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Jon Swarthout
Founding Artistic Director
A native of Boise Idaho, Jon started acting in local theater
productions at age 13.
After training as a full scholarship student at the prestigious
Houston Ballet Academy,
Jon then danced professionally for New York City’s Joffrey II
Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theater,
The Feld Ballet in New York, Ballet Idaho and Idaho Dance Theater.
Soon after returning to his
home state, in 1996, Jon established Dance Rascals, now known as
Children’s Dance Institute.
Lisa Lechner
Administrative Manager and Teaching Artist
Lisa has worked in business management and administration for
several organizations
in New York City over the past 7 years including The Field, TACT, Fergusan
Caras PR, and Oxford Health Insurance. She is fantastic at handling
the daily financial operations of the business,
office management and other planetary fallout.
In her
other life, Lisa is a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique
and an aerialist for the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus.
She lives in Boise with her sister’s cat and her most precious
daughter, Anika Katherine.
Leta Neustadter
Teaching Artist
Leta brings an eclectic mix of creative
talents to CDI. She completed the intensive Teaching Excellence
training at the National Dance Institute of New Mexico and has
decades of performance experience in singing, acting, and dance. She
especially loves music theater because it combines all three! She
has performed with numerous theater companies in the Treasure Valley
and currently sings with the Boise Master Chorale. For the past 15
years, Leta has worked with respected child development programs
such as the YMCA and Head Start, and maintains a private practice as
a Licensed Clinical Social Worker using creative therapies to
empower children and families. She believes that all children should
be inspired and encouraged to celebrate life with laughter and
creative expression.
Tracy Straus
Teaching Artist
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Tracy Straus has directed
residencies for children all across America. In
2000, she founded "Celebrate The Beat", a
Colorado-based affiliate of NDI which she continues
to direct. She is also Co-Founder of the California
Dance Institute. Her experience as an arts educator
includes joining The After School Corporation,
started by international philanthropist George Soros
to bring high quality after-school programs into the
public school system. As an arts consultant, Ms.
Straus has worked to develop multicultural arts
programs for schools in the five boroughs of New
York City and has trained dance instructors. Ms.
Straus began her performing career at Jacob's Pillow
Dance Festival. An actress as well as a dancer, she
trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in
London and performed in various off-Broadway venues.
Her recent work has included choreographing for the
television show "America's Next Top Model" for CBS.
She holds a Master's Degree from Bank Street College
of Education in early childhood education, and a
Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of
Michigan in dance and literature. She has taught as
an adjunct dance professor at New York University
and the State University of New York at New Paltz.
Corrine Nagata
Teaching Artist
Corrine Nagata was born and
raised in San Francisco and was inspired through the
public education system to pursue dance as a
career. She graduated in the Advanced Placement
Program from the North Carolina School of the Arts
and has danced professionally in California and New
York. For the last six years she has taught for
Jacques D’Amboise’s National Dance Institute
choreographing and leading teacher training
workshops. Ms. Nagata has taught at Dance Theatre
of Harlem and currently teaches Horton technique at
The Ailey School. In addition to the private
sector, she runs her own dance program in the public
schools. “Nagata Dance” is servicing students in
Harlem, Washington Heights and Jamaica Queens.
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