Our Instructors
Camille Higashi
Studio Director
Dance Instructor
Camille Higashi grew up in the Kitsap Area and attended Irene’s School of Dance from 3 years old until she graduated high school. During her time at Irene’s, she was a member of the Dance Arts Theatre dance company. After high school she attended University of Oregon where she earned her BA in Dance, specializing in Modern/ Contemporary and Ballet, with minors in Business and Music. She then returned home upon graduation and has been teaching dance locally since 2015. Camille is also a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant for Kitsap Physical Therapy. She has enjoyed being able to combine her knowledge of both disciplines to help her dancers avoid injury and her patients to improve balance for fall prevention.
Tosha Camus
Lead Dance Instructor
Program Director - Kiddo Combos
Tosha has danced at Irene’s School of Dance since she was six and went on to join Dance Arts Theatre. 29 years of dancing, and 17 years of teaching later she is now one of the most senior dance instructors at the studio.
Tosha started assisting her Director Irene at age 17 which led to teaching her own classes. She has performed at Disney World, Disneyland, Leavenworth, and various other places in Washington, all thanks to Dance Arts Theater. She has also attended a year of Dance Masters of America training in New York as well as attended many summer workshops. She loves her students and teaching dance.
Outside of the studio she enjoys spending time with her husband Jeff and two kids, 12-year-old Malorie and six-year-old Corbin. When she is not busy teaching classes are running Dance Arts Theatre rehearsals, she enjoys joining her family for their sporting shenanigans.
Jessica Campbell
Dance Instructor
Program Director - Teens and Toddlers
I grew up dancing at Irene’s School of Dance, I took my first class at the age of four and have continued to dance throughout my life. I joined Dance Arts Theatre (DAT) at the age of 10 and began assisting at the dance school when I was 16; a year later I taught my first ballet classes. After high school I moved to Ft. Lewis (now JBLM) and started looking for local places to teach. I discovered that there was a demand for dance classes on base but no program; so I decided to start one. I’m proud to say that program is still in place. My life changed drastically when I became a single mom and over the years I worked as a barista, customer service representative, receptionist, preschool teacher and realtor. My daughter was of course enrolled at the dance school and I would take a class when I could. I was thrilled to dance in a few DAT productions, in my heart I never stopped being a dancer. In 2018 I found myself back where I had started, at Irene’s School of Dance. I have had the privilege of teaching there since and I have learned that educating dancers is my purpose in life. The lessons we learn in the dance studio apply to life outside of it and the joy we experience lasts a lifetime. I’m so grateful to be continuing the legacy of “dancing for the joy of it” at West Sound Dance Academy!
Irene Miller
Dance Instructor
Irene Miller.....A graduate of the University of Washington, Irene is a certified teacher-member of Dance Masters of America. She was owner, director and teacher of Irene’s School of Dance for 47 years and founder and Artistic Director of DANCE ARTS THEATRE for 41 years until her retirement in August 2023. She traveled with DAT and directed performances in Disneyland, Disneyworld, Hawaii, New York and Leavenworth. Born and raised in Wenatchee, she studied dance with her mentor, Arlene Wagner, now Curator of the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum. Before moving to Silverdale in 1975, Irene taught dance in Wenatchee for five years and in Port Angeles/Sequim for three years. Irene, and husband Don, have two daughters, Kim and Becky. They plan on spending quality time with them, Brent, and Grandson Gavyn, and to do some traveling when Irene is not teaching her adult tap class. Irene credits Ms Arlene with giving her the inspiration and experience to run a dance school, put on “Nutcracker” productions and “Dance for the Joy of It”.
Lindsay Clark
Dance Instructor
I grew up dancing at Irene’s studio, and I’ve spent the majority of my life in the Kitsap area (graduated from Klahowya!). After a hiatus during high school, I returned to dance while attending the University of Washington. While there, I took classes in ballet, modern, jazz, and more. I graduated in 2008 having completed the requirements for the dance minor along with my history degree. Go Huskies! After that, I spent some time in the real estate world before coming back to dance via my daughters. Sydney started dancing at Irene’s in 2017, and Harper followed suit in 2019. My teaching at the studio began in 2021, and since then the whole Clark family has been involved with this amazing dance community. My husband Scott has even appeared with me as a parent in the party scene of “The Nutcracker”! When I’m not teaching dance, I work as a teaching assistant at my daughters’ school, Silverwood School. Our family likes to travel together often, especially enjoying trips in our RV. I love to read in my downtime, while snuggling my four cats.
Genevieve Bell
Dance Instructor Assistant
Genevieve has been in Port Orchard her whole life and started dancing at The Dance Gallery at 4 years old, and danced for 2 years at Just For Kicks starting in 2021. She won a national title at the young age of 6 competing her first ever solo at Celebrity's "Nationals at Sea" in 2014. She has now since then been dancing on South Kitsap's Wolf Pack Dance Team, one of the top 5 programs in the state of Washington, starting in 2022. She is a sophomore in high school and she plans to go to the University of Washington and join their dance team, though she has ideas for what to pursue, she does not yet know at this time what she wants to study in college. She has experience in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, lyrical, musical theatre, and pom. Genevieve has always had a passion for dance and West Sound Dance Academy has allowed her to teach others to love dance as she does.
Aeryn Maxey
Dance Instructor Assistant
Office Assistant
I started dancing when I was 3 years old at the YMCA. I later enrolled in Irene's School of Dance when I was eight and joined Dance Arts Theater (DAT) when I was fourteen. While I didn't always love dancing, my passion for it has grown tremendously in DAT. I am trained in Ballet and Pointe as well as other styles such as Jazz, Contemporary, hip-hop, and tap. When I'm not dancing, I like to sew, crochet, and knit as well as read, draw, and skateboard. While I'm not set on what I want to do with my career and life, I'm hoping to figure it out while completing my AA at Olympic College and working here. I am excited to learn and teach at this new dance school.
Kelley Hayes
Office Assistant
I’m a military spouse of 13 years and counting. While I call East Tennessee home, I’ve lived in Georgia, Connecticut and now Washington. I grew up doing different sports like soccer and swimming but found my love and passion for Colorguard and Winterguard, which uses elements of dance.
Prior to working here at WSDA, I worked from home as a Title Processor for mortgages. I also have a passion for volunteer work and love helping our community. I have been the command Ombudsman for the USS Henry M Jackson Blue crew, a team captain for Operation Homefront and have coached cheerleading for the Silverdale Spartans.
Both my girls have have been dancing since they were 3 and loved that they found a dance home at Irene’s when we moved here back in 2020. I’m excited to be apart of West Sound Dance Academy and getting to watch our dance family grow!