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TEACHES: Hip Hop, Jazz Funk

From SF, Allan, affectionately known as Big Poppa, has been immersed in dance since 7th grade. Allan boasts a 17-season tenure as the Head Coach for the Jr. Jam Squad with the Golden State Warriors, where he inspired young dancers to shine. For Allan, dance is all about the music. He believes in the power of dance as a form of self-expression and inspiration. Allan’s goal as a teacher is to create a fun and carefree atmosphere for his students where they feel empowered and confident. He aims for each dancer to leave his class feeling uplifted and confident, with their spirits soaring high! When he’s not on the dance floor, you can find Allan enjoying quality time with his partner or catching up with family and friends.

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TEACHES: Heelin’ Myself

LISTENING TO: “Do It Right” - Don Toliver

Growing up in Chicago, Angie trained in jazz, tap, ballet, and hip hop-based choreography. She moved to LA and trained at studios like Debbie Reynolds and Playground LA. Angie took her first heels class in 2019, and since moving to Seattle has danced with companies like ZaysBaes, ZTheory, and Purple Lemonade. Angie is currently the co-director of ZaysBaes and assistant to Isaiah Rashad. Angie’s philosophy is that dance is for everybody, no matter where you are in your dance journey. Showing up is the hardest part, and once you’ve made it to the studio, she can help you find that confidence you’ve been looking for. Outside of dance, Angie works as a marketing director, loves to box, and lives in South Seattle with her husband and Lab named Cassius.

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TEACHES: Hip Hop, Open Choreography

LISTENING TO: “Vibe” - Lynnea M

Ato brings a lifelong passion for dance and five years of formal training to every class he has led. With two years of full-time dance experience and four years of teaching under his belt, he is dedicated to sharing the joy of dance with students of all levels. For Ato, dance is more than just movement—it’s a means of personal expression and emotional release. In Ato’s classes, he believes in emphasizing having fun and creating a stress-free environment where everyone can enjoy the art of dance. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dancer, Ato strives to foster a safe space for learning and self-expression.

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TEACHES: K-Pop

LISTENING TO: “Get Up” - New Jeans

Celina was born and raised in NYC by a dancer mom who enrolled her in dance classes early on in her life. Celina went on to train in hip hop and jazz for many years before joining a competitive team when she was in college. She won awards for her choreo, taught workshops in the city, and became the director of her college organization’s team. After moving to Seattle in 2021, it didn’t take her long to find her dance family at PopRox. Dance has given her a way to express herself confidently – a feeling which she aims to replicate for students who attend her classes. When she is not dancing, you can find her being a dog + cat mom, and playing video games.

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TEACHES: K-Pop

LISTENING TO: “Imagination” – Foster the People

Deborah, also known as Deb, was born in New Jersey and spent her formative years on the East Coast before settling in Washington during high school. Her dance journey is a colorful mix of experiences, from early Korean traditional dance to rocking out to K-Pop tunes in high school. Currently dancing with KOSMIX and AMP’D, Deb finds enjoyment in expressing herself through movement, drawing inspiration from watching others dance, and making friends through dancing! As an instructor, Deb strives to cultivate a positive atmosphere where everyone can unwind and grow both as dancers and individuals.

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TEACHES: Hip Hop, K-Pop, Breakdancing

LISTENING TO: “Reason” - Dreamcatcher

Born and raised in the Seattle area, Derrick (aka Nibz) quite literally eats, sleeps, and breathes dance. He started dancing in 2010 when he was invited by a friend to give it a try. When asked what he does when he’s not dancing, he replied “... thinking about dancing or thinking about how I could improve my dancing,” which is just a small glimpse into his love for the craft. Derrick’s favorite music to break to includes anime and K Pop songs, including his current favorite K Pop group – Dreamcatcher. His teaching philosophy centers around always remaining open to the unexplored and the “what-ifs” in dance.

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TEACHES: Ballet (Remixed), Hip Hop, Kids

LISTENING TO: “High for U (feat. Gyptian)” - Melii, Gyptian

All the way from Cincinnati, Ohio, Egypt Savaan is a versatile dancer with a background in classical ballet and majorette. Her dance journey began at the age of 12 and Egypt's dedication to the art led her to major from The School of Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio. Beyond the studio, Egypt’s passion for nurturing extends to her role as an infant teacher at Bright Horizons preschool. In Egypt’s classes, she focuses on creating a dance environment where students feel confident and have fun. It is important to her to provide a space where every class brings opportunities for unintentional learning through experimentation and enjoyment.

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TEACHES: K-Pop, Kid & Teen K-Pop

LISTENING TO: "UN Village" – BAEKHYUN

Eliana was born in Hawaii and spent most of her childhood moving around the US due to her dad’s job in the military. They settled down in New York, where she also began her dance journey. She then moved to Seattle and used her Christmas money to take her first K-pop class at PopRox, and she was hooked. For Eliana, dance is more than just a hobby – it kept her company during a dark time in her life, taught her to love her body, helped her to create a community of her own, and ultimately turned her life around. She wants her students to know that dance doesn’t always have to be serious, mistakes are part of the process, and that she will be there for them every step of the way.

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TEACHES: Kid’s Dance Basics

LISTENING TO: “The Hardest Part” – Olivia Dean

Originally from Texas, Eva’s dance journey started at the age of 10. Without a traditional studio background, she began learning to dance by watching and learning routines on YouTube. When she entered high school, Eva began taking dance classes to refine her technique and boost her confidence. Her senior year she joined the drill team and later in college founded a hip hop club on campus, which focused on fostering a judge-free zone. Currently a full-time nurse, Eva is passionate about serving others through her career. Beyond the dance floor, she enjoys coffee shops, thrifting, exploring Seattle, and quality time with friends. As an instructor, Eva’s goal is to create an environment where students can be themselves, have fun, and grow not only in dance but also as individuals.

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TEACHES: Hip Hop

LISTENING TO: “redrum” – 21 Savage

Originally from San Diego, CA, Hurlink started dancing right before he started high school when his sister pressured him into taking a dance class. Once Hurlink started high school he continued to explore dance by joining his school’s hip-hop team. Outside of PopRox, Hurlink has been a part of multiple dance teams including S3 Company, AMP’D, and KOSMIX. Growing up playing music, Hurlink’s relationship with dance has been another way for him to connect to music. Hurlink also loves playing video games, watching anime, working out, or sleeping. Hurlink hopes his students leave his classes feeling like they’ve gained something– whether it’s self-confidence, a better ability to listen and feel the music, a new set of moves, or even just a fun workout.

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TEACHES: Hip Hop

LISTENING TO: “Blueberry Faygo” – Lil Mosey

Jamie is from Seoul, South Korea and moved to Seattle in 2020 to attend the University of Washington. Her dance journey began when she was 13 years old and she started learning k-pop. She kept dancing all the way until joining her college team, where she started exploring hip hop through choreo, performances, and dance battles. When she’s not dancing, she likes to spend her time watching movies, hanging out with her friends, and getting boba. She especially loves how many boba places exist in Seattle, and she’s determined to try all of them. It’s important to Jamie that her students know that learning how to dance takes patience and practice, but her enthusiasm is infectious and above all, she just wants her students to have as much fun as she is.

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TEACHES: Heelin' Myself

LISTENING TO: "I Need Your Love" – Blxst and Ty Dolla $ign

Born and Raised in Texas but eventually finding her way to the West Coast, Jazz discovered her passion for dance during her sophomore year of high school. As a teacher, Jazz aims to ensure that every student, regardless of their skill level or experience, feels a sense of accomplishment. She is dedicated to creating a safe and nurturing environment where students can grow and connect. When she’s not dancing, Jazz works as an exercise specialist/PT aide, enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her dogs, drawing, crocheting, and watching movies—especially Spongebob.

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TEACHES: Hip Hop, Open Choreography

LISTENING TO: “I Luv Your Girl” - The-Dream

Jericho is a Seattle native and started dancing when he was six years old after his brother showed him America’s Best Dance Crew. He was so amazed by the the joy it brought to him and its audience, that he vowed to learn to dance so he could make people feel the same way. He continued to dance at UC Irvine where he attended school. You can also find him shopping for records, listening to music with his friends, and watching Marvel movies. He hopes that his classes will be reflective of his passion for dance and will make his students feel the way he did when he first watched dancers perform – joyous, confident, and excited about learning.

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TEACHES: The No Brainer

LISTENING TO: "Running Up That Hill" - Kim Petras

Kiera has been immersed in the world of dance since the age of four, dancing a variety of styles such as tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, tumbling, baton, pointe, and drill team. After a brief hiatus in college, Kiera discovered her passion for dance fitness and became a certified Zumba instructor. Since then, she has expanded her expertise to include Barre and Water Aerobics, bringing a diverse range of classes to her students. Kiera loves the transformative power of dance and the fact that no matter what challenges her day brings, stepping into the studio allows her to be fully present in the movement – helping her to reset her day and leave with a sense of joy. At PopRox, Kiera aims to create a fun and supportive environment where students can escape the pressures of daily life for an hour of joyous movement. Her teaching style is upbeat, approachable, and encouraging, ensuring that everyone leaves feeling happier and more energized.

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TEACHES: K-Pop, Beginner K-Pop Series, Kid & Teen K-Pop

LISTENING TO: “Invitation” - Junny

Linda started dancing ballet jazz when she was very very young. Linda sees dance as her form of self-care, as it allows her a place to let loose and express herself. When she's not dancing she loves hanging out with friends, exploring restaurants, taking way too many pictures, and playing sports! Linda' goal for her classes is to have an enjoyable and welcoming environment where students feel free to be themselves. Her goal is to provide a space where they can get feedback and practice with a close knit community, focusing on personal growth without fear of judgment.

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TEACHES: K-Pop, Jazz Funk

LISTENING TO: “From the Start” – Laufey

May is PopRox’s very first employee, setting the high bar for our culture of “people-first” dance instructors. May’s lifelong love for dance began with a playful performance wrapped in toilet paper on her family’s dining table. As a professional figure skater for eight years, she trained in gymnastics, Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. May’s devotion to dance stems from its ability to express oneself and bring people together. She strives to create joy and foster harmony through the universal language of movement. May hopes to continue to create a space that empowers others to move and groove on the dance floor.

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TEACHES: Jazz Funk

LISTENING TO: "Walk Like This" - FLO

Born and raised in Seattle, Min’s passion for dance has had him performing K-Pop routines in high school to eventually moving to Korea where Min explored various styles at different dance studios. He feels dance is not just an art form but a profound means of self-expression and storytelling - an escape into a realm of authentic and complete expression. Min’s goal as a teacher is to help students discover their deeper reasons for dancing. While Min feels most at home in Commercial and Jazz Funk styles, he is eager to delve deeper into Dancehall, Afro, Vogue, and Heels. Outside of the dance studio, Min loves playing PC games, studying Korean, immersing himself in books, and going on solitary walks outside.

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TEACHES: K-Pop, Intermediate & Advanced K-Pop Series

LISTENING TO:"I’m Gonna Love You" – D.O.

Born and raised in Taiwan, then moving to California, Ophelia began dancing when she joined both the K-Pop and Open Style dance teams in college. For Ophelia, dance is a vital expression of her emotions and a profound source of joy. She is committed to creating a vibrant and engaging class environment where students can discover new movements, grow as dancers, and, most importantly, have fun. Ophelia’s goal is to ensure that every student leaves her classes with a smile, having enjoyed a fun and enriching experience. She enjoys cooking and experimenting with new recipes, reading at home, and working on arts & crafts projects.

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TEACHES: Open Choreography

LISTENING TO: “For Days” - RINI

Ryan’s love for dance first began when he saw America’s Best Dance Crew premiere on MTV in 2008. The hard-hitting style inspired Ryan to learn how to dance by emulating YouTube videos. Once he started dancing, he never stopped. Ryan went on to co-found a competitive dance team where he choreographed for and competed in many notable dance competitions. Ryan’s favorite kind of dance is open-choreography, hip hop, and krump styles. Through the many changes in his life, dance has remained his steady companion and it has always been the thing that makes him feel like the most confident, passionate, and ambitious version of himself. He wants to create classes that are stress-free, non-judgmental, and light-hearted.

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TEACHES: Two Left Feet, Jazz Funk, Kids

LISTENING TO: "There It Goes" – Maisie Peters

A Washington native, Sierra began in ballet and she instantly fell in love. She went on to take lyrical and jazz classes but ended up leaving to pursue other extracurriculars. However, Sierra would still have nightly dance parties learning her k-pop choreo fixations or creating routines to her favorite pop music. Sierra loves to read, drink an excessive amount of coffee, and catch up on her latest K-Drama. She loves nothing more than teaching dance first-timers. She believes dance is most importantly a way to have fun and enjoy yourself – she wants her classes to be a space where everyone feels safe exploring their self-expression and confident in their way of moving.

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TEACHES: Beginner K-Pop Series

LISTENING TO: "Juna" – Clairo

This East Coaster has been dancing since she was three! She moved to New Jersey where she competed with Raps Dance Troupe as well as multiple K-Pop cover groups. They cherish the creativity and community that dance brings, appreciating how it unites people from diverse backgrounds and fosters a supportive environment. Sydney aims to create a safe space in class where students can laugh with the learning process. She hopes that every student leaves having learned something new, even if that's just a fresh perspective! Outside the studio, Sydney loves to spend time with her cats, plays video games, bake, take naps, and explore new coffee shops.

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TEACHES: Jazz Funk, Dance After Dark

LISTENING TO: “Hush” – Las Marías

Tamber’s dance journey began with freestyling at a young age. Her passion for movement led her to join a folklórico dance group while living in New Mexico. Tamber embraced various movement styles, eventually immersing herself in the world of Hip-Hop, both as a battler and a dedicated trainee. This served as a foundation for exploring other dance forms, including burlesque and jazz funk. Tamber’s love for dance transcends mere physical expression; it is a source of joy and liberation that allows her to artistically convey emotions like nothing else can. Outside the dance floor, Tamber finds inspiration in romanticizing life, spending time outdoors, enjoying quality moments with friends, and indulging in singing and reading.

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TEACHES: Heelin' Myself

LISTENING TO: "nuh uh" – Jades Goudreault

Trina, a passionate dancer and emerging instructor, brings over 15 years of dance experience to the team at PopRox. Born in Vietnam and raised in both Anchorage, AK and Vancouver, WA, Trina discovered her love for dance as a member of her high school dance team. Since then, she has embraced dance as a therapeutic form of self-care and a way to forge meaningful friendships. After a recent ACL surgery, Trina ventured into teaching and found immense joy in sharing her passion with others. Outside the studio, Trina has transitioned from a corporate finance career to pursue her creative passions in community theater, fashion styling, and traveling.

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TEACHES: Iconic Choreo

LISTENING TO: “If Your Girl Only Knew” - Aaliyah

Jacob Almanza has been dancing since the age of 12, specializing in hip hop and pop choreography. After beginning his drag career as Queen Andrew Scott in 2013, he has made it his personal goal to continue learning and teaching dance as much as he possibly can. Jacob can be found all over the Seattle area performing in many local drag shows — like his monthly show, Leche, at the Unicorn featuring exclusively Latinx performers. For him, dance is a physical translation of passion and excitement. His monthly Iconic Choreo workshop not only draws on his talents as an impersonator but also challenges him to learn choreography from some of the greats in order to teach students in a way that feels accessible and exciting.

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TEACHES: Outreach Instructor

LISTENING TO: "Freakum Dress” - Beyonce

Xochitl, fondly know as the "Dancing Biologist" is an Afro-Latina West Coast native with Belizean and Jamaican roots, raised in Glendale, California. She is a performing artist and marine biologist with a passion for using her background in Theater & Dance to inspire youth to enjoy movement and expression. With over 10 years of dance experience, Xochitl brings her passion for community healing, storytelling, and cultural expression to PopRox. She is dedicated to creating joyful and inclusive spaces where students of all ages can explore movement and build confidence through the art of dance.