Ciara Dance Studio
Instructors
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Cindy McGee, Artistic Director
Owner and Director of Ciara Dance Studio
Cindy trained at the prestigious Ruth Page School of Dance and the Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago. Miss Cindy is a former member of the highly acclaimed Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; her professional career has taken her far, from the Broadway stage in the Tony award-winning musical The Wiz, to Hollywood in the dance movie Fast Forward where she worked with director Sidney Poitier. She recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from CSUN with a B.A. in Music Therapy. She prides herself on the professionalism, knowledge, and dedication evdient in CiARA's teaching faculty staff, and studio atmosphere. Miss Cindy brings a wealth of knowledge and teaching experience to the classroom. With over 30 years of experience, she possesses a remarkable gift for inspiring students to reach their potential.
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Leah Bass-Baylis
Leah is entering her 13th year at Ciara. She has enjoyed a career as a dancer, singer, actress and choreographer, completing national and international tours of numerous well-known musicals. She is presently the Principal for Champs Performing Arts High School.
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Carina DiFiore
Carina started her dance training in North Carolina at Susan Byrd's Dance Creation. She then attended East Carolina University, where received a BFA in Dance Performance. She moved to Los Angeles in 2003, where she trained with Darryl Retter's Pro Company and performed in shows around the area--including Keith Clifton Dance Project, City of Hope, and Deborah Brockus. She is currently a member and dance captain of the Mark Goodman Tap Company, doing shows such as "Seal with a Kiss," "Red," and performing at "A Night at the Orpheum" for the Producers Guild. This is her 9th year with CiARA!
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Beckie King Kiefer
Beckie is returning for her 4th year at Ciara. She has danced professionally the past decade including performing as a Radio City Rockette in New York City for 5 seasons. She traveled the world as a member of the USO tour. She was principal dancer with The Synthesis Dance Project and The Mantis Project. She has participated in professional workshops with Pilobolus and ?Carnivale? directed by Graciela Daniele. She is currently a member of the Mark Goodman Tap Company.
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Samantha Hoe
A native of New York, Samantha began her training at the age of 5 with Roya Curie, former prima ballerina of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She continued her studies with Peter and Lisa Newman of New York City Ballet and Valerie Feit of Alvin Ailey, the Joffrey Ballet School, and the American Academy of Ballet. Samantha holds a B.A. in Dance Performance and Dance Pedagogy. She has extensive performance and teaching experience which includes being soloist with Bodiography Contemporary Ballet and teaching for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Samantah teaches throughout the Los Angeles area and performs with Creations Dance Theatre. This is her second year teaching at Ciara.
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Louise Mandel
Louise is entering her 3rd year at Ciara. She studied and performed with American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. She began teaching ballet in 1982 and over the past two decades has taught master classes and dance workshops at dance schools and universities throughout the country. For six years Louise was a professor at California State University Northridge in their Kinesiology department. She also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Deaf Studies and was the first qualified instructor in Southern California to design and offer ballet classes specifically for deaf children in the area. Louise Mandel's unwavering commitment to excellence can be seen in the impressive technique of her students. Her expertise in training classical ballet dancers is admired by dance educators across the nation. Louise's remarkable teaching skills enable her to motivate and inspire dancers. Hundreds of her students have been accepted and awarded merit scholarships, trainee, apprenticeship and paid positions to the following prestigious ballet schools, workshops and ballet companies throughout the country.
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Anindo Marshell
Anindo began her musical and dance career in her homeland of Kenya, as a vocalist/dancer/percussionist. While in Kenya she met Saundra Barnes, a Dunham dancer. Anindo studied with Ms. Barnes, and went on to study with Katherine Dunham as well as several Dunham Masters. Today Ms. Anindo is a Certified Dunham Technique Instructor and sits on the Katherine Dunham Certification Board. She continues to teach world wide at conservatories, academies and studios such as Ciara. She currently teaches at Occidental College and LMU, as well as conducts Dunham residencies in the LAUSD schools. We are privileged to have her expertise this year at Ciara.
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Cara McGee
Cara is a proud alumna of Ciara Dance Studio, where she studied ballet, jazz, modern, pointe, lyrical, and tap for 14 years. After moving to New York, she trained at Alvin Ailey school of dance, where she was awarded the prestigious Oprah Winfrey Fellowship three times in a row. Miss Cara has a BA from Columbia University and has studied and performed with the nations foremost dance instructors and choreographers including Donald McKayle, Alvin Ailey American Dance Company, Dance Theater of Harlem, and Beyonce Knowles. She is excited to join Ciara?s teaching staff for her 5th year.
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Roxana Olesijuk
Roxana joined Ciara's faculty in early 2010, and is returning for another fabulous year! She trained from age 10 by Kirov soloist Vladimir Marek, Ballet Russe soloist Irina Kosmovska, Ballet Russe Baby Ballerina Tatiana Riabouchinska, and Royal Ballet legend Stanley Holden. She won full scholarships to the School of American Ballet, and American Ballet Theater School (now the Jackie O School) and began her career as the youngest dancer of ABT II in 1979. Roxana's passion for teaching has taken her far over the past 18 years.
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Andre Perez
Andre is returning to Ciara staff for a 3rd year, with great enthusiasm and a wonderful energy. He has studied at The Edge with Debbie Allen, and trained with original lockmaster, Richie Rich, as well as “Poppin' Pete.” Andre has also toured and worked with artists such as Christina Milian and Missy Elliot, amongst others. He has also choreographed pieces for Hip-Hop International, Team Kids, and summer dance camps and shows.
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Gabrielle Stone
Gabrielle is entering her 4th season at Ciara! She is an alumni of Ciara Studio having trained for 18 years in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, and Lyrical . Gabrielle is a gifted dancer with great choreographic vision. She has taught the past 5 years and has choreographed for many teams and companies. She is currently persuing an acting career, and has completed two lead roles in independent films. She is also currently attending Cal State Northridge working on her undergraduate degree. Her classes are passionate and challenging.
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Joey Thao
Joey is returning to Ciara Dance Studio for his 2nd year. He started dancing in his high school dance company at the age of 15 and has trained throughout the Northern California region. In 2009, he graduated from the Edge Performing Arts Center Scholarship program under the directions of Bill Prudich, Randy Allaire & Carol Conners. His credits include Nickelodeon's "Victorious," Lifehouse's "Halfway Gone," "Camp Rock 2," and "Paris by Night." His choreography has won numerous awards.
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Roman Vasquez
Roman joins our faculty of highly trained and talented teachers. He trained in his home state of Arizona before moving to Las Vegas to perform with David Cassidy in the Hip-hop dance Troupe Culture Shock. In addition, he has worked with artists such as Eva Longoria, Roselyn Sanchez, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, and Celine Dion, to name a few. He resides in LA and has built a solid reputation for teaching in studios and at conventions across the nation. He brings his talent and energy to every class.
