MEET OUR STAFF
Exceptional training,
with an extraordinary reputation
All members of our staff work as a team to ensure the studio is run in a highly efficient and well-organized manner. From program administrators to event coordinators, GN employs only dedicated individuals who love what they do, and whose primary goal is to support our growth and vitality.
Our faculty and staff are fully committed to your development and training. You're sure to find a favorite teacher in this diverse group! Our instructors work professionally in various aspects of their field, and bring their expertise and knowledge into the classroom.
OUR STUDIO SPACE
Groove Nation is one of largest studios in the Portland Metro Area. We have over 15,000 square feet of dance space and music rooms as well as accommodation to a variety of parties, events and production shoots in our spacious event center.
Our high-energy facility includes:
5 dance studios, 1 music room, and 1 large 3500sqft room / event space.
Each dance studio is equipped with a high-tech sound system, DJ lights for fun atmosphere, viewing windows for parent observation, cameras in rooms for safety, and suspended floating dance floors to prevent injury.
Our spacious lobby has FREE WIFI, and is a great place to visit with friends, or do some work on your laptop.
For our dancers with breaks, we offer a special “hangout nook” equipped with a microwave and vending machines.
Our parking lot is designed to easily drop off kids without congestion with additional overflow parking, and we are conveniently located near Fred Meyer, Thatchers coffee, a hair and nail salon, and multiple restaurants so you can run errands or hang out with your friends, while the kids are at dance!
OUR FOUNDERS
Beau and Rose Sem
“Our Dream is to make theirs come true”
In 2003, Groove Nation was founded out of a passion that Beau and Rose had, to touch the lives of kids in a transformative way, and put them on a path for success. Using dance as a vehicle, they also teach leadership and character development, to give kids a better chance at accomplishing their personal goals and dreams. Beau and Rose serve this vision, because it is so deep in their heart, by also inspiring our teachers do the same!
Bio
Beau Sem grew up dancing in the “back alleys” as most hip hop dancers did in early 80’s generation of both Portland and Las Vegas. He and his dance crew became well-known local celebrities and performed at many venues throughout the city. Over the years, he developed his teaching and choreographing skills by working with professional colleagues who are now a part of the dance industry. With over 25 years of experience, Beau himself, has become a teacher to the teachers. His choreography style has been described as entertaining, innovative, and inspirational. His creativity, originality and technique has awarded him numerous awards, and has been recognized both nationally and internationally for his work.
From master classes and intensives, to competition adjudications, Beau is highly sought after for his coaching style, expertise, and ability to connect and inspire dancers of all ages and skill levels. His passion is evident, consistent, and above expectation!
Our “Why” behind GN getting started
With a childhood background as a refugee barely escaping the Khmer Rouge of Cambodia, and his troubled teen years he spent involved with street gangs, Beau was faced with feelings of hopelessness, neglect and a lot of frustration. As he got older, he realized his passion was to help young people like himself, find their self-worth and value, while discovering their personal path in life. For Beau, it was his passion for dance that helped keep him focused and to feel like there was something to live for, when times felt the most bleak. This positive outlet in his personal life, turned this “endeavor” into his life mission; to not only to equip kids with the tools needed to overcome adversities, but to also enable them to stay ahead of the game, by teaching ways to thrive in the midst of misfortunes and still develop the core person within. Dance is the vehicle we use... to teach leadership and success principles, and to give kids a second home where they can feel "safe". Together, with our non-profit program New Groove, we have served tens of thousands of kids in the community, many of which have gone to colleges, started their own businesses or have come back to work with us, and help others like themselves.
Creativity is an innate desire…
“To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.”
Osho
WHAT IS NEW GROOVE NON-PROFIT ABOUT?
YOUR DONATION HELPS MORE KIDS JOIN US!
Consider making a DONATION to help kids who are in need of assistance.
Every student deserves to be cared about…
New Groove is a 501c3 Non-Profit committed to inspiring and equipping ordinary kids to become tomorrows community leaders. By tapping into kids’ passion for the arts, we provide key leadership training and cultivate a safe environment for growth. We show kids how to use their gift of dance to impact the world around them.
In a time where teen suicide has gone up by 70% in the last ten years, the economically disadvantaged are at 68%, just in Clark County. The high school dropout rate is 22%, and the amount kids using drugs and/or alcohol is over 38%. New Groove needs partners like you to help change the trajectory of countless lives while helping them accomplish their goals and dreams instead. Teaching life skills, displaying love and showing that someone believes in them, teaching leadership and success principles, and giving kids a second home where they can feel safe, is the proven method for which we have used for over 15 years, and have seen them aspire to do great things in life.
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? GIVE TODAY!
extensive research concludes that children involved in the DANCE & THE arts:
• Consistently outscore those with low exposure to the arts.
• Are 25% more likely to feel satisfied with themselves and eight times more likely to win awards for academic achievement over those students who are involved in sports, academic activities and community service programs
• Are 31% more likely to continue education after high school
• Are better citizens (confident, considerate pro-social, and pro-civic).
Community Involvement
Beau and Rose have served as leaders and advisors for many organizations. Beau has also been interviewed by local media and invited to speak at press conferences, youth events, and juvenile detention centers, and has been awarded multiple awards including, “Most Accomplished & under 40” award by the Vancouver Business Journal, and "Distinguished Alumni" by Fort Vancouver High School.
Groove Nation not only serve hundreds of kids and families weekly, but we also believe in teaching to give back and serve one another’s visions. Over the years, we have partnered with numerous of organizations, schools and programs, in order to help them accomplish their goals as well.
This list is extensive, but we want to list a few:
Vancouver School District, Evergreen School District, Vancouver Parks and Recreation, Washington Childcare Consortiums, Boys and Girls Clubs, Washington State Family Youth and System Roundtable (FYSPRT), Not-For-Profit Network Roundtable, NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness), SeaMar, Vancouver Rotary, Arts Clark County, Leadership Clark County, 100 Women Who Care, Clark County Live, and Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. We have also worked with: SEI, Bloom Collective, The Children’s Center, Doernbecher Children Hospital, Share House & Can We Help (homeless programs)