Jan Phaigh: Head CoachJAN PHAIGH
Jan has been the head coach of Churchill Dance Team since 1994, when she re-established the program after several years of being dormant. She started dancing at the age of 3 under the instruction of Mrs. Sigel, the mother of Mark Sigel, who originated Dance Theatre of Oregon.
She attended Churchill High School and joined the dance team for her junior year in the fall of 1972 and graduated the spring of 1974.
Jan has experience in ballet, tap, jazz, clogging, and ballroom. She enrolled in Southern Oregon College and performed modern dance with the Southern Oregon Theatre in Ashland, which led to a modeling career in Los Angeles with Robinson-May.
After almost 10 years of being inactive, the CHS dance program exists today because of Jan. She acted as Head Coach, Choreographer, and Administrator for the first 8 years of the program. In 2007, the membership of the Dance and Drill Coaches Association finally recognized Jan for all her hard work by nominating her for Coach of the Year!
Katie Verdoorn: Choreographer
Katie became the coach/choreographer for Churchill Dance Team in the fall of 2004. She started dancing in the first grade and attended Terpsichoria Dance Studio for 8 years where she became trained in tap and jazz.
She attended Gladstone High School where she joined the dance team for 3 years. She was a member during their Championship season in 1998. She was an All-Star recipient at Thunderbird Dance Camp, and an All-State recipient her senior year in 2000.
Katie enrolled in the University of Oregon and joined the dance team under Karl Mundt, where they tied for 9th place at the National Dance Championships in Daytona, Florida.
In the fall of 2002 she moved to Spain to attend school for one year and was inspired to learn flamenco. Upon returning, she sought a position with Churchill while continuing her Spanish studies at the University.
Katie has experience in tap, modern, ballet, flamenco, salsa, and a strong background in stylized jazz. She hopes to expand her repertoire and train in ballroom, contemporary, and tango.