| | Joanna Santor |
| Joanna Santor established Dance Creations in 1995 after successfully teaching and running ballet programs for various dance studios throughout the Southland since 1987. A native of the Philippines, dance has been a part of Joanna's life since the age of 3. She began her studies in the Philippines and continued in the United States with various professional dancers and teachers in the Los Angeles Area. Joanna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Northridge in Liberal Studies, where her classes included children's creative movement, children's literature, children's art and recreation. She is also a certified teacher with Dance Masters of America, Inc. Joanna is a proud mother of three and has lived in the Simi Valley community since 1980.
Teaching has always been the most rewarding aspect of Joanna's dance career and Dance Creations was established to allow her to pass on her love of the art to aspiring dancers of the community. Since it's beginning, the students of Dance Creations have participated in annual recital and community organized parades, have been guest artists at various college concerts and benefits and have won numerous top awards at national dance competitions.
|
| | Chris McCarty |
| Chris McCarty combines her early childhood education and extensive dance background to do what she loves to do: teaching young children to dance and experience freedom and joy in movement. She has danced since the age of 3, trained in the style of Al Gilbert and Joe Tremaine, and has been actively involved in musical productions throughout her career. A credential graduate of California State University of Northridge, Chris teaches preschool/parent education classes for the Simi Valley Unified School District and has over 25 years of experience teaching dance to adults and children of all ages and abilities. With three children of her own, Chris understands the importance of positive feedback which encourages students to feel good about dance and themselves. She is a certified teacher with Dance Masters of America, Inc.
|
| | Guynemer Caceres |
| Guynemer has been with Dance Creations for over 5 years, and has been the Choreographer and Creative Director for their award winning Hip Hop Teams for over 4 years. He has taken Top Choreography honors at various competitions including Czar, That's Dancin', Showstoppers, and Encore Dance Competition. He took Top Honors at International Dance Challenge winning their Senior Large Group title, Top Platinum Choreography award and the prestigious Ultimate Dance Challenge Champions in 2005 for their number "Outbreak". Other accolades include the Top Teacher award at Star Systems in 2005 and the Most Entertaining Dance at Spotlight Dance Cup in 2005 & 2006. Most recently Guynemer won the Judges Award at Thunderstruck Dance Competition and took Top Overall Gold/Platinum awards at Czar.
His goal is to always make the audience enjoy what they are watching on stage.
Guynemer also holds a Bachelors Degree in Adolescent Psychology and is signed with one of LA's top dance agencies.
"If my work doesn't make you laugh, cheer, or groove... I'll give you your money back!"
|
| | Michelle Galanti |
| Michelle has taught ballet for Dance Creations since 1995, helping students grow as dancers and self-confident individuals. Clasically trained in ballet since the age of five, Michelle has received scholarships from ABT, SAB and San Francisco Ballet Company. She also holds a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology and manages the Cardiac Fitness Center, Echocardiography and Electrocardiography departments at Glendale Memorial Hospital. Fusing together her extensive background in classical dance training and exercise physiology, Michelle delights in teaching the art of dance while educating students on the importance of proper technique for injury prevention. Michelle's energetic and passionate classes illustrate her personal philosophy; "Dance is not something you do when you are young, but something you will enjoy for the rest of your life."
|
| | Katt Griffith |
| Biography not available.
|
| | Sam Herrero-Bonesteel |
| Sam began dancing at the age of 6 and has been trained in the art of ballet, lyrical, tap and jazz. She has competed and received Platinum Awards in numerous dance competitions in Southern California, such as DMA, Czar Productions, LADF, and Showstoppers. The biggest highlight of Sam's dancing career was being named Miss Dance of Southern California in 2001. The Miss Dance of Southern California title led her to the DMA National Competition in New York City, where she was able to learn various techniques and styles from many of the top choreographers throughout the country. An alumni of Dance Creations, she has been able to assist many dance instructors throughout the Southland at The EDGE, Tremaine's, and the Millennium Dance Complex. A recent graduate of California State University, Northridge with a degree in Marketing, Sam is very excited to share her dance training in ballet, jazz, and lyrical classes this upcoming fall.
|
| | Alexandra Lastort |
| Alexandra Lastort is a local dance teacher and choreographer who has taught in and around Ventura County for the past eight years. Alexandra has training in jazz, tap, ballet, modern, hip-hop, lyrical, musical theater dance, improv, drama, acting, and voice. Alex regularly works with the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center as a choreographer and assistant choreographer on their mainstage productions, and also sits on the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center's Foundation board, planning fundraiser events. Alexandra has also worked with Actors' Repertory Theater of Simi Valley on their productions and children and teen summer musical theater workshops. She has also taught at several other studios and worked with various dance teams, competition teams, and high schools. Alex recently founded a dance company, Fire In The Veins Dance Company, and is currently casting company members. Alex holds a degree in Advertising and Public Relations from California Lutheran University and owns a local event planning company, Gather Girl Events.
|
| | Aaron Porter |
| Aaron Porter is a versatile dancer and choreographer from Los Angeles. He has worked with Academy Award winner Ron Howard in "The Grinch", Academy nominated director Christian Taylor in "Showboy" (Best Film Milan Film Festival 2002) and Hinton Battle (The Wiz, Dreamgirls). Aaron has done numerous commercials including spots for McDonald's, CBS, and Pepsi. His television credits include Disney's "Phil of the Future", Disney's in Concert Series with B*Witched, and Fame LA. Aaron has choreographed for Jason Alexander (Seinfield, The Producers). Aaron has professionally trained dancers who have gone on to work with Britney Spears, Debbie Allen, Cirque du Soliel, winners on the television series "Fame" and "Star Search." He has been teaching at EDGE and Millennium Dance Complex for the past seven years. Students have included Jenna Elfman (EdTV), Katie Holmes (Batman Begins), Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under). Aaron choreographed industrials for software giant Cisco Systems, the historic "It's Magic" 50th Anniversary Show at the Kodak Theatre. His choreography can also be seen in the MGM feature film "Sleepover." He also teaches master classes and workshops throughout the US.
|
| | Leah Rae |
| Leah Rae Craig fell in love with dance at the young age of four, and has been dancing ever since. She holds a BA in dance from UC Santa Barbara and has extensive training in modern, ballet, jazz, tap, improv, choreography, swing, and ballroom. Leah was a member of the UCSB Senior Dance Company where she worked with great choreographers Jennifer Muller, Nancy Colahan, Mira Kingsley, and Mike Esperanza. Her work with this company included touring four cities in Italy, New York City, and extensively in the southern California area in the spring of 2011.
Her studies at Moorpark College earned her the Merit Award for Swing Dance in 2007, Best Overall Dancer Award in 2009, and the Jennifer Prouty Memorial Scholarship in 2009. Leah has competed with the Moorpark College Swing Dance Team at the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships placing 2nd in 2007 and in 2009, and at the National Jitterbug Championships in 2008.
Leah has been teaching dance since 2006. She was awarded the Arnhold Scholarship from UCSB to attend the 92nd Street Y Dance Education Laboratory Summer Intensive in New York City in July of 2010. This three-week educational development program for educators and artists helped Leah reinforce a strong foundation and desire to teach dance.
She can now be found dancing with Megill and Company and sharing her passion through teaching at Dance Creations.
|
| | Leasa Shukiar |
| Leasa has been dancing since the age of 4. She has danced professionally all over the world. Her favorite roles are Judy in A Chorus Line, Ellie in Showboat, and Tess in Crazy For You. Dancing changed her life while performing on Holland America Cruiselines, she fell in love with a fellow cast mate who became her husband. Leasa is a magna cum laude graduate of California Lutheran University. She taught 3rd grade in LA Unified for 4 years and has taught preschool dance for the past 5 years. Leasa loves teaching the wee ones classes at Dance Creations and keeps her classes fun and playful using lots of props and age appropriate music. Her proudest "productions" are her 2 daughters, Carly and Hayley.
|
| | Mike Williams |
| Mike Williams is the creative genius and award-winning choreographer behind Dance Creations' jazz and lyrical competitive teams. As a certified member of Dance Masters of America and a recipient of an "EDGE" Scholarship, Mike has trained extensively in ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, and hip hop. He incorporates his unique style and diverse technique in all of his work. His classes are high-energy, fast-paced, and challenging for the committed dancer. Michael is consistently awarded "Top Choreographer" at Southland competitions including: Showstoppers, CZAR Productions, LADF, and Dance Masters of America.
|
| | Crystal Zibalese |
| Crystal Zibalese is a cum laude BFA Dance graduate from Chapman University, specializing in dance teaching methods, choreography, and kinesiology. She joins the Dance Creations team with years of professional experience as a choreographer and performer with Backhausdance, a modern dance company. Trained in all styles of dance, Crystal has worked with student and school groups since 2001. She is the recipient of many dance scholarships and thoroughly enjoys sharing her expertise with the aspiring dancers in the studio.
|
| | David Zibalese |
| David began his dance training taking ballet with Miss Joanna and followed her to her garage studio when she was toying with the idea of starting her own studio. Since then it has been quite a ride. Through his childhood and teenage years, while getting acquainted with many forms of dance, David spent 10+ years of training in several forms of Martial Arts (Tang Soo Do, Judo, Tae Kwan Do and Kenpo). He attained his Black Belt in Tang Soo Do.
After his competition years in dance, he went on to Moorpark College where he received an AA degree in Liberal Arts. During that time he worked and performed with La Danserie under the direction of Lisa Lock and Patrick Franz. Upon the completion of his degree, David had received several awards for choreography, improvisation, and was titled "Most Inspirational" his graduating year.
While he was studying dance and performance in school, he was also apprenticing and performing with Diavolo Dance Theater. At 19, he was the first person who had gone through this "hands on" training process with them, being the youngest person to have joined the company. Before his official induction, he had performed in several hundred children's shows, 2 of Diavolo's Unplugged shows, and a 7 week tour in Tokyo Japan. While dancing with the company, David also had numerous teaching opportunities. Not only did he teach dozens of intensives, master classes, corporate workshops, auditions and residency classes, he was creative director of Diavolo's 2007 winter intensive and assistant to Artistic Director Jacques Heim for numerous intensives and workshops. David performed, taught and created with the company for 6 full national/international touring seasons, leaving with a total of 8 years with Diavolo intense training.
David has now shifted his focus towards his new love and passion, teaching. He is involved in numerous dance education programs in the Los Angeles area where he teaches modern, acrobatics, improvisation, partnering, jazz, and hip hop. He was recently invited to perform as a guest artist in Catch Me Bird's 4th inception "Silk" and David continues to jump at the chance to take on performance opportunities whenever possible.
|
