Katie Higuchi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance and Minor in Drama from the University of Washington. Her training emphasizes sound anatomical placement, artistry in performance, and teaching pedagogy. Her dance career has taken her to New York, Taiwan, Singapore, and Seattle. She has performed in many productions with Issaquah’s Village Theatre, as well as 5th Avenue Theatre’s “A Chorus Line,” and Seattle Opera’s “Lakme.” Village Theatre favorites include Velma in “West Side Story” and Hedy LaRue in “ How to Succeed in Business…”

Ms. Katie has taught dance classes all over Washington State including Theatre Jazz at the University of Washington. Her teachers have included Ann Reinking, David Howard, Susan Jaffe, Alice Yearsly, Shamil Yagudin, Paul Sanasardo, Jane Lanier, Tinka Gutrick-Dailey, Marco Carraba, Hannah Wiley, Ann Evans-Zavada, and Lorrie Fraley-Wilson. Ms. Katie entered the graduate teaching program at UW while working with students with special needs in the Issaquah School District. Opening this studio is a dream come true for this dancer and educator.  

Carol Husmann obtained her Bachelors Degree in Ballet from the University of Utah. From such teachers as William Christianson, Conrad Ludlow, and Maureen Laird, Carol honed her craft and was fully immersed in perfecting her ballet technique, teaching, and choreographing. She has performed in many ballets where her favorite roles were “Kitri” in Don Quixote and “Juliet” in Romeo and Juliet. Having taught for more than ten years in the Puget Sound area and in Salt Lake City, Carol is excited to join the Cascade Dance Academy staff.

Trina Mills - Hip hop instructor Trina Mills was born and raised in Seattle, and has been dancing, singing, and acting since the age of 3. She was trained in ballet, jazz, modern, and tap by the Royal Academy of Dance at British Dance Academy. Trina recieved a minor in Dance and a BA in Musical Theatre from Western Washington University. Trina taught Jazz for the university for 3 years while she earned her degree. She is thrilled to be able to use her degree at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre! You may have seen her in West Side Story, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat or her most recent project White Christmas. Trina was also an NFL cheerleader for the Seahawks.

Stacee Raber Nault, jazz and musical theater dance instructor, has a BFA in dance from Cornish College of the Arts. She danced professionally for 15 years on Broadway, throughout the country and abroad. Shows have included A Chorus Line, Westside Story, Cats, Beauty and the Beast, Damn Yankees, Singin' in the Rain and many more. She also teaches for Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. She has been teaching dance and yoga for 10 years.

Anupadmaja Raghavan aka Anu, is a trained Indian dancer. She has studied Bharatnatyam, a classical Indian Dance form for over 13 years from Smt. Ranganayaki Jayaraman. She has also studied the modern Indian dance form of Bollywood for over 9 years. Anu has been a professional dancer and choreographer of these dance styles since 1996. She is now training students, children and adults, in these dance forms and would like to share the joyous experience with one and all.

Kelsey Ruth is a lyrical jazz and tap dance teacher. Her contemporary jazz style is similar to what's seen on the television program 'So You Think You Can Dance'. Her tap classes incorporate elements of rhythm and Broadway styles of tap. Ruth began dancing at the age of three and her dance repertoire has been expanding ever since. She earned a minor in Dance and a degree in Psychology at the University of Washington. She has also studied acting, voice, and yoga, and hopes to incorporate these things into her classes in order to foster a unique style and wide appreciation of the arts in each of her students.

Lynn Tobey - Instructor Lynn Tobey is a skilled ballet teacher who is also a natural with young people. Miss Lynn has been teaching dance throughout the Northwest for more than 12 years, primarily focusing on classical ballet techniques. Dance studies at the University of Washington led her to a Minor in Dance and a Major in Psychology focusing on learning and early childhood development in 2002. She has a passion for teaching both children and adults in all forms of dance.