Artistic Director

April Chesterfield (formerly Cunningham) has been dancing professionally in the Seattle area for over 10 years. She has performed with Cruz Control and Breaking point and recently choreographed a music video for a up and coming young talent, Justin Fehler.

April is thrilled to be the current Artistic Director for Sixthday Dance Company and looks forward to sharing her talent whenever possible.

She thanks God for every day she gets to listen, jump and take in all that He has created!

For 2021-22 school year Miss April will be teaching:

• Monday 7 pm Modern
• Monday 8 pm Hip Hop 

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Artistic Director and Principal Dance Instructor - Founder and Owner of Reflections School of Dance Inc. 

Trained as a gymnast, Debbie found herself dancing with the Contemporary Dance Company of Ball State University in her college days. She spent the next 10 years training and performing with the Cambridge Theatre Dance School and training and touring from Cambridge Academy of Performing Arts which enabled numerous tours through Europe, Southeast Asia, Central America, The United States and Canada. Aside from dance performance her work experience included choreography for youth and children’s musical theater, jazz choir, church groups, television, touring artists in the genres of rock, pop and hip hop, and certification for aerobic dance instruction and choreography.

In 1997, Debbie founded her own dance training center for youth and adults (Reflections School of Dance). Over 20 years of Reflections School of Dance, she has continued to refine her skills in business and public relations while constantly updating choreographic experience by attending workshops and technique classes. Outside of Reflections School of Dance she might be spotted at Harbour Dance Center, Word in Motion Urban Dance Festival, Project Dance, Dance Teacher Web, Dance Studio Life Conferences or Dance Ad Deum Summer Intensive to name a few. Debbie received her Bachelor of Practical Ministry from the Wagner Leadership Institute. She is now a published author of 2 dance related books, an ordained minister through the Elijah Commission and the founding director of the Emerge Dance Company. 

 For 2021-22 school year Miss Debbie will be teaching:

• Monday 9:30am Creative Dance
• Monday 10am Pre Dance
• Monday 11am Homeschool Ballet
• Monday 12pm Homeschool Musical Theater
• Tuesday 9:30am Intro to Dance
• Tuesday 10am Pre Dance
• Tuesday 11am Dance Fitness
• Tuesday 12pm Tap/Ballet Jr. Combo
• Tuesday 1pm Conditioning
• Tuesday 4pm Company & Teams Technique
• Wednesday 9:30am Creative Dance
• Wednesday 10am Intro to Dance
• Wednesday 10:30am Tap/Jazz Jr. Combo
• Wednesday 11:30am Kids Hip Hop/Jazz
• Wednesday 12:30pm Adult Jazz
• Thursday 5:30pm Emerge Company
• Friday 9:30am Toddler Tumble
• Friday 10am Pre Dance
• Friday 11am Kids Acro
• Friday 12pm Dance Fitness/Pilates
• Friday 2:00pm Intro to Hip Hop 
• Friday 3:00pm Cheer
• Friday 4pm Toddler Tumble
• Friday 4:30pm Acro Jazz 2
• Friday 5:30pm Acro 1
• Friday 6:30pm Acro Yoga
• Saturday 8:45am Dance Fitness
• Saturday 9:45am Intro to Dance
• Saturday 10:15am Creative Dance
• Saturday 10:45am Intro to Dance
• Saturday 11:15am Pre Dance
• Saturday 12:15pm Creative Dance

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 Mr. Marco has been teaching an annual Ballet Master class for us every February since about 2009 but now we have the distinguished privilege having him on our faculty teaching every week.

“It is truly a privilege to be taught by Marco” 

Marco has achieved an extraordinary level of inspiration and creativity due to his many styles of dance training and
international exposure in the art of dance and theater. His experience has shaped his unique style of dance techniques 
and innovative choreography. His multitude of talent and achievements have allowed him the resume’ that sets him apart
from the rest. His excellence shows in the many students he has taught and continues to teach through his classes, and choreography.

Teaching Philosophy 

My career achievements have brought me to a level of extraordinary inspiration and creativity due to the many styles of ballet training and international performance exposure alongside notable world-renowned dancers, artistic directors and choreographers from the 20th century with whom, I have received the privilege of direct influence that has shaped my unique teaching ethic and choreography style as a “specialist in the art of ballet“.

My teaching philosophy not only teaches the art of dance but opens hearts and minds and brings joy to life through proper training and participation in the overall creative process.

I see talent in all students; my training expertise encourages students to find their personal best through
teaching focused on building confidence and proper technique that considers the dancers level and encourages
learning through positive reinforcement. Another important and major focus area is building endurance and
cardiovascular conditioning throughout the progression of class training, which is critical for necessary stamina
to perform on stage at the student’s highest level with ease, as well as for overall health. Endurance partnered
with proper muscle warm-up and strength building gives the student the facility to excel at their optimum level,
which in turn they will be personally rewarded with achievement through their dedication to learning.

My responsibility as a teacher includes; personal attention to each student’s ability and level of training which is
key to their improvement, which also ensures excelling to the next level. My focus on the student’s progress
builds discipline and confidence that lasts a lifetime.

My choreography method incorporates all levels of dancers which results in inspired students and enrichment
for the advanced dancers as the art is passed along through generations. I personally cast roles for developing
dancers and performers that fit their personality and ability, as well as challenge their talent so they can measure 
their own personal improvement.

Key philosophies;

Use of the arts disciplines to develop life skills i.e.: creative and critical thinking
Strive to engage opportunities for professional development
Successfully develop the skills necessary to acquire employment in dance or theater arts
Successfully develop the physical skills students need to transfer to other educational and 
sports opportunities
My success depends on how effectively I meet the needs of my students – I place a high value on 
my students by keeping an open mind, listening to them
I believe we can best accomplish our mission when not only the process of student learning is a major 
focus but also personal learning by the teacher is ongoing
My mission and vision are driven by the students through expectations which form a partnership of
refinement of goals and direction that support your mission.

“ I take pride when I can see the technical achievement and commitment shine through the individual’s 
personality and character, and know we are on the road to creating a true dancer who will touch lives
and imprint the “ art of dance “ on future generations. “
- Marco Carrabba

Summary of training and special invitations

Ballet, Modern, Choreography

Locally by dance legend Dorothy Fisher - Ballet technique
Joffrey School – Traditional American technique – trained by Robert Joffrey
North Carolina School of the Arts – trained by teachers of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo – French, Italian technique
New York’s School of American Ballet – trained by the great Stanley Williams – Bournonville technique
and Balanchine technique – creator of 20th century neo classical style
Stuttgart Ballet – trained by teachers from the Royal Ballet and East Germany - Russian ballet technique
Directed by the famous Glen Tetley
Hamburg Ballet – trained by choreographer John Neumeier – Modern Ballet techinique
Dutch National’ Ballet – trained by choreographers Rudi van Dantzig, Hans van Manen, Toer van Schayk
Classical and Contemporary Ballet technique
Pacific Northwest Ballet – Neo Classic Style Balanchine technique
San Francisco Ballet – Classical and Contemporary Ballet technique under the direction of 
Michael Smuin and Ballets by Lou Christensen – student of Balanchine 
Boston Ballet - Classical and Contemporary Ballet

Musical Theater, Performing Arts

Kentucky Opera – performed My Fair Lady
Minnesota Opera – performed Carousel
5th Avenue Theatre Seattle – performed Brigadoon, West Side Story, and Kismet
San Francisco Ballet’s production of “ Jinx “ performance filmed by KQED television –
choreographed by Lew Christensen

Special invitations:

School of American Ballet – Graduation Performance with Ballerina Leslie Brown “ Turning Point “
Stuttgart Ballet – performed for and was presented to Queen Elizabeth per her request
Dutch National Ballet – trained and toured with the famous Rudolph Nureyev
Dutch National Ballet – performed and partnered with Ballerina Alexandra Radius, 
Nureyev’s most requested ballet partner
Hamburg Opera House – inspired by a special meeting during rehearsal with Luciano Pavarotti
San Francisco Ballet – partnered and performed with Ballerina Joanna Berman, and Evelyn Cisneros
Pacific Northwest Ballet – performed West Coast tour with Mikhail Baryshnikov 

For 2021-22 school year Mr. Marco will be teaching:

• Tuesday 5pm Ballet 3
• Tuesday 6pm Ballet 4
• Tuesday 7:30pm Ballet 5
• Thursday 5pm Ballet 3
• Thursday 6pm Ballet 4
• Thursday 7:30pm Ballet 5

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My name is Mishaela Knighton. This is my 15th year dancing at Reflections. Through the years of dancing at Reflections, I have been on the Dunamis team, Revolution team, and currently I’m on the Emerge Company. I’ve taken and learned from many classes here including Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Contemporary, Tap, Acro Jazz, and Hip hop. I enjoy doing Jazz the most. 

I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to pass down everything that I have learned from my years of dancing to the younger students taking the classes I’ll be teaching. 

I spend much of my time dancing, but some other things I do besides that is rock climbing, singing on my worship team, playing the piano and ukulele, and doing calligraphy. I currently have 11 pets and 6 fish. This year I am a senior at a private school called Academy Northwest.

I’m really looking forward to getting to know each of the students and teaching them to dance and glorify the Lord while doing so! 

For 2021-22 school year Miss Mishaela will be teaching: 

• Monday 3:30pm Intro to Dance
• Monday 4pm Pre Dance
• Monday 5pm Pre Dance Plus
• Monday 6pm Ballet 1

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Olivia Edwards started attending dance classes at Reflections School of Dance in 2002 at the age of 3; she continued dancing with the studio up until high school graduation in 2016. From 2016-2017, she was a part of Reflection School of Dance’s Re-Merge Dance Project. At age 15 she started working for the Shoreline Parks Department, instructing their children's martial arts program, where her passion for teaching first started.

She has been able to experience how dance can be a form of worship through dance & choreography. She looks forward to what God has in store for her as a teacher at Reflections School of Dance.

Olivia is thankful for all that Reflections School of Dance has taught her, both with technique training, and how we dance to give God glory and praise.

For 2021-22 school year Miss Olivia will be teaching:

• Wednesday 4pm Creative Dance
• Wednesday 4:30pm Pre Dance
• Wednesday 5:30pm Lyrical 1&2
• Wednesday 6:30pm Ballet 2
• Wednesday 7:30pm Jazz 3 
• Thursday 3:30pm Creative Dance
• Thursday 4pm Ballet 2
• Saturday 9:30am Creative Dance
• Saturday 10am Pre Dance
• Saturday 11am Ballet 1&2
• Saturday 12pm Jazz/Hip Hop 1&2
• Saturday 1pm Lyrical 1&2

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Tricia is originally from Vancouver, BC, Canada, but recently moved to the Seattle area from New York City! Tricia began dancing at the age of 5 at Tri-City Dance Centre and was a competitive dancer with them for 10 years. She earned her BFA in Music Dance Theatre from Brigham Young University in 2016, attending school on a full-ride scholarship. 

After graduating from BYU, Tricia performed with Disney Cruise Line for a season and then moved to New York City! While in New York, Tricia was auditioning every day and booked some excellent projects including: Barnum (Skyline Theatre Company), The Wizard of Oz National Tour (Apex Touring), and two Off-Broadway musicals! 

When not performing, Tricia has spent as much time as possible sharing her talents and knowledge through teaching, specializing in Jazz/ Musical Theatre. Tricia is so excited to be a part of the Reflections team and help others discover the joy of dance! 

For the 2021-22 School Year, Miss Tricia will be teaching:

• Monday 4pm Creative Dance
• Monday 4:30pm Kids Hip Hop 1
• Monday 5:30pm Jazz 1&2
• Monday 6:30pm Tap 1&2
• Monday 7:30pm Kids Hip Hop 2/3
• Tuesday 3:30pm Creative Dance
• Tuesday 4pm Lyrical 1&2
• Tuesday 5:30pm Pre Dance
• Tuesday 6:30pm Musical Theater
• Tuesday 7:30pm Broadway Jazz
• Thursday 9:30am Intro to Dance
• Thursday 10am Creative Dance
• Thursday 10:30am Pre Dance
• Thursday 11:30am Ballet/Jazz/Tap Combo
• Friday 5:30pm Jumps & Turns (once a month)
• Friday 6:30pm Ballet 3, 4, 5 Technique (once a month)
• Friday 8pm Drop In Choreography (once a month)

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Miss Christina began dancing at Bremerton Ballet School at a young age. Her dance studies took her across the country as she studied locally then with David Howard in Massachusetts and at Stony Brook University in New York, before returning to the Pacific Northwest and obtaining a minor in dance from University of Washington. Christina has been teaching and choreographing various styles of dance since her early teens, working with all ages from the youngest pre-dance students through high schoolers and adults. One of her greatest delights has always been inspiring young dancers to grow in confidence, freedom of movement, and joy. There are few things in life as rewarding as watching that transformation, and being present to the moments when a dancer reaches a new milestone or realization. She hopes that joy radiates through her teaching.

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Logan grew up in Lynnwood, Washington learning Hip Hop and other styles from different studios and instructors in the area. During his 4 years studying Civil Engineering at Gonzaga University, he danced with the Gonzaga Bomb Squad at basketball games and taught weekly Hip Hop classes at a local studio in Spokane. He has been dancing for 10 years and choreographing/teaching Hip Hop for 5 years.  

When Logan isn’t dancing, he works as an Engineer-in-Training at a utility during the week and volunteers as a DeafBlind tactile ASL interpreter at mass during the weekends.  

Logan is also interested in board games, sustainability, personal investing, nutrition and fitness. He is so excited to share his unique style and dance experience with Reflections School of Dance.

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Miss Rachel has danced for over twenty years, starting at the age of 3 at Mountlake Terrace Dance Academy. She’s taken advanced classes in ballet, jazz, lyrical and tap - jazz being her favorite. In high school, Miss Rachel was a Varsity cheerleader, then began coaching cheerleading at her Alma Mater while in college. She also coached and choreographed for her former dance team, and completed a variety of advanced dance and ballroom courses in college. Dance will forever be Miss Rachel’s passion and she hopes to share the same love of dance, and the relationships it brings, with all her students.  

Miss Rachel lives in Mill Creek with her husband and 2 year old son. She spends her days with her active toddler - cooking, reading, playing outdoors, and of course, dancing.

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 Originally from Lansdale, Pennsylvania Anna grew up as a gymnast alongside of her sister. After 6 years of gymnastics and a year off to play tennis, Anna found herself in a ballet class at 10 years old with girls who had been dancing since they were 2. From the first plie, she knew this would be a lifestyle. Her training began at Dance Studio Workshop, later known as New Horizons Dance Alliance under the direction of George C. Thomson. She continued her training there for four years, then went on to dance with Budzynski’s Studios of Ballet under the direction of Marilyn Budzynski along with other teachers such as Christine Jones, James Idhe, Heidi & Felicia Cruz, Tara Keating and Alexei Charov. Throughout her high school years, Anna was given the privilege to teach a variety of styles at both Budzynski’s Studios of Ballet, as well as at the Conservatory of Music and Dance.

During the summers, she was given the opportunity to go to many summer dance intensives including: Ballet Magnificat!, American Ballet Theatre’s Detroit campus, and Joffrey Ballet School in New York City.

In the fall of 2013, Anna went to study Dance Performance at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida. There she was under the wonderful direction of Eileen Hebron, Jin Young Li, Victor Trevino, Jacquie Lopez, Carlos de Barros, and Kathleen Klein. In the fall of 2014, she moved out to Washington to dance with Paradosi Ballet Company where she went through their trainee program and apprenticeship and served as a Company Artist. She was also taken on as a ballet, contemporary, and tap teacher at Surrendered School of Dance, while also working as the Satellite Campus Administrator.

Upon having quite a few injuries, she has been taking a break from dancing, and is very fortunate to have relocated to Reflections School of Dance as the Administrative Assistant, teacher, and coach. She has loved her time at Reflections, and cannot wait for even more fun times ahead!

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I have been dancing at Reflections School of Dance since the age of 3, and am excited to now be teaching at the studio!

I graduated from the University of Washington, with an Oceanography degree, in the Spring of 2018.

In my spare time I enjoy skiing, biking, and most recently scuba diving. 

I am so thankful for this opportunity and am so blessed that dancing is part of my life. 

Fun fact about our Miss Caiti: she is currently travelling around the world with her job!

  For 2021-22 school year Miss Caiti will be teaching: 

• Friday 5:30pm Jumps & Turns (once a month)
• Friday Ballet 3, 4, 5 & Adult 6:30pm (once a month)
• Friday Drop In Choreography 8:00pm (once a month)

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Presently pursuing her Master’s in Integrative and Functional Nutrition, Desiree began her ballet training at the tender age of 6 in Chehalis Washington at Southwest Washington Dance Center. There she studied ballet, modern, rhythmic gymnastics, hula, and jazz for 14 years performing in yearly productions of The Nutcracker  as well as Dance Festival and various jazz competitions throughout Washington state. From corp de ballet roles, to soloist she was promoted her senior year as principal, performing many of the expected roles such as Sugar Plum Fairy, Dew Drop, and Spanish Bull. It was here that her love and drive for ballet pushed her to audition for Anaheim Ballet’s Company where she performed with the Company as soloist in The Nutcracker, various school performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and visual medias such as Dancing in the City! at the Anaheim Grove, found on YouTube.

Apart from being a professional dancer, her drive and passion for the medical field motivated her to pursue her Bachelor's and resulted in the completion of a BS in Physiology at Seattle Pacific University.

After performing with City Opera Ballet of Bellevue, as well as contemporary companies such as The Black Floor Collective, Desiree  brings a wide array of knowledge and expertise from the classical ballet realm to the latin ballroom and salsa genres.

She is blessed and forever grateful to have been under the instruction of renowned masters such as Philip Beamish, Jehrin Alexandria, Vincenzo Lapertosa, the late Kabby Mitchell, and Lawrence Rosenburg.

Desiree’s love for the medical field and passion for dance drives her to make a long and lasting impact as a future physician with a specialty as a nutritionist, working specifically with ballerinas and professional athletes.

 For 2021-22 school year Miss Desiree will be teaching: 

• Friday 5:30pm Jumps & Turns (once a month)
• Friday Ballet 3, 4, 5 & Adult 6:30pm (once a month)
• Friday Drop In Choreography 8:00pm (once a month)

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My name is Katie Armstrong, and I have danced at Reflections for the past four years. I have enjoyed being on the Revolution team, in the apprenticeship program, and on the Emerge Dance company. For the last three years I have gotten the privilege to help out in various classes, which I found very rewarding. 

I have learned so much at Reflections from my wonderful teachers, and look forward to passing that on to younger students. I have taken classes in ballet, pointe, lyrical, acrobatics, jazz, and hip hop, but my favorite style is contemporary. 

I have experience working with kids of all ages from being a camp counselor at the YMCA, and from being a camp counselor at Girl Scout camp for four summers. I also ran an after school homework program that I established for fourth graders.

Outside of dance, I spend my time baking, drawing, and hanging out with family and friends. I am also a senior at Jackson High School, where I enjoy art and English classes the most. I am very excited to begin teaching this year, and give all the thanks to God!

Miss Katie has headed off to George Fox University!

She is on our Substitute Teacher List.

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Maddie Louder was born in St. Louis, Missouri where she was trained in all styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, hip hop, acrobatics, lyrical, contemporary, and modern. Maddie then moved to Oklahoma City where she attended the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and performed with the American Spirit Dance Company. 

Maddie is a certified Pure Barre instructor, works at an eating disorder clinic in Seattle, and is currently serving as Miss Washington 2021. In her free time, Maddie likes to hang out with her pup, Oatis, hike, bike, run, and conjure new recipes in the kitchen. 

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Hi! My name is Sarah Peterson, and I am the new administrative assistant for Reflections!

I am originally from New Mexico but have lived in the beautiful Pacific Northwest for 11 years. My background is in graphic design and visual merchandising as well as retail management. I'm excited to now be assisting in the Reflections office! 

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, staying active, cooking, reading, and taking walks outside.

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