Westside Dance & Gymnastics Academy

Westside Dance & Gymnastics Academy offers recreational dance and gymnastics classes, including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, Acrobatics, and recreational gymnastics. The program also includes performance and competitive options such as Hip Hop Company, Elite Acrobatics, Performing Company, the pre-professional dance company NW Fusion, Xcel Bronze–Diamond gymnastics teams, USAG Level 3–10 developmental boys and girls artistic gymnastics competitive teams, and a youth Acrobatics & Tumbling team. Additional activities include a Performing Arts Preschool, annual Nutcracker/Holiday showcase, spring recital, annual Gym Fest showcase, supervised open gym time, indoor play park, lunch bunch, field trips, birthday party packages, and half-day, full-day, winter break, spring break, school closure, and summer camps.

• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Main office hours in fall are Monday–Friday 9:00am–9:00pm, Saturday 8:30am–5:00pm, and Sunday 10:00am–5:00pm, with summer office hours Monday–Thursday 9:00am–7:00pm, Friday 9:00am–5:00pm, Saturday 9:00am–3:00pm, and Sunday 10:00am–3:00pm; registration opens online or via email Tuesday April 14th at 9am
• Price: Cash, check, or EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer); no credit or debit cards

Westside Dance & Gymnastics Academy is home to a Performing Arts Preschool that focuses on pre-reading and writing skills, literature, math and science, and a performing arts curriculum including art, drama, music, tap, jazz, ballet, acrobatics, and gymnastics for children ages 3–5. The academy’s dance offerings include recreational classes, Hip Hop Company, Elite Acrobatics, Performing Company, a Ballet Company, a Hip Hop Company, and the pre-professional dance company NW Fusion, with an accelerated Dance Troupe that trains in multiple areas as a path to performance groups. The gymnastics program includes recreational classes for a range of abilities, Xcel Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond teams, USAG Level 3–10 developmental boys and girls artistic gymnastics competitive teams, pre-team classes, and junior olympic levels 3–10 championship girls and boys artistic gymnastics teams, with all gymnastics students and teams participating in an annual Gym Fest showcase. The Performing Arts Preschool also explores different cultures through the arts and states that it aims for students to respect and appreciate social and cultural diversity. Westside offers half or full day camps during winter and spring break, school closures, and throughout the summer with options that include preschool, dance, or gymnastics, and it hosts field trips, birthday party packages, and supervised open gym time during parents night out, indoor play park, or lunch bunch.

Westside Dance & Gymnastics Academy describes its vision as being the Northwest’s “Ultimate Academy” and a leader in education, dance, and gymnastics. Its mission statement includes providing a safe, fun, positive environment; promoting creativity and fitness while inspiring students to achieve their goals; developing self-esteem by instilling the values of good sportsmanship, self-discipline, respect and accountability; and enriching the lives of its students and the community through excellence in education, dance, and gymnastics. The stated values are that safety is everyone’s responsibility, excellence and integrity are “the Westside Way,” quality education and training, and listening with results. Westside states that it enriches the lives of its students and the community through excellence in education, dance, and gymnastics, and it is described as home to an award-winning dance program.

The academy was started by Carla Webber in 1974 under the name Portland Gymnastics Center and Carla Webber Studio of Dance. In 1984, the business was divided, with the dance side sold to Mellanie (Fletcher) Heniff, who renamed it Westside Dance Academy, and the gymnastics side sold to Chuck Richards, who owned Oregon Gymnastics Academy in Beaverton. In 1995, Mellanie Heniff bought the gymnastics side and renamed the combined program Westside Dance & Gymnastics Academy. Westside added a Preschool Program in 1992, the Elite Acro Program in 1993, the Rhythmic Gymnastics Program and Westside Pro-Shop in 1997, another facility called the Westside Training Center in 2000 for the Elite Acro Program and Rhythmic Gymnastics Team, a Ballet Company in 2006, a Hip Hop Company in 2009, and the Excel Gymnastics Program and Dance Troupe in 2012.

The owners are Brad Hampton, who is also the Dance Program & Company Director, and Denise Nontavarnit, who is also the Gymnastics Program Manager and Interim Accelerated Gymnastics Director. Office staff include Carrie Berg (Registrar), Lisa Adams (Accounts Manager), and Cathy Cano (Customer Service). Dance leadership includes Brad Hampton (Dance Program & Company Director), Maddi Gloria (Dance Accelerated, Troupe & Performing Company Director), Jessica Turner (Recreational Dance Director), Cait Powers (Ballet Company Director), Trinity Moore (Hip Hop Crew Director), and Erica Walter (Performing Company Administrative Assistant). Gymnastics leadership includes Denise Nontavarnit (Gymnastics Program Manager/Interim Accelerated Gymnastics Director), Drew Grow (Optional and Compulsory Team Director), Kaelyn Person (Xcel Supervisor), Jenni Owens (Recreational Gymnastics Director), and Luis Nadora (Boys Team Director). Youth Acrobatics and Tumbling is led by Izzy Troccoli as Youth Acrobatics and Tumbling Head Coach/Supervisor, the Performing Arts Preschool is led by Cara Bartel as Performing Arts Preschool Director, and camps and events are overseen by Sydney Parker as Camps, Parties, Field Trips, Parents Night Out Supervisor.

Last updated June 27, 2026.