🩰 American Dance Institute (ADI) Dance Teacher Feature: Meet Algie Au! ✨

At American Dance Institute, our instructors are the heartbeat of our studios. For this edition of our ADI Dance Teacher Feature, we are thrilled to spotlight Algie Au, who teaches Ballet.

Algie teaches, advocates for environmentalism, and dances—and she is always learning. She holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability Education and a Master's degree in Biology, alongside a lifelong dance career.

In the studio, you can find her:

• Teaching Ballet, rooted in Royal Academy of Dance training she began at age five.
• Drawing on a professional dance career with Los Angeles Ballet, Wenta Ballet, Brockus Project Dance Company (BPDC), and Los Angeles Mexican Dance Theatre (LAMDT).
• Bringing an educator's approach to the studio, shaped by her academic career across environmental sciences, dance, and human biology.

At five years old, Algie began her training with the Royal Academy of Dance, and performing arts have had her all-time dedication ever since. She currently serves as the President of the Friends of the Edmonds Library and sits on the Brockus Project Dance Company Board. Previously, she served as President of the Academic Senate at San Bernardino Valley College, and held roles on the Sustainability and District Councils of the San Bernardino Community College District, and the board of the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges. Her teaching repertoire includes environmental sciences, dance, and human biology. She has collaborated with dancers of all ages at Inland Pacific Ballet, Olympic Ballet, LAMDT, Orange County High School of the Arts, Creation Dance, and The Ballet Studio.

Algie continues to work in public health sciences, environmental justice, and education transformation—bringing that same spirit of advocacy and lifelong learning to her andragogical approach to dance teaching.

American Dance Institute is proud to be one of the most trusted dance studios in Seattle, and Algie is a big part of why. Families searching for dance classes Seattle-wide can find her teaching ballet with warmth and expertise, while parents looking for kids dance classes Seattle families recommend will find her classes a welcoming place for young dancers to build confidence and a lifelong love of movement.

Q&A Corner with Algie

Q: What is your favorite part about teaching at ADI?A: "My favorite part about teaching at ADI is the incredible energy and dedication each dancer brings. I love the spirit of continuous learning here—everyone is always pushing themselves, stepping outside their comfort zones, enjoying every moment in class, and embracing every new combination I throw their way. It is inspiring to watch the growth, and one of the best parts is seeing how many of them become genuinely good friends along their dance journey. The community we build together is just as beautiful as the dancing itself."

Q: How does your background in sustainability and education shape the way you teach dance?A: "I embrace lifelong learning as a core part of my education journey, and I hope that spirit naturally shows up in the way I teach in the studio. I encourage dancers to be curious, resourceful, and mindful—about themselves, the world around them, and how their bodies and spirits move together. I want each dancer to understand their own limits and explore how they can safely stretch those limits. Whether it's sustaining a piqué balance or simply tilting the head with intention, that kind of awareness helps everyone move with confidence. I also see teaching as a creative avenue for both my dancers and me—together we explore music and self-expression. The studio becomes a safe haven for the mind, a place where, for a little while, we can set aside the daily hustle and focus on movement, music, and the joy of dancing. Blending curiosity, self-trust, and expression creates moments of real euphoria, and that's the energy I hope I'm bringing into every class."

Want to take a class with Algie?

• View Class Schedules & Book a Free Trial to find a spot in her upcoming ballet sessions.