Debbie Allen continues to be one of the most respected, relevant,
and versatile talents in the entertainment industry today and is
an internationally recognized director, choreographer and author.
As Culture Connect Ambassador, Ms. Allen represented the U.S. in
visits to Brazil, China, Italy, and India expanding the opportunities
in arts education for young people all over the world. She is a
member of the prestigious President's Committee on the Arts and
Humanities, a board member of the American Film Institute, and an
Executive Committee member of UCLA's School of Theatre, Film, and
Television.
Debbie Allen has received three Emmy awards honoring her choreography,
and two Emmys and one Golden Globe for her role as "Lydia Grant"
in the hit series, Fame. She then forayed from acting to directing-
first with the series “Fame,” followed by “Family
Ties” and “Bronx Zoo,” before taking the reins
at NBC's “A Different World” as director and producer
in 1988. Allen has choreographed for artists such as Michael Jackson,
Mariah Carey, and Janet Jackson, and also holds the distinction
of having choreographed the Academy Awards a total of ten times,
five in consecutive years. She produced the Steven Spielberg epic
film Amistad, and recently directed the second highest
rated original movie in Lifetime Channel history, Life is Not
A Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story. Allen also has staged
musicals for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. where she has
been Artist in Residence for over ten years. In 2001, Allen fulfilled
a lifelong dream by opening the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Culver
City, California, where she offers a comprehensive curriculum for
over 200 boys and girls ages four to eighteen in twelve performing
arts disciplines. Debbie Allen plays an active role in each student's
career by offering her own hands-on instruction and a world renowned
faculty. Debbie has been able to use her prestige to lure instructors
from famous institutions such as the Kirov Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet,
and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. I
In March 2008, Debbie Allen made her critically acclaimed Broadway
directorial debut with the premier of an all African American production
of Tennessee William’s classic, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.
Debbie Allen lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Norman Nixon,
and their two children, Vivian Nichole and Norman, Jr.
ALLA KHANIASHVILI
Academy Director
Ballet
Alla Khaniashvili graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.
She joined the Bolshoi Ballet in 1980 as a principal dancer,
dancing in Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Giselle, and Spartacus among
others. In 1981 she won the Gold Medal at the Moscow International
Ballet Competition, a Gold Medal in the Moscow all Union competition,
and a Silver medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition.
Khaniashvili has performed as a guest artist with many internationally
known ballet companies including The New York City Ballet, Ballet
Stars of Moscow and the Moscow Classical Ballet at the Grand
Opera in Paris, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Covent Garden
in London and in Japan.
KAREN MCDONALD
Academy Dean
Modern
Karen McDonald (Modern) has been teaching in Los Angeles over
25 years. She taught at the prestigious California Institute
of the Arts in Valencia and currently she is the head of the
dance department at Los Angeles Unified School District Gifted
Student Program at Cal State Los Angeles. She is also Associate
Director of the Dance Department at Hamilton High School in
West L.A. Ms. McDonald’s Broadway credits include, Purlie,
Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Wiz, and Duke Ellington’s
Sophisticated Ladies. She has developed a provocative Modern
Jazz technique that allows dancers to discover their power,
creativity, and spiritual balance that dance brings to light
in the artists.
BRONWYN THOMAS-HODGSON
Early Bird Dean
Ballet/Jazz/Tap
Bronwyn Thomas-Hodgson made her debut at the age of 6, with
the Bolshoi Ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House. She continued
to gain fame as a young ballerina with the Eglevsky Ballet,
American Ballet Theater (Guest Artist) and the Elliot Feld
Ballet. After dancing with The New York City Opera, Ms. Thomas-Hodgson
worked for Agnes DeMille as well as “Michelle”
in the series Fame with the talented Ms. Debbie Allen. Her
award show credits include the Academy Awards, the Emmy Awards,
American Movie Awards, and the Image Awards.
HECTOR MERCADO
Dean of Repertory
Modern
A native of New York, Hector Mercado began his training at the
High School of Performing Arts, where he graduated with honors.
Upon his graduation, he accepted a full scholarship to the Harkness
School. The seminal event in his dance career was joining the
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Company, where he was a principal
dancer, and the dance partner of the acclaimed Judith Jamison.
On Broadway he starred in Your Arms Too Short…,
Cats, and West Side Story, playing 'Nardo'
to Ms. Allen's 'Anita'. He has also worked with Jerome
Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents and Steven Sondheim.
. Mercado's first efforts in film were Slow Dancing in the
Big City and Hair. He has choreographed an original
production of Terrance Mann's Dreamgirls, the Los Angeles
production of Fantasticks directed by Ken Page, and
Queen Margolis.
ADRIENNE DELLAS THORNTON
Director Emeritus
Adrienne Dellas is DADA’s Founding Director and is considered
a Master Teacher in classical ballet. She solidified her reputation
as the Founding Director of the Universal Ballet Company in
Korea and establishing the Ballet Department of the Little Angels
Performing Arts School. Later she received the President’s
Award for Teaching and Choreography and numerous other Gold
Medals for Excellence in the Arts. She is recognized the world
over for her choreography of original ballets such as Shim Chung,
The Blind Man’s Daughter, The Emperor and the Nightingale,
Ulysses, Monument, Peter and the Wolf in Central Park, and Romanza.
Ms. Dellas for 12 years was on the esteemed faculty of the Kirov
Academy in Washington, D.C. She was invited to teach at the
famed Vagonova Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia and choreographed
her ballet Jubilee for the students of the school. She s and
currently resides in Pennsylvania.
ALEX DA SILVA (Salsa)
Was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and wasn't introduced to
salsa dancing until the age of 20. Three months later, Dominique
Yin gave him the opportunity to teach salsa lessons. After teaching
over 15,000 people, Alex headed for Hollywood. Alex has taught
in prestigious salsa clubs throughout Los Angeles and is credited
for the style now known as LA STYLE SALSA. He is recognized
by his magical, captivating, hypnotic salsa dance moves and
has worked with J. Lo, Salma Hayek, Jennifer Love Hewitt, P.
Diddy, Will Smith, Mario Van Peeples, Vin Diesel and many more.
He is a featured choreographer on Fox's hit show SO YOU
THINK YOU CAN DANCE
ARLENE KENNEDY (Tap)
is an icon in the Tap Community, and co-founder and Artistic
Director of the Universal Dance Designs Kennedy Tap Company.
This company has produced more professional and Broadway Tap
dancers than any other school in Los Angeles, including performers
who have appeared with the world famous Rockettes and in the
shows Black and Blue; 42nd Street; Bring in Da Noise, Bring
in Da Funk; and Las Vegas Storms. Kennedy began dancing at
the age of three and studied at the Academy of Theatrical
Arts in Washington, D.C. Her career began in Boston where
she performed with Teddy Powell productions. She later performed
internationally with the Bob Curtis Compay. Kennedy is the
recipient of the Gregory Hines Humanitarian Award and serves
as a member of the Professional Dance Society Advisory Board.
AVA BERNSTINE (Hip Hop)
is a dancer, choreographer, singer, songwriter, and hip hop/
jazz instructor. She graduated from Cal State Northridge and
has performed all over the world, including in India with
Ms. Allen. Ava has worked with such artists as Nick Cannon,
Backstreet Boys, Chaka Kahn, Omarion and the Justin Timberlake
World Tour.
BRISEYEDA ZARATE (Flamenco)
was performing jazz professionally by the age of 13. At age
19 she fell in love with Flamenco and has dedicated herself
to it for over a decade. Her journey began in Los Angeles
with teachers Liliana de Leon and Gabriela Garza performing
as soloist in their companies. In Madrid, Spain, she’s
performed as a soloist, she has toured Mexico, and most recently,
she collaborated with Yaelisa and Caminos Flamencos, sharing
the stage with artists Juan Ogalla and Manuel Malena. In 2005
she founded the Alma Y Corazón Flamenco Ensemble which
she artistically directs. Her production, Asi Baila Mi
Corazón, was received with enthusiasm to sold
out houses.
CHANTEL HEATH (Tap & Hip Hop)
is working her way through the world as a dancer and choreographer.
She is trained in genres ranging from tap, hip hop, jazz and
modern, to swing and martial arts. She has worked with such
artists as Tupac, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Savion Glover (Cannes
Film Festival, Jerry Lewis Telethon) and Michael Jackson for
his 45th Anniversary. As a member of the Kennedy Tap Company
she danced in Cuba with Alicia Alonzo's "International
Ballet of Cuba," and was one of the first African Americans
to dance at the Kremlin in Russia. Her most recent film credits
are Idlewild and Tap Heat and her choreography was featured
in the 2008 season finale of So You Think You Can Dance.
CHLOE ARNOLD (Tap)
a graduate of Columbia University, is the co-director of DADA’s
Los Angeles Tap Festival. Chloe was Associate Choreographer
for ABC's American Celebration, the Opening number of the
2008 Jerry Lewis Telethon, Debbie Allen's Pearl and
Alex In Wonderland and is the founding choreographer
for the Tap Company, Syncopated Ladies. Performance credits
include Debbie Allen's Brothers of the Knight and
Alex in Wonderland. She was also a featured dancer
in Imagine Tap, Outkast's film Idlewild, Sean Paul's
music video for Step Up, Soul Possessed, Sammy, Savion
Glover's All Star Tap Revue, and The Oneness Awards honoring
Michael Jackson. Film and television appearances include The
Parkers, One on One, Nickelodeon's Brothers Garcia, The Jerry
Lewis Telethon and Dean Hargrove's short film Tap Heat
DIAMOND ROBINSON (Hip Hop)
was discovered during a Debbie Allen Dance Academy Lecture
Demonstration at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles. While
a student at Dorsey, he choreographed three school performances.
His stage credits include Debbie Allen’s Dancing In
The Wings and The Bayou Legend. Diamond teaches master classes
annually at the Imagination Celebration Summer Intensive in
Fort Worth, Texas.
DION WATSON (Hip Hop)
was personally picked by Debbie Allen to teach at the Debbie
Allen Dance Academy. Dion has worked with Mariah Carey, Nas,
Joe, Little Richard, Raven Symone and Fergie. Dion has also
taught and choreographed all over the world including Lebanon
where he choreographed his own version of Romeo and Juliet.
Dion has danced in and assisted Ms. Allen's critically acclaimed
Brothers of the Knight and Pearl. He teaches hip hop at DADA
where he is on permanent faculty.
ELZA PRADO (Flamenco)
is a well renowned classical Flamenco teacher trained in original
Spanish dance. She was born in Brazil and has danced and choreographed
to great acclaim throughout South America. Ms. Prado has been
a member of DADA’s Faculty since 2001.
JASON SAMUELS SMITH (Tap)
is the Director of the Los Angeles Tap Festival and won an
Emmy for choreographing the Opening number of the Jerry Lewis
Telethon in a tribute to Gregory Hines. He was awarded a Proclamation
declaring April 23rd "Jason Samuels Day" (City of
Shreveport, LA), the "Ivy of Education" (Brainerd
Institute), the "President Kenny Award" (Stony Brook
University), and an Arts International Grant. Mr. Samuels-Smith
co-starred in Dean Hargrove's short film Tap Heat (2004),
and is in the film Idlewild. Credits include Debbie Allen's
Soul Possessed, Sammy, Broadway's Bring in Da'Noise, Bring
in Da'Funk, and Savion Glover's "NYOTs" among others.
He founded tap company A.C.G.I. and JaJa Productions band
featuring original jazz-influenced hip hop music.
JESSICA GUESS (Hip Hop)
was born and raised in Ft. Worth, Texas and moved to L.A.
at the age of 14 to train at DADA. She opened the Jerry Lewis
Telethon with an African performance and performed a Hip Hop
dance for Steven Spielberg at USC’s 75th Anniversary
Gala. Her credits include Pepito’s Story and Dancing
In The Wings, choreographed and directed by Debbie Allen.
Jessica has also trained with Terry Beeman and performed in
his productions “Bound” and “The Closing”.
In 2006, Jessica was thrilled to assist Ms. Allen with The
Bayou Legend. Jessica plans to expand her acting and dancing
career and looks forward to the opportunities that come her
way.
KARA MACK (African)
choreographer of Balandugu Kan Dance Troupe, has studied many
styles of African dance from Master Dancers all over the Diaspora.
She has had the honor of performing for the NAACP, BET, and
Billboard Awards because of African dance. In honor of the
spirit of Africa, she passes on the wisdom, purity, and strength
of African dance.
KATYA ARTIUSHKINA (Ballet)
was born in Moscow, Russia. Her parents, Vitaly and Alla,
were principals with the Bolshoi Ballet and she grew up under
their watchful eye training in the Vaganova method. Katya
has toured many parts of the world performing alongside her
parents. She also danced with the Pacific Northwest Ballet
in Seattle. Ballet is Katya's life and passion and she is
proud to be a part of DADA’s faculty and family.
KEVIN HARRIS (Hip Hop)
is part DADA’s inaugural class and has been teaching
at DADA since 2003. He has performed in all 6 of Ms. Allen's
original productions, and was Assistant Choreographer for
The Bayou Legend and Brothers of the Knight, and the TV show,
Everybody Hates Chris and a principal dancer on episodes of
the TV show, Just Jordan. Kevin has taught Hip Hop classes
in the Los Angeles Unified School District, L.A.'s Best, P.S.
Arts, and master classes across the US. Kevin has toured all
over Europe, Asia and South America with the singer, Fergie,
and has appeared on Jay Leno, Tyra Banks, MTV, Nickelodeon,
Pepsi's Super Bowl Smash, and the VH1 and Billboard Awards.
LIL' TOMMY (Krumpin)
is a dancer, choreographer, actor and mentor to the youth
of Los Angeles. You may have seen him in the hit movie Rize,
and he has appeared on television shows such as: America's
Next Top Model, Judge Hatchett, and a Converse commercial.
He has also traveled all over the world to dance in England,
Japan, Germany and Tai Pei.
NICOLE NICHOLAS (Tap)
a graduate of Stanford University studied with Paul and Arlene
Kennedy at Universal Dance Designs. She began performing at
the age of 4 with her grandfather, Dr. Fayard Nicholas and
uncle Harold Nicholas of the legendary Nicholas Brothers.
Nicole has danced at Carnegie Hall alongside Bill Cosby and
Lena Horne and has danced throughout the United States, Canada,
Cuba and Europe. She has also shared a stage with Gregory
Hines and Savion Glover. As the Managing Producer at DADA,
Nicole’s producing credits include The Bayou Legend,
Los Angeles Hip Hop Dance Intensive and the Los Angeles Tap
Festival, Alex In Wonderland and Brothers of the Knight.
NZINGHA CAMARA (African)
is a dancer, educator, artist and choreographer whose illustrious
career spans across the globe and over three decades. Her
spirit has inspired, motivated and instilled a sense of grace
and pride in individuals from the villages of West Africa
to the far shores of the Caribbean over to Europe and the
United States. Branded with the name of a magnificent African
queen, Nzingha has graced the covers of some of the most prominent
dance magazines in the country and orchestrated performances
for some of Hollywood's crème de la crème. She
remains steadfast to preserving the culture of her craft and
carrying on the legacy of West African Dance.
SARAH ANINDO MARSHALL (Dunham)
is a veteran of the music business, whose roots lie in her
native Kenya. Ms. Marshall’s music and dance experiences
have spanned Africa, Europe and now the United States. At
the age of fifteen in Kenya, she was introduced to Dunham
Technique. She studied with Katherine Dunham herself and other
Dunham technique greats like: Pearl Reynolds, Archie Savage,
Lucille Elis, Tommy Gomez, Talley Beatty, Vanove Aikens, Theo
Jamison, Ronald Marshall and Keith Williams.
SHERMAN L. STEWARD (Jazz)
was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and has studied and performed
with some of the best the dance masters the world has to offer,
including Arthur Mitchell, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Frank
Hatchett and Broadway Dance Centre. Dancing, choreographing
and instructing in all major cities around the world, Sherman
has earned a reputation throughout Europe, Asia and Africa
for his extraordinary talent. Since his return to the U.S.,
Sherman has dedicated himself to the development of dance
as a whole: Instructing both children and adults, creating
www.kidzdanceklub.com, a website for dancers both young and
old, as well as premiering his own dance company, "Santa
Monica Dance Theatre of the World".
TERRENCE LEE JONES (Voice)
has worked with recording artists The Braxtons and appeared
with them on Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee. Mr. Jones worked
with Jawole Zolar and the Urban Bush Women in Bones and Ash
in New York City and Dreamgirls at the Shousun Theatre in
Hong Kong. He was music director, pianist, and vocal arranger
for the world premiere of "Soul Possessed" at the
Kennedy Center. His original compositions include "Mass
For All People" and "This is My Story, This is My
Song", a history of African American music from the slave
holler to hip- hop.
TERRY BEEMAN (Jazz & Silk)
DADA’s Jazz, silk and aerial master, founded his company
in 2002 with shows entitled Atmosphere, Bound, Piccolo Concerto
and The Closing. His Cabaret Burlesque show Terry's The Super
Sexy Show starring Hollywood Pin-up Girls, has been running
at El Cid Restaurant for years. Terry has been assisting Debbie
Allen in her Academy Awards productions and live stage shows
in Washington DC's Kennedy Center and in L.A. with shows Dreams,
The Bayou Legend and stared in Brothers of the Knight as "Happy"
and as "Death" in Soul Possessed. Terry has worked
beside several multi-platinum recording artists and appeared
in the movies Showgirls, Eraser and Batman and Robin.
TESSANDRA CHAVEZ (Jazz)
started choreographing at the age of 11, and at 15 she started
her elite dance company, Unity Dance Ensemble. Since then,
Tessandra has produced, directed and choreographed full-length
dance concerts, and is known for her eclectic and challenging
style, which is a blend of Jazz, Hip-Hop, Modern and Ballet.
Tessandra is also a past member and choreographer for two
hip-hop dance companies, Urban FX and Funkanometry. She also
leads a group known as the "Allstars" who are hand
picked dancers from various hip-hop troupes that come together
to perform her hip-hop choreography. Tessandra travels as
a regular Master Teacher and guest choreographer around the
US and has been known to bring out the best in a dancer by
her intensity.
TYCE DIORIO (Contemporary)
has danced with Janet Jackson on her "Velvet Rope"
World Tour as well as many of her music videos and videos
and television appearances. He has danced and choreographed
exclusively for Paula Abdul, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin,
and Samantha Mumba and more. He was a featured lead in the
Broadway show Fosse. He has appeared in the films as Showgirls,
Starsky and Hutch, 13 going on 30, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith
and has done commercials and print work. He is also recording
his own music and working in film and television as an actor.
He is a featured choreographer and judge on Fox's hit show
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
VITALY ARTUISHKIN (Ballet)
graduated the Bolshoi Ballet Academy with honors in 1976,
and in 1980 he became a principal dancer with the Bolshoi
Ballet. He has performed the leads in such productions as
Swan Lake, Spartacus, Romeo and Juliet, and Sleeping Beauty
among others. In 1984, he medaled at the "International
Ballet Competition" in Osaka, Japan. Mr. Artuishkin has
also guest starred with major ballet companies around the
world, performing in the United States, at Covent Garden,
at the Paris Grand Opera, and in Japan and Italy. He recently
coached a DADA student who won the Gold Medal in an international
dance competition in Germany.
