Erica Castro, Artistic Director
Erica Castro began dancing at the age of two, studying under Valerie Sullivan, in Portland, Oregon. As a scholarship student with Pacific Ballet Theatre and Oregon Ballet Theatre School, she trained with Patricia Brewer Jones, Elena Carter, Joseph Wyatt, Carol Shults, Fred Locke, Nancy Davis-Lane, Meg Potter, Pamela Hayes, Barbara Remington and Sandra Baldwin. She performed the role of Clara in James Canfield’s The Nutcracker for two seasons, and in the late Dennis Spaight’s Crayola, Gloria, and the pas de deux in Irish Suite. She attended summer intensives under full scholarship at Pacific Northwest Ballet School and Burklyn Ballet Theatre, touring with Burklyn Ballet Theatre to Edinburgh, Scotland where she performed the role of the Cat in Peter & the Wolf, and in Joanne Whitehill’s Blue Danube. She joined Colorado Ballet for their 1998-99 season, dancing roles in The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, as well as in George Balanchine’s Serenade and Stars & Stripes. Erica began teaching ballet in the Portland/Southwest Washington area in 2008. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Humanities (magna cum laude) with foci in Women’s Studies and Dance in 2010 from Washington State University Vancouver, a Certificate in Social & Environmental Justice in 2010 from WSUV, and her Master’s in Teaching in 2011 from WSUV. In 2010 she was honored with Washington State University Vancouver’s Distinguished Woman of the Year Award, and in 2011, she was offered a fellowship with The Martinez Foundation. She was then presented with a research assistantship for WSU’s STEM Education Partnership and researched mathematical identities and the relationship between dance and mathematics, as a doctoral student. Erica is an ABT certified teacher, a certified Progressing Ballet Technique instructor, as well as a certified SAIL fitness instructor for older adults. She has taught for Oregon Ballet Theatre School and as an OBT Education & Community Engagement Teaching Artist, for Virtuosity Performing Arts Studio, The Portland Ballet, Stites Performing Arts Center, Evergreen Dance Center, Washington State Ballet, Dance Works-Vancouver City Ballet, Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Southwest Washington Dance Center, Johansen Olympia Dance Center, Portland Public Schools, Vancouver School District, and Evergreen School District.
Rebecca Brown, Jazz Teacher
After taking dance classes at age 3, Rebecca fell in love with dance. At 12, she started intensely training at ACMA where she joined the pre-professional company Dance West. She attended Western Oregon University, double majoring in dance and performing with Rainbow Dance Theater. Here she took as many dance classes as possible in styles such as jazz, modern, ballet, and tap. Rebecca later transferred to Grand Canyon University where she focused on choreography and exploring unique styles of movement within jazz. She is excited to share her passion and joy of dance with students!
Nicole Emry, Studio Ambassador/Ballet Teacher
Nicole Emry has been dancing since the age of 2 and brings a lifelong love of ballet to her teaching. Now 19, Nicole combines over 17 years of dance experience with a background in early childhood education, having studied child development for four years in high school. Last year, Nicole co-taught Creative Movement classes, alongside her sister Sami, where they focused on helping children build confidence, coordination, and a love for dance from the very beginning. Nicole is excited to continue inspiring the next generation of dancers through creativity, music, and movement!
Erin Palmer, Ballet Teacher
Erin Palmer began dancing at age four and has never stopped. She trained in ballet, tap, modern and jazz dance in California and Oregon. Her performance and instruction experience in California includes The Ballet Montmartre, The Newport Ballet, Capitol City Ballet, and Jazzee Dance Company at California State University Sacramento where she earned a BS in Physical Education and Dance with honors. Upon moving to Oregon, she performed with Oregon Dance and Chamber Ballet of Corvallis as well as instructed ballet at Linn-Benton Community College for 15 years, Corvallis High School Artist-in-Residence program and choreographed musicals at CHS and The Majestic Theater. She instructed all levels of ballet at Regional School of Ballet for the past 33 years. Erin looks forward to teaching at Corvallis Ballet Collective, continuing her mission of inspiring and training students in correct body biomechanics, musicality, artistry and performance in a supportive environment.
Emily Stevenson, ballet Teacher
Emily first fell in love with dance at age 4, beginning her training in the Vaganova technique. Switching to study at the Regional School of Ballet when she was 14 years old gave her the ability to find her true love of dance and friendship. After graduating from high school, she moved to Idaho to attend college. There she received her Associates of Applied Science in Administrative Assisting and Office Management. During her time in Idaho, she attended as many ballet, modern and contemporary classes as her schedule allowed, even joining the Collegiate Dancers group for two seasons. Emily was able to be a part of the Regional School of Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker almost every year from 2012-2024, and those are some of her fondest dance memories. She began teaching ballet in 2024 and has grown to love sharing the art of dance with her dear friends and students.
Emily Sulcas, Contemporary/Lyrical Teacher
Emily is originally from Riverside, California where she grew up dancing at The K Project Dance Company. She competed competitively at the elite level for many years and won many national titles with her team, even being awarded dancer of the year in 2024. She also competed with her high school dance team and enjoyed perfecting the pom and sideline style. Contemporary has always held a special place in her heart and she loves combining pretty technique with passionate movement. Emily is currently attending Oregon State University where she is studying business. She is excited to share her love for dance with her students and hopes to help them grow as dancers and as human beings.