PAM ORENSTEIN
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KAVITA RAOInternationally and regionally renowned for her brilliant choreography and teaching, Kavita conjures out of her worldly travels characteristics of both Eastern and Western dance. Along with teaching and choreography, Kavita directs and co-owns the dance entertainment company @karmagraphy, which recently produced Bollywood Rise and @aajatheshow. Kavita has been a huge part of the DDPAC family since 2009.
LAUREL PENNLaurel Penn was born in Los Angeles and raised in Dallas, Texas. She started dancing at the age of 3, training in Ballet, Tap and Jazz. Throughout her years of training, she studied several types of dance genres, spent many years on the competitive circuit, and received many scholarships and awards from the top choreographers in the industry. At the age of 12, she was chosen by Debbie Allen to dance in her original production of Pepito's Story, at Bass Hall in Ft. Worth, as a ball lady and understudy for the principle role of "Butterfly". Laurel started her teacher assistant training at the age of 13 with the Dallas Black Dance Academy and was a principle dancer on their Junior Performing Company. She graduated with honors from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts where she studied dance and performed with their Repertory 1 ensemble. Laurel is also active and very dedicated to the film and television industry. To name a couple, she has credits such as season 4 of the hit show "Friday Night Lights" and season 1 of "American Crime" directed by Oscar winner John Ridley. She is also currently performing in theater productions around Los Angeles. Signed with MSA for dance in LA, Laurel is dedicated to the growth and development of the students she encounters, setting choreography and acting. LEXI PEARLLexi Pearl grew up in Topanga, California and has been performing since she was a child. She received her BFA in dance from UC Santa Barbara & has worked as a dancer/ aerialist/ actor with Cirque Du Soleil, AntiGravity, Diavolo, LA Circus, Eye of Newt Circus, Dream World Cirque, Wonder World, Cirque Berzerk & the Theatricum Botanicum on stage, screen & television. Lexi has performed throughout the world; Japan, China, Brazil, Italy, Bahamas, Mexico, Canada & all over the US. She is inspired as an artist by being able to “create a tangible experience out of the invisible.” Lexi has been part of the #DDPACFamily since 2011.
LIV PANOZZOLiv Panozzo is originally from Zeeland, Michigan where her love for the arts, especially dance, was fostered at the local Recreation Center. She submitted her first choreographic works to local festivals and recitals at the age of 16, and her passion to create and move was solidified through this. She took her passions to Hope College and joined H2 Dance Company where she trained in a variety of styles including Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, and more. After collecting her BFA, Liv relocated to Los Angeles and has entered the dance scene, participating in short films, music videos, and live performances. As an instructor, Liv is dedicated to helping her students develop solid technique, discover their unique artistic voice, and above all, build good character. MALLORY SCHARTZMallory grew up in Cambridgeshire, UK and began her dance training at Stageworks Performing Arts and Ballet School. She broadened her training in London and was both a Cecchetti and Royal Ballet Senior Associate for 2 years. Later, she trained at London Studio Centre on the Classical Course and graduated from the Jazz Company with a BA Honours Degree in Theatre Dance. Since graduating in 2011, Mallory has performed at West End Live, Move It, Sadler’s Wells, The V&A Museum and the Indigo at the O2. Along with performing, Mallory began teaching at the age of 22 on the Audition Preparation course at Stageworks and has had the opportunity to teach in Belgium, Zurich and at the prestigious Studio 68 in London. In 2013 Mallory co-founded Beat the Hype Street Dance Company and has choreographed for various National Dance Competitions with great success. In 2017, Mallory made the move to LA to further pursue her dance and teaching career.
MARGOT ISABELLAMargot Isabella is professional Choreographer/Dancer based out of Los Angeles, California. Margot has trained in Modern, African, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Jazz Funk, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Tap, Improvisation, Pointe, and more. She attended Nashville School of the Arts as a Dance Major, where she furthered her love for performing as well as choreography. She also grew up dancing competitively, which she absolutely loved. To continue on with the Competition aspect of dance, she now tours with several Competitions as a Judge and Master Class teacher. After graduating from NSA, she teamed up with her sister Madolyn Garrett as a choreography duo known as “MMchoreography” and owned their own Dance Studio called MM Dance Company. Margot has taught and choreographed for multiple studios all around the United States such as Millennium Dance Complex Orange County and Nashville. Margot is currently represented by Go 2 Talent Agency. A few of Margot’s credits include Carrie Underwood, Jake Owen, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, SONY, Netflix TV Series “Making It In Music City”, USA Networks “Real Country”, and more. MEITAL AZULAYMeital is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and singer from Tel-Aviv, Israel. She has been professionally teaching, choreographing and performing for 13 years in Israel and Europe . She teaches all ages and styles of dance including Jazz, Hip-hop, Theatrical/Musical Jazz, Modern and Contemporary . She has worked as a dancer and choreographer for many of Israel’s top recording artists and was a finalist in a nationwide Israeli reality television show “Hadavar Hagadol Haba”, the Israeli version of “America’s Got Talent,” and “Yeshnan Banot” (2014) another nationwide televised Israeli singing and dancing competition.
NAYIRAH TESHALINayirah Teshali raised in Los Angeles, CA is a trained dancer who has danced for over 20 years, attending the Debbie Allen Dance Academy most of her childhood and Alvin Alley summer sessions. Being well versed in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Modern and Hip-hop just to name a few. She has a strong passion for teaching dance to children and is also passionate about modeling and acting.
NIKKI BLAKESLEENikki Blakeslee has taught all over the United States and Internationally. Nikki freely shares her passion for dance and the aerial arts with the intension to inspire and encourage our inner authentic artist. As an Artistic Director, she inspired and created a state of the art Aerial Dance Program with groundbreaking success. She is currently dancing, teaching, and choreographing in Los Angeles. Nikki has worked professionally with Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Lenny Kravitz, Jane’s Addiction and Debbie Allen on stage and in television. She has appeared on Dancing with the Stars, the Annual American Music Awards, Billboard Live Music Awards and Fame the reality series. She is also well versed in Hoop, Hammock, Tissue, Cube, and many innovative aerial apparatus. Currently, Nikki can be seen performing with Terry Beeman’s, Mental Head Circus now playing at Tim Robbin’s theater, The Actors Gang and Hollywood’s King King Club.
NORBERT TOROKNorbert is a part of the Mix’d Elements dance crew from North Hollywood, California, who are distinguished by their ability to seamlessly flow, known as “flotivity,” between different styles of street dancing. They participated in Season 7 of America’s Best Dance Crew, where they placed in the top 10. They also placed second in Hip Hop International’s 2011 USA Hip Hop Dance Championship. Norbert joined the #DDPACFamily in 2012, teaching and choreographing for the DDPAC Hip Hop Company. He continues to inspire with his award-winning choreography and his passion for dance.
RAYNA REBROVICBorn and raised in FL, Rayna started her training at the age of 16. She took hip hop at her local dance studio while learning jazz and contemporary in the dance program at her high school. This is also when Rayna started working at a family entertainment center. Graduating high school, she then received her AA in Business Administration and went on to study modern, ballet, tap, jazz, ballroom, and hiphop at University. Rayna started teaching dance and has been ever since. She graduated with a BFA in Dance and started working as a recreation cast member for Disney. She then moved to L.A. to work in the dance and modeling industry. She has been training with L.A. industry teachers and choreographers ever since. She has danced for Morongo Casino, Under Armour, America’s Got Talent, Ray J. , as well as up and coming artists. SALEENA KHAMAMKARBorn in California and raised in Las Vegas, Saleena Khamamkar is an accomplished Indian-American dancer, choreographer, and instructor. She has trained in jazz, contemporary, and Bollywood since the age of 3 and has been classically trained in Bharatanatyam for 12 years. Early achievements include multiple pageant titles (including Miss Glitterati 2011, Miss Teen India America 2012, and Miss India Globe 2013), a Bharatanatyam tour of South India in 2013, and a feature in the Netflix film Miss India America. Now based in Los Angeles, Saleena brings a new, holistic take on fusion: connecting universal basics of dance and focusing on natural shapes the body can make. Her career highlights include performing at the International Indian Filmfare Awards at MetLife Stadium with Bfunk, featured in Jason Derulo and Tesher’s music video for Jalebi Baby, and choreographing for M. Night Shyamalan and his daughter, R&B singer Saleka.
SYDNEY KINNEYSydney Kinney was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, where she trained as competition and convention dancer. She has studied in many different genres of dance over the years which has allowed her to perform, create, and further teach. She moved to Los Angeles in 2019 to continue her training when she was accepted into the EDGE Performing Arts Scholarship program. Since then, she has performed with Jayoo at the international music festival, Kenga Magjike Albania, danced for CHAII, John Duff, YVR, Olivia Hellman, and appeared on television's new series “Based On A True Story” as a featured dancer. While performing, she has also taught at Miami Valley Dance Teachers Associations Convention and Millennium Dance Complex, to name a few. Sydney is overjoyed to be joining the DDPAC family and excited to meet so many new friendly faces! SYDNEY LEESydney grew up in Las Vegas, NV where she trained in a variety of dance techniques until eventually becoming principal dancer with the Las Vegas Ballet Company (LVBC). When she was 15, she went on to train with American Ballet Theatre (JKO) under Melissa Bowman, Susan Bones, and Robert La Fosse. And after, she trained with the Joffrey Ballet where she was offered a trainee scholarship to join their company. Instead, Sydney decided to attend Vassar College where she holds Bachelor of Arts of degrees in Psychology and Drama. During her time at Vassar, she danced principal roles in ballets such as Raymonda, Swan Lake, and Paquita with the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre (VRDT), choreographed advanced works for the Bardavon Theatre, and became a rehearsal director for the jazz and modern departments. Sydney then moved to London to study with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), earning a degree in Classical Acting. You may catch her most recent work as a ballerina in Machine Gun Kelly and Mod Sun's music video debut, Downfalls High, or as an actor in several films running in the festival circuit. Most of all, she is humbled to be joining the DDPAC family and sends love to her family back home! TAYLOR GAGLIANOTaylor Gagliano was born in Orlando, Florida and started dancing at the age of 3. She’s traveled all across the United States and Canada training, competing, and choreographing. Once she turned 18, she moved to Los Angeles, California and was apart of the EDGE Scholarship Program. Taylor trained extensively at this program in all styles with some of the top teachers and choreographers in Los Angeles, all under the direction of Bill Prudich and Randall Allaire. After the program, she’s had the pleasure to be featured in music videos, live shows, and television shows. Some of her credits include Katy Perry, Lindsey Stirling, Dillon Francis, Lady A, Green Day, Tiesto, Country Music Awards, Insomniac, Disney Chanel, Disney XD, ABC Family and more. She most recently assisted choreographed the CMA Country Christmas, as well as performed in it. She has also had the pleasure of being on tour with Lindsey Stirling traveling all across the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and more. She's the dance Captain on this tour, and while on tour has been featured as a musical guest with Lindsey Stirling for Live with Kelly and Ryan, The Kelly Clarkson Show, A Capitol 4th PBS Special, and the Wonderful World of Disney Magical Holiday Celebration. Aside from performing, Taylor loves to teach! She has taught at studios and workshops all across the country and taught at the renowned Edge Performing Arts Center. She is also on staff of 3 leading competitions as a judge, and has been for over 5 years. From teaching, to performing, to judging, Taylor always brings a level of professionalism and passion to her work. TYLER DREWITZSince he can remember, Tyler has had the passion to sing, dance, and entertain. It was only right that he turned that passion turned into a career. After years of training and performing with the Folsom Lake Civic Ballet, Tyler recieved his second full scholarship and attended Northern California Dance Conservatory where he continued to train in Ballet, Modern, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Musical theatre and various other dance forms such as clogging and ballroom. Meanwhile, he developed a passion to choreograph and inspire others. With years of hard work and knowledge already past, Tyler began teaching at a young age. He went on to teach competition teams and taught multiple classes at 5 studios throughout the Sacramento area. Tyler has traveled the country performing with various theatrical shows such as “Lets Go”, “Hooray for Hollywood”, “Shake Rattle and Roll” and “All Night Strut” to name a few. He has appeared on tv award shows including Emmy Awards, Good Morning America, and most recently Live with Kelly and Michael. He has had live performance experience with artists such as B5, The Jonas Brothers, Aaron Carter, Miley Cyrus, and Everlife. Tyler moved to the Los Angeles area 4 years ago to pursue more opportunities within the entertainment industry. Tyler is now a regular instructor at Millennium Dance Complex in North Hollywood, California and currently performs in the Mad T Party show as well as Mickey and the Magical Map at Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim. He is excited to continue to grow and thankful for his opportunity to entertain and inspire others.
TYNE STECKLEINTyne Stecklein is a multi-talented actress and dancer originally from Aurora, Colorado. She booked her first big job on the “High School Musical Concert Tour” directed by Kenny Ortega just a few months after turning 18 and moving to Los Angeles. Tyne then went on to tour with Cher all over the U.S. and danced for her at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Tyne was one of two female dancers chosen to dance for Michael Jackson on what ended up being his last tour and ultimately turned into the film “This Is It.” Since then, Tyne has been a pro dancer on Dancing with the Stars partnered with Bill Nye the Science guy. She has been featured on DWTS doing contemporary duets for musical artists such as Maxwell, Kerli, Cher, Colbie Caillat and Alanis Morissette. Tyne has acted in many TV shows and films over the years including True Blood, Burlesque, and Fuller House. Tyne can be seen on all streaming platforms currently playing the lead role of Ginny, in Rosebud Lane, an indie film with a lot of heart. Tyne is very passionate about teaching and travels the country working with Adrenaline and Revive dance convention. She loves helping dancers achieve their fullest potential and chase after their dreams, the way she did. VERONICA ROSASVeronica has been a storyteller and performing artist for 30 years. For the past decade she has dedicated herself to performing, coaching, and choreographing aerial arts. She has worked with Universal Studios, Paper Doll Militia, and was a member of the Orange County Playwright Alliance. She has traveled throughout the U.S. to learn from coaches that would expand her abilities as a performing artist and coach. She has trained under coaches from Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Eloize, and Cirque Mechanics. This led her to founding and coaching the Award Winning McCoy Rigby Arts Aerial Team. She loves watching students grow and works hard to make sure they are in a supportive environment that will give them the confidence they need to thrive. |