IDP Faculty
Kaitlyn Burch
OWNER
The Independent Dance Project was founded in 2011 by Kaitlyn Burch. Kaitlyn grew up dancing in the Portland area. She got a late start to dancing, beginning at the age of 12. She knew from the first dance class she took that she wanted dance to always be a part of her life. Her passion for dance led her to Los Angeles straight out of high school where she auditioned for the year long scholarship at Edge Performing Arts Center. It was at Edge that Kaitlyn truly began to understand the combined technique, strength, and artistry that is dance. She remained in Los Angeles for several years, continuing to train in dance as well as receiving her BA in English from the University of Southern California.
When Kaitlyn returned to the Portland area in 2006 she began teaching and renewed her passion for dance. She received awards for her choreography and her dancers were recognized for their technical ability. In 2011, she started the Independent Dance Project in an effort to recognize the uniqueness of each dancer. At IDP she strives to ignite a passion for dance in all dancers. Kaitlyn provides mentorship from childhood and into young adulthood, helping to prepare them for life in and outside of the dance world. Kaitlyn hopes that training at IDP will foster and nurture well-rounded individuals who better their communities.
Kenzie Halbert-Howen
Kenzie started taking ballet and tap classes at three years old and has been dancing ever since. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical for 15 years at Kennedy School of Dance in her hometown of Nampa, Idaho. In her teen years, she danced competitively for the Elite Dance Company and the Skyview High School dance team, where she served as a co-captain and won three state championships.
Kenzie continued studying dance in college, majoring in dance for one year at Weber State University, before moving to Portland and earning her bachelor’s degree in English. Kenzie taught dance and tumbling classes at Montavilla and Peninsula Park community centers for several years while pursuing a master’s degree and starting her family.
As a child, dance was a constant source of joy and community for Kenzie, and she is passionate about creating supportive and positive environments where kids of all skill levels can learn to love dance and movement.
When she is not dancing, Kenzie enjoys spending time with her partner and two children, baking, and reading.
Liz Grindstaff
Liz grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia and began taking dance classes at age 3. They continued dancing through high school, being trained in ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, jazz, acro, and musical theatre. They love for dance and are excited to share the art with the next generation. Liz loves working with children and getting to be a part of their dance journey.
Jasmine Wolfe
Jasmine Wolfe has 27 years of dance experience and 15 years of dance and gymnastics coaching experience. She grew up focusing on jazz, later doing it at the competitive level for 4 years. In college she chose an interdisciplinary dance major from Humboldt State University (now a California Poly Tech) and was introduced to modern and postmodern dance, which quickly became her favorite style. After college she joined the grass roots dance company, On 3, in Oakland, CA. She danced with them from 2014-2022 before moving to Portland. She also works for the Multnomah Athletic Club teaching gymnastics and dance to children as young as 18 months old and as old as 14 years old.