Agoura Hills Dance & Performing Arts Center

Agoura Cinema Center
5015 Cornell Road
Agoura Hills, Ca 91301
Telephone (818) 991-8883
Fax (818) 991-8284

Welcome to Agoura Hills Dance and Performing Arts Center. Our Goal is to offer the very finest instruction in a wide variety of dance forms to all age groups and levels, from the Beginner to the advanced professional. We strive at all times to promote an atmosphere of respect--for every teacher, for every dancer, and for the art of dance itself. We feel privileged that you have chosen our studio, and we will do our very best to earn and maintain your trust.

Teachers and staff at Agoura Hills Dance are consummate professionals who endeavor to stimulate and challenge every student. Our instructors have many years of teaching experience, as well as impressive performance and choreography credits. They have our confidence and our support. Together we will set a standard of excellence in a caring atmosphere of high integrity and physical and emotional well-being. We hope your experience at Agoura Hills Dance will be positive, happy and fulfilling. We look forward to seeing you soon. Please E-Mail us with any questions, or call us on 818-991-8883.

INSTRUCTOR BIOS

BetsyMelber-Director Betsy Melber, Artistic Director -*B

(Tap, Jr. & Sr. Tap Co., Adult Tap Co., Jr. Tap B, Tap Production Co.)

Betsy has been dancing all of her life. Her professional experience began as an original company member and scholarship student with Danny Daniels’ Dance America Tap Company in Santa Monica, where she received the finest training in tap, ballet, jazz, and musical theater. She went on to study ballet, at Stanley Holden Dance Academy, and jazz and tap with Paul DeRolf. She performed professionally in L.A.-based companies and danced on stage, television, in films, and in industrial shows across the U.S. Betsy’s first love is tap, although ballet and jazz exceeded her early tap training. She continues to study with dance greats such as Mark Mendonca, Jim Taylor, Sam Weber, Linda Sohl-Donnel, Lynn Dally, and Steve Zee--to name a few. Betsy’s choreography is a unique blend of show and rhythm tap. She consistently garnishes the highest awards for her company dances in every regional and national competition, both for choreography and for dance performance. Betsy’s 20+ years of teaching experience contribute to the development of tap dancers who are technically strong, passionate, and proud of what they do.

Rachel Spada Picture[1] Rachel Spada - "RS (Jazz)

Rachel has been dancing since she was 6 in Buffalo, NY. Born and raised there, she focused her training at two dance studios and did various competitions in the Western New York area as well as New York City. She went to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and received a BFA in Jazz Dance Performance and also received an award for outstanding choreographic achievement over four years. She's work with the Rock School, River North Chicago, Alven Ailey and the Hip Hop group FloMotion before she left Philadelphia. In July of 2005, she moved to Los Angeles where she hopes to really start her career. She dances in Jessica Starr's company, "Twisted Elegance" where they have performed at many venues as well as Choreographers Carnival. She's work with Mia Michaels, Marty Kudelka, Wade Robson, and Tovaris Wilson just to name a few. She hopes to one day have a dance company of her

Brim- *Brim-(Hip Hop).

Brim got his jump in the industry by being one of Orlando's hottest and most sought-after choreographers. After working with the likes of the Backstreet Boys, Blaque, and Aaron Carter--just to name a few--he decided to move deeper into the industry by taking on acting, developing stage shows, and producing music. Soon after, he became the Creative Director for Big 3 Records/Entertainment, where he created, developed, and delivered a spectacular show in Monte Carlo, France, for the Prince of Monaco. Brim recently appeared in the smash hit movie You Got Served (Sony/ Columbia Pictures) and now calls Los Angeles home. He has teamed up with Mad Tasty for a film which he is writing and for which he is producing the soundtrack. It is currently in pre-production.

Forest Philbrick-*FP (Hip-Hop and Creative)

Forest started dancing with her cousin, in Thousand Oaks, 13 years ago. They also drove to Downtown L.A. and took hip hop classes from various dance instructors. As she and her cousin became more accomplished, they started choreographing for themselves and began teaching in Thousand Oaks. She has been teaching for 7 years now. Not only has she been teaching hip hop, but she has also taught French to preschool age children at a school in Westlake Village. Forest trained under the direction of Joe Malone in 2002, and decided children were going to be her main focus. She has choreographed for various cheer/dance teams and singing groups. She also portrayed Pink in the 2001 Moulin Rouge music video on MTV’s show Becoming. She is currently attending college and studying nutrition.

LaurenGraham-instructor Lauren Graham- *LG (Jazz)

Lauren began her dance training at the age of 4 and has loved it ever since! She has competed in numerous regional and national competitions, and has won several top awards. In 1999, as Westlake High School’s Dance Team Captain, Lauren led her team to a first-place overall win at the USA Dance Nationals Competition in Orlando, Florida. In 2003, she graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Lauren has been teaching dance for the past 6 years, to students between the ages of 2 and 18. To Lauren, dance is more than just an art form—it’s a lifestyle!

MarieFrance-instructor Marie-France Levesque *MF (Ballet)

Born in Montreal, Canada, Marie-France began her ballet training at the age 7. In 1982, she joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, performing lead roles for 3 years. She received grants from the Canada Council of the Arts and from the Government of Quebec to study in New York and Bulgaria. In 1985, Marie danced the lead role in The Garden of the Heart, which was broadcast live on CBS National TV. That same year, Marie was recruited by Mikhail Baryshnikov to join American Ballet Theatre, where she danced for 11 years. Her repertoire includes several featured roles, many PBS specials on dance, and a host of guest-artist credits across the U.S. and Canada. Since moving to L.A. in 1996 Marie has been providing the highest level of professional instruction at studios such as West Side Academy of Dance, Southland Ballet Academy, and CSU Long Beach.

Sayhber-instructor Sayhber Rawles *SR-(Adult Jazz)

We are fortunate to add to our incredible team the highly respected and much sought-after dancer/teacher/choreographer, and the second half of the fabulous duo Dennon and Sayhber Rawles. Sayhber and Dennon have worked together dancing and choreographing for 6 major motion pictures, hundreds of commercials, hundreds of television shows, night clubs, and musical theatre, alongside such greats as Warren Beatty, John Travolta, Ann-Margret, Sylvester Stallone, Jeff Goldblum, and Toni Basil. Her recent musical theatre choreography credits include South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, Sweet Charity, All That Jazz, and Gypsy. Her technique for teaching jazz is thorough and concise, incorporating the classic style of Bob Fosse, Jack Cole, Jerome Robbins, and Michael Kidd. She brings these styles to current music, for a challenging and rewarding class you won’t want to miss. We are very proud to have Sayhber here at Agoura Hills Dance.

Sharon-instructor Sharon Luchs - *SL- (Ballet)

Sharon’s teaching credits range from preschool movement to adult ballet pointe and technique, and include extended teaching engagements in New York City at the Callina Moraytis School of Classical Ballet, at the Learning Annex, and in Raleigh, N.C. at Danceurs Studio. While in Raleigh, she served as a multiple presenter in dance education for the North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children. For the past several years Sharon has served as a judge for On Stage America for regional dance competitions on both coasts. After graduating from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, she performed extensively with the North Carolina State Ballet and the East Carolina Dance Theatre. She concluded her post-graduate studies as a scholarship recipient at Harkness House in New York City.

Shawn L. Marsh *SM-(Acro )

A talented gymnast himself, Shawn is shaping and preparing the minds and bodies of those around him by incorporating gymnastics with safety, discipline and fun. Highlights of Shawn's career include placing first in floor exercise at the Senior Olympics at LAVC in 1998 and participating in the 1984 Olympic Games opening ceremonies. Shawn has 19 years instructional experience with various levels and ages of gymnasts including specialized training enhancing strength and flexibility for elite gymnasts, cheerleaders, martial artists, mighty boys, dancers, adults, the physically challenged, actors and performers.

Amanda Kofsky- *AK (Ballet)

She has worked with the likes of Roland Petit, Redha, Patrick Dupont and has appeared with Gloria Gaynor, YES, Sylvie Vartan, etc, in ads (Diet Coke, Yoplait, Bally). Based in Paris for 16 years, Amanda taught and choreographed for stage, television, film, and fashion in Europe, Asia, South Africa and USA and was awarded the Volnine International Choreographic Prize. Amanda’s Style is vibrant and emotive and she brings her own unique touch of blues, funk, jazz and always something new. Her love of dance and enthusiasm make each class a burst of energy!

Jodi Plaia- *JP (Theatre Lab)

Jodi Plaia is currently the Theatre Arts Director at Malibu High School. She has a B.F.A in Acting and Directing from Montclair State University and an M.F.A in Acting from Temple University. Productions include “Father of the Bride,” Les Miserables,” “The Elephant Man,” “42^nd Street,” “Lend Me A Tenor,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Diviners,” and “Aida.”.

Mandy Kerr

Mandy began dancing, singing and acting at the age of three in her hometown of Edmonton, AB, Canada. After moving with her family to San Diego, CA and graduating high school she then moved to New York City where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and began her professional career. Since her move to the United States she has performed and toured with some of today’s top musical artists such as Michael Jackson, Cher, *N SYNC, Nick Cannon and the 2004 United States Olympic Gymnastic team. Some of her television appearances include “Sex and the City”, “Sesame Street”, and VH1’s “Big in ’05 Awards” with Def Leppard. Mandy just recently finished shooting a pilot for Fox with comedians Bob Sagat and Jeffery Ross as well as the pilot for the new CBS television series “Smith” starring Ray Liotta and Amy Smart. She continues to work on her music career both backup singing as well as recording her own music. As well as dancing professionally she can currently be found choreographing and teaching both nation and world wide with multiple studios, conventions, and dance companies. Some of her most recent accomplishments include choreographing for the Netherlands new artist “Eva”, TUG’s new artist Ashley and being added as a judge in the 2006 Hip Hop Championships in Holland.

Zippora Karz - *ZK (Ballet)

She is a former soloist ballerina with the New York City Ballet where she performed for 16 years on stage and in televised performances. She was featured in a variety of roles choreographed by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins (The Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker being one of her favorites) as well as works choreographed for her by such choreographers as Peter Martins and Lynne Taylor Corbett. Today Miss Karz is a repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust, staging Balanchine ballets all over the worlds. When she is not traveling Ms. Karz teaches and coaches ballet locally."

Michelle Clow- *CM (Jazz)

We are fortunate to add Michelle to our teaching staff! She has an impressive list of music videos she has featured in including Gwen Stefani's 'Hollerback Girl" and Angie Stone's "Why Do I Miss You" just to name a few. She has also performed in numerous live performances like the MTV Movie awards, Los Angeles Avengers and has performed in plays like Annie, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Westside Story. Michelle has taught dance to students ages 3 to 16 years old.

Megan Wabby

Megan began dancing at the age of three and hasn't stopped since then! Being a part of a competition team for over ten years, she has attended many conventions and competitions winning many awards. Megan was captain of her high school songleading team for three years choreographing numerous routines that won top awards throughout Southern California. In 2002, she was invited by the United Spirit Association to be a member of their AllStar team where whe joined them ot perform in Paris, France. Receiving her dance training here at Agoura Hills Dance, she had the priviledge of performing the roles of Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty as well as the caterpillar for two years in their original ballet "Alice in Wonderland". In 2007, Megan graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Megan is very excited to be back and teaching students of all ages here at Agoura Hills Dance!