Born in 1965, Ms. Altunina began her ballet career when she was five years old. In 1973, she was accepted by the world-famous Vaganova Ballet School and graduated in 1981 as a professional ballet dancer. She went on to The Leningrad College of Cultural Education and graduated with distinction in 1985 with two bachelor degrees as Director of Performing Arts and Pedagogue specializing in Performing Arts. She continued to further her education while dancing professionally by attending the N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory earning her master degrees in Choreography and as Ballet Master, specializing in Ballet Direction in 1993.

Vera's extensive credentials include dancing professionally in both classical and character dance, choreographing and staging of new and classical productions such as Giselle, Paquita, Chopiniana, The Nutcracker and Raymonda both in Russia and the United States; and teaching students in both countries the expressiveness, grace and beauty of dance, its techniques, and history.

Vera came to the United States in 1993 and continued to distinguish herself as an exemplary artist of great talent. As the lead ballet instructor and choreographer for the Washington Academy of Performing Arts, she continued inspiring students, produced many original full-length productions and has shared her talents throughout the Puget Sound as guest instructor for Cornish College of the Arts, Ewajo Dance Workshop, Whidbey Island Dance School, Olympic Ballet School, Ballet Bellevue School, Everett Chorale, Issaquah Chorale, and as guest artist for Whidbey Island Dance Theater. She has also assisted in the staging of Paquita for the Fort Worth/ Dallas Ballet Company.

Ms. Altunina teaches Classical Dance, Pointe, Variations and Character Dance.

Mr. Gorboulev teaches Ballet and Pas de Deux.

Stephanie Saland was born in Brooklyn, and entered The School of American Ballet at age 15. Three years later she was invited by George Balanchine to join the New York City Ballet and in a 21-year career with City Ballet, she was showcased in leading roles under Balanchine's direction, as well as dancing principal roles in Jerome Robbins' repertoire. Guest performances included Nureyev and Friends, Giselle with Alexander Gudonov and numerous Live From Lincoln Center and Dance in America films. Before moving to Seattle in the fall of 1993, she taught movement for student actors at Playwrights' Horizons and helped develop a body-awareness class for actors with theater teacher Caymichael Patten. Since finishing her performance career, Ms. Saland has been a freelance instructor traveling to teach in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Madrid, Mallorca and Mexico. Ms. Saland offers classes that are a synthesis of information from many movement systems. ISCB is fortunate to host Ms. Saland as a teacher.

Ms. Saland teaches Variations in our Professional Division.

Jana is a native of Los Angeles, California, where she trained with the famous Russian dancer and teacher, Tatiana Riabouchinska-Lichine. She received numerous scholarships to the Stanley Holden Dance Center and the Pennsylvania Ballet School. Her career further progressed when she joined the Los Angeles Ballet in 1975 and later, Ballet West in 1979. While with Ballet West, she performed as a soloist in such classical works as Giselle and Swan Lake as well as in many Balanchine ballets. Jana joined the Pacific Ballet Theatre in 1984, which later became Oregon Ballet Theatre under the artistic direction of James Canfield. While there, Jana performed in Equinoxe, Between Two worlds, Romeo and Juliet and The Nutcracker. Her most notable roles were Carlotta Grisi in Pas de Quatre and the Snow Queen in The Nutcracker. Additionally, Jana danced with the Portland Opera in productions of The Merry Widow, Carmen and Show Boat.

In addition to her career in Ballet, Jana has also danced in three motion pictures, "Footloose", "Breakin' 2 Electric Boogaloo" and "Girls Just Want to Have Fun".

Ms. Malloy teaches Ballet.

Lizzy Melton trained at the Washington Academy of Performing Arts and, later, on scholarship at the London Studio Centre (UK). Upon graduation, she worked with several companies in Europe. Most recently, Lizzy worked on a freelance basis and taught at L'ecole de Danse de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ms. Melton teaches Ballet, Modern and Jazz dance.

Margo Walker is an associate member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance as well as the American Terpsichore Society. She and partner Don Walker competed professionally in such prestigious ballroom competitions as the California Star Ball, San Francisco Star Ball, the Sapphire Ball and placed 2nd in the Rising Star category at the Autumn Classic.

While residing in Modesto, California, Mrs. Walker owned and operated Steps and Variations, a studio offering lessons in Tap, Ballet, Jazz and Ballroom dancing. In 1994 Ms Margo moved to Washington where she has been teaching ballet, tap, and ballroom dance to pre-school students. Ms Margo was the developer and director of the Young Ones Program for WAPA and is a qualified instructor for young dancers.

Ms Walker teaches 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-year-old Ballet/Tap.

Jerry Tassin began his ballet training with Perry Brunson at the Seattle Dance Center where he also studied jazz, flamenco, and modern dance. He went on to apprentice with First Chamber Dance Company, and then as a soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Mr. Tassin met his wife Kimberly when they were both dancing at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. They toured North and South America as adagio dancers with several dance companies and returned to the northwest in 1984 when Jerry joined Actors Equity Union with a production of Guys and Dolls at the Seattle Repertory Theater. After performing locally in theater Mr. Tassin then moved to New York where he joined the American Dance Machine, a musical theatre dance company, where he performed in New York City and toured.

Jerry and Kimberly returned to Seattle. Jerry joined Spectrum Dance Company and went on to teach his varied style of jazz, tap, and theater dance in the Puget Sound area.

Mr. Tassin teaches Tap.

Eva L. Stone received a B.F.A in Performance and Choreography from Arizona State University under renowned instructors such as Daniel Nagrin, Renee Wadleigh and Mel Wong. After graduation, she was awarded a scholarship from DanceMagazine to study choreography at Harvard University with David Gordon. Ms. Stone continued her training at SUNY Purchase, The Ailey Studio in New York and danced professionally in Boston and Los Angeles. She continued her education in the United Kingdom and earned a Master of Arts degree in Choreography and Choreological Studies from the Laban Centre in London. Ms. Stone then formed the Stone Dance Collective, a modern dance company, and began teaching at various colleges in and around London. Ms. Stone came to Seattle in 1995, re-established her company and began an extensive teaching and lecturing career throughout the Puget Sound area. Some highlights have included presenting work at On the Boards, Bumbershoot and Broadway Performance Hall, as well as premiering an original work at Lincoln Center in New York City. Ms. Stone has appeared as a guest teacher at Western Washington University and has been a faculty member of both Olympic Ballet School and Washington Academy of Performing Arts. Her love of teaching and passion for choreography has resulted in the creation of over 50 original dance pieces.

Ms. Stone teaches Modern dance.

Kira Tassin began her classical ballet training at the Washington Academy of Performing Arts with Vera Altunina. She also trained there in musical theatre, which expanded her knowledge of the performing arts. She later continued her training with Ms. Altunina, while also adding jazz and tap into her dance repertoire under the training of her father, Jerry Tassin. In college, Kira taught ballet, jazz, and tap classes, and also began taking ballroom dance lessons in her spare time. She participated in her college's musicals and contributed to the yearly dance productions as both a dancer and a choreographer. She has been teaching dance for seven years.

Ms. Tassin currently teaches jazz and tap.

Kimberly Tassin trained in Los Angeles with Elisabeth Baird, Carol Harder, Andrei Tremaine, and Stephan Wenta in ballet and jazz. In her early years, Mrs. Tassin danced with The Hallmark Dancers of Los Angeles, a semi-professional ballet company. Later she danced professionally in Hello Hollywood Hello at the MGM Grande Hotel, Reno, Nevada; Hallelujah Hollywood in Seattle; and Circo Tihany, Rio de Janeiro. Subsequently, Mrs. Tassin co-founded with her husband and performed in The Jerry Tassin Dancers, a regional jazz company that performed in several venues in the Seattle area. She and her husband also guest performed with Ray Bussey's That's Jazz.

Mrs. Tassin teaches Jazz.

Jacquelina has over 30 years of extensive training and performing in Flamenco and Spanish Classical dance. She is the director and teacher of her performing Flamenco group "Jacquelina's Dances of Spain."

In addition to her experience in Spanish dance, Jackie has a background in Mexican Folk, Ballet and Jazz dance and has been a featured dancer and choreographer in Musical Theatre, staging many musicals.

Mrs. MacLin teaches Flamenco dance at International School of Classical Ballet.

Treva Putsche is originally from southern California. She graduated with a degree in Fitness and Health Specialist from Lake Washington Technical College. Her focus in fitness has been toward dancers and injury rehabilitation. Treva saw a need for dancers to cross condition to help them balance muscle weaknesses and imbalances. She is a dedicated teacher and cares about the success of the students. She shows tremendous energy and passion for the fitness program at ISCB and brings a great sense of humor to her work. She continues her studies in Exercise physiology and nutrition to offer the best program available.
Professional certifications & Memberships:
   • CPR/First Aid
   • ACSM Certified
   • IDEA personal trainer

Mrs. Putsche teaches conditioning.

Pianist Dr. Irene Bowling is well known throughout Washington State as a concert artist, lecturer, adjudicator, and teacher. She has given recitals throughout the United States, England, Germany and Mexico, as well as having been featured in many prestigious concert series, radio programs and T.V. Her students have garnered scholarships and admittance to the top music departments and conservatories here and abroad (Bowling Music Studios). Dr. Bowling has designed a music education program specifically for dancers offered through her company, SeattleSoundFX.

Ms. Bowling teaches PD Music and Theory.

"Into the Arts" program offers children with special needs the opportunity to participate in performing arts activities. Contact at: 425-885-1405.

Physical Therapist

Foot and ankle specialist in dance medicine/surgery

Nutritionist