John C. Townsell-
John, now known as John "The Mambo Man", was born and raised in Illinois in February of 1979. John has always surrounded himself around Jazz and Latin music. Although admitting that he was not a dancer in his childhood he now can not live with out it.

A graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering, John’s extensive dance training includes: Latin, ballroom, and hip-hop. Now residing in Seattle, WA, John has become well recognized as a Salsa / Mambo expert and has founded and managed a Latin dance company (in Iowa) as well as “Clave Rhythmz, Ltd., a Latin dance promotion company.

John has combined NY Mambo and Puerto Rico’s sensual rhythm and movements to exhilarate precision footwork, versatility, and style with technique.

Jessica Star Andrews -
is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in both Dance and English. While in college, she danced with Enertia Dance Company, performing in styles such as modern, jazz, hip hop and break dancing, and choreographing pieces on the company as well.
She additionally is trained in ballet and tap. Jessica loves teaching children of all ages dance, and is a certified from Anne Gilbert's Summer Dance Teacher Training Institute. She additionally teaches Pilates and Hatha Yoga to teens and adults. Jessica is very excited to be teaching at The Dance Academy of Bellevue, especially because this is where she danced as a child.

Jerry Tassin -
Jerry Tassin is a native Washingtonian. His career has taken him all over the globe. Jerry has trained and performed with; Perry Brunson (Ballet Russe', student), Margie Speck (Bremerton Dance Studio), Sarah Deluis (First Chamber Dance Co.,apprentice), Janet Reed and Todd Bolender (Pacific Northwest Ballet, soloist), Luigi (New York, instructor), Flemming Halby (Royal Danish Ballet,student), Frank Bays (Joffrey Ballet, student), Jerry Ames Tap Dance Co. N.Y., student) and Lee Theodore (American Dance Machine, N.Y., soloist AEA).

Jerry Tassin also has extensive background in varying styles of dance from; show dance, Las Vegas, (Folies Bergere, soloist, MGM Grande Hotel, Principal), Tihany Music Hall, Rio De Janeiro, Principal; Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, soloist, Washington Academy of Performing Arts, resident character dancer, International Ballet Theater, character dancer, Television, extra dancer Northern Exposure, American Movie Classics choreographer/performer; Theater, United Way 50th Anniversary Benefit, Radio City Music Hall, AEA, New York City, Seattle Repertory Theater AEA, Guys and Dolls, Tacoma Actors Guild A Chorus Line AEA.

Jerry's love of tap and jazz has been evident in his choreography where he has won awards in both categories. Most recently Jerry won first place for choreography in the International Dance Open Festival in Petersburg Russia for Tap, as well as Jazz. Jerry is very excited to come to Dance Academy of Bellevue and begin to build the tap program for a future competition tap dance team

Maria Gitana -
“As a teacher for the Spanish Dance Society, Maria Gitana is qualified to perform and lecture on Flamenco and the regional and classical dances of Spain. Maria Gitana's flamenco performances are passionate, fiery, and educationally engaging.”
—Nancy K. Sedgwick, Profesora de Baile
President of the USA Chapter of the Spanish Dance Society

Maestra Maria Gitana has been teaching and performing Flamenco and Spanish dance since 1980. She holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree and is a Maestra de Baile with the Spanish Dance Society.

The Spanish Dance Society (S.D.S.) is an international organization with headquarters in London, UK, and American offices in Washington, D.C. The Spanish Dance Society provides a teaching methodology with graded curriculum that begins its studies with students at age five. Students are certified in each level of study in the three forms of Spanish dance, i.e., classical, regional, and Flamenco. Maestra Gitana is one of the few authorized teachers of the S.D.S. syllabus and methodology in the western states.

Originally a Seattle native, Maria Gitana began her study of dance there with ballet and remained under the tutorage of Virginia Ryan-Corkel for ten years. She continued her study of dance for another ten years in California under Roberto Amaral, developing her flamenco and neo-classical Spanish dance. In California, she performed with the Los Angeles Music Center Opera and was the flamenco soloist in the Layalina Folkloric Ensemble.

Maria Gitana honed her skills in flamenco in Spain studying at Amor de Dios in Madrid, primarily under Merche Esmeralda and Maria Magdalena, the lead dancer and Ballet Mistress of the Ballet Nacional, respectively. In 1992, Maria Gitana was awarded a grant to study Escuela Bolera or classical Spanish dance with Dame Marina Keet before her retirement to Europe. As a founding member of the Spanish Dance Society, Dame Keet authorized and encouraged Maestra Gitana's use of the Society's curriculum and teaching methodology.

After her return to the Northwest, Maria Gitana's work has been endorsed by King County in their 2005-06 Touring Arts Roster in ethnic dance. Her performance company, Flamenco Gitana, presents traditional Spanish flamenco music and dance, with guitarist Maestro Joel Kabakov.