My studios have been in the community for many years now. I grew up as a dancer, and after being a professional dancer for many years, I decided that my love for dance could best be used as a teacher, passing my knowledge onto a new generation of young dancers. You can read more about me here. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the history and achievements of my dance studios and how I've changed the lives of many through dance.
- 1) Started in 1971 w/5 students in my Mom, Carolyn Messinger's garage in Beaverton.
- 2) Taught ballet to the football players from several high schools
including Sunset High School in Beaverton. The ballet classes were
highly praised by the coaches as having made such an improvement in the
players footwork that they had a winning season due to these lessons!!
- 3) Taught and coached Marc Castillo & his partner in a disco
routine that took them to Los Angeles to compete on the 1st dance show
similar to "America's got Talent". Marc has since gone on to be first an all-star
fitness competitor & then trainer as well as a very well known
dance teacher in the Seattle area.
- 4) Deborah was mentored in ballet by the famous JoAnna Kneeland who made startling discoveries with regards to kinesiology & movement in the 1960's & 1970's. These discoveries were reported to the dance world in DanceMagazine and revolutionized several schools of thought in ballet.
- 5) Taught Marisa Menkins who went on to be the dance stand-in for
a feature film's leading lady in Spain. Marisa went on to be a
professional dancer around the US and is now a dance teacher in Lake
Oswego.
- 6) Deborah Messinger School of Dance's performing group was
invited as the only dance group from the United States to perform at
the World Expo in Seoul, Korea in 1999. Tara Marshall was the
choreographer and head dancer in the group. Tara still teaches for us, and is now co-owner in the company.
- 7) Deborah taught Tandy Morgan-Hewitt who is currently a mom & dance teacher in Beaverton area.
- 8) Deborah once was the host of a cable TV show called "Tappin' with Deborah" where she taught tap dancing lessons.
- 9) Deborah & Tara taught Alison Camp who has gone on to be a
professional dancer with a modern dance company as well as with a jazz
& lyrical dance company.
- 10) Deborah danced in & choreographed a dance troupe called "StarFire" that performed in the early 80's at several local entertainment venues.
- 11) For several years, Deborah's Jr. StarFire group was invited to
perform at 1/2 time of the Far West Classic held at the Memorial
Coliseum in Portland.
- 12) Jr. StarFire also performed for the Timbers Soccer games at PGE park.
- 13) Deborah & Tara taught Jessica Rohr who in 2007 was awarded a full scholarship to attend The Edge Dance & Performing Arts Professional School in Los Angeles. Jessica is now well on her way to being a professional dancer.
Thanks-
Deborah Messinger-May
Studio Owner
