Owners:
 | Deborah
Messinger-May - Deborah’s been dancing since age 4. She’s
danced with the San Francisco Ballet Co. & the Bolshoi Ballet Co. from
Russia when they performed in Portland. She toured extensively in jazz &
tap variety shows & dinner theatre shows. She lived in Los Angeles for a
couple of years & danced in TV commercials. She’s owned and operated
Deborah Messinger School of Dance, first in Beaverton, OR and then in Gresham,
OR for 36 years. Her Gresham school now has 400 students & is well
known for its many top awards at local & regional competitions. Since
then, she has opened up two other booming studios plus one more that just opened this past February. Many of her students are
now professional dancers & teachers. |
Tara
Marshall – Tara has studied dance under Deborah for 27
years– she’s almost her daughter by this time!. She’s the studio manager
& head instructor at DMSD. She’s taught many girls who have gone on to
be teachers or professional dancers themselves. Also, she has won
numerous choreography awards in local & regional dance competitions.
She is also head of our performing groups. She was the leader of a group
of our students who, in 1999, we were invited to perform at the World Trade Expo. In
Korea.. Students of all ages love “Miss Tara”!!! Teaches at: Washougal, Stevenson, Gresham and Stevenson Locations |  |
Instructors:
 | Kayla Schwindt – Kayla has studied at DMSD in all the dance forms
since she was 4 years. old and she was also a cheerleader throughout high school. She’s graduated from Portland State
University & is now working as an educational assistant for the Centennial School District. She also works at SUN School (an after school program) in the Centennial School District. Miss Kayla loves the
little ones & it’s obvious in her caring approach. Teaches at: Gresham Location |
Kendra Simon- Kendra is a very “multi-talented” person! Dance is her main focus but she also sings in a rock band, she’s a kick-boxer & a martial artist. She’s also studied a lot of theater. She’s been teaching dance for about 12 years but is new to us this summer. She also has experience in dance-studio management. Kendra brings a fresh & exciting amount of experience to all of her classes. When you take her class, we’re sure you’ll agree! Teaches at: Washougal, Ridgefield and Stevenson Locations |  |
 | Teaches at: Stevenson Location |
Leia- Miss Leia first hit the stage singing "Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer" at age 5, and has loved it ever since. Knowing that natural talent grows through practice and guidance she has studied under many vocal coaches privately and has taken classes in many performing arts; in fact she met Miss Kendra in ballet and jazz classes at the age of 8. In college she toured with the vocal jazz ensemble, Genesis, and she is currently a member of the Eddie May Murder Mystery Company which does private dinner performances in the Portland area. Miss Leia enjoys teaching students of all ages music as well as mathematics; she strives to help all see the beauty in reason and the reason in beauty. |
