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Brittany Rea Cruz - Artistic Director
Brittany brings a diverse background to dance as a choreographer, in many types of dance including tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theater, ballet, and cheer. Brittany has trained with top choreographers from all over the globe such as Chris Judd, Jason Parsons, Joe Lanteri, and Mia Michaels from “So You Think You Can Dance“... For 11 years Brittany was a part of Pivot Dance Company with instructor Maria Kroll, devoting 9 hour weeks for ballet technique, contemporary, and Broadway routines. Brittany has been a part of numerous competitions, workshops, and shows including NYC Dance Alliance, Portland’s largest showcase “Blue Sky Concert,” and Spotlight Nationals where she received many Overall High Score Awards. Brittany hopes to share her passion and knowledge for dance with anyone and everyone. As she likes to say, “You can dance anywhere, even if only in your heart.” |
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Hailey Walker
Bio Coming Soon |
Shellie Adams
Shellie Adams has been dancing for as long as she can remember but tap has always been her favorite! She has danced under many different teachers including Tara Marshall, Judy Marsh and DeeDee Rios and while she was in High School she often helped assist DeeDee with tap, jazz and musical theater classes. Shellie graduated from University of Portland with her Bachelors and Masters in Elementary Education and Music. When she isn't teaching dance, she is teaching Kindergarten in Estacada. Shellie loves getting to teach a wide range of students at MHDA and loves helping students of all ages find their passion for dance.
Shellie Adams has been dancing for as long as she can remember but tap has always been her favorite! She has danced under many different teachers including Tara Marshall, Judy Marsh and DeeDee Rios and while she was in High School she often helped assist DeeDee with tap, jazz and musical theater classes. Shellie graduated from University of Portland with her Bachelors and Masters in Elementary Education and Music. When she isn't teaching dance, she is teaching Kindergarten in Estacada. Shellie loves getting to teach a wide range of students at MHDA and loves helping students of all ages find their passion for dance.
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Susan Rodriguez
Susan has always had so much love for dance. Dance has been a big part of her life growing up. She danced three years on the dance team at Sandy High School and was formed team captain. After graduating high school, she wanted to continue her studies for dance and took three years of hip hop and lyrical classes at Mt. Hood Community College with Shanon Barker and DJ Rayley. Also took classes at Stites Performing Art Center. During college she found out about our studio and enrolled her little sister to join the MHDA family. Susan has been part of the MHDA family for over nine years. Helping in the office, assisting teachers, and being a substitute teacher. Susan’s taught Pre-Ballet, Hip Hop, and Pre-tumbling class. Susan is so excited to take the next chapter in her dance life by teaching her first class at the studio and help assist our new Mini hip hop competitive team. She cannot wait to meet you all and share the passion of dance through her students. |
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Madison Rios
Madison developed a passion for dancing from her mom and dance teacher Dee Dee Rios. At the age of seven Madi joined Mt. Hood Dance Academy under Dee Dee Rios & Brittany Cruz. She would often assist her mom with classes which made her realize her talent for working with kids. At MHDA she found her passion for acting. Madi took her dance experience into theatre and participating in many musicals. Madi was apart of the Sandy High School cheer team for three years. Senior year her varsity team was the first cheer team at Sandy High School to qualify for state since 2002. Madi hopes to take her theatre and dance background to help dancers become performers. After high school Madi came back to MHDA to assist musical theatre classes. She is excited to be back at the studio as a teacher. Emily Drapela Emily has been dancing since 3 years old, beginning with ballet and jazz. She has studied under many dance instructors and competed at various competitions. While in her undergraduate studies, she participated in the Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) program providing recreational dance classes for students K-5. Emily graduated from New York University with a Masters of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders and Portland State University with a Bachelors in Speech & Hearing Sciences with a minor in Music. She is a Speech Language Pathologist who works with children with various disabilities. Emily is excited to teach at Mt. Hood Dance Academy and provide a safe space to explore movement! Madison Ryder Ms. Madi as she is known to her students, started her dance journey right here in studio A in 2001. At the age of twelve she continued her dance training with Oregon Ballet Theatre until 2013 when she decided to live the high school musical experience. Later in college she was able to jump back into the classroom with Modern and Ballet, and along the way picked up new styles such as Flamenco, Folk and Line dancing. Currently she’d tell you her favorite styles are a combination of ballet/lyrical with a sprinkle of contemporary she learned from none other than Brittany Cruz. Post grad Madi acquired her 200 hour yoga teacher training which has helped her balance the health of her post ballet body with therapeutic techniques that she plans to incorporate into her classroom. Madi is so happy to be back where it all started and share her love of dance with Mt. Hood’s students this 24/25 Season! |