Collette Sibal
Ballet | Jazz | Tap | Private Coaching
COLLETTE SIBAL IS A DISTINGUISHED DANCE EDUCATOR, DIRECTOR, AND THE ESTEEMED OWNER OF THE RENOWNED SAN MARINO DANCE ACADEMY. HER JOURNEY IN THE WORLD OF DANCE BEGAN DURING HER STUDIES AT SDSU, WHERE SHE MAJORED IN DANCE AND DISCOVERED HER PROFOUND PASSION UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF MENTOR SELINA SOO-HOO CHI. THROUGHOUT HER ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER, COLLETTE HAS GRACED THE STAGE WITH REMARKABLE PERFORMANCES ALONGSIDE ESTEEMED COMPANIES SUCH AS THE JOFFREY BALLET, LOS ANGELES CLASSICAL BALLET, CHINESE DANCE COLLECTIVE, SMDC, Z90/PEPSI DANCE TEAM, AND THE VIBRANT SALSA GROUP, SOUNDMASTERS.
WITH AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO NURTURING EMERGING TALENT, COLLETTE HAS SPENT THE LAST TWO DECADES SUCCESSFULLY FOSTERING AND DEVELOPING HUNDREDS OF ASPIRING DANCERS. MANY OF HER PROTEGES HAVE GONE ON TO ACHIEVE THRIVING CAREERS IN DANCE, TEACHING, AND CHOREOGRAPHY. NOTABLY, SHE HAS BEEN INVITED TO TEACH AND SHARE HER EXPERTISE AT PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS LIKE HARVARD UNIVERSITY, SDSU, AND CALTECH.
COLLETTE'S DEDICATION TO PROMOTING DANCE EXTENDS BEYOND THE STUDIO WALLS. SHE HAS ORGANIZED CAPTIVATING DANCE PERFORMANCE TOURS ACROSS VARIOUS STATES IN THE UNITED STATES, EVEN COLLABORATING WITH DISNEY, AND VENTURED INTO THE ENCHANTING EUROPEAN STAGES. HER DISCERNING EYE AND EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE HAVE LED HER TO SERVE AS A RESPECTED JUDGE FOR DANCE TALENT AND SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS AT BOTH REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS, MAKING HER ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER ADJUDICATORS IN THE INDUSTRY.
IN RECOGNITION OF HER EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO DANCE EDUCATION, COLLETTE RECEIVED AN OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO. THIS ESTEEMED ACCOLADE FURTHER SOLIDIFIES HER REPUTATION AS AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR AND MENTOR IN THE FIELD OF DANCE.
RECENT ACCOLADES INCLUDE HER DANCERS BEING FEATURED IN THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED STARS OF TOMORROW EUROPEAN TOUR, SHOWCASING THE EXTRAORDINARY TALENT SHE HAS CULTIVATED WITHIN HER ACADEMY. COLLETTE'S BOUNDLESS ENTHUSIASM FOR TEACHING REMAINS EVIDENT, AND SHE TAKES IMMENSE PRIDE IN DIRECTING A STUDIO THAT IS CELEBRATED FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, AND FOSTERING A POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS. THROUGH HER PASSION, DEDICATION, AND EXPERTISE, COLLETTE CONTINUES TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF DANCE, LEAVING AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE HEARTS OF ASPIRING DANCERS AND THE DANCE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
WITH AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO NURTURING EMERGING TALENT, COLLETTE HAS SPENT THE LAST TWO DECADES SUCCESSFULLY FOSTERING AND DEVELOPING HUNDREDS OF ASPIRING DANCERS. MANY OF HER PROTEGES HAVE GONE ON TO ACHIEVE THRIVING CAREERS IN DANCE, TEACHING, AND CHOREOGRAPHY. NOTABLY, SHE HAS BEEN INVITED TO TEACH AND SHARE HER EXPERTISE AT PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS LIKE HARVARD UNIVERSITY, SDSU, AND CALTECH.
COLLETTE'S DEDICATION TO PROMOTING DANCE EXTENDS BEYOND THE STUDIO WALLS. SHE HAS ORGANIZED CAPTIVATING DANCE PERFORMANCE TOURS ACROSS VARIOUS STATES IN THE UNITED STATES, EVEN COLLABORATING WITH DISNEY, AND VENTURED INTO THE ENCHANTING EUROPEAN STAGES. HER DISCERNING EYE AND EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE HAVE LED HER TO SERVE AS A RESPECTED JUDGE FOR DANCE TALENT AND SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS AT BOTH REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS, MAKING HER ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER ADJUDICATORS IN THE INDUSTRY.
IN RECOGNITION OF HER EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO DANCE EDUCATION, COLLETTE RECEIVED AN OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO. THIS ESTEEMED ACCOLADE FURTHER SOLIDIFIES HER REPUTATION AS AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR AND MENTOR IN THE FIELD OF DANCE.
RECENT ACCOLADES INCLUDE HER DANCERS BEING FEATURED IN THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED STARS OF TOMORROW EUROPEAN TOUR, SHOWCASING THE EXTRAORDINARY TALENT SHE HAS CULTIVATED WITHIN HER ACADEMY. COLLETTE'S BOUNDLESS ENTHUSIASM FOR TEACHING REMAINS EVIDENT, AND SHE TAKES IMMENSE PRIDE IN DIRECTING A STUDIO THAT IS CELEBRATED FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, AND FOSTERING A POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS. THROUGH HER PASSION, DEDICATION, AND EXPERTISE, COLLETTE CONTINUES TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF DANCE, LEAVING AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE HEARTS OF ASPIRING DANCERS AND THE DANCE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
Katherine Cheng Contemporary i Hip-Hop i Competition Team
Katherine Cheng is a Los Angeles based dancer who has been dancing for the past 18 years, and recently graduated with a BFA in dance from the University of Arizona. She has trained at competitive dance studios such as Northern Force Dance Company, and has also studied in the Pre-professional program at TU Dance center as well as at Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. Being at TU allowed her to train with current and past members of Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre and Alonzo King LINES Ballet.
Katherine has also performed all around the Twin Cities in Minnesota. She has had the honor of performing the pieces “Earth”, and “Isms” choreographed for TU Dance Company, as well as “To Have and to Hold”, from the Shapiro & Smith Dance repertoire. Among other things, Katherine has also performed in the Carlson fashion show, "Off the Rack", Club Jete, at the Alumni of the Year Awards at the University of Arizona, and in the most recent television commercial for Hughes Federal Credit Union. Katherine can also be seen in Little Scream’s new music video, “Love as a Weapon”, and is currently a member in Marinda Davis' LA based company, "MarInspired; The Storytellers". She has also taken her dancing to different countries. This past winter, Katherine was able to perform in a cultural outreach project in Nogales, Mexico.
Katherine has also performed her own choreography and assisted former Giordano Dance Chicago company member, Sam Watson at the Kiel International Festival for Dance and Rhythmic Gymnastics in Kiel, Germany (Kieler Woche). She has also assisted at the Bolzano International Dance Festival & Workshop in Bolzano, Italy. While in Europe, Katherine was asked to teach several different contemporary workshops at studios in Germany such as, Minkov Tanzakademie and Rytmiko.
Katherine also enjoys teaching and choreographing for various different studios in Minnesota, Arizona, and Los Angeles, and has created many top scoring pieces with numerous choreography awards. She is also a member of The Riveters Crew, and The Drop Fam crew. She truly has a huge passion for dance and choreographing, and is eager to continue furthering her training and career.
Annie Yee Hula | Chinese Dance
Annie's training began when she was five years old at Alhambra Park and Recreation, where she danced through grade school. She also trained with Cheng Pei-Pei in Chinese dance and toured with her company in Hong Kong when she was thirteen. Next was Hollywood; Annie won a four-year scholarship from the Professional Dancers Society with Joe Tremaine, Karon Brown, and Paul De Rolf. Annie was also honored by the Inner City Cultural Center who chose one female and one male to be on merit scholarship with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in New York City. She trained with the Alvin Ailey company members and studied with Judith Jamison.
Annie is the first Asian-American to become a Laker Girl for the world champion Los Angeles Lakers basketball organization. She cheered for them professionally for three years and taught at their workshops. She is an honoree of the Chinese American Historical Society for her participation as the first Chinese American cheerleader for both the Lakers and the Los Angeles Rams. Annie has cheered for many of the major sports teams in the Los Angeles area including the Kings and the Lakers.
Annie is also an actress doing regional theatre across the country. She has performed at The Public Theatre in New York, Seattle Rep, Berkeley Rep, South Coast Rep, and here in Los Angeles at the Mark Taper Forum, East West Players, and Cornerstone Theatre. She was also an aerialist with Dream Circus performing Tissu. Annie was last seen dancing the part of Eliza in the King and I for the Fullerton Civic Light Opera.
In the spring of 2011, Annie became an instructor of dance specialties at East Los Angeles College teaching traditional Chinese Dance and Hula. Annie has been awarded numerous Certificates of Recognition from the California State Senate, California State Assembly, City of Monterey Park, and the County of Los Angeles for her dedicated service and achievements in the affairs of the community as a dancer. Annie is proud to be currently serving as an officer for the Chinese American Citizens Alliance and was the co-emcee at this year’s Centennial Gala celebration.
Annie is the first Asian-American to become a Laker Girl for the world champion Los Angeles Lakers basketball organization. She cheered for them professionally for three years and taught at their workshops. She is an honoree of the Chinese American Historical Society for her participation as the first Chinese American cheerleader for both the Lakers and the Los Angeles Rams. Annie has cheered for many of the major sports teams in the Los Angeles area including the Kings and the Lakers.
Annie is also an actress doing regional theatre across the country. She has performed at The Public Theatre in New York, Seattle Rep, Berkeley Rep, South Coast Rep, and here in Los Angeles at the Mark Taper Forum, East West Players, and Cornerstone Theatre. She was also an aerialist with Dream Circus performing Tissu. Annie was last seen dancing the part of Eliza in the King and I for the Fullerton Civic Light Opera.
In the spring of 2011, Annie became an instructor of dance specialties at East Los Angeles College teaching traditional Chinese Dance and Hula. Annie has been awarded numerous Certificates of Recognition from the California State Senate, California State Assembly, City of Monterey Park, and the County of Los Angeles for her dedicated service and achievements in the affairs of the community as a dancer. Annie is proud to be currently serving as an officer for the Chinese American Citizens Alliance and was the co-emcee at this year’s Centennial Gala celebration.
DAPHNE ZNIMER BALLET
Ballet
MYRA JOY VELUZ CONDITIONING | MODERN I NDEO
A native of Pasadena, Myra Joy Veluz, also known as Ms. Joy, began her dance career at the age of eight at San Marino Dance Academy. At age nine she was the youngest member to join the Senior Ballet and Jazz Company at SMDA. Her love of being on stage also led her to perform for shows, including but not limited to, 2by2.net’s All Star Summer Jam, San Diego State Aztec Basketball’s Half Time Show, the LA Choreographers Show, and the YoungTanzsommer Lunaris European Tour with the Let’s Dance Company under director, Kimberly Brown Rabins.
After the completion of the tour she then attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where she trained and performed under the direction of faculty members such as Jerry Pearson, Christopher Pilafian, Valerie Huston, Nancy Colahan, and Mira Kingsley. In 2008, she was honored with the opportunity to study abroad at Cambridge University in the UK where she found a deep love for visual art and traveling. In her senior year her work titled, Le Canibal, was selected as part of the company’s touring repertoire and was presented at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Colloquium, thanks to a grant provided by UCSB. In 2010, she graduated with her BFA in Dance, BA in Sociology, and minor in Anthropology.
Prior to graduate school, Ms. Joy re-joined the Let's Dance Company at East Los Angeles College where she performed and taught annually until 2014. At the end of the 4th season, she moved to Tucson, Arizona to pursue her graduate studies at the University of Arizona School of Dance where she is currently located. She is an active Graduate Teaching Assistant and is also heavily involved with the Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC) at the U of A. During her down time away from school, Ms. Joy loves “studio hopping” at the BodyWorks Pilates studio in Tucson where she recently received her mat license and Pop Physique San Marino where she and her brother, Mr. Mikey, teach “Veluz mash-up classes”. She is looking forward to graduating with her MFA in May and seeing what adventures come her way.
ANGEL STRITTMATER HIP-HOP I CONTEMPORARY I ACRO I COMPETITION TEAM
Angel Strittmater is a professional dancer located in Los Angeles, CA. Initially from Minnesota, she grew up competing at Center Stage Dance Studio where she trained in a wide variety of styles. In high school she also participated in the Academy of Holy Angels dance team for four years, two of which she was captain. Maria then continued her dance education at The University of Minnesota where she received a BA in Dance. During this time she was a part of the national champion winning University of Minnesota Dance team and was also an Apprentice for Crash Dance Productions. Angel has been teaching since the age of 18 and is a choreographer at Millenium Dance Complex, San Marino Dance Academy, Northern Force Dance Company, The Vibe Dance and Fitness, Hothouse, and Center Stage Dance Studio.
Angel is currently signed with Bloc Talent Agency and has danced backup for Armenian pop stars Armenchik and Lilit. She has also performed live in shows such as LA fashion week, The Kid’s Choice Awards, Disney’s Super Bowl Snickers “Snacktivation” event, “The King and I,” and the Vietnamese variety show “Paris by Night” in Bangkok and Las Vegas. Along with these performances Angel is a part of Erica Klein’s “Klein Collective” and Hannah Gallagher’s “HMG Company.” When she’s not dancing she enjoys snowboarding, hiking, and enjoying the many coffee shops around Los Angeles. Angel loves her SMDA family and is so proud of all the growth her students have had this year!