Staff, Eastern Washington Elite staff


The Elite Cheer & Dance Center offers you quality, experienced professionals to work with your students at all levels. Our coaches are knowledgeable, well trained and certified for safety. Our staff instructors have years of training and teaching experience. They continue to develop there skills by working with top professionals from Los Angeles & New York throughout the year. Our staff is encouraged to attend master classes, workshops, summer intensives and annual training/certification programs. Watch for master classes and intensives all year with great instructors such as Tabitha/Napoleon D’umo (The Edge/LA) and more!

OUR DIRECTORS:
Teri Rowe, Director, holds a B.A. in PE and Dance, M.S. in Exercise Physiology and has taught/coached for over 28 years. She has taught and judged dance & cheer nationally for the Universal Dance Association, National Dance Association, American Alliance of Health, Physical Recreation/Dance & Dance Educators of America. Teri has choreographed nationally and her routines have won a wide variety of awards. Under her direction, the Eastern Washington Elite Dance and Cheer Teams have earned 23 National Championships and one World Championship, along with multiple state and local titles. Teri is certified by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches & Advisors, National Federation of High School Sports, Washington State Dance/Drill Coaches Association and the Washington State Spirit Judges Association. She has taught/coached at Baylor, Illinois State University, Eastern Washington University, Walla Walla Community College (2002 National Dance Champions), Pasco High School and Carmichael Middle School.

Teri has published several articles on dance in a variety of magazines, education manuals and has developed several training manuals for dance teachers and judges. Teri can be reached at elitedanz@aol.com.

Mike Passmore, Finance Director, handles all of the business details and accounts. Contact Mike at 521-4685 or passmorejmp@aol.com for any/all questions about finances. Mike also manages our club team accounts for the Eastern Washington Elite Dance & Cheer Teams.

OUR STAFF:
Jackie Hightower (Dance) is a graduate of Hawaii Pacific University and a former UDA Staff Head Instructor. She was the Captain of the HPU Dance Team and earned 3 National titles (NDA College Dance Nationals) while dancing with HPU. She is a former member of the 2002 National Champion WWCC Pom Squad and the 2001 National Champion EW. Elite Dance Team. After graduation, Jackie moved to LA to continue her dance studies before moving back home to Kennewick. She is also the Head Coach of the WWCC Dance Team and dance instructor at Walla Walla Community College. Jackie also works as a free lance choreographer for many high school dance teams throughout Washington, Oregon and Alaska. Jackie specializes in jazz, musical theater, technique and jazz funk.

Kimberly Pennala (Cheer)
Kim is a former cheer coach at the University of Hawaii and a 3 year Head Instructor for Universal Cheer Association. Kim holds a B.S. in Social Sciences from WSU and works as a Crime Prevention Specialist for the Pasco Police Department. Kim is a former member of the E.W. Elite Dance Team, 2002 National Champion WWCC Pom Squad, Western Washington Hip Hop Team, Kim is AACCA certified and USASF certified for cheer safety. Kim is equally crossed training in cheer, dance and tumbling.

Charity Dundas (Dance) is a graduate of WWCC where she danced as captain of the dance team for 2 years. She is a former member of the E.W. Elite Senior Dance Team and was captain of her high school dance team for 3 years. Charity is trained in Jazz, Pom, and specializes in Hip Hop and has continued her dance studies by taking numerous workshops and working with the top choreographers. She is currently the Assistant Dance Coach for Kamiakin High School and works with the Elite Street Crew, the Elite Stars as well as her Hip Hop classes.

Daniel Rojas (Break Dance) is a well know local break dancer and teacher. He is also the director for the Soul Felons Break Dance Crew. Daniel travels throughout the country dancing.

Desiree Walter (Dance) is a former member of the Pasco HS Dance Team, EW Elite Senior Dance Team (2005 National Champions), and Hawaii Pacific University Dance Team (2006-2009 National Champions). Recently received a B.A. in Psychology from HPU.

Kelen Zorich (Cheer) is a former member of the EW Elite Cheer Team. Kelen spent 2 years at Mid Columbia Gymnastics Academy and 4 years on the RSH gymnastics team. She is currently a college sophomore at CBC.



(Revised 5/09)