Santina Rigano-Lesch

About

Hi! It's lovely to e-meet you! I’m a dance educator, choreographer, and performance coach with over 20 years of teaching experience across youth, teens, and adults. I began teaching at 18 and later founded and owned a dance studio in West Seattle, WA, where I built a thriving, community-centered program serving over 400 students weekly before closing due to COVID. My background spans jazz, hip-hop, street jazz, jazz funk, musical theatre, Broadway jazz, stretch & strengthen, sensual grooves, Latin styles, & prop choreography. I’ve coached competition teams, directed performances, supported dancers on and off stage, and stage managed productions and live events, giving me a deep understanding of both the performer and production sides of the industry. I’m also the founder and creator of Basic Bitch Boogie, a movement platform and community centered on embodied movement, nervous system awareness, and reclaiming joy through dance. This work deeply informs my teaching and coaching approach, allowing me to meet dancers where they are and support both technical growth and personal connection to movement. My teaching philosophy centers on community, care, and collaboration. I believe dancers grow best in structured supportive environments where they feel safe to explore & learn, encouraged to take risks & be vulnerable, and empowered to trust their bodies. I’m passionate about creating experiences that build community, confidence, musicality, and long-term artistry. I also believe in meeting each student where they are and teaching the whole human through a nurturing & inclusive experience. I’m currently available for guest instructor opportunities, choreography, performance coaching, and stage management work, and I love collaborating with studios and organizations that value strong training, thoughtful leadership, and positive culture.