MEET THE FACULTY
Isabelle Cook – Owner & Director
Isabelle Cook brings a 40 year background of training and experience: While in High School, she performed solos, choreographed and was a teacher’s assistant. Upon graduation, she was presented with a certificate of achievement and a scholarship to Southern Methodist University in Dallas. While in college, Isabelle performed in “Peter and the Wolf” with the Dallas Dance Ensemble, “Saul” with the Dallas Symphony/Opera, and as guest performer for the Wichita Falls Ballet. In addition she performed on televised dance programs for PBS. In 1979, Isabelle moved to the Spokane area and took an active roll in many Spokane dance activities including performer, choreographer and instructor for Namaste, Spokane Dance Ensemble, Whitworth College, Gonzaga University, The Dance Center, The Dance Emporium and Ballet Arts. Currently, Isabelle is an active member of the “Inland Northwest Dance Teacher’s Association” and the proprietor of Isabelle’s Dance Time which offers dance classes in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Veradale, Post Falls and Rathdrum.
Teaching Dance is my passion and calling. I am honored to be given the opportunity to be part of my student’s dance journey. I step into the studio each day with a heart full of purpose and a passion for more than just dance. I am here to guide, inspire, and protect the beautiful journey the dance students are on —one step, one class, one leap at a time. I truly believe our motto “Dance Time for a Lifetime!!!!”
Joesph Hofer – Director
Joe Hofer’s dance style is on-beat, intense, funky, jazzy, old school cool with hints of humor. “To dance with me is to be passionate, spirited and be proud of what you are doing.” Originally a musician, he gravitated towards square and round dancing in the late 1980’s, eventually becoming an apprentice Square Dance Caller. In 1991 he studied Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Ballet, Partnering, and Tap and continued formalizing his Ballet, Modern, & Jazz training with Isabelle Cook and other world class teachers. Joe’s professional dancer background consists of working for “Take Notice Arts and Entertainment Company”, dancing and acting in Industrial Shows, Modeling Shows, and Dinner Theatre productions working with important and famous people such as Duane Hargadone -Entrepreneur & Teri Hatcher -Actress. Joe started writing Dance Time’s shows in 2007 and continues as Co-Artistic Director of Isabelle’s Dance Time.
His commitment to dance in the community has taken him throughout the Spokane area where he taught dance at just about every Community Center around Spokane, and many of the public schools. He is an active member of the Inland Northwest Dance Association and during the day he works as a Special Education 504 Paraeducator with the C.V. School District. Outside the community his work has led him to teach master
classes in Jazz, Partnering, and Hip Hop, choreograph, and dance in the areas of the Pacific Northwest, and Canada, and in 2010 he created the Civic Semi-professional dance company called, “Phase Collaborative Dance Project”. Joe is currently producing a book on his years of study in the area of Partnering. All of this propels his art and keeps him actively producing art wherever life (Dance) will take him, it is his PASSION, his
SPIRIT, and his PRIDE.
My commitment to my students and teaching them the art of dance is
my life’s work, it’s what I do, it’s who I am. It’s my legacy to give back to the art
that created my own life’s legacy. I’m always excited to get to the studio and
dance with you.
Erica Hendon – Teacher
Erica Hendon started her journey in dance at the age of 3 years old learning tap and jazz dance. As the years went on she kept up with tap and jazz at Sherry’s Studio where she learned discipline and showmanship through the avenue of
competition. At the age of 15 she found her new dance home at Isabelle’s Dance
Time under the instruction of Isabelle Cook and Joe Hofer. She studied jazz, and
then added modern, ballet, and partnering to her regimen of classes. Her journey
lead her to expand studies with people like Billy Siegenfeld, Jeannie Hill, Gail
Benedict, Frank Chaves, and Katherine Kramer just to name a few. She dabbled in
just about every kind of dance style imaginable.
After graduating high school Erica went on to teach at Sandra Olgard’s Dance
Studio for two years, teaching tap and jazz to an all ballet studio.
She is Isabelle’s Dance Time’s Production Assistant, Tap Instructor, and Dancer
and has been a member of the Phase Collaborative Dance Project since 2013.
As a Tap instructor my mission is to teach my students the same love and passion
I have for dance while learning basics and progressing into their own exploration
of their own beats, rhythms, and sound.
Jessica Cochran – Teacher
Jessica Cochran is a dancer and dance teacher originally from Chewelah WA. She fell in love with dance at the age of two after watching a ballet performance at a local festival. Once old enough, she began her dance training with Ann Marie Benedict at Northern Ballet and Performing Arts, then furthered her education at Company Ballet School, under the direction of Jonna Maule. She has trained in Classical Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Clogging, Acrobatic Arts, and Theater throughout her dance education. Jessica also danced with the State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara for seven years in their touring production of The Nutcracker, as well as at their Summer Intensive in 2020. She has taken classes from many notable dancers, teachers, and choreographers, including Peter Boal of Pacific Northwest Ballet, Kathryn Morgan (New York City Ballet, Miami Ballet), and Christopher Sellars (Ballet West). Jessica has experience teaching a variety of dance styles, including Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Musical Theater, Leap and Turn Technique, and Creative Movement. She adores sharing her passion by teaching the next generation of upcoming dancers. Jessica is also currently dancing professionally with Vytal Movement Dance, Spokane’s only contemporary dance company. When not in the studio, you can often find Jessica in nature, surrounded by friends and family, or curled up with a good book.
As a dance teacher, it is my goal to help my students grow, both as dancers and as people. The studio can provide a place to learn important life skills, including confidence, grace and poise, self-expression, and discipline, as well as the beautiful art form that I have fallen in love with.
Brittney Smith – Teacher
Brittney Smith’s passion for dance began at just two and a half years old in a tap/ballet combo class. By age five, she was competing in tap and soon expanded her training to jazz, modern, and lyrical. After moving to New York, she studied at Dance Cavise with Broadway dancer Joe Anthony Cavise, learning ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and pointe, and performed as an original member of the Off Center Jr. Dance Theatre. A personal highlight was performing on stage with “Bob” from Sesame Street. In high school, Brittney choreographed and performed in numerous productions, including co-creating dances for the school’s student-run Musical Review. She went on to minor in dance at SUNY Geneseo, focusing on modern and contemporary dance, and continued choreographing and performing throughout college. After college, she became a certified personal trainer, but her heart remained with dance. Now back in the studio, Brittney is excited to share her love of dance with the next generation. Outside of teaching, she volunteers for a dog rescue, hikes with her family and their dogs, tap dances with her daughter, at Isabelle’s Dance Time and enjoys relaxing with a good book.
“As a teacher, I am dedicated to fostering creativity, confidence, and discipline in my students. Dance is about so much more than just technique. It’s about self-expression, artistry, and joy!”
Erica
Alison
Brittany