Artistic Director and Founder

June Taylor-Dixon

Photographer - Blaine Covert

The Northwest Dance Theatre was born from the fiery desire of the founder and current Artistic Director June Tayor-Dixon to make participation in dance performances available to the entire community. The result is that NWDT is an environment dedicated to supporting dancers in honing their technical skills, expanding their creative talents and gaining performance experience.

Miss June, as she is fondly addressed by her many loyal students, works tirelessly to nurture aspiring dancers to express themselves through performances and educational outreaches. She continues to stand at the helm of this organization with her exceptional attention to detail and her unique creative input. She is involved with the choreography of all NWDT's productions, and works in close collaboration with prestigious choreographers to continue developing new works. Her dedication has helped the company to grow into a flourishing, community-driven dance company that boosts young dancers into professional dance careers. She has choreographed a wide variety of classical and contemporary works specifically for NWDT.

June Taylor-Dixon was born in Warwick, England and completed her training at the prestigious Pattison's Academy of Dance and Drama in Coventry. She is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dance, the RAD Teachers' program, the International Dance Teachers' Association and the Imperial Society of Dance Teachers. As a professional dancer, Miss June appeared with the Northern Ballet in England and the Wiesbaden Stadtsoper company in Germany. She also performed extensively on the London musical theatre stage and toured the world as part of a music, comedy and dance duo known as 'Con and June'.

Upon retiring from the stage, Miss June founded a dance school and pre-professional jazz company in Wiesbaden, that quickly grew to be greatly acclaimed in the Wiesbaden dance community due to Miss June's remarkable choreography and teaching. In 1983, she moved to Portland, Oregon, where she founded June Taylor's School of Dance in 1984 and Northwest Dance Theatre in 1988. She has returned to Europe by invitation on several occasions to lecture and teach for the International Teachers' seminars.

Co-Artistic Director

Kimberly Schroeder, ARAD

Photographer - Blaine Covert

Miss Kim received her training with June Taylor-Dixon at June Taylor’s School of Dance. She completed all 15 levels of the Royal Academy of Dance, which earned her the title, Associate to the Royal Academy of Dance, (ARAD). From there she was accepted into the Milwaukee Ballet II program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After completing 2 years with Milwaukee Ballet II, Kim performed in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland with Burklyn Ballet as ‘Alice’ in Alice in Wonderland. Kim was invited down to Key West to be in the 2007, 2008 & 2010 productions of the Nutcracker Key West. In 2009 Kim moved to Key West, Florida where she started teaching, choreographing and managing at the CoffeeMill Dance Studio. She performed and choreographed throughout the Key West community with Paradise Ballet Theater, Key West Contemporary Dance Company, Key West Burlesque, Keys Kids and The Waterfront Playhouse's productions of Spamalot and The Producers. In 2016 she moved back to Portland, Oregon and worked at various studios as well as flying back to Key West several times to perform and manage various dance productions. Miss Kim is delighted to be at June Taylor’s School of Dance and looks forward to another great season as Co-Artistic Director for Northwest Dance Theatre!

Resident Choreographer

Cameron Smith Purandare

Miss Cameron hails from Portland, Oregon where she was trained in the Royal Academy of Dance method under Marjorie Soriano while also training in tap and jazz techniques at June Taylor’s School of Dance. Cameron has had an impressive professional dance career spanning fourteen years. She was promoted to soloist with Houston Ballet, principal with Ballet Memphis and principal with Ballet Florida. During her career she danced a wide range of both contemporary and classical roles by some of the dance worlds most renowned choreographers. With a vast wealth of dance knowledge Cameron began teaching and choreographing in 2002. She first started working with Northwest Dance Theatre in 2007 and has served as an assistant artistic director and co-artistic director for the company. In 2008, she developed the Dance Educational Outreach Program for NWDT and has continued presenting it at the Tualatin Library. Along with her work for June Taylor’s School of Dance and NWDT, Cameron also teaches dance classes through Dance for Parkinson’s Oregon.

Board President

Donna Parry

Donna Parry is honored to serve as President on the Northwest Dance Theatre Board of Directors. This is her first year serving on the Board. She previously led the props department and served many years on the costume team. Her love of dance began when she was just a little girl and she is enjoying her continued involvement in the dance community. Outside of NWDT, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters (one who is currently in the Corps de Ballet).