Mission Statement

Rooted deeply in Seattle, Director Jeffie Lou has been part of the South Seattle community for over two decades. Jeffie has lived with hearing loss since childhood, and it is this experience that shaped her profound connection to dance. She feels movement through rhythm and vibration—the beat—and discovered dance as a powerful way to connect, communicate, and belong.

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Jeffie’s mission has always been bigger than dance. She wants young people—especially those who don’t see themselves as “typical” dancers—to know that they can do this. No matter your background, body, ability, or story, dance is for you. At its core, dance is about connection, movement, and community.

While also creating and directing her studioD&G Dance Company, Jeffie has worked for Seattle Public Schools as the district’s only Performing Arts teacher for many years. As arts programs repeatedly became targets for budget cuts, she made the bold decision to create a space where creativity, access, and expression would always be protected.

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In 2010, D&G Dance Company began as a small summer camp serving just 14 youth. Today, we’ve grown into a thriving dance family of over 117 dancers—and counting.

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What Makes Us Unique

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Our foundation is hip hop, and we proudly identify as a multi-style dance studio with a true come-as-you-are open-door policy. We are passionate about our craft and believe dance is storytelling through movement.

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Here, you might take a ballet class using a bright red chair instead of traditional barre—or learn a breakdancing move woven into contemporary choreography. We celebrate innovation, individuality, and fearless expression.

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But more than anything, we are family.

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We care for one another. We lift each other up. We want every dancer to succeed—and we teach our students to be each other’s biggest supporters, even when that “other” is the competition. We believe you can be competitive, brilliant, and still someone else’s biggest fan.

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Our teachers are creative, kind, and tough. We don’t just cultivate strong dancers—we help shape confident, compassionate humans. Many of our former dancers still call D&G home, even years after they’ve moved on.

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Access for All

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No student is ever turned away due to financial hardship. We are proud that 20–30% of our dancers receive studio scholarships, made possible through the generosity of our families and community partners.

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Thank you for believing in our mission, supporting our dancers, and helping us keep dance accessible, inclusive, and alive in Seattle.

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