Faculty & Staff

Larissa started her dance training at the age of three in Eugene, Oregon. After high-school, she auditioned for our parent organization, Paradosi Ballet Company, and was accepted as Paradosi’s first Trainee Dancer in 2010. Larissa served as a performing artist with Paradosi from 2011 through 2021 before retiring from dancing to focus on leading the organization. During Larissa’s tenure with Paradosi, she served as a Company Artist, Trainee Director, Choreographer, and now is fully committed to the role of Artistic Director for both Surrendered School of Dance and Paradosi Ballet Company.

Larissa has taught ballet in Surrendered School of Dance since 2012 as well as master dance classes across the US and in Europe through Paradosi. Larissa has also taught ballet in the public school system as a ballet instructor for Orting High School.

Larissa is an American Ballet Theatre ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Larissa is also a Level 2 Certified Teacher in Progressing Ballet Technique® (PBT) Junior through Advanced. In addition she has also completed the Boston Ballet • Adaptive Dance Teacher Training Program.

Bethany earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from California State University in 2012. After graduating, Bethany joined Ad Deum Dance Company where she performed in the US and Europe from 2013 – 2016. In 2016 she moved to Oregon to help co-found Instruments Ballet Company where she served as a Principal Dancer and Artistic Director from 2017 – 2020. Bethany now teaches with Surrendered School of Dance as one of our ballet instructors for our upper division and adult ballet classes.

EmmaLeah began taking ballet classes with Surrendered School of Dance at an early age. She worked her way through SSD’s levels all the way through Ballet 6. In 2020 EmmaLeah auditioned for Paradosi Ballet Company where she currently serves as a Company Artist and Répétiteur. EmmaLeah is excited to continue to be a part of our SSD family and to share the skills that she has learned with new dancers.

Haley began her dance training when she was four years-old at The British Dancing Academy in Kent, Washington where she completed ten-RAD examinations. After graduating from high school, she continued her dance training at Surrendered School of Dance followed by Paradosi Ballet Company’s Apprentice Program. Haley currently serves as a Company Artist with Paradosi and is so thankful to be able to continue sharing her love and knowledge of dance with the next generation of dancers through teaching with SSD.  

Haley has completed the Boston Ballet • Adaptive Dance Teacher Training Program.

Cambria started her ballet training at the age of eleven at Surrendered School of Dance. After starting her training, Cambria new that Ballet was what she wanted to do with her life. She poured herself into her classes rising through the levels while serving as a Teacher Assistant which helped her to gain valuable knowledge in SSD’s teaching techniques. After graduating high school, Cambria auditioned for Paradosi and was accepted into Paradosi’s Apprentice Program. Cambria now serves as a Company Artist with Paradosi and an instructor with SSD at our Orting and other satellite campuses.

Hannah began dancing at the age of three at Christian Performing Arts Center in Northridge, California. She loved dancing and training in an encouraging and worshipful environment that her studio provided for their students. In this school Hannah was presented with opportunities to use dance as a ministry tool and at the age of fifteen she began teaching classes. It was during her teen years when God put the desire on her heart to serve Him with her dancing instead of using it for her own personal gain. After this revelation she began to love dance even more and in a much deeper and purer way than she had ever known. Hannah currently serves as a Company Artist with Paradosi and teacher at SSD satellite campuses.