Bret Leake has been dancing for 21 years now, he started when he was ten at "On Your Toes School of Dance" out of Eugene, Oregon.  He has taken everything from tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, ballet, hip-hop, and swing!  Bret started Touring with the "Zreiak Artistic Perfoming arts Program" traveling all around the United States and England.  When Bret was 18 he studied with Kieth Clifton at the L.A Dance Force where he found his love for Lyrical jazz, at 23 he was chosen to intern at the Broadway Dance Center in New York.  

Bret is very excited to begin teaching at Aloha Dance Studio and looks forward to sharing his passion of dance with all the students!

Andrea began dancing 25 years ago with Miki Casalino of Salt Lake City.  Her love for the art of dance and music started when she studied with Willam F. Christensen, founder of Ballet West and San Francisco Ballet.  She then continued her training on full scholarship with School of American Ballet, in New York City.  Later, Andrea studied modern dance at the University of Utah and in the Bay Area.  It was in San Francisco where she began her professional career with Annie Rosenthal and Roco, and was a founding company member of Printz Dance Project (PDP), whom she danced with for 5 years.

Andrea has been fortunate enough to travel internationally and dance in collaboration for Paris Fashion Week with Michael Clark and Alexander McQueen.  Also, while living in Cape Town, South Africa, Andrea danced with Cape Dance Company.  She is excited to be on the beautiful island of Kauai and share her love and experience with dance!

Dulce Catania a recent graduate of Kauai High School has been dancing with Aloha Dance Studio for over 3 years and is currently a Senior Company Member.  She has been teaching ages 6 - adult in Hip Hop & Contemporary Jazz for 2 years.  Dulce is an energetic and a creative  choreographer.  She loves teaching kids and is an inspiration to all ages. 

She most recently won a VIP scholarship for the "JUMP" dance convention on Oahu May 2009 for best dancer from her age group!

Annia Turley is a ballerina and psychologist from Brazil. She started studying classical ballet at age 7 and in her teen years she became interested in modern dance, capoeira and afro dance.  In 1998 she started to study Cuban ballet techniques with teacher and mentor Isaura Guzman, with who she danced  until 2003.  She taught dance for kids during graduate school in Sao Paulo, Brazil  and wrote her thesis based on the importance dance plays in the development of movement and self awareness.  She moved to Kauai in 2005 where she started to learn Tahitian dance and had the opportunity to dance in the Luau Kalamaku at Kilohana. 

Annia is excited for her new experience as an instructor in the Aloha Dance Studio

Yael Claussen is a leader in fusion fitness, combining the best elements of several disciplines to provide the most effective and efficient workouts.  Raised in New York, Yael was trained as a competitive gymnast and dancer, and she danced professionally through college.  In 1998, she moved to the island of Kauai where she has taught a variety of classes to both children and adults, such as dance, Pilates, yoga, aerobics, and body conditioning.  Yael has worked as an instructor and trainer for major health clubs and hotels, as well as private clients and organizations. 

She is certified by ACE, AFAA, and NASM as a group fitness instructor and personal trainer.

Our relationship with dance, music and the arts is a very personal one and it is my duty as a teacher of the arts to individualize breakthroughs in order to reach our distinguished potential. These breakthroughs tear down our walls and open us up to new worlds which were once hidden from us. Inspiration is the truest form of communication (in spirit), it is through this form that we shall express ourselves and continue our individual growth. Ballet is the foundation of my training and as I grew I expanded to modern, jazz and lyrical.

I am rooted in cuban and lebanese dances, it is in the blood that runs through me and am open to share in this movement with all whom are interested. I am here for you and trust that if we give of ourselves mind, body and spirit we will come out better people and will be able to make our lives as we desire. My greatest accomplishment is participating in the creation and growth of my son, he is the manifestation of love and a true reflection of it. I followed my feet in my destiny to Kalalau where I met my soulmate love at first sight. I was drawn here by the mana of this island and it is here I wish to establish roots and branch out through my craft in life, light, love. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity, thank you.