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Mission
Everyone should personally experience the arts. Dance develops balance, control, posture, focus and fine-tunes listening skills. Because dance inherently involves problem solving, patterns and sequencing, it enhances higher thinking abilities. Quality training in dance and acrobatic technique promotes self confidence, creativity and a sense of exuberance in accomplishment. The Dance Factory and its instructors are committed to developing all of these attributes in a nurturing environment. |
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About the director...Teacher and Dancer, Roshny Bhakta has been passionate about dance for as long as she can remember. She began her dance training at the age of six in Panama city, Panama where she was born. Upon moving to the United States in 1997, she continued to train in ballet at the old Eugene Ballet Academy until she began high school. She joined The South Eugene Velocity and was on the team for 4 years, captain for 2 years and received her Varsity Letters in 2003. After graduating, she continued to help her dance team as their assistant coach under head coach Vanessa Martin. In 2006 she continued the dance team tradition as the assistant coach for the Marist High School Passion Dance team where her hip hop choreography won them a first place trophy for the first time in 4 years at the Rex Putnam category competition. In 2008 she became the volunteer assistant coach for the North Eugene Dance Team under head coach and former Dance Factory owner, Lisa Gilliam.
She became a part of the Dance Factory family in 2003 where she danced under the direction of Karl Mundt and Lisa Gilliam in both jazz and hip- hop. She has trained with some of the finest instructors from the Eugene/Springfield area in modern, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and African dance. At the Dance Factory, she has assisted former director/owner Lisa Gilliam in Urban Vibe for 4 years. She currently teaches and choreographs for the jazz company The Prestige Jr. and The Prestige Sr. and the hip hop company Urban Beat and Urban Pulse. Her dream has always been to own and direct a dance program and is forever thankful to Lisa Gilliam for allowing her to live out her dreams every minute, of every day.
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Stephanie Overholt
Stephanie Overholt started her dance career at the age of six, taking Tap and Ballet classes at Hosanna Dance Studio. She continued dancing through high school at All That Dance Company in Jazz, Hip Hop and Ballroom. During her senior year she joined the North Eugene Varsity Dance Team under head coach Lisa Gilliam. After high school, she became an Assistant Instructor in Ballroom and Hip Hop at the All That Dance Company, while also dancing on the collegiate hip hop dance company Urban Pulse at the Dance Factory. The next year she became an Assistant Coach for the North Eugene Dance Team, while also joining the jazz company The Prestige under current director/ owner Roshny Bhakta. She loves to dance and is inspired by So You Think You Can Dance as it allows her to become a better dancer and choreographer. She keeps striving everyday to learn more and is excited to be directing The Dance Factory’s advanced hip hop company “Urban Vibe” as well as teaching some open classes during the Winter/Spring.
Winter/Spring Schedule (Jan. 3rd-June 2nd): Urban Vibe (by audition only!): Mon/Wed 6-7:30pm Kids-Beginning Hip Hop: Friday 5:30-6:30pm Contact Info: Email: stephaniedancefactory@gmail.com |
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Nikki Letherer
Nikki Letherer has taught at The Dance Factory since Fall of 2008. She started dancing at the age of 4, and has never stopped! She is trained in classical ballet, funk, jazz, hip hop, Hawaiian, and Tahitian dancing. She has been a member of various companies throughout Oregon, including "The Oregon Coast Ballet Company," "Hip Hop Has Heart," "Breakdown," the "University of Oregon's Hawaii Club Halau," and "Urban Pulse." In her spare time, Nikki enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, gardening, and biking. Nikki hopes that through her dance classes, she not only inspires creativity and dedication in her students, but also helps them move past obstacles to realize their goals, making them stronger, and more motivated individuals. Winter/Spring Schedule (Jan. 3rd-June 2nd): |
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Kerry Schaffer began as a gymnast at the age of three and continued until she turned 13, competing up to level 8. Her freshman year of high school, Kerry started dancing at The Edge, and the next year she moved over to The Dance Factory. For the next several years, she participated in the Acro, Jazz, and Hip Hop performance groups under the direction of Karl Mundt and Lisa Gilliam. Today, Kerry still dances for The Prestige Senior Company and Urban Pulse, The Dance Factory’s adult Jazz and Hip Hop groups as well as teaching our combined Kids Beginning Jazz and Tumbling class. Winter/Spring Schedule (Jan. 3rd- June 2nd) |
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Isauro Saldana is a hip hop dancer from Redmond Oregon, originally from the Central Coast – Santa Maria, California. Currently a student at the University of Oregon, Isauro has been dancing since he set foot on the campus. With no prior dance experience, he sought out to explore the world of dance and learn as much as he could to make up for lost time. He fell in love with the ability to express himself emotionally through movements with his body. Isauro enrolled in various Hip Hop classes on campus and even joined the University of Oregon Jam Squad – hip hop dance team. In the spring of 2010 Isauro left Jam Squad and joined King’s Krew dance company. He decided to focus both on growing as a hip hop dancer but also absorbing as much technique and ballet as possible. Isauro has choreographed for both King’s Krew Sr. and Junior within the last year and is eager to continue to share his original style and teach to a wider audience! He has had the opportunity to work alongside Vanessa Martin, as well as choreographing a hip hop piece with Roshny Bhakta. Isauro was both excited and extremely honored when asked to join the DF family this year and looks forward to being a part of the future of the Dance Factory! Winter/Spring Schedule (Jan. 3rd- June 2nd): Teen Intermediate Hip Hop: Friday 6:30-7:30pm Contact Info: Email: isaurosaldana92@gmail.com |
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Graphic Designer- Melissa Gambino
Melissa Gambino began dancing at the age of six, and has been dancing with The Dance Factory since 2002. She is currently pursuing a degree in Interior Architecture at the University of Oregon. Her graphic design background comes from her education in the architecture program. Melissa has been designing the graphics for the t-shirts and show posters for The Dance Factory since 2009. She is currently dancing with Urban Pulse. Contact Info: Email: graphicdancefactory@gmail.com |
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Bookkeeper-Kristie Price
Kristie Price graduated in 2005 from The University of Oregon with a Bachelors of Science in Accounting. Since graduating she has had the rewarding job of raising her two children, Tyler (5) and Bailey (3). She has done bookkeeping for her husbands freelance work as a graphic designer, as well as having experience in accounts receivable/bookkeeping for a recreational gymnastics club. Kristie has always loved dance in any form. As a competitive gymnast she was able to have a small taste of the dance world. After gymnastics she was part of a performing ballroom dance group for several years. 10 years later, after getting married and having a family she joined The Dance Factory's collegiate company, Urban Pulse, in the summer of 2010 and re-ignited her passion for dance.
Contact Info (accounting/bookkeeping): Email: infodancefactory@gmail.com |
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