Meet Our Talented Instructors
Michelle Halpain began dancing at age 4, and has been teaching preschool through adult at the Lakewood YMCA for the past nine years. At a young age, she took ballet for three years and was a competitive gymnast for seven years. She likes to incorporate gymnastics into her dance routines. Michelle also danced hip hop at Charisma School of Dance for three years. Her goal is to go back to school and pursue her personal training/nutrition certification, as well as take classes to broaden her experience and background in dance. Michelle is passionate about helping children learn and grow, as well as teaching them positive values and ways of life. She looks forward to meeting you and/or your dancer.
Jaquan Price has been dancing for 18 years. Jaquan is trained in ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, step, and break dancing. He is the Co- founder of local dance groups Identity and I.D. Jaquan has danced with a variety of groups that perform all throughout the Northwest. He continues to take classes at Westlake and Velocity dance centers in Seattle. His passion is to dance and teach future dancers the art of movement, understanding rhythm, music, and how to enjoy learning it all.
Vanessa “V” Alicia started dancing 30 years ago at the YMCA in Chicago. She has studied many forms of dance to include ballet, tap, jazz lyrical, salsa, belly dance, baton, and flamenco. She is happiest when on stage, and her favorite quote is: Psalm 149 “Let them praise his name with dancing, and make music to him with tambourine and harp.”
Afshina Taghizadeh has been dancing since the age of 14. She started her dance career in tap at Charisma School of dance, and worked her way into hip hop, street dance, ballet, jazz, and belly dancing. She currently attends the University of Washington Tacoma studying Psychology, while still doing what she loves...dancing at Lakewood and Mel Korum YMCA.
Kevin has been dancing since the age of 10. His favorite genre of dance is tap, but he is also trained in ballet, jazz/ lyrical, and hip hop. Kevin is a dedicated dancer, and exceptional young man. He is very involved in his high school JROTC program, and competes all over Washington with his JROTC group. He is a true leader, and enjoys taking and teaching dance.
Alashia Jefferson is an outstanding teacher and leader. Also known in the dance community as Alashia Nichole, she has danced throughout Washington, performing for charitable events, school programs, social events and TV broadcasts. Dance is her passion and with it, she reaches out to children, teens and adults, not only to teach them the fun fundamentals of dance, but also life, discipline, respect, hard work, dedication, and a willingness to try new things
