Faculty

Suzanne Ostersmith

Instructor and Program Director

(509) 313-5974
ostersmith@gonzaga.edu

Courses: Jazz, Movement for Performers, Strategies in Dance Instruction, Musical Theatre, Choreography

Suzanne Ostersmith has taught and worked professionally in theatre and dance throughout the west coast and in Central and South America. Her degree in theater is from the University of California San Diego. In addition she studied at the American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco, the British American Drama Academy, Oxford, England, and with studios accredited by the Royal Academy of Dance. Currently Suzanne is the Director of the Gonzaga Dance Program. She has taught, choreographed dance, and directed theatre performances at Gonzaga and Whitworth Universities for the past decade. Her directing and/or choreographing credits at Gonzaga include Urinetown, The Crane Wife, Seussical, Weaving Our Sisters' Voices, Zink, Pippin, The Honorable Urashima Taro, The Medieval Mysteries and works for the annual dance concerts. Each year Suzanne takes students from both Gonzaga and Whitworth to the American College Dance Festival.

Pam Erickson

Adjunct Instructor

(509) 313-6083
erickson@gonzaga.edu

Courses: Ballet, Modern, Dance History

Pam Erickson began her training and performing career with the Santa Barbara Ballet Company, and is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Her professional credits include performances with the San Francisco Dance Theatre, the Chamber Dance Ballet Company of San Francisco, the Sphinx Jazz-Ballet Company of Vienna, Austria, and in Broadway-style revues abroad the MS Crystal Harmony cruise ship. She recently choreographed for Spokane's World Aids Day performance and for the Theatre Ballet of Spokane's Spring Concert. As a dance instructor, Pam has taught at Western Washington University and the University of Utah; during the past two years she has also taught master classes at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. She teaches at Spokane's Ballet Arts Academy and is a national adjudicator for Spotlight Dance Competition. Currently she is an instructor at both Gonzaga and Whitworth Universities.

Karla Parbon

Adjunct Instructor

(509) 313-6083
parbon@gonzaga.edu

Courses: Jazz, Conditioning, Hip Hop

Karla Parbon is a graduate of Whitworth University. After getting her degree she trained exclusively in studio where she performed and competed in jazz, tap, modern/contemporary, and hip hop for 12 years across the state of Washington. Karla has choreographed several musicals for the Christian Youth Theatre and for the Gonzaga Preparatory Competitive Dance Team and was their choreographer and advisor for seven years. Currently, Karla is a faculty member in the dance programs at both Gonzaga University and Whitworth University, where she teaches jazz, dance conditioning, and hip hop. Karla is also the Dance Ministry Leader at Life Center Church, where she choreographs and performs pieces for services and special events.

Patricia McArdle

Adjunct Instructor

(509) 313-6083

Courses: Jazz, Hip Hop/Fusion

Patricia McArdle is a graduate of Gonzaga University, and has been involved with dance and theater for over twenty years, working in a variety of productions in Washington, Idaho, California, and Hawaii. She is thrilled to be back at Gonzaga University after a ten-year absence. Currently she teaches dance at Gonzaga and Whitworth Universities.