9th Avenue Performing Arts Center is proud to be home to Aria Dance Company and Showstoppers Dance Group and will continue to provide opportunities for education and performing experience to these talented dance companies.

  Click here to view a sample of Aria and Showstoppers year long performances.

If you are looking for experienced dancers for charitable functions, community events, advertising, promotions or public relations, contact us

For more information visit Aria Dance Company dedicated web site: www.ariadancecompany.com

Aria Dance Company is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that was founded by the current Artistic Director, Christina Vandenberg-Suju.  Aria is dedicated to helping dancers achieve self-discipline and artistic  expression through dance.  Although the Company is based in Ballet, it also explores Modern, Jazz, Folk and Character dancing.

For more information and membership contact the School: at  (253) 924-0621 or E-mail Aria

See Company News for ARIA rehearsal times and location.

See School calendar of events for ARIA events.

Remember, It is your generous contributions, patronage and grants that make Aria possible. Aria Dance Company thanks the Federal Way Arts Commission, the City of Federal Way and 4Culture for their generous support.

Aria Dance Company is an active member of the Federal Way Coalition of the Performing Arts (FWCPA) and the South King County Cultural Coalition (SKCCC).

Showstoppers Dance Group Teneka McHenry, Artistic Director

Showstoppers is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1994.  Showstoppers provides students with opportunities to grow as dancers and as performers while exploring various types of dance, such as, jazz, lyrical and tap.

With the guidance of the Artistic Director, Teneka McHenry, dancers are able to experience the rewards of performing and promoting dance in their community.

Showstoppers has open auditions all year to select dancers from the ages of  eight to eighteen for new membership.

For more information and membership contact the School: at  (253) 924-0621 or E-mail showstoppers

See Company News Schedule for Showstoppers rehearsal times and location.

See School calendar of events for SHOWSTOPPERS events.

Showstoppers Performing Group is an active member of the Federal Way Coalition of the Performing Arts (FWCPA) and the South King County Cultural Coalition (SKCCC).

How can you help these talented companies?

Both ARIA DANCE COMPANY and SHOWSTOPPERS DANCE GROUP are non-profit, charitable performing organizations each with a community Board of Directors --all unpaid volunteers. These companies are housed at the Ninth Avenue School of Dance. ARIA is fortunate to have the beautiful, new Knutzen Family Theatre as its performing home.

These dance companies perform for YOU, the audience. Their reward for many, many hours of rehearsal and performance is your praise, your applause, your bravos.

If you have a talent for the arts, you can contribute your talents for the many tasks required to produce quality productions. Music editing and recording, photography, costumes, printing, graphic art design and stage set design are some of the areas where you can help us. If you are interested, contact us at 253 924-0621 or e-mail: Contact us

These companies are not immune from expenses--they have many - WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT! - If you believe in these talented young ladies and gentlemen and if you believe as we do that this is not only about dance and performance but also about building character and integrity, then please NOW become a contributing member.

We are asking for your support. Please select a category suitable to you and write a check to ARIA DANCE COMPANY or SHOWSTOPPERS DANCE GROUP! Contributor names will be duly acknowledged in the participating category in all playbills and in the company's newsletters.

Catagories for ARIA: Director's Circle, $100+; Patron, $76-99; Curtain Raiser, $51-75, Supporter, $26-50, Friends, under $26.

Thank you from Aria Dance Company and Showstoppers Board of Directors!!

Sample of Aria and Showstoppers past performances: 
Aria Dance Company's Full Productions:
"360 DEGREES" Annual production 2004 - Knutzen Family Theare (KFT) - Federal Way/,"Waking" Annual production 2003 - KFT/"Run-On" Annual Production 2002 - KFT/"Divas of the Dance" Annual Production 2001 - KFT/"/Spring Repertoire Showcase and Peter and the Wolf, March 2000. All annual productions performed at the KFT.
Community Performances: (Aria and Showstoppers)
DRA 2005 (Aria) - Pantages Theatre - 2005 HAN WOO-RI Festival - Federal Way, Seattle Health and Beauty Expo (2005) - QUEST Field,Tacoma First Night (2004) - Pantages Theatre -Tacoma/(ARIA), Holiday Food and Gift Festival" - Tacoma Dome (2004), Washington Academy of Performing Art's Showcase (2004), Sports and Entertainment/Hobby Expo" The Commons (Sea Tac Mall) (2004), "Dance for a Purpose", The Broadway Center in Tacoma - a fund raising event (2004) - Washington Academy of Performing Art's Showcase (2004 ARIA), SeaTac Mall (2003), Whirligig at Seattle Center (2002/2003/2004), Puyallup Spring Fling (2002/2003/2004/2005), Lakewood International Festival at Pierce College (2003/2004), Auburn 4th Of July Show (2002), Kent Cornacopia (2002/2003), Bite of Seattle (2002/2003), Kids Day Away at Steel Lake Park (2003, 2004), Federal Way Family Fest (2002, 2003), Browns Point Salmon Bake (2000/2002), Puyallup Fair (2002/2003), Christmas in Seattle (2002/2003), FWCPA annual fund raiser (2001/2002/2003/2004), Winterfest (2002/2003), Zoolights (2003), Kent Cornucopia Days, Enumclaw Fair, Point Defiance Retirement Village, Federal Way Community Concert, Bellarmine Arts & Crafts Show, Winterfest, Super Mall, Federal Way Family Fest, at the Knutzen; Showstoppers - Spotlight Competition.
Showstoppers Performing Group
Federal Way Junior Miss pageant, March 2003/2004
9th Avenue School of Dance's Productions: (Aria and Showstoppers)
9th Avenue School of Dance 1998/1999/2000/2001/2002/2003/2004 End of School Year Recitals (Auburn Performing Arts Center and The Pantages Theatre in Tacoma).
The Nutcracker, Knutzen Family Theatre 1998/1999/2000/2001/2002/2003/2004 season.
Jesus Christ Superstar, Knutzen Family Theatre and Kentwood Performing Arts Theatre 1998.