Michelle Chandler-Smith

Michelle began her dance journey at age 12. With over 30 years of experience, her interests and expertise are in jazz & jazz technique, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, musical theatre and modern. She loves spending time with her husband, two children and two dogs, as well as traveling with her family both for each of her childrens’ interests and activities and for fun and exploration. In her free time she spends time teaching locally and around the country, choreographing, teaching intensives and judging.

After three years at Chapman University in Orange, California and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Theatre, she began her teaching career based on kinesiology working through stretch/strength fundamentals and positive motivation, back home in the Bellevue/Issaquah area. Several of her students have gone onto professional careers locally and internationally and she is beyond proud to have been a part of their journey.

Michelle has studied under the guidance of Joe Tremaine, Joe Lanteri, Gus Giordano, Dave Massey, Doug Caldwell, Sean Greene, and several others. She has also had the privilege of performing as a member of the jazz-based Eastside Moving Company and modern/jazz Company Fusion, both in Seattle performing regionally and nationally.

After selling her own studio in Issaquah, Washington and teaching on the convention circuit, she continues to judge regionally and nationally for both Showbiz and Starpower Dance Competitions among others and continues to teach master classes and choreography across the country, all of which she feels so honored and blessed to continue to do. Michelle is always excited to be sharing her passion and absolute love for dance, as well as any knowledge and insight with students willing to pursue the heart and soul of dance as an innovative and expanding art form.