Meet the Jubilee Teachers
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Lauren has been overjoyed to follow God's call to start Jubilee Dance and watch it grow the last 10 years! She found dance as a life-changing way to connect to God through Judy Mandeville's foundational course, Sacred Dance: Postures of the Soul at Whitworth University. She was captivated at that point and pursued dance training in Whitworth University’s dance program where she earned her dance minor and served as Artistic Director of Jubilation Dance Ministry. She has since taught dance in several schools in Spokane, as well as at Sandra Olgard Studio and The Oaks Conservatory of the Arts. She taught dance full-time at an arts school of choice on the west side for a few years. She received her Masters in Education at Gonzaga University, is trained in Brain-Compatible Dance Education through Creative Dance Center in Seattle under Anne Green Gilbert. Lauren is most inspired by her students’ enthusiasm and creativity and enjoys watching them grow and find their way to God's heart through movement and honest expression.
Contact: 425-830-1629
jubileedancespokane@gmail.comPhoto: Laurel Jenkins
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Lindsey has been dancing her whole life, but began fully throwing herself into it in 5th grade. Throughout middle and high school in Meridian, Idaho, she was trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical/contemporary, tap, and hip hop and participated in a competitive dance team. After graduating high school, she participated in Whitworth University's Jubilation Dance Ministry, where she served as Chaplain, Hip Hop Instructor, and Sacred Dance Instructor. Lindsey loves movement and enjoys exploring its connections to her relationship to Jesus.
Contact: lindsey.jubileedancespokane@gmail.com
Photo: Laurel Jenkins
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Taylor trained at Ballet Arts Academy in Spokane, Washington under the direction of Dodie Askegard, as well as Sara Donally, Peggy Goodner Tan and Pam Erickson. She danced for several years with Theater Ballet of Spokane. Several times Taylor danced for New York City Ballet principal Charles Askegard when he choreographed for Theater Ballet of Spokane. She spent a summer studying ballet at Ben Stevenson’s Houston Ballet Academy in their summer intensive program. She graduated summa cum laude from Whitworth University as a journalism major. While at Whitworth she served as a dance teacher in Jubilation, Whitworth’s dance ministry club. She now works as a marketing manager at a sustainability company. She danced for two years as a member of Vytal Movement – a local modern dance company under the direction of Vincas Greene. She has taught at various studios around town and is now enjoying her fifth year of teaching.
Contact: taylor.jubileedancespokane@gmail.com
Photo: Laurel Jenkins
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Veronika grew up in Germany, where she took jazz dance classes starting at 14 years old. After high school, she went to school for gymnastics and dance and focused her education on creative kids’ dance. Since then, she has been performing and choreographing dance pieces in a variety of contexts. Privately she enjoys expressing herself through contemporary and modern dance and loves to use dance to share God’s word with other people.
Contact: veronika.jubileedancespokane@gmail.com
Photo: Laurel Jenkins
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Meghan began dancing when she was 3 years old at the British Dancing Academy in Kent, WA. Although she began with ballet, very quickly jazz and modern classes were added to the daily schedule. As Meghan grew older she began to take exams through the Royal Academy of Dance and the Imperial Society of the Teachers of Dancing. Before graduating high school she was able to complete the entire course of exams for both modern and ballet. After graduation, Meghan began to attend Whitworth University and become involved in Jubilation Dance Ministry. It was there that she had the absolute joy of discovering the wonders of dance as worship, and she will never go back. Dancing is such a unique way to worship our Creator. it is that awe, wonder, and gratefulness that Meghan loves most about dancing as a form of worship.
Contact: meghan.jubileedancespokane@gmail.com
Photo: Laurel Jenkins
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Jessica began her love for dance when she was 3 years old in her first combo class. Her passion continued to grow as she took other classes and eventually started competing on jazz and hip hop teams. Jessica continued dance throughout her four years of high school and was named captain of the dance team her senior year. Jessica graduated from Whitworth University in 2018 where she received her bachelor’s degree in Marketing. She now is a Marketing Specialist at a genetics company. While at Whitworth, Jessica was a part of Jubilation Dance Ministry where she took classes and taught jazz and jazz technique classes. She has taught jazz, hip hop & contemporary previously. She is so excited to be able to use dance as an outlet of worship and expression at Jubilee!
Contact: jess.jubileedancespokane@gmail.com
Photo: Laurel Jenkins
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Bethy has been dancing for 20 years and has been trained in sacred dance, hip hop, African, swing and ballroom, as well as contemporary dance, which is her preferred style and the form she teaches most often. Raised in Northern California, Bethy moved to Washington to study theology at Whitworth University and dance through Jubilation Dance Ministry. With a passion for teaching others about the joy of worshipping Jesus through dance, Jubilee is a blessing for her to be a part of.
After a recent move back to the PNW, she is continuing her role as Jubilee’s writer, is co-directing the spring show, and looks forward to the day she will return to teaching.
Contact: bethy.jubileedancespokane@gmail.com
Photo: Laurel Jenkins
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Carolina was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. She moved to Massachusetts at a young age and began taking dance lessons. She fell in love with dance and would spend hours dancing. During high school she began studying theatre. She took part in every school play and got a scholarship to the Latin School of Music and Arts her junior year following her performance in the Neil Simon show, Fools. After college she moved to Hawaii where she studied Hula for 5 years. After moving to Spokane with her husband, Carolina has taken part in community theatre as well as learned how to use dance as a form of worship to God. She has taken many worship and movement classes as well as helped lead the dance team for her church. She is beyond excited to be joining the Jubilee Dance community.
Contact: carolina.jubileedancespokane@gmail.com
Photo: Laurel Jenkins
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Katriel is a practicing physical therapist who received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Whitworth University in 2025. Her profession complements her dance teaching, and she completed a clinical internship at SF Performing Arts PT working with elite professional dancers. She is also certified in pointe readiness assessment through PointeSafe. Katriel’s professional dance experience includes performing in 12 Minutes Max Spokane, Rising Tide, and with Amber Hongsermeier Dancers, a project-based dance company.
Katriel trained in classical ballet, jazz, and modern at Sonja’s Studio of Dance in Wasilla, Alaska under Lesley Gray, Mary Sparrs, and Jamie Metcalf. She also attended Ballet Magnificat’s Summer Dance Intensive where she was first introduced to dance as worship. While earning her B.S. at Whitworth University, she served as the Artistic Director of Jubilation Dance Ministry. Katriel is passionate about technique, health, and injury prevention. She strives to help develop strong, intelligent, and confident dancers who are assured in themselves and their faith.
Contact: katriel.jubileedancespokane@gmail.com
Photo: Laurel Jenkins
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Miss Laurel grew up in the Puget Sound on a small island (Herron Island). As a young girl she was drawn to the beauty of creation around her and wanted to create beauty with the resources around her. She loved ceramics, painting, crafting, collecting, collaging, decopauging to name just a few. Upon completing High School, she went to Multnomah University, double majoring in Bible and Educational Ministries. For 15 years, she lived with her husband and 3 children in Europe (Germany and Slovenia), sharing the love of Jesus with those who had ears to hear, helping plant a church and discipling young people in the ways of Jesus. Due to her love of art, it is natural for her to bring it, into whatever she is doing. She has taught classes/workshops for her church, at English Camps, in Women’s Ministry and on her Missionary team. She has used art to disciple, teach truth, teach English, build community, teach pre-schoolers and so much more. She has found that Biblical truths can sink down deeply in the heart when combined with art and used as a way to worship Jesus. She has joined Jubilee as a means to that end and is curious and hopeful for what the Lord has in store.
Contact: laurel.jubileedancespokane@gmail.com
Photo: Laurel Jenkins
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Kayleen trained in Ballet for 10 years at Ballet Arts Academy in Spokane, WA. She then found Musical Theatre which further developed her passion for telling stories on stage and where she trained in a multitude of dance styles including jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, and ballroom. Kayleen earned a BA in Children and Family Ministries from Moody Bible Institute where she studied development and how to effectively teach while including the Savior in her curriculum. Additionally she was introduced to using her creative talent as worship through Shadowbox Productions, the on campus performing arts group. Today, Kayleen works at a counseling center where she is passionate about people’s stories and their healing journeys. You can often still find Kayleen performing and/or choreographing musical theatre productions. Kayleen is a passionate teacher who seeks to aide her students in their own unique stories and journeys as they move their bodies and experience our Savior through the Arts. As a skilled and experienced teacher of all ages, Kayleen is excited to begin teaching at Jubilee this year.
Katriel trained in classical ballet, jazz, and modern at Sonja’s Studio of Dance in Wasilla, Alaska under Lesley Gray, Mary Sparrs, and Jamie Metcalf. She also attended Ballet Magnificat’s Summer Dance Intensive where she was first introduced to dance as worship. While earning her B.S. at Whitworth University, she served as the Artistic Director of Jubilation Dance Ministry. Katriel is passionate about technique, health, and injury prevention. She strives to help develop strong, intelligent, and confident dancers who are assured in themselves and their faith.
Contact: kayleen.jubileedancespokane@gmail.com
Photo: Laurel Jenkins
Studio Director - Lauren Houtz
Assistant Studio Director - Jessica Buescher
Marketing & Studio Coordinator - Jessica Pieros
Chaplain - Lindsey Spencer
Facilities Coordinator - Carolina Bufford
Scholarship Coordinator - Kelsey Maltsberger
Admin Team
Production Team
Fall Production Directors - Veronika Johnson and Jessica Fry
Spring Production Directors - Katriel Sahlstrom Smit and Taylor Kuykendall (Carolina Bufford - Theater and Assistant Director)
