Cathy Roe is owner of Cathy Roe Video Productions and Santa Fe Studio Stage, a fully-equipped sound stage for video production. Cathy has produced over 100 educational dance videos that sell internationally. Cathy's credentials also include acting as dance director for the University of Hawaii, choreographer for Hong Kong Television, adjudicator for numerous competition companies, studio owner and professional choreographer for numerous musical theater companies.
Giulio Scatola originates from Rome, Italy. He studied Ballet, Jazz, Modern Dance, Acting and Singing in various cities and academies such as: Maurice Bejart École-Atelier in Switzerland, David Horward Dance Center and at the Alvin Ailey Studios, both in New York. He danced with Maurice Bejart’s Company, Martha Graham’s Company and Pina Bausch right hand Malou Airoudo amongst others. The last fifteen years have seen Giulio perform musical theatre; he was namely in the original European cast of Fosse, under the direction of Anne Reinking; in the original West End production of Notre Dame de Paris, under the direction of Gilles Maheu; and with Trevor Nunn in Cats and Starlight Express. He was also a soloist dancer and singer in the Hit Musicals Saturday Night Fever (directed by Arlene Philips) and Dance of the Vampires in Vienna, directed by Roman Polanski. He played Freddy Mercury in the Musical tribute We Are The Champions in Germany and was also in the cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamCoat and Neil Simon’s Promises, Promises. Giulio started working as Associate Choreographer in various productions. To name a few: Best Of Musical Gala Tour (Stage Entertainment), FIFA Presidential Election (Morocco 2004), Peugeot Rimini Art Festival. He was resident Director/Choreographer for the European tour Faster Than Magic (Stage Entertainment) which opened in Las Vegas in 2006. He has directed and choreographed a short dance movie for Cirque du Soleil One Drop charity foundation event and also a few shows for the Las Vegas VIBE Performing Arts Centre and Rag Tag Entertainment.
He is councilman for the F.I.D. (Italian Dance Federation) and his choreographies have won various international prizes (Rieti, Hannover, David of Michelangelo to name a few). Giulio has given several workshops and seminars all over the world (Portugal, France, England, Italy, Austria, USA and Germany to name a few).
Giulio Scatola is currently working for Cirque du Soleil Casting in Las Vegas as Artistic Specialist/Advisor.
Adrian Wiltshire, a.k.a. A Dub, brings a wealth of experience and excitement to the Conference. With the group the Amount Boyz he has toured nationally and internationally with such artists as Eve, Nelly, Jessica Simpson, Destiny’s Child and 3LW on the MTV TRL and Scream 3 Tours. Adrian’s video and choreography credits are extensive including work with Baby DC and Imajin for Jive Records. He has appeared as a featured dancer in the Motion Pictures, “Honey,” “Stomp The Yard” and “Dreamgirls.” He has now branched off into music. Adrian began his training at the age of 4 at Janet’s Dance Studio in New York. He later attended New York’s LaGuardia High School of Music and Performing Arts before receiving a scholarship to study at the School of American Ballet. As he furthered his studies in tap, jazz, ballet and modern, Adrian discovered his love for hip hop and his natural ability for sharing his talent through teaching.
Jessica Rizzo has been fortunate to have graced stages all over the world and the United States. Favorite works include, the national tour of Guys and Dolls dancing alongside Maurice Hines, the European tour of Grease, West Side Story, Cabaret, Sweet Charity, Salute to Dudley Moore at Carnegie Hall, guest dancer with IMPULSE Modern Dance Company as well as lyrical and modern works by Suzi Taylor and Megan Brazil. Jess is in demand as choreographer and teacher in the NYC area as well as all over the country; specializing in the genres of contemporary/modern and musical theatre. She recently worked with the cast of LA REVE at the Wynn Las Vegas. Jess is also master teacher and adjudicator for various national dance competitions and is the creator of her CARDIO BURLESQUE CLASS for adults, which has been a hit across the country! Jessica’s class places a contemporary spin on the modern genre and touches upon styles and techniques from multiple dance idioms. Along with emphasis on ballet technique, warm-up, across the floor and centre work also integrates full-release technique, pedestrian movement and the nuances of weight transfer and breath. Special attention is given to the differentiation of these opposing techniques and how they seamlessly combine; while style, performance quality, intent and attention to detail is stressed. Known for her play on musicality, Jess’ center combinations showcase her own extensive background ranging the gamete of raw and edgy to lyrical and fluid to traditional modern phrases with hints of the jazz influence
James Whiteside began his training at age nine at the D’Valda & Sirico Dance and Music Centre, under the direction of Angela D’Valda and Steve Sirico. Guest faculty at the Dance Centre includes Franco DeVita, Raymond Lukens, and Charles Kelley. James enrolled at the Virginia School of the Arts for one year under the direction of Petrus Bosman. In 2002, he joined Boston Ballet II. James has also taught ballet and jazz at competitions and conventions internationally as well as at Boston Ballet School and Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program. He was promoted to the Corps de Ballet in 2003, Second Soloist in 2006, First Soloist in 2008 and to Principal Dancer in 2009. Whiteside’s repertory includes the world premieres of Jorma Elo’s Plan to B, Carmen, Brake the Eyes, and In on Blue, Helen Picket’s Etesian and Eventide, and Val Caniparoli’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, Lucinda Child’s Ten Part Suite, Heather Myers' Gone Again, and Mark Morris’ Up and Down. He has also been seen in Balanchine’s Ballo Della Regina, The Four Temperaments (2nd Theme, Sanguinic Man), Serenade (Elegy Man), La Valse, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander), Rubies Pas de Deux, Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker (Cavalier, Snow King), and Swan Lake (Pas De Cinq, Pas De Trois), Pepita’s The Sleeping Beauty (Puss ‘n Boots) and Raymonda Act III, Jiří Kylián’s Serabande, Cranko’s The Taming of the Shrew (Gremio) and Romeo & Juliet (Benvolio), James Kudelka’s Cinderella (Officer), Sabrina Matthews' Ein Von Veil, Tudor's Dark Elegies, Twyla Tharp's In The Upper Room, and Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena. In 2007, Whiteside traveled to Germany and Poland performing with former colleague Mateo Klemmayer’s company “M and Company”. There he performed Viktor Plotnikov’s Tension and Beauty and What Would You Make of it?.
Dolly Kelepecz has been teaching as part of UNLV's part time faculty since 1983. Her first love is teaching ballet and dance. She was a professional dancer but, she now owns pilates studios around the world. She owns pilates studios in Japan, Mexico and soon to open in Korea. She has published a pilates book in Japanese that is in it's 3rd printing and it includes a DVD. She devleoped the pilates program for the UNLV dance department and two sememsters are required to graduate with your BFA in dance. She has her own television show that airs 5 days a week in Las Vegas and has produced 5 pilates DVD's for the U.S. Market.
Louis Kavouras joined the UNLV Dance Faculty in 1992. In 1994 he was elected chair of the department. Kavouras has been a principal dancer of the Erick Hawkins Dance Company and faculty member of the Erick Hawkins School of Dance since 1996. The Erick Hawkins Dance Company is a professional, New York based, modern dance company founded by modern dance pioneer, Erick Hawkins. Kavouras has studied with modern dancers Kathryn Karipides, Kelly Holt, Erick Hawkins, Betty Jones, Lucas Hoving, Donald McKayle, Peter Pucci, Gus Solomons, Jr., Rudy Perez, Claire Porter, and Clay Taliaferro. Kavouras is accomplished as a choreographer, designer, visual and graphic artist. His dances have been showcased in Nevada, Ohio, North Carolina, Texas, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Australia, Scotland, England, China, Korea, Japan, Denmark, Russia, Nova Scotia, and Jamaica. Kavouras believes in creating dances which are uniquely his own, and range from "hilarious" to "poignant." He comes from a total theater tradition and explores all interdisciplinary avenues between the arts.
Alisa Finney is the Artistic Director of the Melbourne Ballet Company. The Company was launched in May 2007 and has established itself with the presentation of Project One "In Paradisium" June 2007, Project Two "Balanced Perspectives" in March 2008, Project Three "Scarce Resources" May 2008, Project Four "Emerge" December 2008, Project Five "believe" May 2009 and Project Six "Moment of Inertia" December 2009 as a vibrant and exciting arts organisation. The company’s repertoire aims to be acclaimed not only for its inventive choreography but for its dedication to every aspect of theatricality. The common thread with all works presented by Melbourne Ballet Company is the uncompromising standard of excellence and dedication to producing works with a professional command of every aspect of staging. This includes not only the high calibre of the dancers employed but the design, music, costumes and lighting of every performance.
Tim Santos started performing in the Christmas Spectacular at New York City's famed Radio City Music Hall in 1994. His roles have included Swing, Dance Captain, Assistant Choreographer and Assistant Director. He has played a large part in auditioning, casting, rehearsing, workshopping and maintaining the world famous Radio City Rockettes and the men and women of the Radio City Ensemble. He remains a member of the Creative Staff as well as well as a performing member of the Ensemble. Tim's training began in Akron, OH, and his professional dance career took off in productions of the The Metropolitan Opera (Aida, La Traviata, Don Giovanni, Samson et Dalila, La Gioconda and Die Fledermaus), the Cleveland Opera (Faust, Lucia di Lammermore and The Merry Widow) and the Houston Grand Opera (Aida). He was the assistant to Herbert Ross for Jubilee! At Carnegie Hall. He has appeared in many regional productions including The Wizard of Oz at Actor's Theater of Louisville, Evita at Houston's Theater Under the Stars, and Gigi, On the Town, Camelot and Phantom at Pittsburgh's Civic Light Opera. His favorite TV credits include the ABC remake of Bye Bye Birdie, choreographed by Ann Reinking, the Super Bowl XXXIV half-time show and The Conan O'Brien Show. He is a member of Actor's Equity Association, Screen Actor's Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the American Guild of Musical Artists and the American Guild of Variety Artists. Tim is an Artistic Advisor for Rosie's Broadway Kids - a new arts education program founded by Rosie O'Donnell, which brings a professional Broadway experience to 5th grade students in the New York City Public Schools. He has also worked extensively as a teacher and choreographer for the National Dance Institute in New York City. Tim is thrilled to be bringing his love of musical theater and dance to more young performers as the Artistic Director of Broadway Theater Dance Worksho
Sharon Fernandez trained with Alisa Finney at the Gay Wightman School of Ballet where she was awarded the full senior scholarship in 2004. Sharon started her professional career at age 11 with The Australian Ballet performing in Graeme Murphys The Nutcracker. Sharon joined the Melbourne Ballet Company in May 2007 as a Principal Dancer. In Project One she performed the role of Najida in Simon Hoys "In Paradisium" as well as soloist roles in Phases by Justine Miles and Premiere Amore.Sharon performed the role of Summer in "In One Day" , and the principal role in Keine Ahnung by Damien Gmeur for Project Two. In Project Three Sharon performed Principal roles in "Drenched" and "Submerged". Sharon choreographed "Premiere Amore" for Project One and the athletic 2XU in Project Four "Emerge' December 2008. In 2009 Sharon choreographed "Wall 2 Wall" for Project Five and danced principal roles in "Infinite Space" and "Submerged".p.
Simone DePaolo studied locally prior to her acceptance into Alvin Ailey’s School of American Dance. She continued her studies in New York City before moving to Europe to headline as a dancer/singer. She has performed extensively throughout Europe and northern Africa in various clubs, resorts and aboard cruise ships. Simone's many credits include "Smokey Joe's Cafe," "Streakin Through the 70's," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Toob Time." She has performed with jazz pianist, John Eaton and the band Odyssea. An award winning choreographer, Simone adjudicates and teaches for major dance organizations throughout the country.
Jennifer "J.V." Goecke Jennifer "J.V." Goecke is originally from Huntsville, Alabama and now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. She received her B.A. in Dance from the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she was also on faculty. She was the Ballet Company and Competition Director for Birmingham Dance Theatre for 12 years and is currently the Performing Group Director at Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts. She is the creator and director of the "Jumpstart Boot Camp", a weekend studio program to motivate, advance, and build better dancers. She is a faculty member of "The Pulse", she was recently seen in an issue of Dancer Magazine and her students can be seen in Dance Spirit this month. Her studio has been home to "Dancing With the Stars" contestants, Toni Braxton, Wayne Newton, and most recently, DWTS's winner, Donny Osmond. J.V. recently worked with MGM and Taniwha Productions for the High Rollers Ball featuring Sarah Brightman and Earth, Wind, Fire. She recently completed an industrial for Mercedes-Benz and her work has been featured on ESPN and The Travel Channel. J.V. is the current Scholarship Chairman for Dance Masters of America Chapter #33. She has many students working in television, movies, and on Broadway. She is a convention teacher and judge for The Pulse, Dance Olympus, International Dance Challenge, and Dance Masters of America just to name a few. She has won numerous regional and national awards for her choreography and continues to choreograph for dance studios, universities, and private corporate events throughout the country. J.V. works as a artistic consultant and can be found traveling the country teaching students of all ages. Outside of dance, she can also be heard on a Contemporary Christian album recorded at Dark Horse Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Her favorite piece of "choreography" is her 3 year old son, Connor.
Tricia Gomez is the owner of HYPE Studios. Her professional stage credits include LA Laker Girls, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyfest Aisa to name a few. She was the head judge on CBS's "Dance Revolution" and has choreographed award winning parades for guest talent at Disneyland & Disney World. Tricia has also choreographed for the LA Laker Girls, LA Clipper Girls &TV shows "Saved by the Bell" and Malibu CA. Her dance experience has led her to create the industry renound product "Hip Hop In a Box" that has been featured as editor's picks in just about every dance magazine possible. She was even featured on the Dr. Phil Show as their Dance Expert where she led groups through teamwork exercises with Hip Hop In a Box. When Tricia is not working at the studio, she can be found sleeping!
Andrew Ward trained at The Royal Ballet School, winning the International Ballet Competition Prix de Lausanne before joining The Royal Ballet. He had created roles in works by Ashton, MacMillan and Tetley and performed in ballets by John Neumeier, Rudolf Nureyev and Jerome Robbins. He was chosen by Ashton to appear in Rhapsody alongside Baryshinkov, Collier, and other Royal Ballet soloists for The Queen Mother’s 80th birthday celebration gala. In 1985, he joined The Boston Ballet as soloist, dancing several principal roles including the Prince in Nutcracker. He also taught classes at the Boston Ballet’s School and Company. He joined English National Ballet, in 1989, before retiring as a dancer. In 2003, he set up a Dance Promotion Company named Dance Forward and presented A Gala of Dance with Stars of The Royal Ballet at the Bermuda Festival. In 2005 he set up a residential Easter Dance School in London. Now in its 6th year it continues to attract a world class faculty with students attending from around the globe. www.danceforward.co.uk Since 2007, Andrew has been a guest teacher for English National Ballet and also works for International Dance Supplies as Development Manager.
Judith Vardy, is a Ballet Examiner with the Royal Academy of Dance of which HM the Queen is Patron, enabling her to travel all over the world grading RAD pupils on their achievements. She also holds Fellowship Status with The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, the highest accolade awarded in dance teaching qualifications, and specialises in Tap, Modern Theatre and National/Folk Dance. A few years ago Judith became an ‘Affiliated Dance Adjudicator’ with The British Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech, giving her even more opportunities to travel the world as an ambassador for the festival movement. As well as the aforementioned dance qualifications Judith is an Associate Member of London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Acting), and holds the RADA Certificate in Shakespeare.
She is Principal of her own theatre school in Warwickshire, England offering fabulous studio facilities, and an excellent teaching faculty. Having choreographed and directed many shows in England, she now divides her time working extensively throughout the USA and UK.
Albert Blaise Cattafi began dancing in New Jersey thanks to his sister Elena, and since that time has established himself as a fine young artist. His training includes the renowned faculties of both the Joffrey Ballet School and Kelly Allen's For Dancer's Only. Albert was featured in Jeff Amsden's "A Few Good Men... Dancin'", has appeared in an international Coke Zero commercial, and is a member of Rasta Thomas' "Bad Boys". As a soloist, his dancing has graced such famous stages as The New Amsterdam in NYC, Sadler Wells in London, and the Lucent Danse Theater in Holland. He has worked Tony Award winning directors Des McAnuff and Jerry Mitchell, and, to great acclaim, played the role of "Toto" in McAnuff's "The Wiz". Cattafi has assisted some of the countries top choreographers including Sergio Trujillo, Ray Leeper, and Mia Michaels, as well as assisting on the creation several Broadway shows including "Billy Elliot", "Spider-Man", and "Tarzan" (Holland). He was also the assistant choreographer on world-renowned director Franco Dragone's, "INDIA". Albert is a proud recipient of the Mr. Dance of America ‘04 title and continues to believe that you can never stop learning and therefore never stop growing.
Born in France, Sylvie Guillaumin-Mesnier studied ballet at the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet School. At age 16, she graduated from the school and made her way through the ranks of the world renowned Company, becoming a Soloist in 1983. She was trained by famous artists Nina Viroubova, Josette Amiel, and Gilbert Mayer. In 1984, she won a Bronze Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Helsinki, Finland. This led her to accept a contract as “Principal” with the Northern Ballet Theatre in Manchester, England. As this company changed hands in 1987, she moved to the US as Principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, WA. Guillaumin’s repertoire includes every major leading role, including Giselle, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Swanilda in Coppelia, Clara in the Nutcracker, and Paquita. She also danced the leading roles in Theme and Variations, Symphony in C, Agon, 4 Temperaments, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tzigane, Ravel Concerto among other Balanchine and Robbins works, and Juliet in Kent Stowell’s Romeo and Juliet. Ballets have been created on Guillaumin: Robert de Warren (Desdemona in his newly choreographed Othello), Joseph Lazzini (Cantadagio), and Amedeo Amodio (Suite Italienne), Lar Lubowitch, and Val Caniparoli also created unique parts for her. Guillaumin was privileged to interpret lead roles in works by Anthony Tudor, Paul Taylor, Glen Tetley, Maurice Béjart, Bill Whitener, Ann Reinking, among others. Guillaumin toured extensively, dancing on major stages worldwide: Paris Opera (France), Bolshoi (Russia), Mariinsky (St Petersburg), Covent Garden (London), and in the United States, Japan, Finland, Greece, Spain or Italy. She premiered the role of Odette/Odile in a new version of Swan Lake choreographed by André Prokovsky in the presence of HRH Princess Margaret, and was invited to participate in a gala organized as a tribute honoring Dame Ninette de Valois.
Since her retirement from stage, Guillaumin dedicated her life to coaching aspiring dancers, sharing her love and passion for ballet. She teaches repertoire and technique, specializing in competition coaching. Her masterful experience allows her to help dancers of all ages reveal themselves. Sylvie Guillaumin is co-founder with husband Michel of Harmonie Knitwear. Today, she designs apparel at Gaynor Minden, dedicating her time and energy to create beautiful garments and demonstrating the benefits of the pointe shoes, explaining how it helps beginners and professionals alike and how much it serves the art of ballet.
The Strikers have performed across the United States in numerous top tier cities such as Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles. Members of the Strikers Allstars have incessantly displayed their powerful style of dance on several major television networks, to include ABC, NBC, CBS, Turner South, and have most recently electrified viewers on BET and MTV. Members have also displayed the utmost professionalism and career defining performances in major entertainment events such as the Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show with The Artist Formally known as Prince and the Grammy Awards with Kanye West and Jamie Foxx. A few of their achievements include participating in Nickelodeon’s new children’s show “The Fresh Beat Band”, and “Randy Jackson’s: America’s Best Dance Crew,” lasting 6 out of its 8 weeks in competition. Members of the Strikers All Stars have been blessed with the opportunity to work with some of today’s top celebrities and artists including Keri Hilson, John C. McGinley, Whitney Houston, Rhianna, Toni Braxton, Lil Mama, Lil Wayne, Kristinia DeBarge, Keke Palmer, and actor Derek Luke. Most recently, members of the Strikers All Stars will be featured in several new motion pictures such as Disney’s “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” with the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, “Alvin and the Chipmunks : The Squeakuel”, “Freak Dance”, and “Stomp the Yard 2”.
Outside of the glitz and glamour of television and media, the Strikers All Stars have also began to make their mark in the community. Members of the crew have made appearance and performed at multiple schools across the country in an effort to promote the importance of a quality education, proper fitness and community involvement. The Strikers All Stars have also recently partnered with the Special Olympics and Actor John C. McGinley’s “Spread the Word to End the Word” Campaign. This campaign was created to eradicate the use of the word “retard” or “retarded”, as it is demeaning for a demographic of individuals who lack the capacity to defend themselves. The Strikers All Stars have taken a pledge to defend that demographic and be a positive role model for our youth.
Their unique, power packed and always energetic style of dance has begun to attract aspiring dancers across the nation. The crew has set up several dance workshops in major cities to share their gift of hip hop, step, urban soul, African, contemporary, and gospel dance genres to further the expansion and acceptance of their style. The nature of this crew provides multiple ranges of audiences through its collegiate affiliation, down south tradition, professionalism, and clean cut charisma. From “A” List Performances to being positive influences on today’s youth, the Strikers Allstars have won America’s heart and have become a Power House in Entertainment and Leadership.
Deborah Quilter is a New York City-based writer, consultant, fitness professional and author of The Repetitive Strain Injury Recovery Book (Walker, New York 1998) and coauthor of Repetitive Strain Injury: A Computer User's Guide (with Emil Pascarelli, M.D., John Wiley & Sons, New York 1994). The latter book has received hundreds of reviews and mentions in the national press. Amazon.com calls it the "bible" of RSI; Jane Brody, health columnist for the New York Times, called the book "a comprehensive guide dealing with many repetitive stress injuries." Readers call the book "the best and most complete guide on this subject." The Computer User's Guide is available in a Chinese language translation; the Recovery Book in a Dutch translation. Ms. Quilter has lectured about repetitive strain injury at the New York Times, Time Inc. (including People and Life magazine staff), and various business, medical and lay groups around the country and abroad. Ms. Quilter trains clients in her special exercise techniques, conducts workshops on relaxation and coping skills for people with RSI, and performs workstation evaluations and technique retraining for private and corporate clients. She also wrote a monthly column on ergonomics for Computer Currents, and has been interviewed on NBC News, Fox News, New York 1, and national and international newspapers, magazines and radio shows. She was the keynote speaker for two conferences on RSI in the Netherlands in November 2000. She is Director of Yoga at the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City, and her senior Yoga class was featured on Martha and endowed with a grant by Kripalu Yoga Teachers Association. She works as a movement therapist at H&D Physical Therapy in Manhattan.
Beverly F. Spell has taught ballet for over 30 years, the last 11 as a studio owner. As a dancer, she trained with many great teachers, including Gwynne Ashton, and was a scholarship student at the School of the American Ballet and Harkness Ballet. She is a graduate of the National Academy of Arts in Champaign, Illinois. In 2003 Beverly began sharing her experience with other dance teachers through Leap ’N Learn™. In 2004 she co-authored and released, with Annie Spell, Ph.D., the Leap ’N Learn - A Comprehensive Early Childhood Dance Syllabus. In addition to creating a program taught by teachers worldwide, Beverly has written several DANCEcamps for studios to use as income and enrollment boosters during slow seasons, designed dance coloring books, collaborated with composer Scott Killian and producer Finis Jhung on two children’s dance class CDs based on the Leap ’N Learn™ Syllabus, developed children’s dance class CDs based on the Leap ’N Learn™ Syllabus, developed many dance classroom teaching props, and with her husband, Carrol, designed The Ultimate Barre. In addition to running her own successful studio and Leap ’N Learn™, Beverly serves as a guest teacher for student master classes and ballet workshops throughout the United States. Beverly has also presented her teaching methods at The Dance Teacher Summit, Rhee Gold’s Dance Life Conference, Finis Jhung’s Teacher Training Seminars, The Ailey Extension Teacher Workshop, Oklahoma City University, and various Dance Master Chapter Workshops, and at numerous other dance organizations and private studios throughout the United States. Through Leap ’N Learn™, Beverly’s goal is to continue to share her experience by providing resources and teacher training for dance teachers so that they may easily render safe, effective, and enjoyable dance training for their students.
The 2011 Conference & Expo All-Star Faculty - Coming Soon!
Scroll down to see all the internationally renowned faculty that presented in 2010...many will be back along with a few new surprises!
Steve Sirico and Angela D’Valda Sirico have been industry leaders for over thirty years, performing, teaching and choreographing all over the world. For the past 23 years they have owned and directed a successful studio in Fairfield, CT, where they continue to produce students of the highest standard. They are renowned teachers of teachers. Angela and Steve were on the faculty of Dance Educators of America’s Teacher Training program for many years. Steve is the author of his own Jazz syllabus and together they authored their Partner syllabus, both used for Teacher Training worldwide.
Ryan Kasprzak is currently performing in the national tour of Billy Elliot, the Musical. Ryan appeared on SYTYCD Seasons 5 and 6 along with his brother, Evan. He continues to create new work with Parallel Exit: Physical Comedy Theater. Their show Cut to the Chase was nominated for a Drama Desk Award and This Way, That Way prompted the NY Times to say Kasprzak, “can get laughs simply by breathing.” Their comic tap musical Time Step played the Joyce SoHo and is transferring to the New Victory Theater in April 2010. Ryan was nominated for a New York Innovative Theater Award for Outstanding Choreography and served as dance captain for the International Tour of Fosse. Ryan has been honored to perform with such legendary entertainers as Liza Minelli, Ann Reinking, Ben Vereen, Gregory Hines, Jimmy Slyde, and the Nicholas Brothers. www.ryankasprzak.com
Wayne Sleep is an icon in the dance industry and a former principal with the Royal Ballet Company, where he had numerous roles created for him. He performed as the lead in West End Of London productions such as Cats, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Midsummer Night's Dream, She Stoops to Conquer, A Soldier's Tale, Cabaret, The Point, Into Thin Air and Song And Dance. As a choreographer he is well renowned both for Theatre and Television productions. Mr Sleep was appointed OBE in 1998. He is a Patron of the British Ballet Organization and a Vice President of the Royal Academy Of Dance. He has two entries in the Guiness Book of Records, one of which he established with an entrechat douze, a jump with twelve beats, that still stands today. He directed, choreographed and appeared in his own dance revue of "Dash" in the West End of London, culminating in a world tour. Wayne is also the author of two books. To see more about Wayne visit www.waynesleep.org
This past year Leslie Scott worked closely with recording artist Ciara and Missy Elliot's choreographer, Hi Hat, on the "The Choreographer" and was also a finalist for Bravos' "Step It Up". She has danced for recording artists Beyonce, Ee-De, Angel, Latin Froz on camera and in live performances and performed at both the Billboard Music Awards and the Radio Music Awards. Leslie is not only known for her fierce stage presence but has proven herself as a unique choreographer and Artistic Director. She was the Artistic Director, Choreographer and Lead Dancer for The Audio Club signed by Interscope Records and single handedly transformed lead singer Ashley Allan Lee into a bonified DIVA! She has been featured 9 times at Hollywood's Carnival Choreographer's Ball! She is a faculty member at Hollywood’s top dance studios, EDGE Performing Arts Center and Millennium Dance Complex. Check out her work at www.youtube.com/user/lesliescott10
They teach Master Classes in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical Jazz and Partner work all over the world including residencies in England, Spain, Costa Rica and Mexico. From 2003-2005 they were presenting faculty for Dance Teacher Magazine’s Summer Conference in NYC where they received the overall highest attendee rating all three years. In 2007 Steve and Angela launched DanceTeacherWeb.com, an online creative and business resource for teachers and studio owners nationally and internationally. www.danceteacherweb.com
Native Israelis, Avi Miller and Ofer Ben are tap dancers, performers, teachers, and lecturers who studied 'Hoofing' with a large amount of tap teachers and mentors, which are linked directly to the origins of tap. They also incorporate in their work 'Middle Eastern' and Israeli movements which they studied from their late Israeli Master Ya'acov Kalusky. Their tap dancing experience spans on over 35 years and in countries such as: Australia, Canada, China, Finland, Holland, Israel, Japan, Thailand and throughout the USA. They perform as a duo: ‘Miller & Ben - The Israeli Hoofers’ or with their professional company: ‘Tap Tel-Aviv Dance Troupe’. In 2001, they relocated their Jazz Tap Center, Inc. production offices to New York. They established the not-for-profit incorporation: Tradition In Tap, Inc. - and produce tap workshops and performances devoted to the preservation of various tap masters' historic legacy and technique. www.TraditionInTap.org
The Jazz Tap Center is also home of The Miller & Ben Tap Shoes - one of the world's best 'Musical Tap Instruments', elegant, comfortable, hand-made shoes, in eight models and 48 colors and patterns. The shoes are sold on the internet at: www.TapEmporium.com, and in selected stores worldwide. Avi Miller & Ofer Ben were featured in July 2007 on the cover of Dancer Magazine and together with Germaine Salsberg, they were honored in March 2009, with The Preservation of Our Heritage Award in American Dance by Oklahoma City University. They 'team-teach' regularly at Broadway Dance Center in Manhattan.
STRIKER ALL-STARS
