Quick Facts
- I have been dancing on and off for about 30 years!
- I love Tap and Jazz equally, they are completely different art forms to me.
- I have one little dog, one hairy tarantula, and one tall husband.
- I have been teaching in Humboldt County for one year.
- Favorite dance advice "Dance smarter, not harder."
Biography
I was born and raised in San Jose, CA where I got my first taste of performing at the age of 6, with Children’s Musical Theatre of San Jose (formerly SJCMT.) I participated in dozens of musicals throughout my adolescence, as well as performing with their elite-touring group “The Neighborhood Kids.” Through CMT I had the chance to perform at venues around California, including at the Oakland Coliseum for the Oakland Athletics and singing on stage with Kenny Loggins.
At the age of 10 I began my serious dance training at Marie Stinnett Dance in Campbell, CA. Marie’s technical and professional approach to dance training shaped not only the way I teach, but also how I handle a myriad of situations in my everyday life. I worked the front desk, studied Jazz and Tap dance, and eventually acted as an assistant teacher. I truly grew up in the studio – physically but also in maturity and dance knowledge.
By high school dance was such a huge part of my identity, dancing at the studio, doing musicals and tour group with CMT, musicals with Bellarmine College Preparatory, and my senior year my best friend and I produced, directed, and choreographed Bye Bye Birdie (the first musical our high school had seen in decades!) Out of high school I began my professional career with American Musical Theatre (formerly San Jose Civic Light Opera) in several of their productions, including The Music Man, Kismet, and The Most Happy Fella.
At 19, I moved to Los Angeles to expand my dance career. Once in LA, I studied with too many talented teachers to count at many studios – The Edge, MKM Cultural Arts Center, Retter’s Academy of Dance, Millennium Dance Complex, The Performing Arts Center, Debbie Reynolds Studios, Hama’s Dance Center, etc. I was part of Retter’s Academy of Dance R&B Dance Company, as well as the North Hollywood Jazz Dance Ensemble. I was a substitute teacher for Jazz and Tap classes at the Millennium Dance Complex for several years. During that time I had the opportunity to choreograph many interesting projects including a television pilot, experimental music videos, and an original stage musical eventually turned into the film “Repo! The Genetic Opera.”
My time in Los Angeles eventually shifted from dance to television production, and I could not find room for both. In my reality television career I've had many interesting and exciting adventures on shows like Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch."
After marrying my husband a couple of years ago, my life shifted once again, and we are now happily living in Humboldt. As I try to figure out my next steps in life, returning to dance felt like a natural direction. I have fallen in love with the art form all over again and want to share my passion with all - from the mildly curious beginner to the seasoned performer!
At the age of 10 I began my serious dance training at Marie Stinnett Dance in Campbell, CA. Marie’s technical and professional approach to dance training shaped not only the way I teach, but also how I handle a myriad of situations in my everyday life. I worked the front desk, studied Jazz and Tap dance, and eventually acted as an assistant teacher. I truly grew up in the studio – physically but also in maturity and dance knowledge.
By high school dance was such a huge part of my identity, dancing at the studio, doing musicals and tour group with CMT, musicals with Bellarmine College Preparatory, and my senior year my best friend and I produced, directed, and choreographed Bye Bye Birdie (the first musical our high school had seen in decades!) Out of high school I began my professional career with American Musical Theatre (formerly San Jose Civic Light Opera) in several of their productions, including The Music Man, Kismet, and The Most Happy Fella.
At 19, I moved to Los Angeles to expand my dance career. Once in LA, I studied with too many talented teachers to count at many studios – The Edge, MKM Cultural Arts Center, Retter’s Academy of Dance, Millennium Dance Complex, The Performing Arts Center, Debbie Reynolds Studios, Hama’s Dance Center, etc. I was part of Retter’s Academy of Dance R&B Dance Company, as well as the North Hollywood Jazz Dance Ensemble. I was a substitute teacher for Jazz and Tap classes at the Millennium Dance Complex for several years. During that time I had the opportunity to choreograph many interesting projects including a television pilot, experimental music videos, and an original stage musical eventually turned into the film “Repo! The Genetic Opera.”
My time in Los Angeles eventually shifted from dance to television production, and I could not find room for both. In my reality television career I've had many interesting and exciting adventures on shows like Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch."
After marrying my husband a couple of years ago, my life shifted once again, and we are now happily living in Humboldt. As I try to figure out my next steps in life, returning to dance felt like a natural direction. I have fallen in love with the art form all over again and want to share my passion with all - from the mildly curious beginner to the seasoned performer!