About Us
Barbara's School of Dance was founded in Anchorage in 1973. The studio is a family owned and operated business and has had the great pleasure of serving thousands of families in the Anchorage area for over 50 YEARS!
Our mission is to create a warm, supportive space where students learn dance with strong technique, age-appropriate material, and positive encouragement. We aim to inspire expressive, confident dancers who grow both on and off the stage. Along the way, students build coordination, fitness, creativity, and lasting friendships.
If your child is just beginning, you’ll be amazed by their growth into a skilled dancer and confident young adult!
Faculty
Barbara Clausen
Founder & Co-Owner
Barbara has been educating students for over 60 years! From the University of Colorado, Barbara received a Bachelor of Science in Dance Education & Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She started teaching dance at sixteen years old & also formerly taught as a kindergarten teacher in the Alaska State Operated School System and as a dance teacher at University of Alaska.
Barbara had an illustrious professional dance career. As a young girl she was a part of many radio and live TV dance performances such as Country Music Jamboree and Tap-Square Dance. She also engaged in volunteer work such as performing for hospitalized polio patients. In 1966, Barbara was hired by the USO as a featured soloist to entertain servicemen both stateside & overseas. During this time Barbara performed in 19 foreign countries and even received a letter of appreciation from the Department of the Airforce.
Barbara has dedicated her life to bringing the art and joy of dance to the Anchorage community. She is even certified to teach dance by Dance Masters of America & has received an award in business leadership from the Northrim Bank. Working with students is her greatest joy, and she strives to help students become wonderful dancers as well as wonderful people!
Tori Roberts
Director & Co-Owner
Tori is proud to continue the legacy of Barbara’s School of Dance! Now serving as director, she carries forward the values and love of dance passed down to her by her mom... Barbara!
Tori received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance & a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Chapman University. Her training began at age 3 and she has since studied tap, acrobatics, ballet, jazz, lyrical, and modern. She has been teaching for over 30 years with great success!
Tori has danced, choreographed and directed for numerous productions throughout the country. She performed as one of the world-famous Radio City Rockettes for seven years (five years as a Swing & two years as the Line Captain). She also danced in the musical “Will Rogers Follies,” performed in Wild Bills Western Dinner Theater, and worked with Norwegian Cruise Line. Her choreography has been featured by Ballet Unlimited California, Chapman University, South Coast Conservatory, & more!
Tori has been coaching award winning competitive dance teams for the past twenty-five years, both in Alaska and the lower 48! Her efforts have earned her titles including Best Choreography, Most Entertaining, Top Overall National Junior Solo, Terrific Tap, and Most Age Appropriate at competitions such as NUVO, 5678 Showtime, Dance Driven, Tremaine, Spotlight, Showstopper, Starbound, & others. She loves her students like family and looks forward to many more years of teaching, choreographing, and sharing her love of dance!
Caitlin Roberts
Creative Director
Caitlin grew up at Barbara’s School of Dance, learning from her mom (Tori) & grandma (Barbara)! She began her dance training in 2004 and has since studied tap, acrobatics, jazz, musical theater, hip-hop, contemporary, modern, and ballet. In 2024, she earned her BA in Dance from Loyola Marymount University.
Caitlin launched her professional career in 2022, performing as a field dancer and member of the California Love cast in the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show. She went on to work with Disneyland Resort Entertainment, dancing in Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! Parade. She has also performed with Scarlett Entertainment, a global entertainment company that collaborates with top-tier talent to create unforgettable live experiences worldwide. Beyond performance, Caitlin has partnered with Bow Seat Creative Action for Conservation, serving as a performing arts judge for their Ocean Awareness Contest.
As a choreographer, Caitlin’s work has been recognized both collegiately and within the competitive dance world. At Loyola Marymount University, she created two works selected for the Spring Choreographic Showcase, with one piece chosen as the finale for the Senior Thesis Showcase. Her choreography has earned numerous awards at NUVO Dance Competition, including DJ’s Pick, Best NU Group, Studio Pick, and multiple overall placements. Additionally, her work at 5678 Showtime Competition has been invited to compete at Dance World Cup. Caitlin’s choreography is known for its storytelling, vibrancy, and rhythmic flair.
Currently, Caitlin enjoys teaching and sharing her passion and knowledge with her students, while continuing to perform professionally when opportunities arise.
