CORE FACULTY
About Our Core Faculty
Evergreen City Ballet’s core faculty consists of the Artistic Director, School Principal, and a select group of instructors who are committed and dedicated to providing the highest quality dance education to all of our students. Each instructor is passionate about instilling ECB’s core values of excellence, integrity, discipline, respect, inclusiveness, professionalism, and teamwork. ECB’s unique dance curriculum offers a rigorous, well-rounded, and holistic approach to learning and development.
Core Faculty instructors may periodically rotate within their designated levels, at the discretion of the Artistic Director and School Principal, to ensure that ECB delivers a comprehensive and dynamic learning experience. Each instructor is available for one-hour coaching or private session to work with a student one-on-one and help advance their technique and artistry. At ECB, our goal is to help each student learn, grow, and thrive.
NATHAN COOK
School Director
principal@evergreencityballet.org
Nathan Cook began his ballet training at Washington Contemporary Ballet in Tacoma, WA, where he studied classical and contemporary ballet under the direction of Kay Englert. He received further training from Spectrum Dance Theatre and Pacific Northwest Ballet, where he spent four summers dancing on a merit scholarship. Over the years, Mr. Nathan has studied with many notable directors and instructors including Peter Boal, Vikki Pulkinen, Eva Stone, Sonja Dawkins, Donald Byrd, Bruce Wells, Timothy Lynch, and Stephanie Wood.
As a professional dancer, Mr. Cook has had the privilege of touring both domestically and internationally to places such as Germany, France, India, South Korea, and more. He has worked with esteemed choreographers such as Adam Miller, Julie Tobiason, Jennifer Porter, Sayoko Knode, Jessie Jeanne Stinnett, and Cyrus Khambatta.
From 2015-2018, Mr. Cook served as the Director of Washington Contemporary Ballet. He currently dances with Khambatta Dance Company and is the School Principal of Evergreen City Ballet.
DENALI WEYER
Programs & Rehearsal Coordinator
rehearsal@evergreencityballet.org
Former alumni, Denali Weyer, grew up dancing classical ballet with additional training in jazz, contemporary, and modern at a small studio in Enumclaw, WA under the tutelage of Sandra and Glen Hasstedt who were former dancers with San Fransisco Ballet. After deciding that she wanted to pursue dance as a career, she joined Evergreen City Ballet in 2009 where she received training from Kevin Kaiser, Louise Nadeau, Deborah Kenner, Julie Tobiason, Jeffery Stanton, Danielle Wilkens, as well as many guest artists from Pacific Northwest Ballet.
During the summers, Ms. Weyer trained at Ballet Arizona with Ib Andersen and Carlos Valcarcel, Ballet Chicago with Daniel Duell and Patricia Blair as well as two summers at the American Academy of Ballet in New York with Mignon Furman. She continued dancing after high school in Ballet Arizona’s pre-professional program for two years and then moved to Portland where she danced for another two years with Oregon Ballet Theatre’s school and then a year in their pre-professional program.
Ms. Weyer currently works at Evergreen City Ballet in Renton as the Rehearsal and Programs Coordinator and teaches ages 5 through adults. She has had the opportunity to teach at several other studios up and down the Puget Sound area. She went to school for massage therapy and has loved working with dancers as well as other athletes and would eventually love to continue her studies in pre-medicine.
MARGARITA ARMAS
Core Faculty
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Margarita Armas began her ballet training at Artistic Dance Center and Miami City Ballet School. In 2014, Margarita took a brief break from her ballet training to explore Modern and Contemporary Techniques with Marie-Louise Gaschler. She attended summer programs in Miami City Ballet School, American Ballet Theater, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. At age 15, Margarita was selected by Miami City Ballet to perform with the company’s 2015-2016 Season & MCB Tour to New York City and Chicago.
Margarita was featured in the second season of the Teen Vogue’s Strictly Ballet Series. She was also the recipient of the Silver Award in the 2018 Young Arts Ballet Category. Margarita began to explore choreography for Miami City Ballet School’s Student Choreography Showcase.
In 2019, during her second year as a Professional Student with Pacific Northwest Ballet, she choreographed at the Guggenheim in New York City for a collaboration with Dance Lab New York and the Joyce for "Female Choreographers of Color in Ballet.” In 2021, during her last year as a Professional Division student at the Pacific Northwest Ballet, She choreographed for PNB’s Rep 4 Bonus Content for their 2020/2021 season. Margarita is now pursuing a career as a freelance dancer and choreographer.
THERESA DEGENNARO
Core Faculty
My love for dance education began at age 16 when I interned at The Creative Dance Center under the direction of Anne Green Gilbert. This experience immersed me in the world of Brain Compatible Dance education where I began developing my current pedagogy. I have had the great fortune of teaching in the beautiful Pacific Northwest for more than 15 years. My lessons implement the Brain Dance, elements of dance, anatomy and physiology, and social emotional skills. I find fulfillment in cultivating a safe space where my students are able to be themselves; allowing students to meet their greatest potential. When I'm not teaching, you can find me in my garden, working on fiber arts, or hanging with my family and dog Brutus!
JULIA JAMES
Core Faculty
Julia James danced as an apprentice with New York City Ballet from 2000 to 2002 after training year-round at the School of American Ballet from age 15 to 17. She attended summer sessions on full scholarship at Pacific Northwest Ballet School and San Francisco Ballet School and, before moving to New York, studied at the Ballet West Conservatory and as a concurrent student at the University of Utah. She earned a bachelor’s degree in geological and environmental sciences and a master’s degree in journalism from Stanford University and works full-time as a digital media strategist.
As an apprentice with New York City Ballet, Julia performed in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, Richard Tanner and Eliot Feld. In workshop performances at the School of American ballet, she appeared in “Concerto Barocco,” “Stars and Stripes,” “Danses Concertantes,” “Konservatoriet,” and the world premier of Chris Wheeldon’s “Scènes de Ballet.”
Her former teachers include Suki Schorer, Susie Pilarre, Kay Mazzo, Antonina Tumkovsky, Jock Soto, Peter Boal, Andre Kramerevsky, Victoria Pulkkinen, Flemming Halby, Abbie Siegel, Louise Nadeau, Phillip Otto, Marjorie Thompson and Francia Russell, Gloria Govrin, Jorge Esquivel, Sandra Jennings, Bené Arnold and Conrad Ludlow.
Julia taught advanced pointe and technique at the Pacific Ballet Academy, in Mountain View, California, between 2005 and 2016. She lives in Seattle’s Hillman City neighborhood with her husband and three kids.
BIRDY ADLER
Core Faculty
Birdy Adler (they/them) was born in Colorado, and started their dance training at three years old at Canyon Concert Ballet. During high school they took a special interest in contemporary styles and attended Hubbard Street, Alonzo King Lines, NorthWest Dance Project, and Countertechnique summer intensives. In 2021 they moved to Israel to study in Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company’s 10-Month Dance Journey Program and performed works by Rami Beer and Matz Ek. In June 2022 they joined Kibbutz’s main company as an apprentice under the direction of Rami Beer. In 2023 they relocated to Seattle and joined Spectrum Dance Theater under the direction of Donald Byrd. This fall they performed with Chamber Dance Company at University of Washington. They are currently in their second season with Spectrum.
MILES PERTL
Core Faculty
Miles Pertl grew up in Seattle, Washington attending IBT, PNBS, and ECB before traveling to Germany to train at the John Cranko Schule in Germany. He was hired into the Stuttgarter Ballett in 2010 where he danced for two seasons. Miles then went to Het National Ballet in Amsterdam in the Netherlands where he danced for three seasons. In 2015, Miles returned to his home where he danced as a Soloist until he retired in 2025. Miles is now a director for Damfino Arts, an arts non profit, that aims to create opportunities for local artists and art lovers alike! He is very excited to join the team at ECB to further the education of the next generation of talented dancers on the greater Seattle Area.
LAURA MORTON
Core Faculty
Laura Morton brings over 40 years of professional experience as a performer, choreographer, educator, and program leader. She is honored and deeply grateful to return to Evergreen City Ballet, where she previously served from 1997 to 1999 as Wade Walthall’s assistant—working as a rehearsal director, upper-division ballet instructor, choreographer, and stage manager. Her early years at ECB were instrumental in shaping her passion for mentoring dancers and cultivating excellence through artistry and discipline.
Following her time in Washington, Laura taught for four years at Ben Stevenson’s Houston Ballet Academy before transitioning into higher education. For 18 years, she served as Associate Professor and Ballet Division Director at Belhaven University, and most recently as Associate Professor of Dance and Department Head at Störling Conservatory of Dance in Kansas City. In July 2025, she relocated back to Washington State to be closer to her children and is thrilled to once again contribute to the vibrant ECB community.
Originally from Houston, TX, Laura trained under renowned instructors including Anne and Nicholas Polajenko, Bruce Marks, and Alexander Minz. Her performance career includes dancing with Milwaukee Ballet, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, and Ad Deum Dance Company. She has also taught and choreographed across the U.S. and internationally, including at Pacific Northwest School of Ballet, Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy, and Summer Arts Session in Germany.
Laura holds a B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Applied Exercise Physiology. In addition to her teaching, she provides ballet pedagogy consulting for schools and instructors seeking to deepen their practice through anatomically sound and proven methods.
MARTE OSIRIS MADERA
Core Faculty
Marte Osiris Madera was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. He graduated with an MFA in Dance from the University of Washington and a BFA in Dance from San Jose State University. Marte has danced professionally with companies across the U.S., including Spectrum Dance Theater, Khambatta Dance Company, Dance Kaleidoscope, Lustig Dance Theater, Central West Ballet, Oakland Ballet, Menlowe Ballet, sjDANCEco, Robert Moses Kin (guest), Olympic Ballet Theater (guest), and the Margaret Wingrove Dance Company.
He has choreographed and taught dance at various institutions to students of all ages and abilities, including serving as Interim Artistic Director for Evergreen City Ballet. He also previously served as Dance Program Manager and Troupe Director for the Academy of Music and Dance in Ballard and Shoreline. Marte currently teaches Ballet, Contemporary, and Jazz dance at four dance schools throughout the Seattle area and is performing as a guest dancer with Spectrum Dance Theater.
ELIZABETH ROGERS
Conditioning & Pilates
Elizabeth originally developed her passion for movement and keen ability to analyze movement through 18 years of classical ballet training. This passion for movement, the desire to work closely with people and an interest in medicine led her to a career in Physical Therapy. While completing her graduate studies in Physical Therapy, she simultaneously completed her Pilates instructor training, because she had a vision for the seamless integration of Pilates into Physical Therapy treatments. She also recognized that Pilates is a fun and effective method for optimizing movement across the lifespan.
Elizabeth takes the time to listen to each client’s story in order to fully understand his/her needs and goals. Hearing the client’s story is essential to developing an effective treatment plan. Her treatment approach is a blend of manual therapy techniques, movement re-education and highly effective exercise techniques, including Pilates conditioning. She empowers all of her clients to take control of their wellness and longevity. Just like her clients, Elizabeth is doing her best to stay fit and healthy so that she can enjoy this life! Saturday mornings you can find her somewhere between Seward Park and Madison Park doing her long run for the week.
_edited.jpg)
KAYLA FREEMAN
Conditioning & Pilates
Kayla is a physical therapist and Pilates instructor whose love for movement began in dance. With a Bachelor’s degree in Dance, a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, and comprehensive Pilates teacher training, she blends classical Pilates principles with functional strength training to support dancers at every level. Her experience working with performers—both students in the studio and professionals onsite with organizations such as Pacific Northwest Ballet, the 5th Avenue Theatre, and The Paramount—gives her a unique perspective on the physical demands placed on artistic athletes.
Kayla focuses on efficient movement mechanics, alignment, core control, and balanced strength to enhance performance and reduce injury risk. She brings a thoughtful, supportive approach to teaching, offering purposeful corrections that help dancers move better, feel stronger, and build lasting resilience. Her goal is to help every dancer gain confidence and enjoy strength and conditioning as a part of their dance training. Outside the studio, Kayla enjoys attending musicals, making pottery, exploring Washington’s outdoors, and volunteering in marine wildlife rehabilitation.