WHY DANCE STREET WEST??.....

BASIC CLASSES: Size is kept small; curriculums are written and designed each month for the student’s progress. Every student matters. Strong, professional staff, accompanied by student demonstrators, gives more strength and technique to each student.

Each student counts !! We have small classes so each student can work on skills they are good at and those that will be a challenge for them, as each student is different, we can customize their learning experience.

OUR STAFF !!

Each member of our staff is specialized in their field.

With professional backgrounds, our teachers bring the latest trends, with strong training as their foundations. We utilize monthly curriculums to ensure the step by step progress needed for a dancer to grow.

SHANNON LANCASTER – YOUR DIRECTOR:

She has been dancing since she was 5. She opened Dance Street West in 1987. Having danced with the California Ballet Company, touring with a group called “The Entourage”, she graduated from San Diego State University with a major in education with a special emphasis on special education/early childhood development and a Minor in Dance. Because of her love for dance, children and teaching, her future was a given.

She has choreographed many musicals for both adult  and youth productions. Her love of writing, creates an original story for each year’s annual show. As Director, having taught all styles (except Hip Hop) for many years, she now enjoys teaching the adult classes in jazz, tap and ballet, and of course, the young ones. They will always hold a special place in her heart.   A warm-friendly and family oriented environment are as important to her as strong technique followed by performance skills and above all…passion for the art!

*Steppin’ Out – choreographer – Lead/Covina Valley Playhouse

*Choreographed numerous musicals  at Covina Valley Playhouse

*Guys and Dolls

*Peter Pan

*Beauty and the Beast

*Show Choirs

MELISSA QUIQLEY:

Her expertise is in lyrical, contemporary and creating dancers strong in expression. Even the novice dancer excels with her style and curriculum. A Cal State Fullerton graduate, she brings her incredible training along with her gift to create amazing and very unique dances. Her soft spoken approach gets the dancers to do things even they didn’t think they could do.

*.Jimmy DeFore’s Dance Foundation

*Dance Troupe

MELISSA RASH:

A true delight ! She has been dancing since she was 3. A dance major at Cal State Fullerton, she brings a range of training. Trained by Denise Donnavin (Rhythm Tap), Mark Haines, Alicia Ocuchki-guy (NBA Cheer coach, Broadway Choreographer), Melissa does it all!  She is amazing at Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and Hip Hop.

At Dance Street West she provides amazing choreography, as well as ballet and jazz classes that instill not only great technique, but a love for what they are doing.

*DTE Dance Touring Ensemble

*1^st Place Competition Dancer

*Fullerton CLO

MEREDITH LEE

Ms. Lee began dancing in Toronto, Canada and began dancing professionally in Los Angeles at age 14. She has received her core training from Patrick Franz, Marguerite Derricks, Rebecca Newport and Ryan Heffington. She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of California Los Angeles. She has attended summer studies at the Houston Ballet and Interlochen Summer Intensive in Michigan. She was featured in the production Mongrels in Hollywood, CA last spring and danced the role of Clara in Daurden Contemporary Dance Theatre’s Nutcracker in Hollywood, Ca. 2009. Meredith has performed principle roles in numerous classical ballets and other productions including, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Secret Garden, Carnivale and The Snow Queen. She loves to teach ballet, jazz modern, contemporary, rhythm tap, and hip hop. She is an award winning choreographer, taking Nationals at several top competitions.

!MARISSA HAWKINS

Marissa began her ballet training at the age of five at the Severence Ballet School under the guidance of Christopher Doyle, Francoise Thouveny-Doyle and Carla Stallings Lippert (former Principle with Boston Ballet). She was accepted to perform with the Fresno Ballet Company as a student dancer in their annual Nutcracker production for five years before appearing as a company dancer for an additional four. In addition to her Nutcracker performances, she also appeared in numerous other productions including La Fille Mal Gardee and The Firebird. To expand her dance knowledge beyond Classical Ballet, she attended The Dance Studio of Fresno (home of recent SYTYCD) cast member Jason Glover) and took additional classes in Jazz, Lyrical and Hip Hop. While there, she competed as a member of their Senior Competition Team at various National level competitions.  She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate from California State University, Fresno... Her soft spoken instruction creates a love and desire for ballet like no other.

SHELBY FARMER

Miss Farmer is a full time student at Azusa Pacific University. She started her dancing at the age of 6 and has performed in several productions for the Inland Pacific Ballet including Giselle, Dracula, Serenade, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, The Nutcracker and other original choreography. Shelby has attended summer intensive programs at Pasadena Dance Theater, Ballet Pacifica, Austin Ballet and North Carolina School of the Arts. Her exquisite style brings the cutting edge choreography to Dance Street West.

ALIYA PERRY

Aliya brings more than 20 years of experience in dancing. She has a BA in Dance and Theater from Manhattanville College, NY. She has won numerous choreography awards from National Competitions such as Hollywood Vibe, Starpower, and Monster of Hip Hop Dance Convention.  Her performances include the music video “Moving On” The Pulse Tour Finale NYLA Cachet Fashion Show – NYC 9-11 Tribute  - United Nations  She also trained at the Broadway Dance Center, in NY. Since her arrival here in Los Angeles, she has set the dance world on fire.  She is a choreographer and dancer in many events at the Kodak theater and Hollywood. And founder, writer of “The Industry Voice”. Here at Dance Street West she brings the latest, hottest and most innovative moves to our Hip Hop classes and special clinics.

JESSICA VILLEGAS

Miss Jessica teaches our “recreational” dancers. She creates a positive learning environment  for those new to dance.  She trained at Jimmy DeFore in Orange County and was a member of the International Baccalaureate Dance Program. She cheered for 9 years.  She loves to teach Hip Hop, Jazz, Jazz/Funk , and Contemporary.  She is busy in Los  Angeles  working on a Master dance program at The Edge  Dance Studio.  She brings unique and  top notch choreography to our studio.

SAMANTHA WEAVER

Miss Sammi has been dancing for years at Dance Street West. She is a Black Belt in Karate and a  full time  college student.  She was Head Cheerleader for Charter Oak High School and also  trained in gymnastic. She loves all styles of dance and is on our Senior Competition team in all forms.  She is our Saturday morning  instructor. The children love her enthusiasm and passion for dance and cheer.

ASHLEY KAMMERT

Miss Ashley loves ballet. She is working on a degree in dance and education. She  is a true role model for the little ones. Her training is in Ballet and Tap. She loves to teach the “babies”. She can get  them to do things  they didn’t know they could do and absolutely love it.