AALIYAH BECKAaliyah Beck’s thriving passion for dance began at the young age of 8. Because her ethic, determination, and love for dance continued to grow throughout her life, she decided to move to Los Angeles when she was just 18 years old to further pursue her career. From a young age, she trained in various styles including ballet, hip hop, tap, contemporary, jazz, and more. As a competitive dancer, Aaliyah earned numerous awards, including Hollywood Connection’s prestigious “Icon of the Year” title in 2019. Since then, she had worked for Hollywood Connection as a pro assistant for numerous years, which transitioned her to now being apart of their faculty where she travels around the country teaching children. She is very passionate about teaching, inspiring and educating the next generation of dancers.
Aaliyah has appeared in a range of professional projects, both on and off screen, including the Billboard Music Awards, the Grammys, the BET Awards, nationwide commercials, music videos, and more. She has also appeared in TV shows such as S.W.A.T., The Masked Singer, and Playground LA. In addition, Beck has worked with an array of renowned artists, as a dancer and as an assistant choreographer, such as J-Lo, The Weeknd, Mario, Karol G, Tinashe, J Balvin, Bebe Rexha, Kat Deluna, and more! Aaliyah is dedicated to growing as an artist and can’t wait to continue to see where her passion for dance leads her. ALEXA KIRKORIAN
Alexa has grown up in Los Angeles and has been dancing since she was six years old! She has spent majority of her dance career learning many different styles of dance and competing in competitions as a teenager with her dance team all around California. Her love for dance has led her to gain a passion for teaching which she has been doing for over six years. She feels blessed to be able to watch her students grow and gain confidence in themselves during each season. ALICIA CUTAIAAlicia Cutaia is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and instructor based in Los Angeles, with over 15 years of international touring experience. She holds a BFA in Ballet and Jazz from Point Park University and is the only Certified MUNZ BARRE (formerly SAFE® BARRE) coach in Los Angeles, and one of five in the U.S. Alicia has performed with renowned companies including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Giordano Jazz Dance, BodyVox, and Eisenhower Dance Detroit. Her students have received top honors at YAGP, WBAC, and US Prix de Ballet, with many earning scholarships and professional contracts. She has taught at prestigious programs like American Ballet Theatre and Dance Theatre of Harlem and specializes in clean, healthy technique, artistic expression, and cross-disciplinary movement. Her choreography has been showcased nationally and internationally across stage, circus, and commercial platforms. AMI MATTISONAmi Mattison grew up performing in Michigan and developed a passion for dance through community theater. She moved to New York to study at NYU and graduated from Hunter College, later teaching at Broadway Dance Center, Peridance Center, and PMT Dance Studio. Her choreography has received top awards and trained YAGP finalists and national soloists. Ami has performed with companies like SO Dance Collective and collidEdance, where she danced as both soloist and ensemble. Now based in Los Angeles, she is the Dean of Jazz + Contemporary at Los Angeles Ballet Academy and Artistic Director of Dysfunctional Grace Dance Company, a two-time finalist at the McCallum Theatre Choreography Festival. AMY VANCOTTAmy has been dancing for 30 years in one form or another. Growing up in the Midwest, she began her teaching career at the tender age of 13. With around 15 years of teaching experience, she specializes in Baby Ballet, Pre-Ballet, and Creative Dance classes. Amy finds immense joy in nurturing her students' growth, watching them blossom into young dancers and young adults, each step a testament to their dedication and her passion for teaching. ARAELA ANDERSONAraela was born and raised in San Diego where she started her dance training at the age of 7 with San Diego Civic Dance Association and was a dancer in the SDCDA Company for 5 years. Araela spent many years training in ballet and pointe at The Inspire School of Ballet where she fell in love with the art of Pas de deux and performed many principal roles, her favorites being Ariel, Maleficent, and The Sugar Plum Fairy. Araela continued her study of performing arts as she received her BAF from the American Music and Dramatic Academy. She then stepped into the commercial world of dance while training and performing with The Vixens heels Company for 3 years. Araela is very proud of her accomplishments in the industry including music videos for artists such as Offset, G Herbo, Sahyba and more as well as performing at Coachella 2025. As Araela continues her journey in her dance and music career she feels so blessed and excited to share her passion and knowledge with the beautiful and talented students at DDPAC! BECCA BATTOEYou may recognize her voice from the many audiobooks to which she has lent it, or the twenty+ McDonalds commercials she's recorded, but Becca has the most experience in the industry as a dancer, beginning with her first professional job in the Louisville Ballet's The Nutcracker as a young child. For over twenty years, Becca has lent her talents all over L.A, working as a dancer, aerialist, singer, actor, writer, producer and model. Becca’s profound love of teaching students of all ages began during college, teaching dance to students ages 3-17, then later teaching yoga in Los Angeles to students aged 13 to 83, and that enthusiasm has continued while teaching aerial arts over the last several years, to both children and adults. Becca is thrilled to combine her real world knowledge of working in the industry with her passion for teaching in order to help new artists learn to unlock their own performance potential. BIANCA SAPETTO
BIANCA SAPETTO
Bianca Sapetto has been teaching for over 20 years and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and love for movement with her students! A choreographer, director, teacher, aerialist, dancer, and mom, she began her career as a rhythmic gymnast, claiming five U.S. National Championships titles and an alternate position on the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team. Bianca studied comparative religion at Amherst College before “running away with the circus” to join Cirque du Soleil. 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, Astor Piazzola Tango Foundation, Olympic Gymnastics Teams US Arena Tours, Burning Man, Apogee Dance Co, Luminario Ballet, and the Summit of the Americas for all of the presidents and prime ministers of North and South America. She has taught at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Esalen Institute, USC, UCLA, National Young Arts Foundation, Joffrey Ballet, PEN USA, Center for Yoga LA, Le Petit Cirque, the Circus Center of San Fransisco, of course Dance Dimensions!, and yoga, dance, theater, and circus schools nationwide for kids and adults. Her children have been dancing at DDPAC since 2015. BOBBY AMAMIZUBobby Amamizu, originally from Irvine, CA, is a graduate of Orange County High School of the Arts and holds a BFA in Dance Performance from UC Irvine. Now based in Los Angeles, he works professionally as a dancer, choreographer, assistant choreographer, and educator across stage, film, television, and commercial work. His stage and company credits include Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis (original cast), Hans Zimmer’s The Power of Music, Freelusion, Loving The Silent Tears, Laguna Dance Festival, National Choreographers Initiative, Unity LA, and Commonality. Film and TV credits include A Week Away (Netflix), Fame, Valley Girl, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Physical, Dancing with the Stars, Lip Sync Battle, and more. Bobby has taught for Cirque du Soleil, Houston Met, OCSA, Edge PAC, Tremaine Dance Convention, and LA Elite. He is currently on faculty at Hollywood Connection, the Debbie Reynolds Scholarship Program, and serves as an adjunct professor at Pace University. As an assistant choreographer, he has worked with artists like Marguerite Derricks and Michael Rooney on projects including Happy Socks, AT&T, Carvana, Flirty Dancing, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. CHAYANNE SEVANESIANChayanne grew up in Woodland Hills, California and has been dancing at Dance Dimensions since 2015! Throughout her dance journey, Chayanne studied in various types of classes including Ballet, Pointe, and Contemporary. After graduating high school, she remained active in Dance working with young kids while furthering her education at California State Northridge. CHRIS ERKFor the past 20 years, Christopher Erk has traveled the world as a professional tap dance performer, teacher, choreographer and community program developer. Most recently he has toured with Tap Dogs, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, and was a featured Artist in Las Vegas' number one show Absinthe at Caesar' Palace. His production company the Tap Factor emphasizes the global implications of Tap Dance through all-inclusive workshops and performance opportunities and has been featured at TEDx. The Tap Factor's original productions, Tap in the Night, Feet Speak, Tap into a Dream, and Tap on Top have recently debuted on Hapag Lloyd’s MS Europa and MS Europa 2, and continue to tour internationally throughout the year. Christopher's newest project, Dark Stepp challenges his more typical approach to tap dance with new sounds and interactive projected imagery. COBY MOSBYJacoby 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.”
ELIZA FAYZZADEHDancing has been her passion since childhood, and now she loves sharing that joy with young dancers! With 10 years of experience teaching kids, Eliza specializes in making dance fun, engaging, and educational. Her classes focus on building confidence, coordination, and creativity while introducing children to Persian dance and hip-hop. Through playful movement and positive encouragement, Eliza creates a nurturing environment where every child can shine and develop a love for dance. Let’s move, groove, and have fun together! EMILY RODRIGUEZEmily Rodriguez, a Maryland native, has been immersed in the world of dance for nearly 27 years. She spent 9 of those years competing across the East Coast, attending prestigious conventions, competitions, and elite intensives. During her competitive career, Emily had the privilege of performing in notable productions such as Dancin’ Downtown at the Joyce Theater in New York City and Adrienne Canterna’s Relief for Hurricane Sandy benefit show. She also danced with the Washington, D.C.-based contemporary company, Deviated Theatre, before relocating to Los Angeles to complete the intensive 3-month Millennium Dance Complex Certificate Program. Emily is currently represented by Go 2 Talent Agency and has collaborated on projects with industry leaders such as Martha Nichols and Donyelle Wilson. She has performed professionally with Chehon Wespi-Tschopp’s on-camera company, IAF, which included a trip to film in Australia. Her professional journey also includes assisting Jaimie Goodwin and Kati Cutri at CLI Studios, and most recently, training and performing with Zion Dance Project in Dallas, Texas. In addition to her performance credentials, Emily is certified by Sugarfoot Therapy, an injury prevention program for dancers based in Los Angeles. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge, experience, and love of dance with the talented dancers at Dance Dimensions. JUDE SIMSComing Soon! KAI-LYNN FORTNERKai-Lynn Fortner is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher whose passion for movement shines across every stage. Extensively trained in an extraordinary range of styles—including tap, jazz, ballet, musical theater, ballroom, swing, heels, commercial dance, hip-hop, contemporary, lyrical, and also popping, locking, and whacking. She brings both versatility and individuality to every performance. Kai-Lynn has been apart of Reverb Tap Company, LA Establishment’s Establish You Program, LA Dance Magic Pro-Track, The House Mentorship Mentee, Elite Dance Studio’s competition team & preformed in and choreographed a multitude of stage, films, music videos and parades. A special passion for ballroom has led Kai to dive into salsa, cha-cha, rumba, swing, and bachata, with a love for both competitive and social dancing. Kai-Lynn is currently competing on the Pro/Am circuit alongside her partner and instructor Brandon Leffler. KARA DUNCANOriginally 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 RAOInternationally 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.
KELLY SIMPKINS
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LEXI LEWISLexi Lewis began dancing at age three and grew up on the competition stage. She started touring with LA Dance Magic at sixteen and signed with Movement Talent at eighteen, later joining Go 2 Talent Agency in Los Angeles. Her professional credits include performances with La Noir, Space X, Capezio, Dance Mob Nation, and appearances in music videos, commercials (including Uber), and TV shows like Nashville and Stars Fell on Alabama. She has toured nationally and internationally, including in China with One Dream, Razb-B2K, and Giulietta. Lexi has danced with Ashleyliane Dance Company, Mattidance, and Karmagraphy, and frequently assists top choreographers such as Galen Hooks and Michael Rooney. She also teaches and mentors dancers across the country. LEXI PEARLLexi 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.
LINDSAY TRAHANComing Soon MALLORY SCHARTZMallory 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.
MARGOT ISABELLAMargot Isabella is professional Choreographer/Dancer based out of Los Angeles, California. Margot has trained in Modern, African, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Jazz Funk, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Tap, Improvisation, Pointe, and more. She attended Nashville School of the Arts as a Dance Major, where she furthered her love for performing as well as choreography. She also grew up dancing competitively, which she absolutely loved. To continue on with the Competition aspect of dance, she now tours with several Competitions as a Judge and Master Class teacher. After graduating from NSA, she teamed up with her sister Madolyn Garrett as a choreography duo known as “MMchoreography” and owned their own Dance Studio called MM Dance Company. Margot has taught and choreographed for multiple studios all around the United States such as Millennium Dance Complex Orange County and Nashville. Margot is currently represented by Go 2 Talent Agency. A few of Margot’s credits include Carrie Underwood, Jake Owen, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, SONY, Netflix TV Series “Making It In Music City”, USA Networks “Real Country”, and more. MARISSA MAIORANAMarissa Maiorana made the move out to Los Angeles when she was accepted into the EDGE Performing Arts Center Scholarship program for dance, and fell in love with aerial arts and fire performance shortly after completing the program. Marissa has toured internationally as an aerialist with Champions of Magic, danced live in concert with various artists, and has worked on a variety of television shows and commercials. Some of her credits include Google, In-N-Out, Los Tigres Del Norte, ESPN, Aria, Pitbull, HBO, Nivea, and more. Marissa enjoys sharing her passion for artistic and dynamic movement through teaching aerial arts. MELANIE ULLMANNMelanie Ullmann, originally from Troy, MI, has been dancing since the age of 2 in styles ranging from jazz, hip hop, and ballet to Bollywood, contemporary, and musical theater. She launched her professional career at 18 with principal roles in Footloose and Big Momma’s House 3, then moved to Los Angeles, where she became a finalist on Laurieann Gibson’s Born to Dance. Her performance credits include live shows at Caesar’s Palace, LA Fashion Week, and corporate events for Audi, Macy’s, and Hyundai. She has danced on Good Morning America, the Emmys, MTV’s O Music Awards, and appeared in the Guinness Book of World Records for dancing 24 hours straight. Melanie has performed with artists such as Kid Rock, Jesse McCartney, and The Goo Goo Dolls. She has also worked as an assistant stylist for top artists including Janet Jackson, Nicki Minaj, Rosalía, and Meghan Trainor. Melanie spent over a decade at Millennium Dance Complex as Assistant Director, managing its certificate program and helping launch franchises worldwide. Today, she continues to mentor dancers and work as an event manager and performer with Artists Creating Entertainment. NAYIRAH TESHALINayirah Teshali raised in Los Angeles, CA is a trained dancer who has danced for over 20 years, attending the Debbie Allen Dance Academy most of her childhood and Alvin Alley summer sessions. Being well versed in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Modern and Hip-hop just to name a few. She has a strong passion for teaching dance to children and is also passionate about modeling and acting.
NICOLE WELLSNicole Wells is one of Australia’s most sought-after teachers and choreographers and the principal of one of Australia’s leading Performing Arts Institutes, Dance Force. Nicole’s first professional work came from performing in and choreographing many corporate events all over Australia. Nicole’s career then took her to the USA where she spent 2 years in Las Vegas. On returning to Australia, she started Dance Force which has produced some of the country’s most successful artists. Nicole’s Full time performing arts graduates are now all over the world in London, USA, in world renowned Musicals and on various contracts including, Cirque De Solei, Moulin Rouge, Royal Caribbean Cruise lines, Celebrity Cruise lines, Norwegian Cruise lines, Disney Cruise lines, Princess Cruise lines, Crazy Horse Paris, Universal Studios and many more. Annually since 2017 Nicole has produced and choreographed Dance Force-The tour which annually sells out shows throughout Australia and New Zealand. Nicole has judged international competitions in Australia, Indonesia, Thailand and the USA and has taught masterclasses at some of the worlds most most prestigious studios and conventions including Broadway Dance Centre, Australian Dance Festival, Millenium Dance Complex Los Angeles, T Milly Studio Los Angeles, Star Dance Alliance, Get the Beat International and many more. Nicole loves inspiring the next generation and creating and choreographing works that are inspiring for dancers and their audiences. NIKKI BLAKESLEENikki Blakeslee has taught all over the United States and Internationally. Nikki freely shares her passion for dance and the aerial arts with the intension to inspire and encourage our inner authentic artist. As an Artistic Director, she inspired and created a state of the art Aerial Dance Program with groundbreaking success. She is currently dancing, teaching, and choreographing in Los Angeles. Nikki has worked professionally with Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Lenny Kravitz, Jane’s Addiction and Debbie Allen on stage and in television. She has appeared on Dancing with the Stars, the Annual American Music Awards, Billboard Live Music Awards and Fame the reality series. She is also well versed in Hoop, Hammock, Tissue, Cube, and many innovative aerial apparatus. Currently, her passion is Wall Dancing where she repels flips, jumps and dances from a single pointed harness.
NORBERT TOROKNorbert is a part of the Mix’d Elements dance crew from North Hollywood, California, who are distinguished by their ability to seamlessly flow, known as “flotivity,” between different styles of street dancing. They participated in Season 7 of America’s Best Dance Crew, where they placed in the top 10. They also placed second in Hip Hop International’s 2011 USA Hip Hop Dance Championship. Norbert joined the #DDPACFamily in 2012, teaching and choreographing for the DDPAC Hip Hop Company. He continues to inspire with his award-winning choreography and his passion for dance.
PAM ORENSTEIN
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