California Dance Theatre
Entering a new era after 25 years...
Faculty
A Passion for Dance
Kim Maselli (right) Artistic Director (KM):
American
Ballet Theatre II, Joffrey Concert Group, LA Ballet, LA Chamber Ballet,
FAME TV Series 4-year veteran. Feature Films including Girls Just
Wanna Have Fun, TV Specials & Stage. Artistic
Director/Choreographer of CDT's PACIFIC FESTIVAL BALLET, Resident
Ballet Company at the Countrywide Performing Arts Center, Thousand Oaks
Civic Arts Plaza. She is a member of Dance Masters of America.
Lori Sorensen (left) Administrative Director (LS):
Teacher/Choreographer
with business degree and over 40 years experience as dance educator.
Co-founder of CDT's Competition Team 21 years ago. She also enjoys
scheduling dance, choral, theatre and musical groups for the annual
Thousand Oaks Arts Festivals and Alliance for the Arts special events.
Lori is the Vice President & Treasurer of PACIFIC FESTIVAL BALLET,
the Resident Ballet Company at the Countrywide Performing Arts Center,
Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. She is a member of Dance Masters of
America.
Ballet Faculty
Nader Hamed (NH): Was Russian-trained in Leningrad. He was a principal dancer with Berlin Opera, La Scala di Milan, and Colon Theatre in Buenos Aires. Nader was Artistic Manager and Ballet Master at Cairo Opera House and worked with Rudolph Nureyev for four years in Europe.
Jonathan Sharp (JS):
Laura Klein (LK):
Ballet Faculty
Nader Hamed (NH): Was Russian-trained in Leningrad. He was a principal dancer with Berlin Opera, La Scala di Milan, and Colon Theatre in Buenos Aires. Nader was Artistic Manager and Ballet Master at Cairo Opera House and worked with Rudolph Nureyev for four years in Europe.
Jonathan Sharp (JS): Began
his dance training at the School of American Ballet. He also danced
professionally with the Boston Ballet and the Pennsylvania Ballet. He
has performed on Broadway in The Red Shoes, Carousel (revival at
Lincoln Center), The Rocky Horror Picture Show Live, The Dance of the
Vampires, and Fiddler on the Roof (2004 Revival). His television
credits include a contract role on Another World and guest starring
parts on Gilmore Girls, Law and Order, Jack and Jill, and The Cosby
Mysteries. Jonathan danced the role of Prince Raphael in Pacific
Festival Ballet's world premiere The Sea Princess, and Cotton Candy
Prince & Spanish in their annual Nutcracker, and the world premier performance of Noah's Ark in May 2010 dancing the role of Noah! Jonathan is a certified and affiliated teacher in the ABT National Training Curriculum (Levels: Primary through Level 7)
Elizabeth Asman Highway (EH):
Margie Weisman (MW):
Jamie Ohlrich Raegan (JOR):
Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Hip-Hop, Tap Faculty
Elizabeth Asman Highway (EH):
Received
her formal ballet training from Yvonne Mounsey and Rosemary Valaire at
the Westside Ballet in Santa Monica, CA. Upon graduating high school,
she started her professional career at the Milwaukee Ballet and went on
to dance with the Pittsburgh Ballet, Indianapolis Ballet and as a
principal with the Buffalo City Ballet. In 2005, she choreographed A
Tribute to George Balanchine, scenes from The Secret Garden, and, recently, A Tribute to Scott Joplin for Pacific Festival Ballet.
Jean Lubin (JL):
Jean Lubin (JL): Attended the School of American
Ballet and then danced on full scholarship with American Ballet Theter School in New York, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Teatro all Scala in Milan, where she was often featured in the pages of Italian Vogue. She then danced under the direction of David HOward and was coached by many legends of the dance world including Alexandra Danilova, Anton Dolin, and Lupe Serrano. Signed by Ford Models in New York, Jean was featured for several years in the Danskins are for Dancing national ad campaign and danced for dozens of national commercials, TV shows and feature films.
Margie Weisman (MW):
Has
taught ballet in Boston, New York, Los Angeles and the Conejo Valley.
She received her BFA from the Boston Conservatory and was trained in
Vaganova technique by Witaly Osins, Lorenzo Monreal and Ruth S. Ambrose.
She has studied ballet in Amsterdam, Netherlands with the Scapino
Ballet, in New York City with David Howard, and in Los Angeles with
Stanley Holden and Tanya Lichine. Margie danced professionally as a
soloist with Boston Dance Theatre, Boston Massachusetts and Albano
Ballet Company in Hartford Connecticut. She danced in an Adagio Act in
Cabarets in New York City and in musical reviews with Princess Cruises,
in modern and jazz companies in Los Angeles and performed in the opening
and closing ceremonies of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Margie has
choreographed for competition teams and conceived and created a two-act
ballet, "Alice in Wonderland." Margie's goal as a ballet teacher is to
teach 'sound' technique at every level, to build strong, supple bodies,
and to instill a life-long love and appreciation of dance in every
student.
Vivian Grigorian Goldes (VG):
Vivian Grigorian Goldes (VG):
One
of the first alumni of CDT, earned her B.A. in Dance from UC Irvine
where she also danced with Opera Pacific at the Orange County Performing
Arts Center. She attended New York University’s Tisch School of the
Arts and earned her MFA in Dance working with choreographers David
Parsons and Bebe Miller. She danced with various choreographers in New
York and was a member of Battery Dance Company, touring nationally and
to India and Sri Lanka. Vivian taught ballet, tap, jazz and modern at
the Peri-Dance Centre and the Steffi Nossen School of Dance in New
York. Vivian is also on the dance faculty at Moorpark College where she choreographs and teaches ballet and modern.
Jamie Ohlrich Raegan (JOR):
An alumni of CDT, Jamie has been dancing for 25 years and has been on faculty at CDT for 11 years. She has studies under
the direction of Kim Maselli, Stanley Holden, Charles Maple, and Patrick
Frantz. Jamie performed with Pacific Festival Ballet as the lead in
Cinderella, as well as many other lead roles in The Nutcracker, The
Sleeping Beauty, Pas de Quatre, and Heaven & Hell...the Journey, to
name a few. She has also trained with the Milwaukee Ballet School and
with the Marla Bingham Contemporary Ballet Company, with whom she
performed in Firebird. Jamie performed representing CDT in Paris,
France, and in Austria at the Tanzsommer Invitational Dance Festival.
She has competed nationally at the New York City Dance Alliance and the
Los Angeles Dance Force. Jamie received her Bachelor of Science Degree
in Kinesiology - Exercise Science from California State University
Northridge. She is also a certified Jazzercise instructor and a BASI certified Pilates instructor.
Karyl Noily (KN):
Karyl Noily (KN):
Owned
her own studio in Tarzana for over 26 years. Her
students received scholarships to San Francisco Ballet, Pacific
Northwest Ballet and other prestigious companies. Karyl studied Cecchetti, Russian and RAD Ballet Techniques. At Syracuse University, she majored in Theater and earned her BFA at Columbia University in NYC. Karyl feels passionate about inspiring young children and beginners of all ages with her lifelong love of ballet and theater. She created "Gentle Adult Ballet;" a unique program of classical ballet geared to the special needs of older dancers, dancers recovering from injuries and anyone desiring a less strenuous ballet format than is found in most classes. Karyl firmly believes "we never need to hang up our ballet shoes."
Laura Klein (LK):
Laura
has appeared in both the National and International Companies of the
Broadway Show A Chorus Line and the Broadway Show Carmelina. She has
taught master classes at several National Dance Conventions and has
choreographed many award-winning competition numbers. Laura is most
proud of her former students who are dancing professionally throughout
the world. She is a 25-year member of Dance Masters of America.
Gregg Russell (GR):
Deborah Collodel (DC):
Deborah is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and received her BFA degree from
University of North Carolina School for the Arts. She began her professional career with
the Maryland Dance Theater then re-located to Los Angeles to join the Bella Lewitzky
Dance Company, touring internationally for five years. She then went on to dance with the
Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, Sarah Elgart Dancers, and along with her husband Eric
Rochin, was artistic director of The Umbrella Forest Dancers which performed from
Los Angeles to Paris. Most recently she has enjoyed performing the role of Nama in Pacific
Festival Ballet's premier of "Noah's Ark." Her teaching career has taken her worldwide
from the U.S. artist in the schools, to international stages in Europe. Most recently, she
has taught at Joffrey Ballet in Chicago for the trainees there. Deborah also is the assistant to the director for
PFB's productions.
Gregg Russell (GR):
Tapped
with Bette Midler, Gene Kelly, Gregory Hines and Cedric the
Entertainer. Most recently, he choreographed and directed a commercial
for Carvel Ice Cream. Gregg has worked with musical artists Sugar Ray,
Smashmouth, Reba McEntire, Jason Mraz, Alanis Morrisette and the
B-52's. He was a guest performer and
choreographer on the Disney Show Even Stevens. He also was featured on
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; danced in many movies including Newsies
and Clueless and appeared as a guest on the show 3rd Rock from the Sun
many times. Gregg developed his own corporation titled 3D Dance Network
and his tap company, Tap Sounds Underground.
Melissa Hurley Cassidy (MC):
Melissa Hurley Cassidy (MC):
Equity
Tours: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. World Tours:
David Bowie, Cher, Reba Mc Entire, LA Chamber Ballet. Films: Rent, Mr.
and Mrs. Smith, Haunted Mansion, That Thing You Do, The Mask, What's
Love Got to do with it, I'll do Anything, Mobsters, For the Boys, Three
Men and a Little Lady, My Blue Heaven. Television: Fame, Fame LA,
Matlock, Coprock, Gambler 4, Love and War, Coach, 3rd Rock from the Sun,
Cinderella (Movie of the Week), Mrs. Santa Claus (Movie of the Week),
Bob Hope 90th Birthday Special, 69th & 72nd Academy Awards, Grammy
Awards, Country Music Awards, MTV Movie Awards, The Tonight Show.
Roxanne Lee (RL):
Roxanne Lee (RL):
Stage:
Liza Minelli’s Steppin Out, (USA & International Tours), 42nd
Street, Wizard of Oz, David Copperfield, and first twins on Broadway in
Annie along with her sister, Sherry, (Molly & Duffy). Also, Arsenio
Hall Show, Joey Lawrence Video, D.C. Talk Video, MTV’s Spring Break
Bash, Rhythm & Blues. National Champions L.A. Dance Force,
Showstoppers and Dance Masters of America. Roxanne is a certified
teacher and adjudicator for DMA and winner of the Sherry Gold award for
Most Outstanding Choreography - Miss & Mr. Dance of America Dance
competition July 2000.
Valerie Gardhouse Boucher (Val):
Valerie Gardhouse Boucher (Val):
An
original and featured member of the California Dance Theatre's
competition team The Dance Connection, studying tap, jazz, and ballet
for over 15 years. She studied tap privately with Louis De Pron. She
also danced with the Alan DeWames Dance company doing industrial and
commercial work for LA Gear, Miss California and Texas Beauty Pageants,
Child Help USA benefits, and appeared on Star Search for two seasons.
She began teaching at 18 years of age and has taught all types and
levels of dance to all ages. She is starting her 15th season as
choreographer with the Westlake High School award-winning show choir,
and recently choreographed the advanced choir in a pilot for Warner
Bros. She is also a guest choreographer with John Jacobsen on his
national summer tour for high school show choirs. Valerie holds a
Master's Degree in Nutritional Science and is a Registered Dietitian.
Jennifer White (JW):
Joanne Bruchez
(JB):
Performance credits include "Ragtime," "The Music Man," "West Side Story," "Godspell," "Grease," and "The Cotton Club" (under the direction of Maurice Hines & Henry Le Tang) to name a few. After performing as a back-up singer and dancer for Fame star Nia Peeples, Joanne opened her own dance studio in the Santa Clarita Valley and enjoyed success as an award-winning children's choreographer. With over 23 years of performing and teaching experience, she is very proud that many of her students have become professionals in the entertainment industry working with such artists as Usher, N'Sync, Will Smith & Beyoncé.
Jennifer White (JW):
has
been training and dancing for more than 12 years. She has been a
student and assistant teacher at CDT for 10 years and is the proud mom
of four children, all whom are current students and aspiring dancers.
She is excited to be a part of the CDT staff again this year.
Joanne Bruchez
(JB): Performance credits include "Ragtime," "The Music Man," "West Side Story," "Godspell," "Grease," and "The Cotton Club" (under the direction of Maurice Hines & Henry Le Tang) to name a few. After performing as a back-up singer and dancer for Fame star Nia Peeples, Joanne opened her own dance studio in the Santa Clarita Valley and enjoyed success as an award-winning children's choreographer. With over 23 years of performing and teaching experience, she is very proud that many of her students have become professionals in the entertainment industry working with such artists as Usher, N'Sync, Will Smith & Beyoncé.