The Next Chapter For SSB

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Dear Dance Families,

When I started teaching ballet in Friday Harbor eight years ago, I never dreamed that we would end up here at Salish Sea Ballet. This was obviously an opportunity that our island needed – a place for dancers to learn, grow, connect, be creative, and perform. I cannot describe what it has meant to be such an important part of my dancers’ lives over the past eight years. I’ve learned and grown right along with all of you!

A family emergency has come up which requires me to move to the east coast at the end of December. I’m heartbroken that my time at Salish Sea Ballet is coming to a close but I am honored to pass it on to Miss Kailey. She will take over at the end of December and continue your dance training without interruption. I am excited to see how the studio grows with Miss Kailey at the helm.

Salish Sea Ballet has become a family to me and I will miss all of my dancers immensely. I will carry the memories of Salish Sea Ballet in my heart forever. If you would like to stay in touch, my email jeanne@salishseaballet.com will stay active. I will be keeping the current studio phone number as my personal phone.

For all studio business beginning January 1, you may contact Miss Kailey at kailey@salishseaballet.com. The new phone number for Salish Sea Ballet will be: (206) 419-0824.

I look forward to many happy updates from Salish Sea Ballet in the future!

Take care and happy holidays,

Miss Jeanne

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Dear Salish Sea Ballet Dancers and Families, 

My name is Kailey Genther (Miss Kailey) and I’m excited for the opportunity to keep Salish Sea Ballet going for our island dancers, their families and our community. When my family and I moved up here 5 years ago, I remember being thrilled to see there was a ballet school on the island to feed my soul and to have a new dance family to join. Over the last four years I’ve been part of the Salish Sea Ballet’s staff and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our dancers through various positions. 

For those of you whom I don’t know, I currently teach Ballet 2 (Mondays), Level 3,4,5 (Mondays) Parent/Child Creative Movement (Tuesdays) and Ballet Basics (Tuesdays) along with subbing when needed. Over the past month I’ve been attending as many of the classes as I could to meet dancers and learn the class routines. It has been a joy getting to know even more of you. I am grateful at the groundwork that Miss Jeanne has laid for Salish Sea Ballet over the years. As we transition and adjust to the future ahead, I will strive to do my best and learn from Jeanne all that I can over these next few weeks and into the New Year. 

To know a little more about me I am a native Washingtonian who grew up in Redmond. I’ve trained in dance since I was 7 and before that I did gymnastics. I’m trained to advanced levels in ballet, jazz and tap, moderate levels in Spanish style, and I know to various levels 14 different ballroom dances. I danced with a small ballet company between my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Marine Biology (focus on cetaceans). Ballet has always been and will forever be a huge part of who I am. I love sharing a piece of my heart with the dancers of Salish Sea Ballet and look forward to continuing their dance education. 

Another thing about me is that I have a young family. My husband, Sam, is one of the two Friday Harbor High School science teachers. I have two young kids, my son Caeden (6yrs old) and my daughter Aisling (2.75yrs old). We also have 2 cats, 2 big dogs and chickens. When you don’t find me at the ballet school, you can bet I am being a mom, performing with the San Juan Community Theater (was in Mamma Mia), or sitting on the county’s Marine Resources Committee. 

I am honored to continue to help build the program that Jeanne began and graciously invited me to be a part of. I look forward to continuing to work with you all and see what our community can accomplish together for the love of art and ballet. Thank you for your time and I will see you in the New Year! Happy Dancing! 

~Miss Kailey
kailey@salishseaballet.com
(206)-419-0824

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