EDP Faculty
Kaitlyn Burch
OWNER
In 2011 Kaitlyn started a competition dance studio called The Independent Dance Project. She spent the next decade mentoring dancers looking to push their technique and dance competitively. IDP dancers were frequently recognizes for their technique and artistry.
After a decade in the competitive dance world, becoming a parent, and surviving a pandemic, Kaitlyn felt like she wanted to contribute something different to the dance community. She wanted to create a space where parents felt comfortable bringing the their kids to give dance a try. She wanted to simplify the studio experience for parents, to provide fun and engaging dance classes without big commitment or extra costs. Thus the transition to The Everybody Dance Project began!
Kaitlyn has devoted her life to dance and sharing her passion with young people. Dance has been there through every season of her life and she knows its power as a form of self-expression. She wants The Everybody Dance Project to be an introduction to that self-expression—to provide joy through movement.
Vanda Hunter
they/them
Vanda is a long time Oregon resident growing up in the Springfield/Eugene area. They have lived in East Portland for 4 years. Vanda has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon in Political Science, with a minor in Ethnic Studies. While at the UO, Vanda was a hip-hop and lyrical-jazz dancer and teacher at a local studio. Vanda got their start dancing on their middle school dance team, and has now come full circle by coaching a middle school team in Oregon City. Vanda has been working closely with children, teaching the basics of dance for over 10 years. Their favorite style to teach and choreograph is R&B hip-hop, and Vanda can’t wait to share their passion for dance with your kids! Outside of work and dance, Vanda is a loving aunt of three, cat mom, and partner. Their hobbies include makeup and hair-care, yoga, and vegan baking.
Kelly Cimeno
they/them
Kelly is originally from Walpole, Massachusetts where they trained for 15 years at Medfield Dance Academy Studios as a company member and competitive dancer. Kelly then graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2021 from Meredith College in Raleigh NC with a B.A. in Dance with a Concentration in Private Studio Teaching. Kelly was also the sole recipient of the Academic Excellence in Dance Award for 2021. During their senior year, Kelly was the president of Meredith Dance Association, formerly the National Honors Society for Dance Arts. They were a member of Meredith’s modern dance company: Meredith Dance Theater, and the Meredith Jazz and Tap Company for the tap portion of the company. While attending Meredith, Kelly taught at Academy for the Performing Arts (APA) in Apex NC, and continued there for four years. They also interned and worked as a social media coordinator at APA.
Kelly then moved to Oregon summer of 2022 to work at Elevate Dance Academy as both an instructor and social media / recreational dance enrollment coordinator. They are also currently a member of Congruency Dance Collective a tap-fusion company. Kelly is eager to share their passion for dance at the Everybody Dance Project! They wish to positively impact dancers' lives through engaging and fun dance education. Kelly focuses on inclusivity and fostering a positive and welcoming environment for all students.
Jasmine Wolfe
she/her
Jasmine Wolfe has 27 years of dance experience and 15 years of dance and gymnastics coaching experience. She grew up focusing on jazz, later doing it at the competitive level for 4 years. In college she chose an interdisciplinary dance major from Humboldt State University (now a California Poly Tech) and was introduced to modern and postmodern dance, which quickly became her favorite style. After college she joined the grass roots dance company, On 3, in Oakland, CA. She danced with them from 2014-2022 before moving to Portland. She also works for the Multnomah Athletic Club teaching gymnastics and dance to children as young as 18 months old and as old as 14 years old.
Sophie Nugent
she/they
Sophie (she/they) has been part of the teaching staff for EDP since 2018 and trained at The Independent Dance Project for a decade before graduating high school and getting a her college degree in Southern Califorina. Sophie has taught camps and combo classes. They are passionate about supporting all students to unlock creativity and joy through movement and expression. She loves kids and can’t wait to share her passion for dance with them!
