About Our Instructors
Owner / Director / Social Dance
Pat Harris started her dance life and training at the age of 8 in Nampa with Mrs. May Van de Steeg renowned teacher in the area. Pat started her first dance school as a senior in high school and continued her dance school while attending (B.S.U) Boise Junior College for 2 years. She was head Majorette for B.S.U. during that time and twirled & threw both the sparkler & flame baton for the college games. She received her degree in Physical Education from the University of Washington and taught junior high for several years. Pat spent 6 weeks in NYC taking dance technique classes and teacher training courses from such legends Thalia Mara (Ballet),Paul Draper (Tap) and Matt Mattox (Jazz) Pat founded the dance school bearing her name in 1971. The Pat Harris School of Dance building was constructed in 1973. Originally started on Broadway Avenue in 1982, The Broadway Dance Center entered a new era on East Boise Ave. in 1993 with the renovation of the Holcomb Grange building and grounds. This facility is available for rental for receptions, parties, etc. Many of the students trained in Pat's schools have continued their dance careers as professional dance teachers, performers in professional dance companies, professional football, & basketball dance teams, cruise ship dance performers, & even owners of their own dance schools. Pat Harris heads a staff of technically trained, caring instructors who provide progressive lessons in a fun, yet disciplined manner. Pat Harris has been an active member of the Boise Dance Teachers Association and the statewide Idaho Dance Arts Alliance for many years, having held the office of president in each group, plus several other offices and responsibilities. Pat also belongs to the Boise Chamber of Commerce.
Tap / Ballet / Early Childhood / Jazz
Brooke grew up dancing at the Pat Harris Studio starting at the age of 4. Brooke participated in numerous competitions & workshops, was 1st Runner up for Miss PNW in '93, captain of her high school dance team, and was a member of BSU’s ManeLine Dancers. She was Fairy Beauty in Idaho Professional Dance Arts production of "Sleeping Beauty" and performed in Boise Music Week's production of "42nd Street." Brooke has taught for over 15 years at the Pat Harris studios, specializing in tap. Brooke is also the Office Manager for the studios and handles all student accounts as well as a variety of other studio business. She is also actively involved in the BDTA and is a current officer.
Ballet / Early Childhood / Jazz / Tap
Stephanie has been dancing since age 3 and is thrilled to share her passion for dance with others. After high school, she studied ballet at BSU under Marla Hansen, danced with Idaho Dance Theatre for one season and was actively involved with IDT's Educational Outreach Program. Stephanie taught for Pat Harris for 6 years until she got married and moved to Santa Barbara in 2002. There she taught & choreographed for the Camarillo Academy of Performing Arts. She served as preschool director for 3 years, helping create a new curriculum for young dancers. She was also privileged to attend David Howard's Teachers' Training Workshop in New York City in 2005. Upon returning to Boise, she rejoined the faculty at Pat Harris. Stephanie enjoys continually exploring new styles of dance & helping her students to reach their full potential.
Break Dance
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Bio coming soon.
Ballet
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Sayoko is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher specializing in ballet from the Seattle area. She received the majority of her classical ballet training from the Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and received her BFA and MFA in teaching and choreography from the University of Utah's nationally recognized Department of Ballet. She is currently a company dancer with Boise's Idaho Dance Theatre. Through her training and performing experience, she had the opportunity to work with and/or perform ballets by renowned and up-and-coming choreographers such as Val Caniporoli (San Franscisco Ballet), Richard Tjia (Cirque de Soleil), Jiang Qi (Ballet West), George Balanchine, and many more. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, Sayoko received the privelege to teach 2 ballet courses and a choreography course for the University of Utah's Dept. of Ballet while completing her Master of Fine Arts. Besides the University, she also taught in local schools throughout the Salt Lake City region. Sayoko began choreographing prior to graduating from PNBS and has since been invited as a guest choreographer for a Gala performance in Tokyo, Japan with Valentio Bartes Ballet Company, Ballet West Academy's Summer Intensive, Regional Dance America's Craft of Choreography Conference, the University of Utah's resident company-Utah Ballet, the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance's Choreographic Residency, and the Barlow Arts Conservatory in Utah. She has also choreographed contemporary solos for the Youth America Grand Prix over the last 4 years in which she has been awarded the Outstanding Choreographer Award for the 2010 San Francisco region.
Jazz / Hip Hop / Early Childhood / Lyrical / Seniors Artistic Director
Although Jaime has traveled extensively with her dancing, she is a native to Boise where she started dancing at the age of 3 with Pat Harris School of Dance. Jaime teaches all styles of dance, specializing in Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, & children’s classes, and is the Artistic Director for the Junior and Senior Dance Companies for the studios. She also currently teaches Jazz at Boise State and is the Director/choreographer for the Boise Burn Football Arena Hotshots Dancers. In her spare time she travels with Spotlight Dance Cup as a judge. In 2006, Jaime came to us from Denver where she had been dancing with the Colorado Contemporary Dance Co. in addition to touring with the Damsels Dance Revue. She danced and served as a captain for the Denver Nuggets Dancers. Her extensive choreography and modeling experience include several major companies such as Foley’s & Nordstrom. A highlight was with Everlast Active Apparel in the Magic International Show where she performed with celebrities Evander Holyfield, L.L. Cool J, P. Diddy, Snoop, and Lil’ Kim. She has performed for both television and video. While living in Los Angeles she worked on the set of Lifetime’s “Any Day Now” and “The Man Show.” Prior to her travels, Jaime performed and was a captain for BSU's ManeLine Dancers.
Ballet / Hip Hop / Early Childhood / Jazz
Katie's early years of training were in Lewiston and Moscow, Idaho. She danced in the Eugene Ballet Company Nutcracker performances for 5 years. She graduated from Boise State in May 2006 with a B.A. in Theatre with an emphasis in Dance, and since 2002 has been teaching ballet for many area studios. Her professional performing experience includes 2 seasons with Idaho Dance Theatre, and one with the Idaho Stampede Spirit Dance Team. She currently performs with Off Centre Dance Project and the Red Light Variety Show. She also currently teaches beginning ballet to students at Boise State and the College of Southern Idaho.
Ballet / Tap / Musical Theatre
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Aidan recently obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts with Dance and Performance options and English Literature from Boise State University. Aidan is an Idaho native who has studied ballet, tap, jazz, and modern at a number of studios in the valley, and was a member of Pat Harris' Dance Electric "Dance Project" Performing Company. She studied 3 summers at the Summer Dance Lab at Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA. Her choreographic accomplishments include Aladdin for Nampa Christian High School and Nunsense for Can-Act Theatre, and was awarded 2nd place in Ballet Idaho's 2007 choreography competition.
Early Childhood / Ballet
Stephanie started her dance training at the age of 3 in the Salt Lake City area, and has studied with many well known instructors. many of her studies were at the University of Utah, and specializes in ballet and preschool children's classes. She has been inspiring children for many years at Pat Harris' studios. She is also a director for Pampered Chef. She enjoys teaching people how to make delicious recipes using quality cooking tools.
Early Childhood / Ballet / Tap / Jazz
Sandy started dancing at the age of 5 in Twin Falls at the Donna Mauldin School of Dance, and later at the Pat Harris School of Dance as a teenager. Sandy has taken a variety of classes and workshops from well known dance professionals through the years. Sandy owned and operated a dance studio in the Treasure Valley for over 20 years. She also teaches dance enrichment classes at a local Christian School, and adult fitness classes at a local Fitness Center. In addition to teaching dance, Sandy has written and published a children's ballet book to help instill confidence and self-esteem in young children.
Jazz / Tap / Petites & Juniors Artistic Director
Krista started dancing at an early age at Nielsen Dance School in Twin Falls. She was a member of Stargazers dance team which won many national honors. She danced in the Nutcracker and performed in the musicals "Peter and the Wolf" and "Guys and Dolls." Krista was a ManeLine Dancer at Boise State, and has also performed at Disneyland. She has also been a dance team coach for Lowell Scott Middle School. Krista has been an Artistic Director for our Dance Electric Performing Companies for 14 years, and currently is the director of the studio's Petites Dance Company. She is going on her 20th year teaching for the Pat Harris School of Dance.
