Dancers — Bellingham Repertory Dance

Ashley “Bird” Sandau - she/her

Bird started dancing at age 7 in Idaho and hasn’t stopped moving since. They earned an AA in Dance from the College of Southern Idaho, where they later taught and served as lead instructor for the dance major program. For over a decade, Bird danced, choreographed, and eventually was invited to serve as artistic director for Inspirata Dance Project, founded by Cindy Jones. They hold a BA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Idaho State University and recently completed a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Dance/Movement Therapy from Lesley University.

After relocating to Washington in 2023, Bird is thrilled to be joining BRD and the vibrant Bellingham dance community. When not dancing, you can find them napping, adventuring with their partner and fur babes, or doing delightfully strange things in the name of creativity and nervous system regulation.

Erin Keeney - she/her

Erin began dancing in Vermont, where she grew up, experimenting in the styles of ballet, jazz, tap, musical theater, hip hop and contemporary. She has earned her BFA in Dance from Western Washington University with a minor in Arts Enterprise and Cultural Innovation with the hopes of creating a life-long career in the dance industry. She creates works inspired by characters or archetypes, stories and powerful music. Erin looks forward to her time dancing, creating, and expanding relationships in Bellingham Repertory Dance.

Hannah Donk - she/her

Hannah grew up dancing in Puyallup, WA and then moved to Bellingham to attend Western Washington University where she earned her BFA in dance and BS in kinesiology. After her undergraduate studies, she moved to Spokane, WA to attend graduate school at Eastern Washington University and earn her Doctorate in physical therapy. During her time in Spokane, Hannah was a part of Vytal Movement Dance where she danced, choreographed, and served on the Board of Directors. Hannah fell in love with Bellingham (and her husband) when she first moved here and has now returned to start her career as a physical therapist specialized in pelvic health. When she is not moving her own body or helping others move theirs, you can find her curled up with a book or some yarn, taking care of her plants, spending time with her husband, or enjoying a game night with friends. This is Hannah's second season with BRD and she is excited to be a part of this awesome community of people/artists/movers.

Juliette Machado - she/her

Juliette has been a member of Bellingham Repertory Dance since 2014. She is so grateful for the past decade of movement and play with such wonderful people. Juliette received her BFA in Dance from Western Washington University, and was adjunct dance faculty at Whatcom Community College from 2019-2023. These days, she spends much of her time supporting arts opportunities for local kids in her role as Executive Director of BAAY — Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth. Juliette has a dual passion for art-making and community-building, and is excited for new opportunities on the horizon.

Kaley Hansen - she/her

Kaley arrived from South Korea to the US at the age of 5, and a few months later started taking traditional Korean dance classes in Lynwood, WA. She continued to train then teach into her 20’s, performing and sharing traditional Korean dance and music to audiences all over the world. In her senior year at the University of Washington, she decided to use up an elective and take Dance 101: Intro to Modern and Ballet, which opened up a whole new world of movement and expression - and couldn't get enough.

After graduating, she continued to learn and grow in various dance genres - ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop with support and love from all the instructors at Westlake Dance Center in Seattle. She had the wonderful opportunity to train and dance with local Seattle companies Sixth Day Dance and 3rd Shift Dance. After moving to Bellingham in 2024, she is excited to join BRD and continue her dance journey in this wonderful community of movers and artists.

Marísa Fernandez - she/her

Marísa grew up in Monterey, California, where she trained in ballet and contemporary dance at SpectorDance studio for ten years. She earned her BS in Kinesiology and a Minor in Dance from Western Washington University in 2017, and most recently, her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2024. Marísa currently works as a behavioral health counselor at Unity Care NW and has been dancing with BRD since 2018 (Season 13). Marísa looks forward to continuing her passion as a movement artist, finding ways to merge science, athleticism, artistry, and expression — alongside this beautiful community of colleagues and artists.

Megan Erasmus - she/her

Megan grew up in South Africa, Canada, and Sammamish, Washington. She started dancing regularly when she was 12, and trained in contemporary, hip hop, and ballet. She loves teaching dance, making collages, and spending time with any animal she meets. Megan is thrilled to continue dancing with BRD and is beyond grateful for the Bellingham dance community.

Paige Pimmel - she/her

Paige is originally from Denver, Colorado. She has been dancing since she was 9, and moved to Bellingham in 2018 to graduate with a BFA in Dance and a Minor in Psychology at Western Washington University in 2022. Paige enjoys exploring the different textures of the natural world around her through movement studies, investigating the textures of mold, fungi, barnacles, eroded rocks, etc. Paige also performs in drag under the alias, Mold, who is usually adorned in handmade yarn wigs and clown inspired makeup.

Sam Brigham - they/them

This is Sam’s third season with BRD, and they feel so lucky for the opportunities for play and community that this group has given them. Sam grew up in Michigan primarily studying ballet, spending summers at Carolina Ballet and BalletMet. In coming back to movement the past few years, they’ve found so much joy in contemporary dance as well as aerial hoop and straps. They currently work at the Max Higbee Center and recently got to train with AXIS Dance in Berkeley, and are passionate about finding ways for everyone to move and express themselves in whatever ways feel best. When they’re not dancing, Sam can be found snuggling with their dog, running around outside, and generally being a jester.

Tatyana Stahler - she/her

Tatyana is a mover, educator, dancer, and artist originally from central Washington, now a proud Bellingham community member. She is a graduate of WWU with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, with a focus in Health and Fitness Specialization, as well as a Master of Education focused in Adult and Higher Ed. Tatyana is the owner/lead instructor of Focal Point Pilates & Movement Studio, a brand new studio in the heart of the Fountain District. And she has been teaching Pilates for almost a decade in the Bellingham community.

When Tatyana is not leading Pilates classes, running a business, or dancing with BRD, she loves spending time with her husband Lewis and their two energetic puppies, Hero and Raya. Tatyana has lived in Bellingham since 2010 and enjoys the beautiful scenery, welcoming community, and delicious coffee that the community provides. Throughout her time in BRD, Tatyana has appreciated working with amazing choreographers and dancing alongside many talented movers. The thoughtful work BRD brings to the Bellingham community is why Tatyana is honored to continue her time as a member of BRD.