band
Ruthie Dornfeld
Seattle fiddler Ruthie Dornfeld’s vibrant, expressive playing is voiced in a wide range of traditional fiddle styles, from Celtic, American Old-Time, and French Canadian, Scandinavian, and Eastern European. She has performed and taught widely throughout the US, Europe, and South America. During her 15 year sojourn in New England, Ruthie studied at Berklee College of Music, was a member of the twin fiddle stringband The Poodles, the bluegrass band Boston City Limits, the Hungarian band The Pulis, was a mainstay on the contra dance circuit, and toured Europe with tapdancer Ira Bernstein and with the Copenhagen-based American Cafe Orchestra. Since returning to the Pacific Northwest in 1996, she has been a member of the French cabaret group Rouge, performs with guitar master John Miller, with the quintet Tangoheart, and for local contra and English dancing.
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.
Workshop: Stage Directing and Leadership
Beverly Poole
Beverly Poole has been in Seattle theater for 16 years, and has taught theater for nearly as long. Though she has spent time dabbling in improv, podcasting work, and audio dramas, her true passion is theater that affects the audience like a story told on film never could.
Some of her greatest influences came out of time spent in The Drama Collective Pontlevoy with several master teachers in European theater arts traditions–including Lecoq mask and body work, Kantor technique, ensemble devising work, and puppetry. Other influences were the Viewpoints training she received at the University of Washington, and some of Seattle’s own site-specific theater (her favorite was a show on the Fremont Troll).
Beverly joined REBATEnsemble as an actor, and became the Associate Artistic Director two years later. With REBATE she directed, wrote, and devised plays with theater founder Tom Dang, including Icons: The Martin Show, The Tempest, and Rashumon Reloaded, and she began teaching workshops in ensemble acting and devising.
Beverly has taught theater to all ages, and has a special fondness for teaching Shakespeare to high school students. Her other interests include history, watercolor painting, and fire spinning.
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.
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.
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.
Live Sound Engineering
Daniel Goody
Daniel Goody has been working in the performing arts field since 2001 starting in the UK as a sound engineer. Presently working as the Head of Audio at the Playhouse in Seattle for Cornish College of the Arts, his work has spanned many disciplines over the years including audio, light and video design. His primary collaboration since 2015 has been with the Danish immersive theatre group Sisters Hope.
Following a decade in Sweden as the Technical Director at the culture house Inkonst Malmö, Daniel formed artistic partnerships with a number of performance, dance and theatre groups based throughout the Nordic and European regions. These collaborations, with groups such as; Institutet, White On White, Jon & Juli and Lucie Tuma explored the family, critical whiteness and the relationship to the body on a wholly radical level.
Workshop: Theatrical Intimacy Best Practices
Ian Bond
Ian specializes in telling stories. On the stage, he brings years of determined training at Davidson College and the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company to his characters. As a fight and intimacy director, he thoughtfully communicates with other artists to ensure safe, collaborative, and exciting movement in a story. As a Game Master, he combines a strong sense of play with deep roots in fantasy lore to nurture group story telling. As an educator, Ian empathically centers the students experience in the course of learning. But of course, these skills all combine in this human: Ian. And it is this unique human who brings his whole self to every project.
Consent & Intimacy for Stage & Screen
Ian Bond
Ian specializes in telling stories. On the stage, he brings years of determined training at Davidson College and the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company to his characters. As a fight and intimacy director, he thoughtfully communicates with other artists to ensure safe, collaborative, and exciting movement in a story. As a Game Master, he combines a strong sense of play with deep roots in fantasy lore to nurture group story telling. As an educator, Ian empathically centers the students experience in the course of learning. But of course, these skills all combine in this human: Ian. And it is this unique human who brings his whole self to every project.
Theatrical Swordplay
Geof Alm
Geoffrey Alm has been teaching Stage Fighting at Cornish since 2008. A Certified Teacher with The Society of American Fight Directors since 1987, he is also a Certified Fight Director and Fight Master. Professionally he has been choreographing fights since 1988, locally and Nationally. He’s a proud member of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Actors Equity, and SAG-AFTRA.
Stepping into Shakespeare
Beverly Poole
Beverly Poole has been in Seattle theater for 16 years, and has taught theater for nearly as long. Though she has spent time dabbling in improv, podcasting work, and audio dramas, her true passion is theater that affects the audience like a story told on film never could.
Some of her greatest influences came out of time spent in The Drama Collective Pontlevoy with several master teachers in European theater arts traditions–including Lecoq mask and body work, Kantor technique, ensemble devising work, and puppetry. Other influences were the Viewpoints training she received at the University of Washington, and some of Seattle’s own site-specific theater (her favorite was a show on the Fremont Troll).
Beverly joined REBATEnsemble as an actor, and became the Associate Artistic Director two years later. With REBATE she directed, wrote, and devised plays with theater founder Tom Dang, including Icons: The Martin Show, The Tempest, and Rashumon Reloaded, and she began teaching workshops in ensemble acting and devising.
Beverly has taught theater to all ages, and has a special fondness for teaching Shakespeare to high school students. Her other interests include history, watercolor painting, and fire spinning.
Screen Print Substrate
Tory Franklin
Tory Franklin is a visual artist working with diverse media unified by pattern, print, and narrative. Since 2010, Franklin has focused on public installations inspired by folktales that are accompanied by screen-printed books, posters, and other ephemera. Her work has been exhibited at MAD Art, Bellevue City Hall, Storefronts Seattle, Storefronts Auburn, Spaceworks Tacoma, the Renton Arts Commission, Arts-A-Glow festival, Portland Winter Light Festival, the VERA Project, and 826 Seattle. She has received a Seattle Office of Arts & Culture City Artists project grant, a 4Culture project grant, and an Artist Trust GAP grant for these projects. In 2015, Franklin created her first permanent window piece with her sister, Eroyn Franklin, for Harborview Medical Center, and is currently working on SoundTransit’s Star Lake light rail station in Kent slated to open in 2024.
Intro To Beat Making with Ableton Live
Kate Falconer
Kate Falconer is a performer, educator and music producer based in Seattle, WA. She is a Stranger Genius Award Nominee, a celebrated beat maker and producer, classical multi-instrumentalist and fierce performer at major festivals and venues across the Pacific Northwest. Working as a private instructor and teaching artist for almost 20 years has enabled Kate to share her love of music, audio and digital production with people of all ages. She is specifically interested in increasing equity, access and knowledge for people who might otherwise not have the opportunity or confidence to explore new facets of their musical experience.
Creative Metalworking
Sarah Lavin
I am energized by the spirited exchange of expression and ideas. I am a metal worker, sculptor and installation artist. I have always worked with my hands; gardening, farming, fabricating. I took my first metal working class at Pratt Fine Art Center nearly 25 years ago and went on to get a certificate in Welding/Fabrication at South Seattle Community College specializing in non-ferrous metals and blacksmithing.
I have been a metalworker in various industrial and artistic capacities ever since: I ran public art programs in SE Seattle high school and middle schools, as well as worked alongside established artists and builders. I have recently returned to Pratt teaching forging and welding for adults, families and and teens. I also teach at Burkehead Art Center and Coyote Central. I maintain a shop/art practice on our family farm amongst the goats in Woodinville, Wa.
Writing for Theater
Beverly Poole
Beverly Poole has been in Seattle theater for 16 years, and has taught theater for nearly as long. Though she has spent time dabbling in improv, podcasting work, and audio dramas, her true passion is theater that affects the audience like a story told on film never could.
Some of her greatest influences came out of time spent in The Drama Collective Pontlevoy with several master teachers in European theater arts traditions–including Lecoq mask and body work, Kantor technique, ensemble devising work, and puppetry. Other influences were the Viewpoints training she received at the University of Washington, and some of Seattle’s own site-specific theater (her favorite was a show on the Fremont Troll).
Beverly joined REBATEnsemble as an actor, and became the Associate Artistic Director two years later. With REBATE she directed, wrote, and devised plays with theater founder Tom Dang, including Icons: The Martin Show, The Tempest, and Rashumon Reloaded, and she began teaching workshops in ensemble acting and devising.
Beverly has taught theater to all ages, and has a special fondness for teaching Shakespeare to high school students. Her other interests include history, watercolor painting, and fire spinning.
Beginning Welding
Sarah Lavin
I am energized by the spirited exchange of expression and ideas. I am a metal worker, sculptor and installation artist. I have always worked with my hands; gardening, farming, fabricating. I took my first metal working class at Pratt Fine Art Center nearly 25 years ago and went on to get a certificate in Welding/Fabrication at South Seattle Community College specializing in non-ferrous metals and blacksmithing.
I have been a metalworker in various industrial and artistic capacities ever since: I ran public art programs in SE Seattle high school and middle schools, as well as worked alongside established artists and builders. I have recently returned to Pratt teaching forging and welding for adults, families and and teens. I also teach at Burkehead Art Center and Coyote Central. I maintain a shop/art practice on our family farm amongst the goats in Woodinville, Wa.
Music Licensing and Publishing for Musicians
Andrew Joslyn
Andrew Joslyn, composer, orchestrator, and first violinist for the Passenger String Quartet is an award-winning musical polymath whose passion for collaboration has led him to work with a remarkably diverse group of world-class artists, touring the world, performing, co-writing and arranging music on over 400 songs throughout his career. Along the way he has amassed an extensive list of writing, orchestrating, recording and touring credits that include: Macklemore, Kesha, Michael Bolton, Judy Collins, Leslie Odom Jr., Lizzie McAlpine, Nancy Wilson (Heart), Blind Pilot, K Flay, Chase Rice, Tom Chaplin (Keane), Duff McKagan (Guns N Roses), The Seattle Symphony, The Houston Symphony, Jackson Symphony, and many others. He currently runs his own music production studio, and has scored several feature length films, and writes music for artists, labels, podcasts, music licensing houses, and commercials.
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
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