By Scarlett Holtz
Smoke Signals contributing writer

Tribal descendant Chella Anguiano, daughter of Tribal member Susan (Taggart) Anguiano, began teaching dance classes in January in Lincoln City.
“Dancing has always been a dream of mine as long as I can remember,” Chella says.
Ever since she was a little girl, she has loved dancing, Susan says.
 Chella was on the Oregon City Dance Team when she was in middle school.
“Dancing has been a large part of my life,” Chella says. “I can remember when I was a very little girl dancing with my dad. He is the biggest reason I love to dance so much.
 “I was always his ‘Tiny Dancer.’ My dad was an excellent dancer and singer as well. My dad passed away in July 2008.”
 She remembers being in fourth grade and participating in the school talent show.
“My friends and I danced and made music videos,” Chella says. “We called ourselves ‘The Sugar Girls.’ ”
 Although grade school was a difficult time for her because of almost constant moving, she didn’t let it affect her passion for dancing.
“Although this did affect my schooling, it never affected my dancing,” she says. “I made friends quickly in each new school, and we were always able to make up a dance routine and put on a wonderful show.”
While attending Tillamook High School in 2002, she became involved with the Tillamook High School Dance Team and Choir. She choreographed several musicals, including “Music Man,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Wizard of Oz.”
“It has taken me a long time to get where I am at today,” she says. “I have spent a lot of time in dance class. I have participated in numerous musicals, ballroom dances and dance clubs, hip-hop and dance aerobics.”
She attended dance class at the Billings Dance Academy in Portland for one year and began taking dance classes after graduating from Tillamook High School in June 2005. She learned more ballroom dances, West Coast swing, East Coast swing and salsa at the Billings Academy.
So far, she says, “My dreams are coming true and I believe that life is just going to get better and better everyday. I now have a 5-month-old son. I love being a mom, but I cannot wait to begin offering dance classes in the Grand Ronde and Willamina area.
“I will be teaching hip-hop, tap, jazz, cabaret, salsa aerobics and swing aerobics,” she says.
“Someday, I hope to be teaching my son to dance as well. His father is not too happy with the prospect of his son dancing, but for now that is the way it is. As for me, I will continue to dance and see just where it takes me.”