She/her

TEACHES: Dance After Dark, Bollywood

LISTENING TO: “La maña” - FLVCKKA, EMJAY, Chzter

South Florida gave Asha a vibrant cultural backdrop as a performer early on. She began dancing at age 5, after being inspired by competitive dancers on TV and her arts-loving theater mom. She trained in Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form, earned her dance degree, and then went on to participate in fusion dance teams in college. Asha loves that dance can tell a story and allows one to embody any emotion while releasing it through movement. When she is not dancing, you can find her leading our front reception desk, baking, participating in environmental cleanups, and creating art in all mediums.

She/her

TEACHES: Jazz Funk, Heelin’ Myself

LISTENING TO: “Que Pasaria” - Rauw Alejandro & Bad Bunny

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Audrey started dancing at 16 with her high school group. It wasn’t until college that she truly found her dance home—a thriving hip hop community where she trained in popping, locking, breaking, and hip hop. Always curious and passionate about movement, she’s since branched out into contemporary, jazz, and most recently, heels. For Audrey, dance is the truest form of expression—it helps her tap into emotion and connect with music on a deep level. When she’s not in the studio, you’ll find her working as an architect or exploring other creative outlets like graphic design, playing piano, and cooking. Audrey hopes her students leave class feeling joyful, free, and proud of what they’ve accomplished. To her, community is an ecosystem—one built on support, inspiration, and the freedom to grow together.

ALSO KNOWN AS DRAGON

He/him

TEACHES: Hip-Hop, K-Pop, Krump, House, Popping

LISTENING TO: “KID AGAIN” - Jon Bellion

Originally from Madison, WI, Daniel (aka Dragon) has been dancing his whole life and teaching for over a decade. Rooted in styles like Hip Hop, Krump, House, Popping, and K-Pop, his movement is as dynamic as it is expressive. For Daniel dance has always been therapeutic – it’s his way of speaking when words fall short. Outside the studio, you’ll find Daniel hiking, boxing, playing basketball, watching anime, or out adventuring with friends. Daniel’s teaching style is engaging, fun, and technical, and he’s passionate about creating a class environment where students feel seen, celebrated, and pushed to grow. His classes are a space where students can experience freedom, joy, challenge, and meaningful connection. To him, community means everything—it's where real growth and transformation begin, both on and off the dance floor.

ALSO KNOWN AS NIBZ

He/him

TEACHES: Hip Hop, K-Pop, Breakdancing, Kids Classes

LISTENING TO: “Reason” - Dreamcatcher

Born and raised in the Seattle area, Derrick (aka Nibz) quite literally eats, sleeps, and breathes dance. He started dancing in 2010 when he was invited by a friend to give it a try. When asked what he does when he’s not dancing, he replied “... thinking about dancing or thinking about how I could improve my dancing,” which is just a small glimpse into his love for the craft. Derrick’s favorite music to break to includes anime and K Pop songs, including his current favorite K Pop group – Dreamcatcher. His teaching philosophy centers around always remaining open to the unexplored and the “what-ifs” in dance.

They/them

TEACHES: Ballet (Remixed), Contemporary

LISTENING TO: “Here I Go Again” - Mindchatter

Originally from Michigan, El’s dance journey began at the age of five and they haven’t stopped since. With a deep foundation in ballet, they’ve trained across the U.S. and performed professionally with Charlotte Ballet, Ballet Austin, Milwaukee Ballet, and Bay Pointe Ballet. Their teaching style is technical, encouraging, and inclusive—bringing all the focus of ballet training, without the rigidity. Dance has always been El’s way of getting out of their head and into their body – a way to express themselves when words fail. To El, community means safety, belonging, and unspoken understanding. They aim to cultivate that same feeling in every class they teach.

She/they

TEACHES: Hip Hop, Jazz Funk

LISTENING TO: “Head Home” - EJEAN

Originally from Nashville, Friday’s journey into dance began with music. She grew writing and releasing her own songs and then eventually in her late twenties started taking dance classes and exploring choreography — originally as a way to grow as a singer and artist. Since then, Friday has trained in Commercial, Street Jazz, Hip-Hop, Jazz Funk, and K-Pop. Before moving to Seattle, Friday lived in Korea and Australia, where teaching dance first sparked her passion for teaching seriously.  Encouraging, empowering, and exciting, Friday’s classes are built around one goal: helping every student find their stage moment, and to feel comfortable taking up space. She loves watching her students give new life to her choreo and make it their own. For Friday, community means creating a space where people feel seen, supported and encouraged to show up as themselves and believes that dance is especially powerful when it brings people together who might not otherwise cross paths.

He/him

TEACHES: Vogue Femme, Jazz Funk, Hip Hop, Contemporary

LISTENING TO: "El Cascabel"

Originally from ATL, Hiero started dancing at home before teaching Hip Hop, Majorette, and Jazz at a local studio by age 12. At 14, he moved to Washington and joined the dance teams at Emerald Ridge and Pierce College, later continuing his training with Freedom Dance Center. Since then, Hiero expanded his movement palette into Ballroom, specializing in teaching performance and runway. For Hiero, dance is ultimate expression—the perfect language when words aren't enough. His teaching philosophy centers on fun and freedom, inviting dancers to embrace comfort in being uncomfortable and to unlearn discomfort as normative. Describing his style as loose, sexy, and intentionally a mess, Hiero builds a welcoming space where students can break past boundaries and own their unique presence on the floor. To him, community is about finding that shared space where everyone feels safe to step outside their comfort zones together.

She/her

TEACHES: Jazz Funk, K-Pop, Pom, Youth Classes

LISTENING TO: "Boys" — Adela

Born and raised on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Jaycee began dancing at age three in recreational classes and instantly fell in love with movement. Growing up, she trained across a wide range of styles—including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and hula—before focusing heavily on hip hop, cheer, and K-Pop cover dances through middle and high school. In college, Jaycee auditioned for the dance team, combining her cheer background with her passion for jazz. She spent three years on the team, serving as captain and leading them to compete at Nationals for the first time in school history. Today, she continues to train in jazz, pom, and hip hop, finding her sweet spot in the commercial jazz funk space. For Jaycee, dance class is a safe space for freedom of expression, vulnerability, and pure enjoyment. Guided by an encouraging, lighthearted, and high-energy teaching style, she aims to create a supportive environment where students can laugh, try new things, and build confidence. Community is at the heart of her approach—a welcoming space to connect, be yourself, and always feel received with open arms.

He/him

TEACHES: Hip Hop

LISTENING TO: “Whatever She Wants” - Bryson Tiller

Jericho is a Seattle native and started dancing when he was six years old after his brother showed him America’s Best Dance Crew. He was so amazed by the the joy it brought to him and its audience, that he vowed to learn to dance so he could make people feel the same way. He continued to dance at UC Irvine where he attended school. You can also find him shopping for records, listening to music with his friends, and watching Marvel movies. He hopes that his classes will be reflective of his passion for dance and will make his students feel the way he did when he first watched dancers perform – joyous, confident, and excited about learning.

She/her

TEACHES: Hip Hop, K-Pop

LISTENING TO: “Matt Martians’“ - Rushback

Originally from New Jersey, Kiara grew up in a family that deeply valued the arts. Her “awakening” to dance came at age three after watching The Wiz . Though her first ballet class didn’t stick, she spent her middle and high school years studying musical theater dance and teaching herself K-Pop choreography and then In college expanded her training in ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop. Her love for dance has taken her across the U.S., Europe, and Japan, where she’s led music outreach workshops for thousands of young artists. For Kiara, dance is medicine—it’s both freedom and connection. Outside the studio, she channels her creativity as a songwriter and producer under the artist name ARCANA (@arcanamoonmusic on IG & TikTok). Kiara hopes her students leave class feeling confident, inspired, and part of a genuine community—one built on strength, resilience, and the family you choose along the way.

She/her

TEACHES: Dance After Dark, Burlesque

LISTENING TO: “Fool” - Lilyisthatyou

Lilli is a passionate dancer and choreographer with a lifelong love for movement and dance. Originally from Chico, California, she began dancing as a child and started choreographing at age 13. For Lilli, dance is more than a passion; it's her emotional release and her favorite way to connect with her body in ways words can't. Her teaching style is empowering, playful, and supportive, with a goal of helping students feel confident and free to express themselves. When she's not dancing, Lilli works as a legal advocate for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors and crafts handmade jewelry from preserved flowers and resin.

She/her

TEACHES: K-Pop

LISTENING TO: “Invitation” - Junny

Linda started dancing ballet jazz when she was very very young. Linda sees dance as her form of self-care, as it allows her a place to let loose and express herself. When she's not dancing she loves hanging out with friends, exploring restaurants, taking way too many pictures, and playing sports! Linda' goal for her classes is to have an enjoyable and welcoming environment where students feel free to be themselves. Her goal is to provide a space where they can get feedback and practice with a close knit community, focusing on personal growth without fear of judgment.

She/her

TEACHES: K-Pop, Kids K-Pop

LISTENING TO: “ROCK THE BOAT” - XG

Born and raised in Boston, Luna's dance journey began at age 8 when she tagged along with her cousin to Chinese dance class — from there she never really stopped moving. Luna picked up cheer along the way before finding her footing more seriously in high school, right as YouTube made the world of dance endlessly explorable. For Luna, dance is about the kind of self-expression that everyday life doesn't always make room for. She wants her students to experience the pure, simple joy of it — to have fun and keep falling deeper in love with movement, wherever they are in that journey. To her, community is the exchange of love around a shared passion, and that feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself.

They/them

TEACHES: Contemporary, Line Dancing

LISTENING TO: "Click Clack Symphony" — Raye

Born and raised in a small town in Southeast BC, Canada, Nat’s dance journey began at just three years old with Scottish Highland dance—a practice they still teach, compete in, and perform across North America. At 18, they opened their own studio, Rossland Highland Dance, with a passion for bringing Highland dance back to their hometown. Since moving to Seattle five years ago, Nat has trained, performed, choreographed, and taught dancers of all ages across the city. With an extensive background in kinesiology and sports science, safety and body mechanics are top priorities in Nat's classes, ensuring students learn to move ergonomically to stay dancing for a lifetime. Driven by the motto "this class is for you, not me," Nat creates an engaging, supportive, and technical environment where the main goal is to have fun, grow, and leave with a smile. For Nat, dance is a powerful outlet for strength, focus, and self-expression—heels in particular has played a transformative role in empowering their gender journey.

She/her

TEACHES: Jazz Funk, Contemporary, Ballet (Remixed)

LISTENING TO: "Careless Whisper" — Ella Boh

Growing up in the suburbs of Phoenix, Ryan’s dance journey began at age nine after becoming completely obsessed with Dance Moms. Inspired by the dancers on the show, she began competing at age 11 and started assisting with classes by 12, where her love for choreography and teaching instantly took root. For Ryan, dance offers a powerful sense of grounding and emotional release—a space where every feeling can find its matching song and movement. In her classes, Ryan brings an encouraging, energetic, and playful vibe designed to help dancers connect deeply with the music and express themselves fully. Her goal is for students to let movement meet them wherever they are that day and leave feeling lighter, grounded, and excited to dance. She views community as a safe, supportive network where everyone can show up as their full selves, celebrate wins, and feel an authentic sense of belonging.

She/her

TEACHES: Heelin' Myself

LISTENING TO:"nuh uh" – Jades Goudreault

Trina, a passionate dancer and emerging instructor, brings over 15 years of dance experience to the team at PopRox. Born in Vietnam and raised in both Anchorage, AK and Vancouver, WA, Trina discovered her love for dance as a member of her high school dance team. Since then, she has embraced dance as a therapeutic form of self-care and a way to forge meaningful friendships. After a recent ACL surgery, Trina ventured into teaching and found immense joy in sharing her passion with others. Outside the studio, Trina has transitioned from a corporate finance career to pursue her creative passions in community theater, fashion styling, and traveling. Check out Trina’s instagram page here!

She/her/he/him

TEACHES: Monthly Workshops

LISTENING TO: “If Your Girl Only Knew” - Aaliyah

Jacob Almanza has been dancing since the age of 12, specializing in hip hop and pop choreography. After beginning his drag career as Queen Andrew Scott in 2013, he has made it his personal goal to continue learning and teaching dance as much as he possibly can. Jacob can be found all over the Seattle area performing in many local drag shows — like his monthly show, Leche, at the Unicorn featuring exclusively Latinx performers. For him, dance is a physical translation of passion and excitement. His monthly Iconic Choreo workshop not only draws on his talents as an impersonator but also challenges him to learn choreography from some of the greats in order to teach students in a way that feels accessible and exciting. Check out Queen Andrew’s instagram page here!

She/her

TEACHES: K-Pop, Kids K-Pop

LISTENING TO: “Latch” - Disclosure, Sam Smith

Shuhui began dancing at just two years old and trained in ballet throughout her childhood, alongside jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and tap. During the pandemic, she discovered a deep love for K-pop and hip hop styles, which she now focuses on in her training and teaching. Shuhui is passionate about embodying music through movement and loves the joy of performing and connecting with others through dance. She values the dance community for its warmth and support, and strives to cultivate that same sense of belonging in her classes. Her goal is for students to build lasting friendships, feel confident making their own creative choices, and express their unique personality through movement. When she’s not dancing, you can find her exploring new creative skills or trying out new restaurants with friends. Check out Shuhui’s Instagram page here!