DANCER

In a society that seems to increasingly promote isolation, it is a beautiful thing to vulnerably interact with real humans and be part of something bigger. You just show up as you are, ready to move and be moved by others. To be part of something so human, so alive, is a gift I carry with deep gratitude. As a busy mom and homeschool teacher, being an adult ballet dancer is also an crucial reminder that you are more than just your responsibilities. 

DANCER

I’m Brazilian, a Gemini, a nature lover, and a moon child.

I’ve been passionate about dance since a young age and had the joy of teaching ballet in Brazil. I also hold a degree in physical education.

PAW Studio Company is a place where I feel safe, surrounded by support, friendship, and a true sense of community.

DANCER

For various reasons I found dance at the age of 38 and a couple of years later for other reasons found that I really needed it in my life for peace and happiness. I’m now nearly ten years of dancing and am still very much captivated by it and am constantly working on improving my technique. I love to watch dance performances and have that thrill of living vicariously through the performers. I hope when people watch me perform that I, too, am able to share with them the thrill and joy that dance has brought to my life.

DANCER

The opportunity to dance among other adults who are passionate about the art of movement has meant so much to me in being a part of PAW Studio Company. Performing onstage with friends is truly an enriching experience, and I’m so grateful to be a part of this welcoming dance community. As a mom and therapist, having a creative outlet and space to grow in this craft has been invaluable in helping to find some balance in my roles. If you’ve considered starting or getting back into ballet, I hope you’ll join us! 

DANCER

I couldn’t have asked for a better group of amazing women to be dancing with. I’m in my 20s and so much is changing, and this company has blessed me with an amazing support system. When LA is too overwhelming, I know I can come home to PAW. I’ve danced with so many of these girls for years now so they were my safe space for so many years and they continue to be my safe space. I performed with Kim and Rachel back in 2021 so being able to perform with them now gives me a lot of nostalgia.

DANCER

I strive to be an inspiration, an example of how to move forward with a dream, or new journey in your life. I hope to inspire both young and old to take that first step, no matter when it comes. Every rehearsal is an act of courage and growth. Through PAW Studio Company, I celebrate the beauty of beginning again.

DANCER

Learning ballet as an adult is the unfurling of a long-held wild and secret dream.  At Performing Arts Workshop I exhale, take off my armor and feel my body.  PAW has given me a language to explore joy, beauty, fragility, uncertainty, grief and sorrow… the art of life.  I am extraordinarily grateful to all my teachers and fellow dancers for this sacred space.

DANCER

I’m an engineer, virologist, marketing manager, and a dancer. While my career is quite analytical, dance has become an important outlet for me — a way to bring artistry and creativity into my world.

It’s so special that the company gives adult ballet hobbyists the opportunity to perform while also providing a built-in community. It’s a supportive, uplifting group of dancers. We’re serious about trying our best as individuals and also share the joy and camaraderie of dance together

Dance is a performing art and I feel like you therefore experience it more deeply when you get to perform. I find that performing takes a lot of skills— storytelling, synchronization, teamwork, musicality— that I don’t focus on as much when I only dance in class.

DANCER

Dancing again after a years-long hiatus feels like both a homecoming and a celebration of healing and joy. As a busy physician and mom of two, it allows me to reconnect with the creative part of myself that had been quietly waiting. I am deeply honored to share the stage with the inspiring members of the PAW Studio Company, whose camaraderie, strength, and grace make every rehearsal and performance a gift. Dance is truly for everyone, and there is room for creativity, expression, and joy at every stage of life.

DANCER

I’ve danced with numerous companies on a couple different continents and absolutely love the theater. Some of my favorite roles include Judy in A Chorus Line and Smitty in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Dancing with PAW has been a blast, and it’s a wonderful group of beautiful souls — I’m happy to be here.

DANCER

On joining the company, I immediately felt a sense of community and acceptance from the owner and my fellow adult dancers.

This studio makes me feel valued and comfortable as someone who has taken many years off from performing. To be on stage again feels freeing and like a tangible accomplishment each time. It is still scary, but even more rewarding. If someone was unsure about joining, I would let them know I’ve tried many studios in Seattle and north county SD, and this is by far the most fun and inclusive one!

DANCER

DANCER

I came to PAW because I hadn’t danced for 25 years and I went to my friend’s daughter’s dance show. My friend happened to turn and look at me and saw me crying. At that point she pointed at me and said, ”you need to go back to dance.” In that moment I decided that I was going to try to get back to ballet.

As a child my mom would always be proudly sitting in the audience watching her little girl shine. I feel that she would be so proud to see me back on the stage which was always something that her and I found joy in together. Although she has passed on to heaven I will imagine her smiling face in the audience as I perform again after 32 years.

DANCER

Movement has always been a guiding force in my life, a language of healing that grounds me through every season. As a lifelong dancer, mother, and therapist, I carry a deep reverence for the body’s wisdom and its capacity to transform pain into expression. It is a privilege to step into the studio and onto the stage, where vulnerability and strength coexist, allowing me to embrace the full spectrum of what it means to be human. I dance to come home to myself, to connect more deeply with others, and to honor dance as both refuge and revelation.

DANCER

Movement and dancing is a privilege that I am so grateful to be able to do on a daily basis. Growing up, I was an athlete and a dancer all through college. However, after over a decade-long dance hiatus as a result of work, injuries, and raising two young girls, I found PAW. PAW is a space where I not only reconnected to my love for dance, but I also found a community that values who I am as an adult dancer and a mom. I love that I can share the stage with my daughter and hopefully inspire dancers young and old that dance really is for every body and everyone. 

DANCER

DANCER

DANCER

Ballet was my first love and I am so fortunate to have found my way back to it after 25 years away. Like a well-turned phrase, art in dance can seem to fix a moment in and outside of time. After 12 years (and counting!) of working to rediscover that art, opportunities to dance with such a group as the uniquely close-knit, joyful, dedicated PAW Studio Company remind me what all the barre is for.

DANCER

I love to dance because it makes my body feel young again. It affirms the fact that I can still fly after 29 years of motherhood! I also love this community of multi-generational women who come together to laugh, support each other in difficult times, and make beautiful art together. Ballet is challenging and exacting, and makes my heart soar with its timeless, poignant beauty. Ballet requires the one-pointed focus of meditation, bringing me present to all the joy and heartache that life has to offer, in the company of other strong, fierce women who have so much ineffable wisdom and spirit to offer the world.

DANCER

DANCER

By day, I’m a Litigation Paralegal, lifelong athlete, devoted yogi, and proud wife, mother, and Auntie. Just five months ago, I discovered ballet for the first time and fell in love with the art of beginning again. Dance has become a sanctuary for my spirit, blending strength, grace, and joy. Tonight, I celebrate the beauty of trying something new and the timeless courage it takes to follow a dream.

DANCER

I started dancing when I was a kid but took a break for some time so now, I’m trying to reignite my passion for dance and to help better myself. I was able to find an amazing community at PAW, that not only motivated me to perform today, but motivates me to come back every weekend and dance. Starting from the ground up as an adult definitely has its difficulties, but having a space where I feel comfortable to jump back into my passion reminds me why I missed ballet. Dancing has always been a part of me, and I’m glad that I get to share that part of myself with everyone.

DANCER

Being able to perform in front of an audience has been a dream of mine. Ballet has brought joy, excitement and has given me a chance of making my goal into reality. I have little experience with the dance itself, but eager to learn as much as it can offer. Ballet is dear to my heart and I want to express gratitude and appreciation by fulfilling my dream. Thanks to Performing Arts Workshop, I've gained a new passion within ballet and have no intent on stopping. The performers accepted me kindly and I am sincerely grateful.

DANCER

As a classic stubborn Taurus, I quit ballet as a child because I didn't want to follow the rules or listen to people tell me how I looked. Little did I know, dance would come back to me as a beginner again,  now with kind teachers, and become a meditation of sorts. I dance because it reminds me that I, and my body, are powerful and beautiful communicators. 

I enjoy over-booking my schedule, researching yet another hobby, and laughing with my niece.

DANCER

On weekdays, I’m a research scientist developing diagnostic tests to fight infectious diseases and help keep people healthy. On weekends, I trade my lab coat for ballet shoes and learn to point my toes instead of pipetting. I’m brand new to ballet, but I love the challenge, the music, and the joy of learning something completely different. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned in this performance, and I hope you enjoy the show as much as I do!

DANCER

I'm an aerospace engineer who played with ballerina dolls as a little girl.  Inspired by those dolls, I finally mustered up the courage to start ballet at 32.  I enjoy performing and wearing beautiful costumes on stage.  It is never too late to pursue your dreams.

DANCER

DANCER