Meet Our Visionary Team
FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Laurie Buck
For more than 45 years, Laurie has devoted her life to inspiring, educating, and mentoring dancers of all ages. Her passion extends far beyond teaching steps—she is committed to developing confident, disciplined, and well-rounded dancers through exceptional technical training and a genuine love for the art of dance.
As a lifelong student of dance, Laurie continually studies new teaching methods and innovative training techniques while maintaining a strong foundation in Classical Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Acrobatics, Strength & Conditioning, and Flexibility Training. She believes that great dancers never stop learning, and neither do great teachers.
Throughout her distinguished career, Laurie has coached studio dancers, competitive dance teams, cheerleading squads, and performance groups, earning numerous Top Score and Best Choreography awards. During her high school coaching career, her cheerleading teams captured the Idaho State Championship seven consecutive years, while her dance teams consistently ranked among the state's best, including State Runner-Up honors.
Laurie has become especially known for her ability to develop dancers with beautiful technique, exceptional flexibility, clean lines, strong ballet foundations, expressive artistry, advanced turns, and dynamic jumps. She designed Studio 1 Dance Academy's signature Strength & Stretch Program, combining dance science with proven conditioning techniques to help students safely increase flexibility, strength, balance, and overall performance.
Over the years, Laurie has had the privilege of teaching thousands of students, watching shy preschoolers grow into confident performers, leaders, teachers, and successful adults. Many of her former dancers have continued their training by performing professionally, joining college dance teams, cheering at the collegiate level, becoming dance educators, opening their own successful studios, and pursuing careers where the confidence and discipline they learned through dance continue to serve them every day.
Laurie Buck
Faculty
Dance Teacher
Sara Garrison
Sara is a passionate and dedicated dance educator whose journey in the dance world began in California and has flourished across decades and states.
She started dancing as a young child and quickly fell in love with the art form, competing and winning overalls at prestigious competitions like Showstoppers and Tremaine during her time in Maryland.
After moving to Sandpoint at age 10, Sara began training at Studio One Dance Academy, where her commitment and talent quickly stood out. By age 11, she was assisting classes and choreographing her own solos and trios—many of which went on to win awards at regional competitions. Her early start in teaching laid the foundation for a lifelong dedication to dance education.
Sara has taught acrobatics for the past eight years and brings a wealth of experience in lyrical, jazz, and hip hop. Her teaching style blends technical precision with emotional expression, and she is known for nurturing dancers of all ages with warmth, discipline, and creativity.
Since 2015, Sara has been a core part of Studio One’s teaching faculty, continually expanding her skills and staying current in the dance world through certifications and ongoing education. Her choreography has earned accolades, and her mentorship has shaped countless young dancers.
Sara’s story is one of lifelong passion, resilience, and a deep commitment to the transformative power of dance. She continues to inspire her students with every class she teaches, creating a legacy of artistry, strength, and community.
new teachers for Saturday Adults, Students Classical ballet, variations, and Pointe'
Traci Wojack & Michael Wojack
Traci Wojack is from Portland Oregon, where she was a principal dancer with Portland Metro Dancers, performing lead roles in Coppelia, La Fille Mal Gardee, Les Ruses d’ Amour and Alice in Wonderland. Traci danced with Olympic Ballet Theater after meeting her future husband Michael while touring Australia and Europe with Peninsula Dance Theater. Traci has been teaching for last several years at Allegro Dance school here in Sandpoint. She has taught dance workshops and intensives in Portland, Seattle and Bremerton WA. at all levels. She has choreographed many dance pieces, and some were chosen for the Regional Dance America festival performances. She and her husband Michael live in Naples and love it there. They have been married 25 years.
Michael Wojack has been dancing in and out of the northwest for the last 20 years. He has performed with companies such as Pacific Northwest Ballet, Tacoma City Ballet, Olympic Ballet Theater, as well around the country with professional companies in Texas, Utah Michigan, Minnesota and North Carolina. He has also been the assistant artistic director for several companies. Michael has been teaching for last several years at Allegro Dance school here in Sandpoint. Before that with British Dancing Academy in Kent, Washington following the RAD method. He has taught partnering, pointe, men’s ballet class and Ballet at all levels. He has taught classes and workshops across the country in many schools and dance companies. He retired from the Boeing Aircraft Company 4 years ago, he and his wife live in Naples.
Sam
Sandpoint Dance | Throw Down ® Dance Fitness Classes! (For grown-ups) is the many times viral format created by Fly Dance Fitness
Choreographed routines to hip-hop throwbacks & latest hits
Suitable for all levels, with modifications for lower intensity. Ages 16+ only
Hour-long cardio fitness class
When: Mon 9 am, Thurs 6 pm & Sat 9 am
More info, pricing, what to expect etc: https://www.Instagram.com/SandpointDance
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