Faculty

Meet Our Team & Guest Choreographers

Our teachers are highly trained professionals, excellent role models for children, and dedicated to teach in a friendly and caring manner while emphasizing teamwork!

Teaching Faculty

Nina Jessica Schulte

Artistic Director

Nina Schulte has been in the Dance Industry for over 25 years, with a focus on training dancers for over 15 years. She herself is an accomplished dancer, teacher & choreographer, who instills discipline and dedication into her students.

Her innovative choreography has been recognized for numerous years on the competition circuit, winning countless choreography awards as well as National titles along the East Coast. She is a well sought-after judge for many Talent Competitions, and also teaches master classes and choreographs for many prestigious studios all over the United States.

Nina’s own accomplishments include several nationally titled awards, scholarships to study dance in LA and NYC, representation by Clear Talent Agency in LA, as well as the Harlequin Dance Scholarship. Nina has studied under the most notable names in the Dance Industry, as well as the Miami City Ballet. She continues to further her dance training in ALL genres through travels to NYC and LA, taking classes from award winning nationally known teachers and choreographers.

Nina also has a love and passion for costume design, growing up with her mother designing and creating award winning costumes for many years. During those years she attained an understanding of fabrics and the way they move well on a dancer’s body.

Nina went on to receive a BA in Fashion Marketing & Management to tap into her other love of fashion and design. She designs majority of the studio’s Company costumes, which are well sought after when the competitive season is over.

Nina is proud to have produced students that currently work in the Industry in LA, NYC and even overseas. Many of Nina’s students go on to prestigious Universities and Colleges, being awarded scholrships for the level of dance training they have received under her direction. Her students consistently find placement on some of the highest nationally ranked Dance Teams at Universities all over the country.

Nothing prides Nina more than to help her students find their dreams during their years training with her, as well as in the Dance Industry once they have graduated from Carolina Dance Capital.

Her personal award comes from being able to share her love for dance with her students, and see them strive to be the best they can be at any level.

Anna Silvers Bartholomew

Recreational Program Director

Dancing professionally for fifteen years, Anna Bartholomew brings a passion for dance that exudes her lively personality. Anna trained extensively in New York City’s prestigious Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway while attending Marymount Manhattan College. Under the training of David Howard, Peter Schabel, Michelle Assaf, Mike Minery, Tracie Stanfield, Sheila Barker, Jason Parsons, A.C. Cirulla, Andy Blankenbuehler, among other instructors, Anna strengthened her foundation for numerous forms of dance – ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, and musical theatre. After graduation, Anna performed in Sugar Babies with Bridgeport, CT’s Downtown Cabaret Theatre, starred in a George McCrae music video, and taught for national dance conventions – Dance Masters of America and Dance Makers, INC.

Anna’s foundation of dance began in Greenville, SC at the age of 2. She performed in numerous community shows, parades and community theatre productions. Her ballet training was strengthened at The Greenville Ballet and Balance Pointe in Hendersonville, NC. She’s been a featured dancer in the Citrus Bowl and the Miss SC Pageant.

Anna’s former students graduated from Julliard, are dancing on cruise ships, have performed at Disney World and can be seen in some of the most current music videos. Her classes promise excitement, focus on technique, and dancers being challenged to achieve their absolute best.

Anna also has extensive training and education in Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and a Special Education skill-set. Anna hopes to utilize these skills and promote the truth that “everyone can dance.” Anna is thankful to her son Landen who birthed and drives these passions.

Anna is most proud of her family that brought her to the Charlotte area – her husband, Brad and her amazing boys Brayden, Landen, Deklen and Graysen.

Fiona Fairrie

Company Ballet and Pointe

Fiona Fairrie began her professional ballet training in London at the Nesta Brooking School of Ballet and was then invited to attend the White Lodge Royal Ballet Junior School on scholarship. Upon graduation to the Upper School, she was later chosen for the Company Graduate Class with the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, where she was taught by Dame Ninette de Valois and performed with the Royal Ballet under the direction of Sir Frederick Ashton and Sir Kenneth MacMillan.

An award winning Cecchetti scholar, she additionally gained distinction as the founder of the Royal Ballet School’s Choreographic Competition and winning 1st Prize for her work, Resurrection. She was then invited by John Cranko to join the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany, where she danced many soloist roles and traveled extensively throughout the world.

Ms. Fairrie came to America in 1974, where her illustrious classical training, performance career, and extraordinary classroom ability soon led her to teach at many prestigious schools, companies, and universities, including The Houston Ballet, Cleveland Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Hartford Ballet, American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, Atlanta Ballet, Rochester City Ballet, and the University of South Florida, where she was Professor of Ballet.

She is a nationally recognized teacher and the winner of numerous awards, including ‘Outstanding Teacher of the Year’ by the White House Commission of Presidential Scholars.

Ms. Fairrie coached ABT soloist, Sarah Lane, who was the 2002 Silver Medalist at the USA International Ballet Competition at Jackson, MS and a Bronze Medalist for the 2002 Youth America Grand Prix Finals Senior Competition. In 2004, she coached Angela Kenny, who was awarded the Silver Medal in the Junior Competition at YAGP and a full scholarship to the Royal Ballet School in London.

Ms. Fairrie received the YAGP’s ‘Outstanding Teacher Award’ in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2010 and ‘Outstanding Choreographer Award’ in Dallas.

Ms. Fairrie is well known in the dance world of the greater Atlanta area where she founded the Callanwolde Arts Center Dance Program, which included ballet, modern, and jazz, and which under her direction grew to 400 students in two years.

She also taught the Atlanta Ballet Company under the direction of Robert Bennett. Ms. Fairrie had her own ballet companies in both Atlanta and Chattanooga, where she nurtured many dancers who progressed to major companies. Several of the over 4000 students she has taught are now directors of schools, companies, and dance programs throughout the United States.

Fiona is excited to be working with students at Carolina Dance Capital, as well as any students seeking more guidance on advancing their level of ballet training.

Francine Marques

Company Ballet

Francine Benthien da Rosa Marques was born in Curitiba (Brazil) and started her ballet studies with Rita de Cássia Monte Correia, at Academia de Ballet Clássico Petit Ballet (Petit Ballet Classical Academy) in 1981, the year it was founded.

She attended classes with renowned teachers, such as Jair Morais (principal dancer of Fundação Teatro Guaíra, Curitiba), Daniela de Rossi (soloist of Teatro Municipal do Rio De Janeiro), Carlos Cavalcante (Fundação Teatro Guaíra, Curitiba), Christian Pérez (soloist of the Teatro Argentino de La Plata), Daielma Decker (Joffrey Ballet, Chicago), Marcelo Gomes (principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre – NY), Angel Corella (principal dancer of ABT – American Ballet Theatre – NY and Director of the Pennsylvania Ballet), amongst others.

Francine graduated in 1991, and joined the Petit Ballet Corps de Ballet, where she performed in several repertoire presentations: Les Sylphides, Paquita, La Bayadère, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Carmen, Coppélia, Giselle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Le Corsaire performing with dancers such as Marcelo Gomes, Paloma Herrera and Angel Corella, principal dancers of the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), in New York. She also attended several dance festivals and competitions, both at the national and international level.

Francine is the creator of several choreographies presented by the Petit Ballet’s Corps de Ballet and soloists. She was also responsible for rehearsing students of all levels to ensure top-level quality in their performances.

Her classes focus on inspiring physical and mental confidence, with exercises and moves that respect the limits of each and every student. A posture that is ideal to the body and growth of the students is exercised, while searching for an efficient and pleasant performance.

Francine teaches Classical Ballet techniques, by working on developing motor coordination, space awareness, musicality and body expression. She is able to work with advanced level dancers to improve their technique.

Harrison Culbreth

Company Tap

Harrison Culbreth is an international performer, teacher, choreographer, producer and entrepreneur based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a highly accomplished tap artist who has quickly developed his own upbeat; energetic, and distinctive tap style. With a unique blend of heart, drive and admiration for the art, Harrison has become a highly qualified tap instructor throughout the country. Harrison loves to educate and challenge aspiring tappers to reach their fullest potential. He has taught and choreographed top scoring routines at several of the Nation’s Top 50 studios, as ranked by Dancer Magazine. Harrison’s choreography has been nominated for an Industry Dance Award.

Over the last several years Harrison has made an impact on several top dog competitions in the game. He has worked with Endless Talent, Applause Talent, Encore DCS, Star Talent and Epic Dance Showcase completing various task. Harrison travels the country weekly directing, hosting, announcing, producing, teaching and creating choreography for the events.

Megan Raftery

Acro/Gymnastics

Megan is from Lake Charles, LA and started dancing at the age of two. She began her training at Glenda Moss Academy of Dance where she studied various styles including ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, lyrical, and contemporary. While competing, Megan won numerous scholarships and awards through Dance Masters of America including several acrobatic scholarships from the Louisiana Association of Dance Masters. She attended St. Louis Catholic High School where she was a member of the St. Louis Sweethearts for four years and served as captain her senior year.

During her freshman year of college, she studied at the University of Houston where she was a member of the Cougar Dolls Dance Team. Megan then transferred to Louisiana State University where she performed with the LSU Dance Ensemble, was a member of the physical theater club, and received a B.S. in Kinesiology.

After graduating, she went on to continue her dance education at the Houston Metropolitan Dance Center and Broadway Dance Center in New York. She has also completed Dance Masters of America’s Teacher Training School – Level 3 in ballet, tap, modern, and jazz. On top of her dance education, Megan will be starting her first semester as a Doctorate of Physical Therapy student in the fall of 2021.

Megan has a special passion for acrobatics. She has received her Acrobatic Arts Module One instructor certification as well as her Hoop Theory certification. She will be continuing her training with Acrobatic Arts’ Contortion Workshop and the Alixa Flexibility Module 1 certification.

Jenna Rude

Jenna Lee Rude is a choreographer, performing artist, certified health coach, author, fitness enthusiast, professional speaker, and mom on a mission. She was captain of the prestigious UCLA Dance Team while getting her B.A. and worked in Los Angeles as a professional dancer and choreographer for nine years before moving to Charlotte, NC.

Jenna’s credits include performing at L.A. Fashion Week, the House of Blues, and BCBG Generation’s Fashion Show. She has been on faculty for multiple international dance conventions including Soul-de-Soul and World Dance Movement and has performed with 3-6 Mafia, Fanny Pak, and the Black Eyed Peas with Jack Black at the Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards. She was also the featured dancer in MTV’s International Documentary on World Dance Movement, a primary dancer for The Picasso Project, and artistic director for MOCEAN, A Westside Dance Wave. Jenna is one of the primary choreographers for the UCLA Dance Team as well as various competitive studios/companies both locally and all around the world.

In addition to many of her choreography pieces winning awards during the 2017-2018 season, she also produced and choreographed a dance/media segment for 8,000 people at JP+Live. Jenna is also the co-author of the book “The Care and Feeding of a Dancer” and loves teaching dancers how to fuel their bodies. Jenna enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband Jake, baby girl Leea Rae and family. She loves teaching and taking dance classes, pushing her body physically in the fitness scene, cooking healthy plant-based cuisine, and most of all inspiring healthy living around the world any chance she gets.

Diana Campbell

Diana, a native from San Juan, Puerto Rico, started her dance journey at the tender age of 6. At age 18 Diana moved to NYC for a Bachelor Degree in Liberal Arts, with a major in dance at CCNY. She studied with top dance instructors like Betsy Haug, Frank Hatchett, JoJo and Phil Black. In addition she studied at Ballet Arts, Broadway Dance Center, Steps, New Dance Group, Alvin Ailey , Ballet Hispanico, among many others. She has over 25 years in the entertainment industry as a lead dancer, adage partner, dance captain, company manager and as an assistant to chorography and production for several Production Shows.

Diana started her professional career as one of the Rainbow Dancers at the NYC Apollo Theater. She has worked in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, on Cruise Lines, Lake Tahoe and the Bahamas. Diana has worked with and alongside entertainers like Merv Griffin, Eva Gabor, Charo, Chita Rivera, Susan Summers, Debbie Reynolds, Tommy Tune, Bob Hope, Latoya Jackson, Donald O’Conner, and many more. She has worked under some of the top chorographers and Producers: Prince Production/ Betsy Haug, Rabco Enterprise/Roger Minami, Bill Thomas, Face Production/Gina Capecci, Miller Reich Productions/ George Reich, Joan Palethorpe, Hardrive Productions/Pamela Bolling. She has been featured in many commercials, ads and TV shows.

Diana has taught children of all levels and professionals throughout the years in Atlantic City NJ, Bahamas and Charlotte. She enjoys teaching children the art of dance and sharing her experience with high energy and enthusiasm.

Diana is married to Douglas Campbell, who was also a professional dancer and met him in Atlantic City while performing together. Diana and Douglas moved to his native city of Charlotte and have 3 wonderful children, Harrison, Isabel, and Sofia.

Their daughters Isabel and Sofia currently dance at Carolina Dance Capital and are part of the Competition Company. Diana continues living her dream through teaching and watching her children grow and become the best they can be in their life through the magnificent art of DANCE. Her vision is to inspire everyone to be creative and passionate about what they do, and ensure that all of her students feel joy while dancing and improving their social skills and self-confidence at the same time.

She absolutely adores all of the students she works with, as well as all the wonderful teachers at Carolina Dance Capital.

Jessica Thompson

Jessica Thompson has been involved with the art of dance for over 20 years. She started her competitive dance career at the age of 8. While competing Jessica attained numerous reigning awards for solos, duos, and group performances with her studio. Jessica has trained under professionals such as Napoleon and D’umo, Nick Demoura, Martha Nichols, and Ray Leeper, just to name a few.

Jessica continued to pursue her passion for dance at Winthrop University. She decided to minor in Dance and was the captain of the University’s dance team for two years. Jessica graduated with her Bachelors degree in Psychology from Winthrop University in 2012.

After graduating, Jessica decided to continue to pursue higher education, and also begin her career as a dance teacher. She graduated with a Masters degree in Professional Counseling in 2015 from Liberty University.

Jessica believes that dance is not only recreational but also therapeutic. She knows that the art form of dance can not only change people physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Her enthusiasm and passion for dance shows when she teaches her students. While teaching, her main objective is to assist students in becoming not only the dancer they want to be, but the person they want to be.

Kloi Layton

Kloi Irving has been involved in the dance industry for 20 years. She began her dance training at the age of 3 and began her competitive dance career at the age of 5. While competing, she earned numerous awards for her well rounded dance training, such as a feature in Dance Spirit Magazine as featured dancer of the year, many first place title and overall awards for solos and Champion titles for group dances.

Kloi continued her dance career while attending The University of Charlotte as a UNCC Goldduster. She cheered on the Niners while dancing and performing at both Football and Basketball games. She competed with the UNCC Golddusters at the UDA Nationals in Orlando, Florida where they were Nationally Ranked and was individually awarded All-American where only 10% are chosen.

Upon college graduation with a Bachelor of Mathematics degree, she was fortunate to have been selected as a NFL Cheerleader for the Carolina Panthers for the 2015-2016 season. She was featured in Sports Illustrated and had the opportunity to dance and perform at SuperBowl 50.

Not only is Kloi an accomplished performer and dancer, she has been teaching and choreographing for many years. She loves sharing her passion for dance and being a positive role model for children. Her main goal is to help every child be the best version of themselves!

Chloe Lawson

Chloe Lawson grew up in Yorba Linda, CA and has been dancing since the age of three. She trained under the direction of Olympic gold medalist and Broadway star Cathy Rigby for 15 years, and earned many awards during her years of competing for her studio, McCoy Rigby Conservatory of the Arts.

Chloe was a member of the El Dorado High School Dance Team for four years, serving as captain for 2 years. She continued her dance education at California State University, Fullerton, as a dance major, learning iconic styles of modern dance such as Horton, Graham, and Limon. Chloe was also a member of the University’s Dance Team and her team earned 2 bronze and 1 silver medal at UDA College Nationals.

She graduated from CSUF with a Bachelor of Science in Child and Adolescent Development. Chloe has been teaching since age 16 when she began assisting in the No Limits Creating Arts Program, a dance class for children with special needs. Through her years in college, she taught technique and choreographed many award winning numbers for various dance studios in her area. Chloe also coached the Tuffree Middle School Dance Team and led the El Dorado High School Dance Team to several National Championships.

Other than dance, Chloe is very passionate about helping and working with children of all ages and ability levels. She worked in a Counseling Center and as a Behavior Interventionist while in college.

Now residing in Charlotte, Chloe is eager to continue to share her love and knowledge of dance with her students.

Deanna Curulla

Deanna Curulla has been dancing, singing, teaching and choreographing for almost 40 years. She started her dance and vocal training in 1978 at the Benny Smith Academy of the Performing Arts in San Jose, California. She studied, performed, competed, choreographed and taught tap, musical theater and jazz while also studying and performing ballet. She performed in the Touch of Vegas shows at the San Jose Center of Performing Arts, performed at the Officers Club at Moffett Field Military Base, did performances at the MGM Grand in Reno and was a runner up in the Miss San Jose Pageant. In 1980, she also started teaching and competing in Ballroom and Disco Dance through the Arthur Murray Dance Studios. In 1986, she branched out and auditioned for a 125 member Sweet Adelines Chorus. In addition to becoming a singing member of the chorus and Sweet Adelines International Organization, she also became one of the front line dancers as well as the Assistant Choreographer and Choreographer for the group. She has been a singer, dancer, performer, competitor and choreographer of Sweet Adelines choruses for the past 30 years. Deanna truly enjoys sharing her love of all varieties of dance, performing and entertaining with children and adults of all ages. Over the past 38 years, she has taught students that range in age from 2 to 90.

Tiona Rushing

Tiona Rushing was born and raised in Charlotte, NC and has been dancing since the age of 2. She has been competing for 18 years earning numerous titles and championships throughout her dance career.

Tiona attended East Carolina University, majoring in Psychology, and minoring in Human Development and Family Science. While at ECU she joined the ECU Club Dance Team and competed at the college level. Tiona graduated with a BA in Psychology and will continue to study for her Masters in Child Psychology.

At the start of her teaching career Tiona began teaching children and fell in love. She believes that no one can be more resilient, more open minded, more creative, and more willing to learn than a child. They bring her so much joy and she hopes to be someone they can look up to as a positive figure in their life inside and outside of the dance studio.

Colleen LeBleu

Colleen began dancing at the age of 4 with Lady Leah La’Fargue School of Dance in Louisiana.

During the following years she joined Lake Charles Civic Ballet, dancing in many Lady Leah’s ballets.

While attending High School she began taking classes with the Humphrey School of Musical Theatre Under the Stars in Houston and performed in Aladdin. After High School, she danced in Houston as a Trainee with the Ad Deum Dance Company.

Colleen moved to Dallas to attend KD College, where she graduated from their Musical Theatre Program. She has performed with Lyric Stage, Garland Summer Musicals, Collin College, Uptown Players and KD Black Box Productions.

Colleen is excited about teaching at Carolina Dance Capital and is looking forward to sharing her love for dance with her students.

Dale Lam

In House Master Teacher at Carolina Dance Capital

Dale has developed a very exciting teaching and choreography style combining traditional jazz, ballet, ethnic, street, modern and natural movement. Her high-energy classes and choreography incorporate theatrical elements to teach the importance of emotion in dance and stage presence.

In addition to being artistic director for Columbia City Jazz School in Columbia, SC, Dale is a member of the dance faculty at the University of South Carolina and is an in-demand jazz choreographer and master instructor. She has set choreography and taught at studios all across the United States. She has conducted master classes at the Kiradjiev Cultural Center in Plovdiv, Bulgaria during the summer of 1999, the American School in Singapore and for the Singapore Dance Association at Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore, and was the head of the jazz department at the Summer Dance Experience in Myrtle Beach for two seasons. In addition, she has judged a number of dance competitions, including Nationals in Las Vegas.

Dale received extensive dance training with Frank Hatchett, Mia Michaels, Desiree Robbins, Robin Dunn, Ed Kresley and Joe Tremaine, and has a BA in Theatre and Speech from the University of South Carolina. She also received acting training from Jim Baffico of Carnegie-Melon and training in piano, cello and voice.

She has performed for the King of Norway during an overseas tour of “Godspell” and was a principal singer and dancer in “Hooray for Hollywood” at Carowinds. She was also Dance Captain for the Southeastern Theatre Conference Summer Repertory in Fairfield, Tenn., and lead vocalist and dancer in a Department of Defense Mediterranean tour. She has choreographed for the Budweiser Dancers and has appeared in more than thirty live theater productions and trade shows for companies such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

“There’s so much more to being a great dancer than just “learning the steps”. There’s also an emotional element that must be taken into consideration if you wish to give an outstanding performance”.

Sue Bernath

Sue Bernath has been teaching dance for over 40 years; 22 years in the Atlanta area. Her roles include training, choreography, and cleaning specialist. Sue owned and operated two dance studios in the Miami, FL area. She taught ballet at Reinhardt University. She frequently judges for Showbiz.

Sue attended the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas. She originally trained at The Atlanta Ballet with Robert Bernett, Miguel Terkhov, Yvonne Chouteau, Igor Youskevitch and David Shields. Sue has performed professionally with companies for TV commercials and film. Sue is thrilled to be part of CDC’s Pre-professional Ballet program.

Customer Service / Front Desk

Jolie Damen

Sofia Carey

KimberLee Carter

Guest Teachers/Choreographers

Caroline Lewis

Caroline, who is originally from South Carolina, currently resides in New York City. She is a professional dancer, personal trainer, and full-time student at Hunter College. Her dance credits include Britney Spears video “Me Against the Music,” the VMA’s with NSYNC, Total Britney Live on MTV, the Latin Billboard Awards, a WNBA National Commercial and many others. She currently dances with Notario Dance Company directed by Brook Notary, but has also worked with companies under the direction of Mia Michaels, Dee Caspary, Rhapsody James, and Jason Parsons. Caroline traveled to Seoul, Korea in 2001 to perform with Poz Dance Theatre. She hopes to be performing on Broadway one day soon, but looks forward to opening her own danced studio in the future. She would like to thank her family, friends, mentors and loved ones for their endless support and understanding of her passion for dance!

Mandy Moore

Mandy has appeared on numerous television shows including: “Weird Al Comin’ Home” for Disney and “The Ned and Stacey Show” for Fox. She can be seen in the movie, “A Time For Dancing”, choreographed by Marguarite Derricks and in commercials and industrial films for Nike, Chrysler, Epson, Nexus and Joe Boxer. She performed live with pop diva Kristine W and was featured in the Disney production of “Mulan” at the infamous Hollywood Bowl. She has been a dance coach to U.S. Olympic gymnast Chris Waller and choreographs and teaches nationally for many private studios, Teams, and independent performers. Mandy is the assistant choreographer of “The Shoot” with Dee Caspary and most recently Mandy was the assistant choreographer for the hit show “American Idol”!

Dee Caspary

Dee Caspary started his career by appearing in numerous films, videos, and commercials. His video credits include Paula Abdul’s Forever Your Girl and Knocked Out. Dee was a three year series regular in Kids Incorporated and was featured in the TV series Hull Street High. His films include Newsies where he played the role of Snitch, and Mac & Me. Dee was a dancer for the world summer tour with The New Kids On the Block and Tiffany. Dee is currently teaching at Edge Performing Arts Center in LA. Traveling all over the country, Dee has introduced his work, with the premier of his own company “IV Dance Company” in LA.

Mark Meismer

Mark Meismer grew up in Orange County, California where he trained for four years at the Orange County High School of the Arts. Mark has been dancing professionally for fourteen years. Mark has danced and worked with artists such as Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Ricky Martin, Madonna, Paula Abdul and toured with Reba McEntire from 2000 to 2002. Some of his TV credits include; “Scrubs”, “Will and Grace”, “The George Lopez Show”, “Home Improvement”, “Mad About You”, “The Hughleys”, “The MTV Video Music Awards”, “The American Music Awards” and “The VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards” “The Tonight Show“ with Jay Leno and the Rosie O’Donnell show. Some of Marks film credits include; “Jackass 2”, “Austin Powers 2”, “Austin Powers 3 Goldmember”, “Starsky and Hutch”, “Gigli” “North”and “A Time For Dancing”.He has danced in commercials for Dr. Pepper, Reebok, Pepsi, Toyota and Frito Lay.

Mark is also an original member of Mia Michaels dance company “RAW” based out of New York City. He was the assistant choreographer to Mia on Celine Dion’s show “A New Day” in Las Vegas and assisted Mia on the FOX TV reality show “So U Think U Can Dance”. Mark was a faculty member of LA Dance Magic for 9 years and currently teaches master classes and workshops across the country. Mark has choreographed for the TV shows “Dancing With The Stars”, “Scrubs” and “The George Lopez” show. Mark also added the title of Artistic Director to his resume when he started his own Dance Company: “Evolution”.

Mark has had a very diverse career in concert dance and commercial dance, however his biggest accomplishment and proudest achievement is being a dad to his beautiful daughter Ryan.

Jocelyn Dowling

Joey has been performing, choreographing and teaching in NYC for the past 10 years. She was on Mariah Carey’s ”Butterfly” World Tour, the MTV Video Music Awards w/ JLo, the VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards w/ Macy Grey, The Victoria Secret Fashion Show, “Sex & the City”, ”Guiding Light”, “CHICAGO the Movie”, and “The Producers” (movie). She played Vibrata in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”, was a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall, a featured dancer in ”The Mambo Kings”, was on Broadway in “Dance of The Vampires” and recently in “Sweet Charity” playing Elaine. Currently she is the ass’t choreographer for Off Broadway’s “In The Heights”. As she performs, she continues to choreograph and teach at BDC in NYC. Her versatility in all styles of dance is what inspires young dancers whom she teaches the importance of “Having it All!”

Sam and JC Renzetti

Sam Renzetti established Xtreme, a long awaited-goal and dream of his, in the fall of 2002. Renzetti has danced and worked with many top dancers / choreographers in the Hip Hop industry. Since age eight Renzetti has been involved in every form of dance. By age fifteen he found his niche in Hip Hop Dancing. Teaching and choreographing in the Chicagoland area for twelve years now, Renzetti hopes to bring a higher level of Hip Hop knowledge and experience to all of his students and current Xtreme members

JC Renzetti has been dancing since age seven. He has been performing and competing for almost fourteen years. Though JC is trained in all forms of dance his niche is Hip Hop dancing. With his explosive performance style and amazing talent to entertain audiences, JC has made a name for himself with all audiences. JC has the ability to draw all eyes to him when he is on stage. His credits are too many to list. His teaching career began at age fifteen. Since then he has choreographed and taught Hip Hop dance all over the Chicagoland area.

JC has also started his own Production/Entertainment Company called The Shizz Inc. His company will begin to bring in Top recording celebrity acts to Chicago for concerts in the near future. JCs recent choreographed work has won overalls at major dance competitions. Catch JC on the new Fox Series Dance Show, So You Think You Can D*

Mark Goodman

Hoofer, choreographer and master teacher Mark Goodman is the artistic director of the Mark Goodman Tap Company, an LA-based dance company that fuses New York swing-style tap with world rhythms and other dance forms to break new ground in tap dance performance.

Mark began tap dancing at the University of New Hampshire under Gay Nardone. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts, he moved to New York where he joined the American Tap Dance Orchestra (ATDO), training with Brenda Bufalino.  Mark went on to work with Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Charles “Honi” Coles and Buster Brown. He proudly acknowledges that his dance style has been greatly influenced by these greats and by the great movie hoofers.

Mark’s innovative choreography fuses powerful dancing, percussion, storylines, original music and rhythms. His sense of humor and belief that dance and performance need to be fun — for both dancer and audience — also influence his work. You can expect Mark to joke lightly while his feet fly, and you can expect the unexpected when he pulls out the props — anything from stairs to chairs to jump ropes.

While in New York, Mark was on staff at the Broadway Dance Center and Steps. He performed with various dance troupes and as a soloist nationally and internationally in such venues as: Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Joyce Theatre (with ATDO), “Savion Glover and Friends at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park.” Goodman’s stage credits include Andy Lee in the European tour of “42nd Street,” the Lead Man in “Sophisticated Ladies,” “Anything Goes” with Melba Moore and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. He also has held lead roles in “No No Nanette,” “Sugar Babies” and “Over Here.” His dramatic credits include “Mother Courage and Her Children” under Pulitzer-prize-winning director Tony Kushner, and “Death of a Salesman.”

Following a move to California in 1996, Mark joined the faculty at The Performing Arts Center in Van Nuys. He is currently on staff for SHOCK and travels to 30-35 different U.S. cities throughout the year. His stage extravaganza, “Mark Goodman Tap Company Presents World Tap”, made its debut in June 2001 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. He recently founded The Mark Goodman Dance Company. He has brought his innovative style to many countries, including Switzerland, Finland, Australia, New Zealand and Guatemala to name but a few.

In 2003, Mark completed work on the feature film “Polar Express” working with Tom Hanks and Director Robert Zemeckis. He is now in the process of developing 2 new shows: “Q” an adaptation of Cervantes’ Don Quixote, and an original new show, using the music of Seal (“Seal with a Kiss”), scheduled to make its debut in Spring of 2005.

Jason Janas

Jason originally hails from the northern New Jersey area, and more recently from Charlotte, NC.

His dance education is highlighted with training and performing with Tapestry Dance Company and by his tenure as a charter member of the New Jersey Tap Ensemble, where Jason began his rhythm tap career under the direction of Ms. Deborah Mitchell. Jason continues to teach and choreograph from coast-to-coast while he continues to grow as a multiform rhythm tap dancer.

Jason is also the Artistic Director of the Hoofin’ Ground Tap Festival in Charlotte, NC and recently performed in Derick Grant’s Chicago production of Imagine Tap.

Billy Larson

Billy Larson, from Philadelphia, PA, brings a vast array of performing, teaching, and choreographic experience rangin from contemporary jazz to rhythm tap. Most recently, Billy danced the lead role in Mia Michaels’ “3 Steps From Heaven” staged for ASH Contemporary Dance Company, where Billy performed as principal male dancer for 4 years. He traveled throughout North America as Funky in Dein Perry’s critically acclaimed TAP DOGS and was a dance champion on CBS’s Star Search. Other company work includes principal roles with the late Mark Marino’s American Dance Company where Billy performed throughout Italy, Austria, Hungary and Yugoslavia. Some other credits include the 2002 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies in Salt Lake City, Carnival Choreographer’s Ball NYC, The Elan Awards, Broadway Dance Center’s Performance Outlets, and Dancers Responding to AIDS benefit performances. Broadening his career as a choreographer, Billy recently formed Truth In Progress, a contemporary dance company based out of the Philadelphia/NYC area.

Merissa Gassel

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Merissa has trained, competed, and choreographed all over the United States winning numerous awards and gaining recognition. At the age of 14 she began touring with a national convention circuit assisting Dee Caspary for 3 consecutive years. Having since moved to Los Angeles to pursue a dance career, Merissa is now represented by DDO dance agency and continues her training at the EDGE PAC and the Millennium. She has been a dancer in Dee Caspary’s IV dance company for 5 years and has performed in “A Time No More”, “The Glass Case”, “The Best of the Broadway Dance Center” and the Elan Awards in NYC. Merissa has most recently shot a commercial for “Champion” stores that will air in France this coming year. She currently performs with a dance group “The Eddies” at The Edison Downtown in downtown Los Angeles and just finished choreographing for “Velvet Haze”, a burlesque group, premiering this Summer. Although Merissa spends most of her time dancing, she finding teaching just as fulfilling. She toured as a faculty member of Starsystems “SHOCK” convention in 2005-2006. Merissa loves motivating, inspiring, and connecting with her students.

Justin Giles

Justin began his career training at the Southern Strutt. He was a winner on Start Search as well as Destination Stardom in Hawaii. Justin has worked for such companies as Reebok and Fox TV. In 2001 he traveled to Korea where he worked with Poz dance Theatre and performed along side their company in Seoul. He has introduced his work in SoulEscape his own company. His award winning choreography can be seen in dance studios and professional companies nationwide and abroad. He is also currently a staff member on NuVO!

Terry Schulke

Terry is the owner of “Just Plain Dancin’ & Co.” in Riverside, California.  Her studio has been featured in Dance Spirit Magazine as one of the top rated dance studios in the nation.  She is an award winning choreographer in Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Modern Dance in California, New Jersey, New York and San Francisco.  She has also been given the honor of “Choreographer of the Year” several times at many National Competitions.  She has choreographed videos for companies such as Bournes and Budweiser, as well as choreographing for Star Search, three award winning high school dance teams, and the UCLA Dance Team.  Her studio has performed theater productions such as Sleeping Beauty, Evita, Chorus Line and the Wizard of Oz.  Her works have been performed at Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios.  Many of her students have done commercials, music videos, TV movies, as well as major motion pictures including “North” and “Coneheads – the Movie”.

For the past 20 years, Terry has taught hundreds of dancers the values of technique, the importance of performance, style and creativity.  Terry’s studio is an all around performance studio specializing in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Modern dance.  Terry judges at numerous competitions and currently is a lecturer and master teacher for many conventions.  Her workshops include teaching skills, technique, Art of Dance, and choreography.  She is the co-director of “L.A. meets N.Y.” in New York.

As an author, Terry’s works include “Dear Mom & Dad”, and “Exit Wounds”, which have been awarded Top Choreography  awards at National Dance Competitions.  She is also the master teacher for the video, “Turns, Leaps and Tricks”, produced by Mad Degrees Productions.

Terry’s personal life includes being the mother of two daughters, married for over 30 years, and is a 11 year Breast Cancer survivor.

Kevin Inouye a.k.a. TOKYO

Entering his way into dance through the  competition scene, Tokyo has been fortunate to receive many regional and national awards including several national titles. Taking the step from a competitor to a professional status has been an exciting adventure for him.  Tokyo has done several musical theater tours, many industrials and guest appearances internationally. Although Tokyo admits he loves the stage, his true passion lies in teaching and choreography. His positive, high energy in the classroom has been the major reasons for his success as a teacher and choreographer. Tokyo has taught master classes and choreography nationally and internationally for many studios, high schools, colleges, companies, artists and clubs. Recently, Tokyo has been offered to choreograph for several recording  artists in Germany, Russia, Cuba and France.  Another recent notable recognition, Tokyo set a senior piece at the prestigious Juilliard School, his  Lyrical/modern/contemporary piece performed in May 2006 at Juilliard’s Centennial Senior Showcase.  Tokyo recently accepted the position as Co-Director with a national dance competition (Hall Of Fame Dance Challenge). He is extremely enthusiastic about  sharing the love, passion and education of life through the art of dance!

Stacey Calvert

was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, and began her ballet training at the Calvert-Brodie School of Dance, studying with her mother and godmother. In 1980, Ms. Calvert entered the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet (NYCB), remaining there for three years. She joined New York City Ballet’s corp de ballet in 1983. In 1992, Ms. Calvert joined William Forsythe’s Frankfurt Ballet. She returned to New York City Ballet in the winter of 1993 and was promoted to the rank of Soloist in 1994. Since joining the New York City Ballet, she has danced numerous featured roles including George Balanchine’s Apollo, Ballo della Regina, The Four Temperaments, The Nutcracker (Hot Chocolate), Stars and Stripes, Symphony in C, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Western Symphony, and Who Cares?, as well as Jerome Robbins’ The Four Seasons (Winter) and Interplay. Additionally, she has been featured in Peter Martins’ Ash and Barber Violin Concerto as well as William Forsythe’s Herman Schmerman. During the inaugural season of NYCB’s Diamond Project in 1992, Ms. Calvert originated a principal role in John Alleyne’s Bet Ann’s Dance. During the company’s 1994 Diamond Project, she originated principal roles in Lynne  aylor-Corbett’s Chiaroscuro, John Alleyne’s The New Blondes, Trey McIntyre’s Steel and Rain, and Kevin O’Day’s Viola Alone . . . (with One Exception).

For the Diamond Project in 1997, Ms. Calvert originated principal roles in O’Day’s Open Strings and Angelin Preljocaj’s La Stravaganza. Additionally, she originated principal roles in Mr. O’Day’s Huoah, Dvorak Bagatelles and Badchonim. Ms. Calvert has danced in Europe with a touring group and has traveled extensively in the United States and abroad with the New York City Ballet. In the spring of 2006, 2007 and 2008, she presented for the University of South Carolina (USC) Ballet Stars of New York with principal dancers from the New York City Ballet Company including Wendy Whelan, Albert Evans, Nilas Martins, Tom Gold, Nikolaj Hubbe, and Yvonne Borree and the USC Dance Company. The 2006 star-studded evening included Apollo, Agon, and Tarantella, all works by the legendary choreographer George Balanchine. This gala evening has become an annual event for the USC Board of Dance.

Marinda Davis

Orginally from Tampa, Florida now residing in New York, Marinda is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a BA in Dance and a minor in musical theatre. Her performing credits range from dancing back up for Sting in Superbowl 2001 as well as with 98º in Pro Bowl 2001, and appearing in regional productions as Frenchy in “Grease”, Cathy Hiatt in “The Last 5 Years”, Glenda in “The Wizard of Oz”, and Judas’ Tormentor in “Jesus Christ Superstar.” She was one of Dance Spirit Magazine’s first Future Star scholarship recipients, and as a performer, held several regional and national titles. She recently starred in a dance on film work choreographed by downtown choreographer Andrea Gise entitled “Cavaleir Eternal” and performed in Broadway Dance Center’s Choreography Showcase in a piece by Sheila Barker whom she presently trains with. She now choreographs for R&B recording artist Trumaine Lamar and has worked as an assistant to choreographers Lisa Allain, Kacy Combs, and Ray Leaper. Marinda currently teaches at several studios within the tri-state area, traveling on weekends setting choreography on various studios across the country as well as judging and teaching on the convention/competition circuit. Her choreography continues to be recognized on a regional and national level, bringing home top scores for her students. In 2005 she was named ADFA’S Young Choreographer of the Year, and recently joined the faculty of Starpower’s Power Pak.

Matt Cady

(born October 17, 1985) formed Fanny Pak while he was teaching at Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio in North Hollywood, CA. Other than teaching at Debbie Reynolds, Matt choreographed the stage show Grease for the 2004 Fringe Festival in Scotland. He also choreographed a music video and a promotional tour for the independent singer Natalise. His dancing credits include Missy Elliott, ABC Family’s “The Life of an American Teenager”, Jessica Simpson, Finger 11, and Erin Hamilton. Other than Fanny Pak, Matt is also a member of Collide Dance Company and Unity Dance Ensemble.

Before appearing on MTV, Matt and his fellow crew members performed at Choreographer’s Carnival, a monthly performance showcase for dancers/choreographers to perform in front of other professional dancers. He is now teaching hip-hop dance at the Edge Performing Arts Center. He is also a faculty member at Triple Threat, Intrigue Dance and at Monsters of Contemporary dance conventions. He is currently represented by DDO Artists Agency.

Nick Bass

Nick performed on the Janet Jackson world tour. he has numerous music video credits, appearing in Janet Jackson “All Night”, Brittney Spears and Madonna’s “Me Against the Music”, and beyonce and Usher’s “Naughty Girl”. He has also worked with prince and other notable artists, and has performed at The Superbowl, The Grammy’s, The American Music Awards, and The CMA Awards. Nick has also danced live on such television shows as Saturday Night Live, Good Morning Amarica, and the Jay Leno show. Originally from Nashville, TN, Nick has performed in theme parks, danced in many companies, and currently guest teachers and choreographers around the country.

Nick Lazzarini

Nick Lazzarini was the winner of the fox reality show ” So You Think You Can Dance.” Nick is on faculty for “Jump” a ground breaking convention that tours the country teaching workshops to students to enhace their dancing skills.

Biographies coming soon for our other guest choreographers:
 …Stay tuned…