About us

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Matthew Johnston, a retired Army medic, embarked on his photographic journey as a form of art therapy. Leveraging his GI Bill, he earned his BA from The Evergreen State College and his MFA in Photography from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. In comparison, many arts are experienced over an extended period of time. Matthew's unique approach to photography, where he aims to encapsulate an entire narrative in fractions of a second, sets him apart as a professional narrative fine art photographer.

Matthew’s professional affiliations include:

American Society of Media Photographers

Professional Photographers of America 

Photographic Society of America (Worldwide)

Society of Photographic Education

Sierra Club.

Matthew has been humbled to be recognized with numerous awards including by the  Veterans Affairs Creative Arts,  Refocus Awards-World Photo Finalist,  Budapest International Foto Awards, and more! 

Jerie Longacre is a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor who graduated from Western Washington University. She lived and worked in Olympia for 30 years, and raised her two sons in Olympia. The town was a very important part of their lives. Jerie’s sons still have friends they met when they were cub scouters in Olympia. And although Jerie lives in Tacoma now, she is still very connected to Thurston County. An important part of Jerie’s life is her membership in Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA), an organization started in the 1920’s meant to educate women. In 1972 Danny Thomas, a well-known comedian at the time, asked ESA to start a national campaign to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Since the ’70’s ESA has raised millions for the hospital. Fundraisers include garage sales, “broom stick pool” contests, golf tournaments, doll teas, blackberry pie and cookie sales and many more creative and effective fundraising efforts. Jerie enjoys helping in these functions and wants to apply her skills to support South Sound Dance Access. Jerie is an avid supporter of the arts and has been a season ticket holder of the Fifth Avenue Theater for over 20 years. She loves music, musicals, and dance. Jerie enjoyed watching Aja, our original SSDA president, grow up dancing - becoming more and more the expert and teaching others. Jerie wants to be a part of this great mission of SSDA to share the power of dance broadly throughout the community of the South Puget Sound. 

Tracey Schmaltz graduated from the University of Washington in 1995 and has worked as a pharmacist for 28 years.  Throughout that time she has raised three children that all progressed and graduated through the Olympia School District. It has been her passion to help in the schools that were educating her children through PTO, fundraising, activity planning and classroom involvement to support the teachers.  She also stays involved in the community by providing various services to the St Michael Parish Men’s Shelter. 

She danced recreationally from her childhood through college, participating in the WSU Orchesis Dance company. However, her greatest connection to dance has been through her daughter who grew up in the dance studio and is now pursuing a BFA in Modern Dance from the University of Utah. She has a great appreciation for how dance has impacted the physical and psychological development of her daughter.  

SSDA is an opportunity to stay involved in the community of dance and educators and it is an exciting new adventure.  

Kirsten Johnston is a Front of House and Monitor Audio Engineer and Sound Designer, with over 19 years experience mixing live sound for music, theater productions, corporate events, and recording studios.

 A Graduate of Full Sail University, with a Bachelors in Audio Production as well as an MFA in Sound Design for Visual Media from The Academy of Art University.  A standing member of the Sound Girls Organization, The Audio Engineering Society, The Recording Academy and IATSE local 15. 

Currently Kirsten works as the House Audio Lead and Engineer at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts in Olympia Wa, and does freelance sound design and editing as EdgeRose Productions LLC.

 Kristen Fitz Taylor was raised in San Diego California and danced for 20 years at the pre-professional level with an emphasis in ballet. She performed with The San Diego Ballet Company, UC Davis Ballet Company and The American Ballet Ensemble in San Diego. Upon moving to Denver Colorado she studied the technique of London’s Royal Academy of Dance which incorporates classical ballet, free movement and character dance obtaining her level 7 syllabus certification.

She continued to dance throughout her college years and graduated from The University of California Davis in 1988 in Human Development. In 1991 she earned a MS in Physical Therapy from The University of the Pacific in Stockton California. 

Kristen worked in pediatric therapy focusing on children with cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injury at The Children’s Hospital in Denver. There she received her certification in Pediatric Neuro-Developmental Treatment and began working as a teaching assistant in continuing education. During this time she co-authored Danceland: Fun Songs and Activities to Improve Sensory Skills incorporating her knowledge in movement, dance and neuro-developmental techniques.

Upon moving to Olympia her focus shifted to that of a parent of three active children. During this time she worked part time in outpatient physical therapy, tailoring her schedule to allow her to serve on the local PTO board, volunteer for OHS sports teams and plan and organize fundraising events for Olympia Area Rowing.  

Bio Coming Soon!

Hannah Taylor has been a teacher and dance educator for over 20 years, and is now sharing the joy of dance here in Olympia as the owner and CEO of South Sound Dance since 2015. It has been a long time dream of Hannah’s to bring dance education to public schools and she is so thrilled to help launch South Sound Dance Access with Alice Grendon as the executive director to make that dream a reality. 

Hannah has a BA in Business Administration, and a diploma from the nationally recognized High School for the Performing and Visual Arts as a Dance Major.  A few highlights from her performance career as a dancer include choreography projects at Lincoln Center, the New York City Civic Centers, and dancing with the world re-known Cirque du Soleil in Kona, Hawaii!  But Hannah’s true passion has always been teaching, inspiring and mentoring others, and spreading her love and passion for dance. 

Hannah believes that dance is powerful, healing, and life changing. Whether she is in a 3 year old class singing "1,2,3 Plie with Me", helping a senior dancer prep for college auditions, or dancing along with her adult students, she LOVES every second, every moment as a dance teacher and educator! She can’t wait to see how South Sound Dance Access can serve this community and bring dance education to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity. Let’s spread more joy!