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  Lorrie has spent 53 years in dance. Her formative training as a young person, age 5-16 included Karen Voske, Christine Patterson, Joan Mason-Shelton and Valerie Evans. Her professional career includes: Spokane Ballet Company; Pacific Northwest Ballet, Cornish College of The Arts, Western Washington University, The Christy Lane Jazz Company and many other Professional Schools and Companies. She has studied under multiple artists and Master Teachers…. Ronnie Mahler of American Ballet Theater, Irene Larsen of New York City Ballet, Nicholas Orloff of Ballet Russe and American Ballet Theater fame! More contemporary artists such as - Tyce Diorio, tWitch, Brian Freidman, Roland Dupree, Michael McBain, Gregg Russell, Travis Wall, Gene Nelson…. Just to name a few. Lorrie pursues continuing dance education through intensives, competitions and conventions across the USA. Lorrie now owns 2 studios in Okanogan County: Twisp, and Omak. The studios offer recreational, professional and pre professional studies in Classical Ballet, Lyrical/Contemporary and Jazz as well as Tap and Hip-Hop. She is also the founder and Artistic Director of Children’s Dance Theater of Okanogan County. C.D.T. is a nonprofit entity that sponsors students in dance education and promotes performance opportunities for young dancers! 

  As a child and teenager, Riley spent many years dancing at LFW, and Children's Dance Theater. After graduating in 2009, Riley spent two years dancing in Bellingham, Washington at Whatcom Community College, as well as Western WA University. After moving back to Okanogan County, she started her teaching journey with LFW. She is now in her 9th year as an instructor! Riley enjoys working with her students, and building fundamental relationships with them as well. Being a teacher at LFW is not only rewarding to watch her students grow, but herself and her fellow instructors. Riley couldn't imagine being anywhere else but here at this point in her life. She will forever cherish the dance community that has accepted her with open arms! She sees each year as a new opportunity to expand her passion for the art of Dance. 

  Tedra discovered her love of dance as a training method while she was a competitive figure skater. Tedra’s passion for dance grew as she continued her dance training through Pacific Lutheran and Central Washington Universities. Tedra started taking classes at LFW and then teaching tap and jazz in the late 90’s except for the two years she took off to get her degree and license as Physical Therapist Assistant. Tedra has recently been certified through the International Ballet Barre Fitness Association as a fitness barre instructor and uses her knowledge and passion for dance in her PTA practice to help her patients with increasing their strength and stability.

“I love that dance is good for the body and soul and can be enjoyed by every age, gender and culture. Dance is literally a universal language”

Becca is a lifelong dancer with over two decades of experience in various styles, including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, acro, musical theater, and hip hop. In her hometown of Elma, Washington, Becca began her training at the age of 2 with Dancer’s Unlimited. She went on to compete as a young dancer and developed her skills as a soloist and group member. Becca stepped away from competing and shifted her focus to more advanced technique and training. She continued her dance education at Studio West Dance Academy, eventually becoming an assistant teacher and leading her own classes. In high school, she captained Elma High School’s cheer and drill team, re-entering the world of competition. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class with an Associate of Arts degree from South Puget Sound Community College and moved on to complete her Bachelor of Science degree at Saint Martin’s University. Throughout her academic career and beyond, Becca has continued to teach and use her experience and knowledge of the dancers body to help teach safely and effectively. She is excited to share her love for dance with the students of LFW School of Dance!

Haley Colbert began dancing under the instruction of Lorrie Wilson at LFW School of Dance at the age of 7. She started taking ballet classes and slowly branched into Jazz and Tap over the course of the next 2 years. As she got older she was able to travel to many dance conventions with the LFW studio including Dupree, Velocity, Hollywood Connection, and many more in varying locations such as Seattle, Spokane, Disneyland, Vancouver, and Tacoma. When Haley graduated high school and began attending Washington State University, she enrolled in the school’s dance program, and at the end of her freshman year was hired by the school to teach for their dance program. She was able to teach for 2 years before moving back to her hometown of Tonasket and began teaching again for Lorrie at the Omak studio in 2013. Haley currently resides in Tonasket with her husband Patrick Colbert and her three sons Mason, Miles and Marshall Colbert on their apple and pear farm. She continues to teach for LFW school of dance under the tutelage of Lorrie, and hopes to continue teaching and giving back to students for years to come. 

  Kaylee is a recent graduate from Oroville High School, and is majoring in Dance at the University of Idaho. She has been dancing at LFW since she was four years old, and in the Children’s Dance Theater productions since she was six. She has loved each role she has been cast in for CDT, but her favorite was the part of Alice, in The Alice in Wonderland Ballet. Kaylee went to her first Dance Competition and Workshop when she was seven, and has since competed every year with a solo and group pieces. She has gone to many different competitions including: Hollywood Dance Experience, Dupree Dance, Hollywood Vibe, Velocity, and Spotlight Dance Cup. Some of her achievements include dancing at Disneyland with Disney Performing Arts and Dance the Magic, as well as a 4th place overall solo at Dupree Dance. Dance has always been a part of her life, and a huge passion. Kaylee hopes to dance professionally after High School. She is very thankful to have this opportunity to teach at LFW!!

Elisabeth is a Senior at Omak High School, and a Running Start Student at Wenatchee Valley College. She has been dancing at LFW since she was four and with Children’s Dance Theater since she was five. She loves all her classes, however her favorite style of dance is Jazz. Her favorite role with CDT has been that as a Can-Can Dancer in La Boutique Fantasque.

Elisabeth has attended many dance competitions and workshops over the years, starting when she seven with her first workshop and competing for the first time when she was eight. She has competed with solos and group pieces at Hollywood Dance Experience, Hollywood Vibe, Velocity, Dupree Dance, and Spotlight Dance Cup. For her latest solo at Spotlight Dance Cup, she received a special recognition from one of the judges entitled “Embracing What Makes You Unique”. Other achievements include dancing at Disneyland with Disney Performing Arts and Dance the Magic, which included dancing in the Main Street Parade.

For Elisabeth Dance is a great way for her to express herself and is a very large part of her life!

Elisabeth plans to become a flight attendant after high school and is grateful for her LFW Dance Family and this chance to share her love of dance with others as she teaches!