Programming for Pre-K Children at Pacific Northwest Ballet

Finance professional Afshan Lakha operates as a principal with Lakha Investments LLC in Bellevue, Washington. When not working, Afshan Lakha enjoys giving back the community and supporting the arts. She is a trustee of Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB), which maintains a wide range of programming for people in and around Seattle. 

PNB maintains several programs geared for the youngest members of the community. Children ages 2 and 3 are welcome to participate in the Duet program with a caretaker or parent. This class focuses on learning rhythm and moving in time to music while having fun. Toddlers can pick up some great moves and work on coordination at the same time. The summer class meets once weekly for five weeks.

Once children reach the age of 4, they can participate in PNB Tots. Students perform in class without parental supervision, and guardians are only allowed to observe on designated days. During the class, children learn how to channel their creativity and express themselves in meaningful ways through dance.

PNB also offers other programs for children up to the age of 7, at which point formal ballet instruction starts. For more information, visit PNB.org.

Interior Design Ideas for Brightening a Dark Room

Afshan Lakha relies on her 20 years of experience as a business executive to oversee operations at Lakha Investment Company, LLC, a commercial real estate firm. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Afshan Lakha enjoys a wide range of hobbies, including interior design.

While natural light is ideal for interior design, not every room has the benefit of sunlight. Fortunately, there are several interior design tricks that can brighten a dark room.

1. Avoid dark furniture. When you add dark, bulky furniture to a dark room, the visual weight of the area is increased. Dark rooms appear brighter when light-toned furniture is used.

2. Add mirrors. A way to reflect natural light throughout a room is with mirrors, which can double the light and make the room appear bigger. Large mirrors are ideal for living rooms and other large areas, while smaller mirrors can help with staircases.

3. Follow the flow of light. When adding bookshelves or other furniture that can block light sources, place the items perpendicular to a window instead of across from it. Further, try bookcases with open shelving to reduce the feeling of heaviness.