| The Academy of Dance and School of Performing Arts 5700 Corsa Avenue Suite #106 * Westlake Village, CA 91362 ph: (818) 889-1515 fx: (818) 889-1562 academyofdance@sbcglobal.net |
| Lilly Alexander--Owner/Artistic Director |

| Lilly is originally from New York City and has a dance background equaled by only the great names in dance today. Lilly began her career at four years of age in New York City. At the age of seven, she was seen by George Balanchine and invited to study with the School of American Ballet. At eight, Balanchine awarded Lilly a Ford Foundation Scholarship, and just one year later she directed her career toward professional status by performing with the New York City Ballet Company, at City Center in New York City. Lilly next received a New York State funded scholarship to the High School of Performing Arts, of which she is a graduate. During this process, she acquired additional dance experience with the June Taylor Dancers, Luigis, Joffery Ballet Theatre, The International School of Dance, and Julliard. She has also taken part on and off Broadway in stage appearances, working with the likes of Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, Peter Martins, Ben Vereen and George Balanchine, and performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, City Center, Radio City Musical Hall and the New York World’s Fair. Those from whom Lilly has personally received training include: Nathalie Krassovska, Pierre Valdermeroff, George Balanchine, Anathole Oboukhoff, Alexandra Danilova, Muriel Stuart, Felia Doubrovska and Antonia Tumkovsky. Ms. Alexander co- founded choreographed and taught master classes for the New Jersey Dance Theatre Guild and has been a dance educator for the past 35 years. Many of her students receieved scholarships and awards to The School of American Ballet, ABT, The Joffery Ballet School, The Edge Scholarship Program, National Dance Competitions and other prominent dance studios and companies throughout the USA. Her students have developed into master teachers and have danced and choreographed all over the world. Over the years The Academy of Dance & School of Performing Arts Competition Team has won Best Choreography, Most Entertaining, Cash Prizes as well as Platinum and 1st place awards at an array of Competitions. Lilly has taught master classes and judged at several National Dance Competitions and Conventions. In April of 2008 the Academy’s Competition team performed their undefeated Award Winning Hip Hop routine at half-time for the Los Angeles Avengers Arena Football team at the Staples Center. Many of Lilly’s protégés operate successful Dance Studios, have danced on Carnival Cruise Lines, direct the prestigious Carnival at the Choreographers Ball at the Key Club in Hollywood, and have appeared on stage in Las Vegas, on Broadway, in Videos, Films and Television. The recent movie and TV series “Fame” was a story based on the High School of Performing Arts in New York City. The story speaks for itself, as does Lilly. She has been the Owner and Artistic Director of The Academy of Dance and School of Performing Arts since 1978. |
| Ahjalia Hall--Studio Manager/Instructor |
| Jennifer Lettelleir |
| Jennifer LettelleirJennifer Lettelleir works as a choreographer, composer, vocalist, dancer, teacher and actress. She has studied dance on scholarship in both New York (Steps, Broadway Dance Center) and Los Angeles (EDGE, Tremaine). Her choreography has won many national dance competitions, (LADF, Co Dance, West Coast Dance Explosion, Tremaine, JUMP) and has received rave reviews in the LA Weekly and BackstageWest/Dramalogue locally. Most recently Jennifer won the LA WEEKLY Theatre Award for BEST CHOREOGRAPHER 2008 for her work on the World Premier of Frank Zappa’s JOE’S GARAGE at the Open Fist Theatre in Hollywood. She toured with the Broadway National company of CATS and has starred in many regional musical theatre productions including: Evita, Cabaret, Three Penny Opera, Tintypes and Anything Goes. She was the Performing Arts Director for the Children’s Museum of Los Angeles, and is the writer, creator and consultant to several county agencies on multi media educational assembly programs currently touring LA County schools. Her choreography can also be seen on several up and coming gymnasts throughout the Southern California area. She is a session singer for Lakeshore Records (These Hills Have Eyes Movie Soundtrack) and is the lead singer/song writer in her L.A. based rock band, Ma’s Furnace (www.masfurnace.com). Favorite achievement: writing, producing, directing, choreographing and starring in her original Rock Opera, I HATE TV (www.ihatetvthemusical.com), receiving rave reviews and playing to sold out houses. She has had the pleasure of teaching locally at the Academy of Dance and School of Performing Arts for 6 years now and looks forward to another great year! (www.jenniferlettelleir.com) |
| Jess Warfield |
| Jess Warfield began dancing at the age of two at what is now The Rock School West in West Chester, Pennsylvania. At the age of seven, she started attending national dance conventions independent from her studio. When she was ten years old, Jess began spending summers in Los Angeles training with the top choreographers in the world which gave her great bi-coastal exposure to talent, technique and choreography. She has been a competition dancer most of her life winning countless awards and scholarships. In 2000, Jess won a year-long scholarship to Tremaine Dance Conventions. While on tour, she was asked to be Liz Imperio's main assistant and also assisted other members of the faculty including Doug Caldwell, Desiree Robbins, Marty Dew, Wade Robson, and Joe Tremaine. After assisting and touring with them throughout her scholarship, Tremaine hired her to tour as part of their staff. During the next three years, Jess was the Assistant to the Director of Tremaine Dance Conventions as well as a dancing assistant to all of the choreographers of the convention. Jess founded the dance team at Villa Maria Academy where she was the captain, choreographer, and dancer for three years. Additionally, Jess has attended many intensive dance programs and workshops throughout the country including New York City Dance Alliance Summer Intensive, Tremaine Summer Intensive, Pacific Coast Dance Fest, and several of Broadway Dance Center's Summer and Winter Intensives. During the Broadway Dance Center Intensives, Jess was asked to assist choreographers such as Brian Friedman, Chris Moss, Liz Imperio, Doug Caldwell, and Dan Karaty. During the summer of 2002, Jess toured as a back-up dancer for T J Espinoza. In 2004, Jess was asked to work with Rhapsody James and her very successful company called Rhapsody: The Company based in New York City. Jess was a featured dancer in the nationally televised Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a Jammin' Gold Dancer for 95.7FM, and a founding member of By Storm Hip Hop Company. She has performed for many different organizations in the Philadelphia area including QVC and the Breast Cancer Foundation. Jess choreographed and was featured in a music video for a new artist named Jess Furman. She has recently choreographed an audition piece for the B.FA program of Marymount Manhattan College. Jess has been teaching all over the East Coast for the last ten years including Broadway Dance Center and The Rock School West. She has choreographed many competition dances which have won numerous Choreography awards, high scores, overalls, and titles at regional and national competitions. In 2008, Jess received her Bachelor's Degree from New York University in Art History and Psychology. More recently, she served as Competition Team Manager and Artistic Consultant for Flash Pointe Dance in Fairfield, CT in addition to choreographing and teaching for several other studios in Connecticut. She is also presently a member of Clarity In Motion which is a contemporary company under the direction of Dina Castelluccio and Karen Nerkowski. She is a very versatile dancer, performer, teacher, and choreographer and has been trained in numerous styles including contemporary, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre, tap, to all forms of hip hop. Her classes integrate a very strong technical base coupled with unique musicality and an intense passion for movement. She has inspired hundreds of students on the East Coast with her emotional story-telling and hopes to bring her talent to dancers on the West Coast. |
| Celina Nightengale |
| Celina Nightengale was born and raised in Denver, Colorado where she started dancing at a very young age. She trained at prestigious studios such as Cleo Parker Robinson, Colorado Ballet and Hill Academy of Dance and Dramatics. She attended the University of Denver and obtained a B.A. in Communications/Marketing. While there she was a part of the DU Dance Team which she served as captain for three years. She also danced professionally for the Colorado Mammoth Wild Bunch serving as captain for two years. Celina had the opportunity to learn from and assist the Denver Nuggets Dancers coach Sarah Schachterle with many projects including the Junior Denver Nugget Dancers. She taught at various dance studios in Denver and continues to travel there to guest teach workshops and master classes. After graduating, Celina accepted a scholarship to the Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles California where she studied for a year. She worked with instructors such as Adam Parson, JT Horenstein, Tovaris Wilson, and Cindera Che and signed with BLOC dance agency. Some of Celina’s credits include dancing for: Everlast Boxing Company, the NBA and NLL All-Star Games, Big and Rich, Disney’s Aladdin A Musical Spectacular, Redken 5th Avenue, Paula Deanda, Chenelle, ESPN, Jason DeRulo, and Janet Jackson. She has also had the opportunity to work alongside actors such as Rosario Dawson, Wilmer Valderrama, Jane Fonda and gossip personality Perez Hilton. She looks forward to sharing her knowledge and passion for dance with the dancers of Academy of Dance and continuing her professional career here in Los Angeles. |
| Alexa Diaz |
| Alexa Diaz is from Thousand Oaks, California and has trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip hop. She has been involved in Shane Sparks’ Elite Hip hop crew, Floor Rockers, for three years. In addition, she has danced for musical artists including the Hollywood Launch performers. She has danced on Carnival Cruise Lines, as well as Charity Events for Nigel Lythgoe. Appearing in movies such as Sunday School Musical and School Gyrls, Alexa is able to merge her enthusiasm for dancing, acting, and singing. She is currently performing in Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular, as both an ensemble role and the magic carpet. Alexa is an alumnus of The Academy of Dance & School of Performing Arts and a former member of the Academy’s Competition Team. We are so very proud and pleased to have her on staff. Alexa loves teaching and being able to share her passion of dance with others. |

| Peety Escovedo |
| Holly Haynick |



| Alyssa Belden |



| Allison Crilly |

| Jess Warfield began dancing at the age of two at what is now The Rock School West in West Chester, Pennsylvania. At the age of seven, she started attending national dance conventions independent from her studio. When she was ten years old, Jess began spending summers in Los Angeles training with the top choreographers in the world which gave her great bi-coastal exposure to talent, technique and choreography. She has been a competition dancer most of her life winning countless awards and scholarships. In 2000, Jess won a year-long scholarship to Tremaine Dance Conventions. While on tour, she was asked to be Liz Imperio's main assistant and also assisted other members of the faculty including Doug Caldwell, Desiree Robbins, Marty Dew, Wade Robson, and Joe Tremaine. After assisting and touring with them throughout her scholarship, Tremaine hired her to tour as part of their staff. During the next three years, Jess was the Assistant to the Director of Tremaine Dance Conventions as well as a dancing assistant to all of the choreographers of the convention. Jess founded the dance team at Villa Maria Academy where she was the captain, choreographer, and dancer for three years. Additionally, Jess has attended many intensive dance programs and workshops throughout the country including New York City Dance Alliance Summer Intensive, Tremaine Summer Intensive, Pacific Coast Dance Fest, and several of Broadway Dance Center's Summer and Winter Intensives. During the Broadway Dance Center Intensives, Jess was asked to assist choreographers such as Brian Friedman, Chris Moss, Liz Imperio, Doug Caldwell, and Dan Karaty. During the summer of 2002, Jess toured as a back-up dancer for T J Espinoza. In 2004, Jess was asked to work with Rhapsody James and her very successful company called Rhapsody: The Company based in New York City. Jess was a featured dancer in the nationally televised Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a Jammin' Gold Dancer for 95.7FM, and a founding member of By Storm Hip Hop Company. She has performed for many different organizations in the Philadelphia area including QVC and the Breast Cancer Foundation. Jess choreographed and was featured in a music video for a new artist named Jess Furman. She has recently choreographed an audition piece for the B.FA program of Marymount Manhattan College. Jess has been teaching all over the East Coast for the last ten years including Broadway Dance Center and The Rock School West. She has choreographed many competition dances which have won numerous Choreography awards, high scores, overalls, and titles at regional and national competitions. In 2008, Jess received her Bachelor's Degree from New York University in Art History and Psychology. More recently, she served as Competition Team Manager and Artistic Consultant for Flash Pointe Dance in Fairfield, CT in addition to choreographing and teaching for several other studios in Connecticut. She is also presently a member of Clarity In Motion which is a contemporary company under the direction of Dina Castelluccio and Karen Nerkowski. She is a very versatile dancer, performer, teacher, and choreographer and has been trained in numerous styles including contemporary, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre, tap, to all forms of hip hop. Her classes integrate a very strong technical base coupled with unique musicality and an intense passion for movement. She has inspired hundreds of students on the East Coast with her emotional story-telling and hopes to bring her talent to dancers on the West Coast. |
| Catherine Round |


| Zoi Tatopoulos |
| Zoi Tatopoulos began taking class at the age of 3. Taking place at competitions officially began at age 9. Two years later enrolled with highly competitive dance company, The Dance House Performing Arts Academy. At the young age of 16, she was offered the job to begin teaching jazz and modern at The Dance House. In the year 2008, Zoi auditioned for the Greek, So You Think You Can Dance and was one of the finalists, placing third. After the successful show ended, doors had opened, allowing Zoi to dance with the winner of Eurovision, Elena Paparizou. Followed by dancing as one of three dancers in the well known Amita Motionistas Tour, back-up dancing for hip hop sensations, Stavento, Tamta and Stereomike.She was featured in three different Greek Magazines, Downtown Magazine, OK Magazine and Espresso Magazine/ Newspaper, with full-page articles and photo spreads based on her future aspirations and dance experience. Zoi is excited to share her Dance experience with the students at Academy of Dance. |

| 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. After Curie’s passing, Samantha continued her studies with Peter and Lisa Newman of New York City Ballet and Valerie Feit of Alvin Ailey. Throughout her childhood, Samantha was accepted and attended many summer intensives such as the Joffrey Ballet School, Alvin Ailey, and the American Academy of Ballet. In 2002, Samantha was accepted and attended the University of Hartford’s Hartt division on scholarship under the direction of Peggy Lyman. In 2004, Samantha was again awarded a scholarship to attend Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Performance and Dance Pedagogy in 2006. After Graduation, Samantha spent two seasons with Bodiography Contemporary Ballet as a soloist and was asked to become part of the prestigious Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre faculty. Today, Samantha teaches throughout the Los Angeles area and dances with California Contemporary Ballet, Creations Dance Theatre, and with The Los Angeles Choreographers and Dancers. |
