Click here to Meet our Faculty

 

 

The Vibe Dance Center opened in the summer of 2004 with the hope of bringing Central Oergon a raw, technical, cutting-edge dance studio focusing on dancer technique, skill and performance quality development.

We offer multiple class levels for each genre of dance to ensure your dancer is placed appropriately to be consistently challenged and always excelling.

At The Vibe, we consider performances to be an opportunity for dancers to show friends and family how hard they have practiced in class.  We hold two recitals a year and often offer additional performance opportunities including The Deschutes County Fair and Bend WinterFest.

 

 

 

Sarah Hall - Director/Instructor/Choreographer

Sarah opened The Vibe Dance Center in the summer of 2004 with the vision to give Bend a place where dancers can experience raw, cutting-edge chorography while focusing on technique and their love for all things dance. Sarah’s passion for teaching has always been at the forefront of her dance career.  She takes pride in teaching her students musicality, timing and performance quality. She has choreographed for many local, regional and international events and industrials, numerous dance/drill/gymnastics routines and artists. This includes Columbia Sportswear’s International Fashion Show and recent video choreography for California artist Jah Sun’s “Microchip” video. Her Hip Hop and Pom Pom choreography has won many titles and awards at Regional and National Dance Competitions including UDA and NDA. Sarah is currently the head coach for the Summit High School dance program, teaches Hip Hop at Central Oregon Community College and is the owner of The Vibe Dance Center in Bend, Oregon. Her extensive training in various styles of Hip Hop, Tap, Jazz and Ballet has mostly been received at The Edge Performing Art Center in Los Angeles, Orange County’s Defore Dance Studio, Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York City. Sarah is also the co-founder (along with Shannon Bex) of 541 Dance Experience bringing top industry choreographers to studios for intimate and intense training workshops.  

 

Dawn Contreras - Assistant Director/Instructor/Choreographer

Dawn started dance and gymnastics at age five at Carla Webber Studio of Dance/Portland Gymnastic Center in the Portland area. As a member of their Performing Company, she began training and competing locally and internationally until age 18. Before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Education and a minor in Dance, Dawn performed on the Western Oregon University Performing Company, Dance Team and was captain of the cheerleading squad. She studied with many dance notables such as Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwell, Joe Lanteri and Mia Micheals. Dawn began her teaching career in dance and gymnastics at the age of 14. She has taught at five different studios including her own studio that she successfully owned and operated for 12 years. Dawn is passionate about sharing her love of dance with others and is inspired by the beauty of the art.

Dawn began her teaching career in dance and gymnastics at the age of 14 and has taught at five different studios. Over the years, her students have won countless awards at various competitions. For additional training, she accompanied her dancers to such places as New York, Washington and California. In addition to her extensive training in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop, Character/Broadway, Acro and Gymnastics Dawn was the owner of a successful dance studio for twelve years. She is passionate about sharing her love of dance with others.

 

 

Lauren Biskind - Jazz & Lyrical Instructor/Choreographer

Lauren has been dancing since the age of five. She grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical and Hip Hop. She joined Dance Motion Performing Company at age ten, where she performed and competed nationally with the group for eight years. She started her teaching career at age fourteen assisting classes at Betty Johnson's School of Dance, the studio she grew up dancing at in Phoenix. After dancing on her High School's Dance Team Lauren was named an All- American Dancer by National Dance Alliance for three consecutive years and was invited to become faculty with NDA, where she traveled all over the country teaching classes/summer intensives for three years. Lauren attended the University of Arizona where she continued to teach dance classes at a local studio, danced with a competitive college dance team and took classes in the University's Dance Program. Lauren has attended numerous conventions and conferences focusing on dance and innovative dance instruction. She joined the V!BE family in 2007 after moving to Bend. She currently teaches jazz, lyrical and pre-dance classes. Lauren also does choreography and helps run the V!BE Performing Company. Lauren loves being able to share her passion for dance with students of all ages here in Central Oregon.

 

 

Ron Basada - Hip Hop/Jazz Instructor/Choreographer

It all started when Ron would break dance with his cousins growing up. After College still having a passion for dance Ron decided to take it to the next level as a dancer/choreographer for the WNBA's Portland Fire hip hop team and Jamm'n 95.5's hip hop squad.  The door then opened for him to be a choreographer and a guest performer with the Portland Trail Blazer Dancers (where he met his wife and life dance partner Shannon.) Many opportunities have come his way some of which included being a back up dancer for pop singer and Columbia recording artist Angela Via. Ron also became a performer/choreographer for many industrials: Nike, Columbia Sportswear, Adidas, and Portland Ski Show. He also was a guest choreographer instructor for Northwest Dance Company  and Thunderbird Dance Camp.

 

Jared Sobotta - Breakin’ Instructor

Jared started breakdancing or "bboying" in 2003 and in 2004 joined The Vibe Dance Center as a student. He attended "Ashes 2 Ashes Round 2", a bboy event in Portland where he met world renowned breakers Lilou, Machine, Rox Rite, and Lazy Legs. His style consists of bboyin, poppin, lockin, wavin, and funk styles. Jared is a member of the Fresh Vibe Dance Crew who performs at local events multiple times a year, and has received first place platinum at Showstoppers Dance Competitions. Jared has trained at The Vibe and LA's The Edge Performing Arts Center receiving instruction in hip hop and breakin' from Hip Hop legends Mr. Wiggles and Mr. Freeze(Rock Steady Crew), Phi Nguyen and Gary Kendall of the Jabbawockeez Crew, and Krazy Kujo(Soul Control), but has been studying and training with instructor Sarah Hall consistently over the past few years.

 

 

Shannon Bex - Instructor/Choreographer

Shannon is from the beautiful City of Roses, Portland Oregon. She has been dancing through life since she could walk. At the age of six Shannon started her training in Ballet. Soon after she began learning other styles of dance from Lyrical, Modern, and Jazz to Hip Hop. Upon her family moving Bend Oregon, Shannon dove into every opportunity she could find. From dancing and Choreographing for the Mountain View High School Dance team, to choir, drama, to choreographing musicals and local fashion shows for Macy‘s and Sears. After graduation she continued with her passion working with UDA (Universal Dance Association) touring and teaching camps. In ’99 Shannon and was honored to join the Portland Trail Blazers Dancers for 5 seasons, and continue working as a dance camp instructor/choreographer with a new Company, Northwest Dance Co. Shannon took advantage of every thing that came her way, which opened many doors. Singing became as much of her life as dancing. Performing at half time at the Rose Garden, singing with a local cover band “5 Guys Named Moe” to the Anthem before the games. Each step lead her closer to new adventures. In the spring of ‘03 she became a contestant on NBC’s Reality triple threat competition with Debbie Allen “Fame.” Where America voted her runner up. Shannon believes that all things happen for a reason and this “reason” revealed itself a year later when she auditioned for Sean “Diddy” Combs “Making the Band” on MTV. The grueling auditions paid off! She became 1/5 of the girl group known as “Danity Kane” a singing and dancing quintet that became the first girl group in history to land #1 on the billboard charts consecutively. With Platinum and Gold success from the groups albums. Every high and every low has energized the entertainer inside. She is thrilled to be spending time in her home town and hopes she can inspire and hand down the many lessons she has learned from this industry. She wants every dancer, beginning or advanced, to know to “just go for it! You can spend your whole life talking yourself out of opportunities then, before you know it, there are none left.” We are truely honored to have Shannon part of The Vibe!

 

 

Shannon Abero- Hip Hop Instructor

Shannon Abero was born and raised in San Jose, CA. She found her love of dance in High School, where she was a member of  Drill-Team, Cheer, Dance Team and Song. She continued her training at a local community college and then transferred to Cal State University of Long Beach. Shannon participated in cultural dancing, took dance classes on campus and performed with the Filipino club (Pilipino American Coalition). After receiving a BA in Psychology, she spent a couple of years working for an AIDS organization, providing outreach services for the Asian/Pacific Islander community, as well as danced in parades and taught classes at the center. Shannon felt that she should pursue a career in dance, so she auditioned for a couple of dance agencies and was represented by DDO (Dorothy Day Otis). Some of her work includes: touring with Asian singers, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Nike. Shannon also had the opportunity to perform at Monsters of Hip-hop and The House of Blues in LA. She was a member of Funkanometry Dance Company, where she met many of her good friends. She has trained with: Wade Robson, JP San Pedro (Janet Jackson), Janet Langer (NKOTB assistant), Kevin Maher (NKOTB/Monster's of Hip-Hop), Dave Scott, Tevaris, Leslie Scott, Tabitha and Napoleon, Rino (Gwen Stefani/Missy Elliot) and Mia Michaels. Shannon moved to Santa Barbara in 2006, where she was able to teach musical theatre, creative movement and hip-hop at local schools and studios. She has two beautiful girls and is excited to continue to share her love of teaching and dance with her students here at The Vibe.

 

 

Alesa Terry - Instructor

Alesa has been teaching dance in the Central Oregon area for many years, most recently as the director for Dance Velocity, instructor at Academie de Ballet Classique, Sunriver Dance Academy, and as a guest instructor and choreographer for various dance companies and public schools. Alesa specializes in teaching contemporary/modern, ballet, hip hop, and jazz dance. She studied as a dance major at University of Oregon and on a dance scholarship to Lane Community College. Other dance training includes various master classes, dance conventions, and summer intensive programs, numerous theatrical and dance productions. Some of her most memorable experiences were with Vera Altunia of the Kirov Ballet, dance workshops with Alvin Ailey Company, Bill T. Jones, Pilobolus, Lars Lubovich, Shapiro & Smith, and Hubbard Street of Chicago. Alesa performed with Dance Theater of Oregon, in various LCC, UofO and community theater productions. She has performed, directed and choreographed numerous dance and theater productions, recitals, and events, including the ballets: Peter Pan, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, and Cinderella. Choreography for theatrical productions includes: HMS Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, Oliver, Chorus Line, and Summit High School’s productions of The Drowsy Chaperone and Fiddler on the Roof. Alesa is currently the director of Velocity Dance Theatre, a nonprofit 501c3 performing company and a sponsored company of Bend Dance Project. It is Alesa’s goal to create high quality learning experiences that engage each dancer’s creative process. It is her hope to pass on a life long love for the art form of dance.

 

 

Kelly Sullins - Pre-Dance Instructor

Born and raised in Baltimore, Kelly Haluska has danced since she was 2-½ years old. An assistant at age 10 and a full-fledged teacher at 14, Kelly is equally at home teaching and performing ballet, tap, lyrical, jazz and hip hop. Kelly has danced live on Fox Television and was a back up dancer for East Coast singing sensation Erica Martinez. A participant in regional and national dance competitions since she was 12, Kelly has won numerous first place, high gold and top score awards as a performer, teacher and choreographer. She’s also received a myriad of workshop and scholarship invitations, including the Kids Artistic Review Competition (K.A.R.) Rockettes summer intensive scholarship award. In addition to her performance chops, Kelly is a student at Oregon State University and an avid photographer.

 

 

Paige Coduti - Kid’s Hip Hop Instructor

Paige was born on the island of Oahu, Hawaii and started dancing when she was 3 years old. After moving to Bend in 2004, at age 10, she began dancing at The Vibe. She is continuously training in Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, and other technical genres at advanced levels and is currently a member of our competitive Jazz and Hip Hop programs. Paige has received regional and national top placements multiple times in group and individual pieces at competitions. She has received instruction from some of today’s leading instructors and choreographers from conventions and master classes as well as her training at The Vibe Dance Center. Paige has been teaching our younger kids hip-hop program since the age of 13, bringing fun and excitement while teaching the fundamentals of rhythm, movement and performance.

 

 

Dee Dee Burzynski/ Ballet Instructor

 

Dee Dee Burzynski joins the VIBE Dance Studio with a well-rounded and prestigious dance resume. She began her dance training at the age of 8 with Chitwood Studio of Dance in Roseburg, Oregon, where she studied classical ballet. She continued her professional training with Pacific Northwest Ballet; Keith Martin Ballet; San Francisco Ballet; and Marin Ballet. As a teenager she was a guest company member in a gala summer production for Keith Martin Ballet Company and a company member of the Marin Ballet Company. While raising her family and working full time with her husband at their dental clinic, Dee Dee has been an instructor in Ballet, Pointe, Variations, and Pas de Deux for the past 16 years. She is also an asset as a regional award winning competition choreographer. She has choreographed for a variety of groups in the Central Oregon Community, including: Ubiquitous Dance Company; Bend High School; Cascades Theatrical Company; Jazz Dance Collective; Obsidian Opera Company; Seven Peaks Elementary; Summit High School; and Terpsichorean Dance Company. She is currently the artistic director and founder of Ubiquitous Dance Company, a nonprofit 501c3 contemporary dance company founded in 2006 and the current board President of Bend Dance Project. She is very excited to join the Vibe studio to teach the fundamentals of ballet technique in a positive studio environment that allows every dancer the ability to reach their potential and experience the joy of dance.

 

 

Julie Hamby/ Hip Hop Instructor

Julie Hamby started dancing at the age of 13 and has been teaching dance in varied ages and skill levels since 2006. With a focus on kids hip hop from beginning to competition level, Julie enjoys teaching students basic dance movements and body control while encouraging kids' creativity and individuality. She works to help students grow in all aspects of dance including performance, rhythm, free-styling, and coordination. She also focuses on providing a nurturing, supportive environment for her students to develop confidence in both themselves and in the art of dance. Julie works hard to choreograph routines that showcase the students' skills in a fun way for both students and audience.

 

 

Walt Sullins - Breakin' Boys Instructor

Walt moved to Bend five years ago from Baltimore with his then girlfriend, now wife Kelly, also an instructor at The Vibe Dance Center. Being with Kelly for nearly seven years exposed Walt to many facets of the dance world. A B-boy at heart, he also trains over 9 hours a week in Hip Hop and Jazz. Since joining The Vibe three years ago Walt has progressed from student to beginning Breakin’ Instructor and now also teaches our 7-9yr old boys Hip Hop/Breakin’ class, exposing our young males students to the world of dance in a fun, all-boy environment!

 

Some of the V!BE Faculty