Kim Graham, dance instructor and owner of Evergreen Dance Academy, was born in San Francisco, CA where her ballet training started at the age of 6. During her early years of training, she performed roles with the Contra Costa Ballet and the Orinda Ballet.

After moving to the Northwest as a teen, she trained with Pacific NW Ballet School, and Dance Lab of Seattle. She attended the University of Washington, where she performed in both classical ballet roles and modern dance under the direction of Kitty Daniels, Hannah Wiley, and Mark Morris.

After completing college with a degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1988, Kim relocated to Los Angeles where she danced with The Long Beach Ballet under the direction of David Wilcox. She also danced as a soloist in Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral productions of The Glory of Christmas and The Glory of Easter, which were televised nation-wide.

After retirement in 1993, Kim started teaching ballet in Hood River OR. After moving to the Vancouver area in 1997, she taught for Columbia Dance Ensemble from 1997-2000. Kim started Evergreen Dance Academy in 2000.

Jessica Allen began dance and gymnastics when she was three and studied jazz, ballet and tap for over 15 years in the Portland area. Jessica began teaching tap, pre-ballet and tumbling at her mother’s dance studio in Portland, Oregon when she was 16 years old. Jessica has experience teaching a wide variety of formats to students of all ages. She has been sharing her passion for dance and movement with our youngest dancers at Evergreen Dance Academy since 2005. Jessica is married with two young daughters.

Kelley Adams is originally from New Hampshire and started dancing at age 5.  She trained in ballet, tap, and jazz for 20 years at a studio in Massachusetts where she had the opportunity to perform at Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, and on a Caribbean Cruise Line cruise.  She has also taken many master classes and attended conventions that were taught by some of the choreographers you see on TV today.  In 1995, Kelley completed the Dance Education Training Course offered by the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston.  Since then she has enjoyed teaching children and adults at studios in Massachusetts, Nashville, and now here in Vancouver.

Katie Simko fell in love with dancing and singing at four years of age.  She trained under a variety of instructors all throughout Los Angeles and Orange County area and received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from California State University, Long Beach.    Her performance credits include Musical Theater West productions of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, 42nd Street, Guys and Dolls and many others.  In addition, she has performed with Disney, Knott’s Berry Farm and Buena Vista Productions.  Katie and her family relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 2008.  She is thankful to be a part of Evergreen Dance Academy’s staff so she can share her love of dance with the students.

Moriah Walter is our newest addition to EDA!  She is teaching our littlest dancers aged 2-5.                                          Her bio is coming soon…

Rebecca Rasch has been involved with children and the arts ever since she could walk. Growing up she filled her days with a plethora of community theatre, studying dance, gymnastics, cheerleading and voice.  While pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Missouri State, she was blessed with the opportunity to learn from a wide array of styles and teachers. Notable roles include Judy in A Chorus Line, Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, Portia in Cinderella and Carlotta in Phantom of the Op’ry. Rebecca was also a member of Inertia Dance Company for four years, traveling to the American College Dance Festival and choreographing for a variety of venues. Upon completing her degree, she has worked with students aged 2 – 18 years in styles such as Acting, Ballet, Creative Movement, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Tap and recently received her ZUMBA Certification! In addition to Evergreen Dance Academy. Rebecca teaches at Heartlife in Milwaukie and Christian Youth Theatre in Beaverton. She loves how dancing makes the body feel and strives to share that joy with all she encounters!