The IDC welcomes new instructor Mikaela Mendoza to the IDC team! Mikaela has extensive teaching experience in a wide variety of dance styles from Creative and Contemporary Dance to Hip Hop and Musical Theater. Mikaela has taught dance for the past 6 years in both Alaska and Oregon and is known for her enthusiasm as well as her technical expertise as a dance educator. She is excited to be able to share her passion and love for dance with all of her students. This season at the IDC Mikaela will teach Creative Dance, Jazz/Contemporary, Hip Hop, Tap and Dance Team. We know that her students will love her enthusiasm and upbeat choreography!
Mikaela began dancing at the age of 9 in Anchorage, Alaska. She has extensive training in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Modern and Aerial Dance. She moved to Oregon in 2014 to attend Western Oregon University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education with a minor in Dance. She performed with the WOU Dance Team for 3 years, serving as the assistant coach for her last 2 years with the team.
Mikaela is currently a principal dancer with Rainbow Dance Theatre, joining the company in 2017. With RDT, Mikaela has toured locally and throughout the United States and Canada, and has created several original roles including her lead role in the 2019 premiere of Into the Mystic. Her choreography has appeared onstage in many local musicals. In her “spare” time Mikaela enjoys collaborating with photographers, actors, musicians, and filmmakers on creative dance projects both locally and “back home” in Alaska.