Katie brings over 11 years of teaching experience, eight years as professional dancer, and world recognized Yoga Alliance Certification, to IGNITE. She is a National Dance Adjudicator and Master Class Teacher.  Katie has traveled the world working as a professional dancer onboard Holland America Line cruises.  She danced with Lionel Richie at the Wynn Hotel opening in Las Vegas, and has been an Assistant Choreographer to John Charron and Patti Columbo. Katie was recently seen onstage acting, singing, and dancing in “42^nd Street” at the Village Theatre in Issaquah.  She has extensive training in Hatha and Vinyasa yoga, ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical/contemporary, hip hop, gymnastics, and aerial work.  Katie believes in providing students with the highest level of dance and yoga education, while making class fun!

    KATIE BERGERSON

Katie Bergerson has over 16 years of experience working with adults and children in the health and fitness industry.  She is a USAT level one coach, ITCA certified coach.  She also worked as a NASM certified personal trainer for 8 years teaching adults and children to be healthy and fit.  Katie began taking yoga classes to compliment her busy sports and fitness schedule back in 1997.  Along with increased core strength, flexibility and finely tuned balance it brought another element of peace to her life.  She believes it’s important for each student to focus on their own health and well being.  Take the time to be here, now. To give ourselves the attention we deserve and require to be healthy and happy. She incorporates this mindset and personal experience into her yoga classes each week. Katie spent 9 weeks/800hours of study training under Bikram Choudhury in LA and was certified by Bikram in 2001.

    LETA ANDEREGG FRISCH 

Inspired by an older sister, Leta began dancing at age six.  She caught the bug at nine and from then on spent more time in a ballet studio than any where else.  At age 14 she received her first scholarship to study with the Harkness Ballet in New York City.  By the time she was 16, she was had a full Ford Foundation Scholarship to the School of American Ballet where she studied both in New York City and Dallas, TX.  She was principal dancer with Dallas Metropolitan Ballet and a ballet major at the University of Utah.  Leta has also enjoyed dancing in musical theatre; shows include, "South Pacific", "Cabaret", "Three Penny Opera", "Most Happy Fella", and "Guys and Dolls".  Rolls she has played are Liza in Village Theater's production of "Peter Pan" and Elsa Schrader in a Bellevue community production of the "Sound of Music".  She has also enjoyed singing with her sisters in "Sister Sound" a group that specializes singing swing music. Leta has taught ballet in the Seattle area since 1986. 

BRENDA HERMAN
Brenda was born in Portland, OR and started dancing at an early age in Ballet and Tap. She was a member of a troop that performed Tap and Jazz through-out the Portland metropolitan area. She started teaching dance at the age of 15, while entering competitions and performing with a troop until entering college. At Cornish she studied many different styles of dance with a focus on Ballet and Modern, while also continuing Tap with a studio on Capitol Hill. Brenda graduated from Cornish College of the Arts located on Capitol Hill in Seattle, WA with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance. After college she taught at several studios thought-out the Pacific North West including the Boys and Girls club in Seattle. Brenda is currently raising a family in the Snoqualmie Valley area.

    ERIN KNOWLES

Erin began her practice with Iyengar yoga seven years ago. Since then many styles have sparked her interest; Power vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, and most recently Baptiste. She is trained 200RYT in the Baptiste flow at Be Luminous studio in Seattle. Erin has taken assisting workshops from Lisa Black as well as Liz Doyle. Also, Erin has taken an additional 20hr functional anatomy course for yoga with Ellen Heed. Erin is a bellydancer with instruction from Fran Mau and likes to incorporate dance like flow to her yoga classes. Her classes are fun, fluid and geared for all levels. Being a mother of two, Erin proposes to raise self sufficient children, her own as well as the communities. Her involvement in working with teens has just begun with North Bend Two Rivers HS and Chief Sealth High Seattle. Being an avid mountain biker and trail runner, Erin see’s the opportunity yoga has to offer for injury prevention, core strength and balance. For her, yoga offers a freedom of expression. Erin leads classes that offer just that, and usually a little more (gotta keep on our toes!).  

    BRITTANY MAINS

Master teacher, performer and choreographer, Brittany Mains draws from her 15 years of dance training when in front of a classroom or on a stage. With a focus in Hip Hop and Contemporary Brittany also possesses training in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Pilates and Yoga. A native of Seattle, Brittany’s artistic ambitions led her to Los Angeles, California to pursue her professional career. She joined a performing arts company known as The Young Americans where she continued her training in all forms of dance as well as broadened her knowledge in acting, vocal and choral training. Brittany traveled to countries including Germany, Spain, Gibraltar, Holland, Poland, France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Japan and South Korea teaching music and dance as a part of The Young American Outreach Program. Brittany also performed in the Macy’s Thanks Giving Day Parade, and has worked extensively with master teachers/choreographers including Alex Little and Doug Caldwell. Brittany continues to travel the United States and Canada as a master teacher to private studios, workshops and outreach programs. Brittany believes in the power of dance and its ability to enhance the mind, body and spirit. Using dance as an outlet to relieve all emotions and connect with others on a level beyond words, has helped her in all walks of life. Through her teaching, she hopes to share this gift with her all of her students.

    STEPHANIE MERROW

Stephanie Lynn Merrow received her MA in Acting and Dance in 1999 and has been teaching drama and dance, directing and choreographing for all ages since 1997. Currently, Stephanie teaches/directs/choreographs for Village Theatre, Cornish College of the Arts Summer Program, Mt. Si High School, Snoqualmie Middle School and Ignite! Dance and Yoga.  Some of her credits include: Choreographing- “GUYS AND DOLLS,” “THE 25^TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE” and “KISS ME KATE” at Mt. Si High School, “SUESSICAL!” at Youth Theatre Northwest and “BRIGADOON” for Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theatre.  Directing- “You Can’t Take It With You” at Mt. Si High School, Who Said What Now??? At Snoqualmie Middle School, “INTO THE WOODS” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Oak Hill High School and “Whose Life Is It Anyway?’ at Chico High School.  Acting- Local credits include many roles with Unexpected Productions, Live Girls!, Macha Monkey, Jet City, Valley Center Stage and Northwest GOGA. Stephanie also works as a professional improviser for Effective Arts and leads the Ignite! Improv Troupe.

    

JAMIE MONTE

Yoga is an entire philosophy of being.  It is the way to find stillness within and connect with your inner strength.  Jamie completed the teacher training program at 8 Limbs Yoga Centers in Seattle. She is also a certified prenatal instructor through the Seattle Holistic Center with Colette Crawford.  She is incredibly inspired by yogini mothers to be and passionate about sharing the numerous benefits yoga can offer throughout pregnancy, birth and motherhood.  The practice of yoga helps us find strength, confidence, and freedom in our minds and bodies as well as a little peace and calm as we journey through life.  Her classes are filled with light hearted energy using breath awareness to calm and focus the mind as well as uplift the body.  She encourages students to find sthira and sukha (steady alertness and ease) as they travel through the moving meditation of the yoga practice.

    LISA O'DELL
I knew I loved Zumba the very first time I tried it.  As a homeschool mother of four, it gave me a creative and physical release that I loved (and needed)!  I was shocked when, in just a few months of 3 or 4 classes a week, I had lost a noticeable amount of weight, developed muscle tone, and increased my energy level.  I have found teaching zumba to be even more fun because I get to watch others have the same experience.  And I love watching people who have never danced before come in and learn how.  It is absolutely my favorite part of the day!

    SAM PAIRIS

“Beyond ideas, there’s a field. Will you meet me there?”  -Rumi

Sam has been practicing yoga for over ten years and teaching yoga for three. She is trained and 200 hour certified through The Center for Yoga of Seattle in an Iyengar influenced style. Her yoga classes emphasize foundation and alignment to reduce injury while building strength and stamina. When Sam is not practicing or teaching yoga you can find her climbing mountains, playing in her garden, and teaching science to middle school kids. 

REBECCA PITZER
Rebecca practiced yoga off and on for 5 years before she attended a power vinyasa class. She immediately knew she found her style of yoga. Rebecca loved the physical workout she got practicing, but it was the mind-body connection that kept her coming back. She felt herself growing more confident and learning about who she really was. Rebecca’s biggest challenge is learning to translate what she cultivates on her mat into her life off the mat. This is the place in which she teaches from. She provides a nurturing space for her students to grow in their practice physically and mentally and challenges them to manifest this into their lives off the mat. Rebecca completed her 200-hr certification in May 2011 at Be Luminous Yoga in Seattle. She has also attended classes with Baptiste Master teachers and Foundations in Action with Baron Baptiste.

        JENNA TOLLEFSON

Jenna is excited to teach Creative Movement and Ballet/Tap classes. She has been dancing 11 years and has been competing locally and nationally for 8 years in Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and Hip Hop. She is currently attending the University of Washington and planning on majoring in business and minoring in dance. Jenna is also a member of the University of Washington’s Dance Team and enjoys dancing in local performances in the Seattle area. 

AARON ULRICH

Aaron has always been a very active person participating in sports and other outdoor activities, and spends all his time trying to get to the next physical activity. About 7 years ago, he started getting interested in yoga after numerous sports injuries. Since he started practicing consistently, the physical therapist has not seen him once. Aaron found that with a gentle yoga practice and self-awareness you can strengthen all the muscles of the body equally, lessening the frequency of sports injuries. On a higher level yoga also helps Aaron connect spiritually with what he needs, both mentally and physically, simply based on the fact that yoga is a moving meditation. Aaron's formal yoga training was with Corepower Yoga in Seattle, WA in 2009. “I love bringing what makes me happy to those around me. Teaching people how to do the thing I absolutely love is like a dream come true for me. My style is relaxed, invigorating and supportive, with a flow that is aimed at any level so that I can bring people of all physical abilities to a comfortable yet challenging yoga practice”

Namaste~

KARI WEED

Kari Weed, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist and Assistive Technology Specialist has been drawn to kids her entire life. Ten years ago she became a licensed Speech Language Pathologist and found a way to work with kids as well as improving their abilities to communicate. She has specialized in working with kids with a variety of diagnoses but with the common need of finding a way to communicate. This may require sign language, the use of pictures, computer programs, word approximations, body language and or any way to improve their independence and participation. Kari is now partnering with Katie Bergerson to allow children with special needs to dance, tumble and increase their level of physical participation while socially communicating.

Kari is the mother of three beautiful children with the youngest having special needs. She has a master’s degree from the University of the Pacific in Speech Language Pathology, national licensure from American Speech Hearing Association and an additional certificate in Assistive Technology from California State University Northridge. She is currently employed with Snoqualmie Valley School District as the preschool SLP.

Kari believes passionately that every child deserves the opportunity to find their voice and opportunity to participate in all aspects of life regardless of cognitive level or behaviors!

    DAVID WENDLETON

Dave, is a certified Spiritual Director having completed his training through the Sacred Art of Living and Dying Center in Bend, Oregon.  He has seriously practiced meditation for the last 10 years and is currently the Director of Spiritual Care and Clinical Pastoral Education at Evergreen Hospital and Hospice in Kirkland, Washington.  His commitment is to companion those who look to meditation for simple stress reduction or for deeper personal growth and awareness.  The use of poetry, music, and story will be resources used throughout the meditation class.