PAM ORENSTEIN

PAM ORENSTEIN
Owner & Director

Pamela Orenstein grew up in South Africa, a third generation performing dancer. From ages 4 to 19 she studied ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance, earning her Cecchetti Ballet Certification. After several years teaching in South Africa, Pamela emigrated to Los Angeles in 1979 and worked in the music industry, specializing in Artist Relations, Promotions and Live Events. She returned to dance in 1996 and has owned her own studio since 2003. It has been an incredible journey so far and a privilege watching our dancers become the best versions of themselves; gaining the confidence and work ethic to take them into all aspects of their daily lives. The most powerful form of communicating is exploring social issues and life issues through dance. Pamela looks forward to sharing the many opportunities DDPAC has to offer!
RON ORENSTEIN

RON ORENSTEIN
​Owner

SYDNEY ORENSTEIN

SYDNEY ORENSTEIN
Studio Manager & Company Director

KELLY KERASTAS

KELLY KERASTAS
​Studio Manager & Company Director

Kelly is DDPAC’s studio manager, company director and teacher! We can’t imagine DDPAC without her SPARKLE! Kelly is originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan and started dancing at a very young age. She graduated from Grand Valley State University in April 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and was awarded The Dance Department Outstanding Student Award. There she had the opportunity to train with master educators from Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. In 2012 she moved to Los Angeles and has garnered credits in multiple outlets.  She has had the privilege to perform with Flash Mob America in corporate events for California Pizza Kitchen and Johnson and Johnson.  Kelly has danced in music videos for Passenger, Cher Lloyd and Nina Paolicelli. Her commercial credits include Sensa and ROCK THE DOTS campaign for Disney. She was a principal dancer in the television movie “Dear Dumb Diary.”  She joined our dance family in 2012. 
AMY VANCOTT THOMAS

AMY VANCOTT THOMAS

Amy grew up in the Midwest and began her teaching career at the age of 13, and has taught full time for the past 19 years! She is an in-demand teacher for the little ones, specializing in Baby Ballet, Pre-Ballet, and Creative Dance classes. Ms Amy has been teaching at Dance Dimensions for 6 years.
ASHLEY SMITH

ASHLEY SMITH

Originally from Orange County CA, Ashley moved away from home at age 15 to receive her training at Oregon Ballet Theatre, The Washington School of Ballet, Miami City Ballet, The Rock School for Dance Education, and Pittsburgh Youth Ballet. She joins Dance Dimensions after retiring from a 6 year career as an company artist with Oregon Ballet Theatre. Since moving to Los Angles, she has been working with Karmagraphy, The LA Follies, and Media City Ballet. She is thrilled to be teaching at Dance Dimensions and cannot wait to share her knowledge with all the students!
BIANCA SAPETTO

BIANCA SAPETTO

Bianca Sapetto: choreographer, director, aerialist, and dancer, began her career as a rhythmic gymnast, claiming five U.S. National Championships titles and an alternate on the 1992 Olympic Team.  She has performed, choreographed, and directed for Disney, Cirque du Soleil, Warner Brothers, Paramount films, the Grammy Awards, the Tonight Show, Good Morning America, American Music Awards, Jackie Chan’s Stunt Team, Michigan Opera, Teatro Zinzanni, Astor Piazzola Tango Foundation, the Olympic Gymnastics Tours, and at the Summit of the Americas for all the North and South American presidents and prime ministers. Bianca studied Comparative Religion at Amherst College.
BOBBY AMAMIZU

BOBBY AMAMIZU

Bobby Amamizu is a graduate from Orange County High School of the Arts and holds a BFA in Dance Performance from UC Irvine. He has performed classical, Balanchine, and Forsythe ballet’s in his career. Currently he is represented by Movement Talent Agency in Los Angeles as a professional dancer.

Stage credits: Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis (original cast dir. Vincent Paterson), Freelusion, Valse Fantasie (Balanchine), Sleeping Beauty (Blue Bird), Le Corsaire (Ali), Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck), In The Middle Somewhat Elevated (Forsythe), Artifacts Suite (Forsythe) Who Cares? (Balanchine), Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away Roadshow, Choreographer’s Showcase (Nevada Ballet and Cirque du Soleil), Tokyo the Company (Tokyo Inouye), Unity LA (Tessandra Chavez), Commonality (Adam Parson), Loving The Silent Tears (original musical), International Ballet Festival of Miami, Laguna Dance Festival, National Choreographers Initiative.
Film: Valley Girl “Like Totally A Musical”, Fame, A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas, Dear Dumb Diary. Television/Commercials: Ford, Lip Sync Battle, Sleigh Ride VR 360, Home Joy, Dancing with the Stars, Miss Universe, Strictly Come Dancing, Fiona Apple music video “Paper Bag,” Jerry Lewis Telethon. Industrials: L’Oreal, Mattel, and Morinda.

He has also judged and taught at conventions/companies/Studios including: Cirque du Soleil, The Houston Met, OCSA, Act 1 Talent Dance Competition, Tremaine Dance Conventions, LA Elite/Elite Dance Conventions, and West Coast dance Explosions.
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Bobby also assisted on projects such as: Kansas City Ballet (rehearsal assistant to Jodie Gates), Love on the Floor featuring Cheryl Burke and Takahashi Daisuke (rehearsal assistant to Tessandra Chavez), Carvana Commercial (Assistant Choreographer to Michael Rooney) and Jose Cuervo Commercial (Assistant Choreographer to Michael Rooney).
COBY MOSBY

COBY MOSBY

Jacoby Mosby grew up in the Liberty, MO, and danced at the Conservatory Of Dance Education under the direction of Phil Vitug. Coby is a talented all around dancer/choreographer, trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Swing, and his love, Hip Hop.  Credits include a Budweiser Commercial (Super Bowl 2013), Bank Of The Ozarks Commercial, television show “Community” on NBC, co-star in new short film called “Silent Treatment,” the movie “Gangster Squad,” a TV show “Amway” in Hawaii, and the brand new #1 hit show in Las Vegas called “Raiding The Rock Vault.”
EMILY RODRIGUEZ

EMILY RODRIGUEZ

Growing up in Mount Airy, Maryland, Emily Rodriguez has been dancing for nearly 19 years. She danced competitively for 9 years, traveling to conventions, competitions, and elite intensives all across the east coast. Through her competitive years, Emily has had the opportunity to perform in shows such as Dancin Downtown at the Joyce Theatre in New York City, as well as Adrienne Canterna from Bad Boys of Dance, ‘Relief for Hurricane Sandy” Show. At the University of the Arts in Philadelphia as a dance major, she was able to expand her knowledge in dance within all styles including hip hop, modern, contemporary, ballet, aerial silks, tap, choreography, and improv. During a year at the University of the Arts, she danced with a professional contemporary company in DC called Deviated Theatre. From there, she moved to Los Angeles and completed 3 months in the Millennium Certificate Program. Now signed with Go 2 Talent Agency, Emily continues to pursue dance all over LA and has worked closely on projects with choreographers such as Martha Nichols, Donyelle Wilson, and more from So You Think You Can Dance. Emily also has been able to become closely involved with an injury prevention program for dancers in the LA area called Sugarfoot Therapy. She is excited to be able to share her knowledge with all of the Dance Dimensions dancers!
JENSEN FREEDMAN

JENSEN FREEDMAN

Jensen Freedman is a professional tap dancer from the West Coast having 8 years experience in coaching, choreographing and performing. She is efficient in other styles including House footwork, Hip Hop, and Jazz Funk. She trains 30 hours a week teaching Tap fundamentals to advanced levels. Background in leading 100 plus dancers in a ballroom, Jensen identifies with maximizing her students potential in tap classes.
 
Skilled in creating an energy that people will follow. Her mission statement is to keep dancers concentrated on their health.
 
3 years with The Streetz Dance Convention acting as an essential judge and dedicated Tap teacher. In 2018, Jensen started to teach for The Bridge Training Program. Achieving her own classes for Tap Into the Network after being in attendance since the age of 13. Currently she is 10 months into teaching at the knowledgeable professional studio, Edge Performing Arts Center. At the beginning of May 2019, her humble contribution began when she started #danceanddonate for her class money to be matched to Planned Parenthood. Jensen has been teaching and donating ever since.
KARA DUNCAN

KARA DUNCAN

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Kara has trained and performed in the industry since age 4. Her passion for performing allowed her to be recognized for her stage, dance and acting abilities.  Kara graduated Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and an Advanced Level Certificate in Royal Academy of Dance. Some of her credits include: Warehouse 13 (SYFY Network), Full out (Netflix), The Young and the Restless(CBS), and the Intl’ Broadway Tour of West Side Story, where she performed all over Europe. She has also performed in Mamma Mia at the Hollywood Bowl!  Kara has appeared in many commercials such as Almost Game Time Superbowl Commercial, Playtex, Honda to name a few. Currently you can catch her on your commercial break in a National Coors Light and T-Mobile commercials as the lead.  Kara has been part of the #DDPACFamily since 2013!
KAVITA RAO

KAVITA RAO

Internationally and regionally renowned for her brilliant choreography and teaching, Kavita conjures out of her worldly travels characteristics of both Eastern and Western dance. Along with teaching and choreography, Kavita directs and co-owns the dance entertainment company @karmagraphy, which recently produced Bollywood Rise and @aajatheshow. Kavita has been a huge part of the DDPAC family since 2009.
LEXI PEARL

LEXI PEARL

Lexi Pearl grew up in Topanga, California and has been performing since she was a child. She received her BFA in dance from UC Santa Barbara & has worked as a dancer/ aerialist/ actor with Cirque Du Soleil, AntiGravity, Diavolo, LA Circus, Eye of Newt Circus, Dream World Cirque, Wonder World, Cirque Berzerk & the Theatricum Botanicum on stage, screen & television. Lexi has performed throughout the world; Japan, China, Brazil, Italy, Bahamas, Mexico, Canada & all over the US. She is inspired as an artist by being able to “create a tangible experience out of the invisible.” Lexi has been part of the #DDPACFamily since 2011.
MALLORY SCHARTZ

MALLORY SCHARTZ

Mallory grew up in Cambridgeshire, UK and began her dance training at Stageworks Performing Arts and Ballet School. She broadened her training in London and was both a Cecchetti and Royal Ballet Senior Associate for 2 years. Later, she trained at London Studio Centre on the Classical Course and graduated from the Jazz Company with a BA Honours Degree in Theatre Dance. Since graduating in 2011, Mallory has performed at West End Live, Move It, Sadler’s Wells, The V&A Museum and the Indigo at the O2. Along with performing,​ Mallory began teaching at the age of 22 on the Audition Preparation course at Stageworks and has had the opportunity to teach in Belgium, Zurich and at the prestigious Studio 68 in London. In 2013 Mallory co-founded Beat the Hype Street Dance Company and has choreographed for various National Dance Competitions with great success. In 2017, Mallory made the move to LA to further pursue her dance and teaching career.
MEITAL AZULAY

MEITAL AZULAY

Meital is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and singer from Tel-Aviv, Israel.  She has been professionally teaching, choreographing and performing for 13 years  in Israel and Europe . She teaches all ages and styles of dance  including Jazz, Hip-hop, Theatrical/Musical Jazz, Modern and Contemporary . She has worked as a dancer and choreographer for many of Israel’s top recording artists and was a finalist in a nationwide Israeli reality television show “Hadavar Hagadol Haba”,  the Israeli version of “America’s Got Talent,” and “Yeshnan Banot” (2014) another nationwide televised Israeli singing and dancing competition. ​