ADI Teacher Feature: Meet Michaelene "Mickey" De La Serna!

At American Dance Institute, our instructors are the heartbeat of our studios. For this edition of our Teacher Feature, we are thrilled to spotlight Michaelene De La Serna—known around the studio as Mickey. Mickey brings a rare and vibrant specialty to our faculty: flamenco, paired with a rigorous classical ballet background that few teachers can match.

Mickey developed her foundational flamenco training through many years of study in Chicago with Artistic Director Rosetta Magdalen. She has continually expanded her knowledge through coursework and masterclasses with acclaimed artists including Carmela Greco, Belén Maya, and Marija Temo, immersing herself in the deep artistry, technique, and rhythm that define the art form. As her study progressed, Mickey took her flamenco to the stage, performing extensively in concert venues, theatrical productions, and private events across Chicago, and later continuing her performance work after relocating to Seattle.

Alongside her flamenco background, Mickey is a former professional ballet dancer whose technique was formed under the mentorship of master teacher Elizabeth Boitsov. Mickey graduated from the Boitsov Classical Ballet School in Chicago as both a performer and a teacher of the Vaganova syllabus. Her ballet performing career includes solo roles in Le Spectre de la Rose, Fountain of Bakhchisarai, and Les Sylphides, as well as classical variations from Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Raymonda, and Sleeping Beauty.

In the studio, you can find her:

• Teaching flamenco: Guiding students through upper-body posture (braceo), intricate footwork (zapateo), turns (vueltas), and expressiveness—along with prop technique like the flamenco hand fan (abanico) and castanets (palillos)—while helping them develop their own artistic voice within the artform.
• Building rhythmic & musical depth: Spending dedicated time teaching students the foundational rhythms (compás)—how to truly feel and embody them while dancing—alongside exploring the rich tradition of different flamenco styles (palos) and introductory improvisational skills.
• Empowering every student: Cultivating a warm, inspiring environment where the ultimate goal is to help dancers feel the music, express it through their own body, gain confidence, and have fun.
• Welcoming all ages: Teaching dancers of all generations, warmly sharing her love of movement with students ranging from age 5 to 85.
• Applying classical precision: Drawing on a strong Vaganova ballet foundation to build student strength, placement, and alignment.
• Sharing performance experience: Bringing decades of stage presence—from concert halls to intimate performance settings—into every class.

Before joining ADI, Mickey served as the Director of the Flamenco Kids Program at Flamenco Chicago and worked as an Artist-in-Residence for Ensemble Español Center for Spanish Dance and Music's "Bailamos" Arts Education Residency Programs, introducing flamenco to young students across Chicago. She also served as Associate Artistic Director of Boitsov Classical Ballet School & Company before relocating to Seattle. Mickey joined the American Dance Institute faculty in 2017. Outside the studio, she enjoys spending time outdoors and being in nature with her husband, Andres.

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

Q&A Corner with Mickey

Q: What is your favorite part about teaching at ADI? 

A: "I really love teaching at ADI because of the people. The wonderful people I work and interact with almost every day, whether it be my students, the ADI staff, and my boss, Elizabeth. I feel appreciated and cared for, and there is a feeling of kindness and sincerity at the studios."

Q: What do you love most about flamenco? 

A: "I love flamenco because it is inclusive. There aren't any limits for age or body type. One is able to really be themself without posturing or pretending. It is a challenging, beautiful artform that takes one down the path of self-discovery and empowerment."

Want to take a class with Mickey?

Mickey brings decades of professional training in both flamenco and classical ballet to every student she meets.

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