Bryan Anthony

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Choreographer and Performer Jahnna Biddle, whose prismatic art of dance offers unexpected elaborate emotional expression, color, light, and life of silence and abstract like movement. 

Jahnna is a natural of imagination and creativeness when it comes to choreography, dancing and teaching.  She has been involved in many wonderful works and been honored with many awards not only for her world in dance and choreography, but educationally as well.  Her training is extensive and her mentors are incredible and have been a great influence on her career. 

Her performances such as, House of Blues Movie to Groove Ball, Key Club Choreographers Carnival, Mandalone Projects, Greek Theatre Youth Celebration, Cast member of Sister Ella with Larry Heart, Michael Jackson, and various music video's, and TV/film project's.  Jahnna has choreographed a post promo concert for the music artists Alien Breed and designed, directed and choreographed a premier theatrical showing of Reflections.

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Leslie Cook has danced, acted, taught and choreographed in film, television and on the theatrical stage for thirty years. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from North Carolina School of the Arts and danced professionally with the North Carolina Dance Theater. As a member of Screen Actors Guild she has performed in over 25 films including The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, My Blue Heaven, The Mask, Out to Sea and Scrooged. She has been featured on television programs such as Earth II, Wings, The Donny and Marie Show, numerous TV specials and has been seen as a "regular" on Paramount's Solid Gold. As a choreographer for Paramount Pictures and Working Title Films her credits include Forrest Gump, The Hi Lo Country and Star Trek Nemesis.

Leslie was commissioned by The Ohio Ballet in 2000 to create a contemporary jazz ballet and has since created 2 others.

Leslie was on the dance faculty for The College of Santa Fe and The Santa Fe Community College. Currently she is teaching at The Performing Arts Center in in addition to working on various television and film projects.

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Michelle Elkin made her professional debut at age eight in the movie musical Annie. Since then, she has continued to work in numerous film, television, commercial, and theater projects.  Michelle has performed as a dancer and assistant choreographer in programs such as: Joan Of Arcadia, Boston Public, Ally McBeal, Charmed, American Idol, the TV series Fame LA, 3^rd Rock from the Sun, That 70’s Show, Tracey Takes On, The Country Bears, Batman and Robin, Austin Powers I-III, A Time For Dancing, Elizabethtown with Susan Sarandon and the opera The Grand Duchess at the Music Center with Garry Marshall.  She can be seen in the upcoming film The Passion Of the Clerks II.

She was the associate choreographer for the films, 10 Things I hate About You, Cinderelmo, Looney Tunes: Back In Action, 13 Going on 30 with Jennifer Garner, and Starsky & Hutch with Ben Stiller. Her own choreography is highly sought after all around the country and has worked with the likes of Julie Brown, Kristin Chenoweth, London based groups, Divine Comedy and Zoot Woman, a live performance with the recording artist Sasha Lazard, a PGA Tour industrial and the David E. Kelley television series, Boston Legal. This fall she will begin production as associate choreographer for Sister Act The Musical. 

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Jerry Evans loves to dance…but this did not come to him until surprisingly “late” in life for a dancer at age 21! An unusual transition to make from a science major but not so unusual considering he studied gymnastics, martial arts, and fencing. A deliberate choice, as he had no desire to get involved in contact sports. And so his show-biz career began performing with The Pacific Light Opera in northern California as a gymnast/dancer in a production of “Hello Dolly.” The experience so moved him, that he relocated to Los Angeles and devoted his full time efforts to the study of dance under the tutelage of his mentor, Steve Merritt, subsequently assisting on all major TV Varity and Awards shows being produced during that period. 

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Mark Goodman began tap dancing at the University of New Hampshire under Gay Nardone.  After receiving his Bachelor's degree in Theater Arts, he moved to New York where he joined the American Tap Dance Orchestra, training with Brenda Bufalino.  Mark went on to work with Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Charles "Honi" Coles and Buster Brown.  He proudly acknowledges that his dance style has been greatly influenced by these greats. 

While in New York, Mark was on staff at the Broadway Dance Center and Steps.  He performed with various dance troupes as a soloist nationally and internationally in such venues as:  Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Joyce Theatre, Savion Glover and Friends at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park.  Goodman's stage credits include Andy Lee in the European tour of 42nd Street, the leading man in Sophisticated Ladies, Anything Goes with Melba Moore and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

In 2003 Mark completed work on the feature film Polar Express working with Tom Hanks and Director Robert Zemeckis.

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Marissa Gutierrez, originally from Austin, Texas has taught, choreographed and performed throughout the U.S. and Canada.  She has performed in live stage shows including A Night of One Acts, Chess and World Tap.  Marissa performed in numerous television shows, films, movies, and music videos.  Some appearances have included Tap Heat, The Amati Girls, The Hughley's, Usher's Pop ya colla', K-Swiss, and RhythMatix a Wild Symphonic Ride.  Marissa's special skills include Salsa, partnering country western line dancing and singing. As an adjudicator and master class teacher, she has traveled throughout North America sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with thousands of young dancers.  

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Jennifer Hamilton started dancing at age 4.  Her training continued at various dance schools throughout Los Angeles, most importantly Tremaine dance studio.  It was at Joe Tremaine's studio that Jen would meet her soon to be mentor, Emmy Award winning choreographer, Marguerite Derricks.

With about 25 films under her belt, Jennifer has worked on Austin Powers I-III, The Cat in the Hat and Starsky & Hutch and Meet the Fockers which gave her opportunity to work with Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand.  She also enjoyed working with Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore on Charlie's Angels, and teaching Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie how to tango in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Jennifer is most proud of her accomplishments in the Showtime film A Time for Dancing and can currently be seen dancing alongside one of her longtime favorites, Lenny Kravitz in his video, Lady. 

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Charles "Chucky" Klapow began his dancing career at age 12, dancing for Patti LaBelle, Celine Dion, Kris Kross, Salt-N-Pepa, Melissa Etheridge, and others in an all-star concert for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation. This included a dancing spot in the Paula Abdul music video "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah." By the time he was 15, Charles was an assistant to choreographer and mentor, Marguerite Derricks. He assisted Marguerite and danced in Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (1997), 3rd Rock from the Sun, and Fame L.A., among others. Charles created a dance company with partner Wade Robson in the mid-1990's called L.A. Images.

In the fall of 2000, Charles started choreographing for the Swedish pop group, The A*Teens. He was their choreographer for music videos "Floorfiller," "Halfway Around the World," "Sugar Rush," "Can't Help Falling in Love," and "I Promised Myself" as well as their tour director and choreographer from 2001-2003. These tours took Charles to Germany, Sweden and all over the United States, with additional spot dates in Mexico, Spain, Russia, and Denmark.

Charles was brought on board by Kenny Ortega (Dirty Dancing choreographer) to help choreograph High School Musical (2006), a Disney Channel Original Movie. Very quickly, Ortega became another mentor to Chucky as they quickly developed a working chemistry together.

Ever since the inaugural season of the WNBA, Charles has been a choreographer for the "Sparkids," the hip-hop squad which performs at all Los Angeles Sparks home games. Beginning in 2005, Charles became co-director of the squad under the direction of Christy Buss and he assumes most of the choreography duties for the Sparkids. Charles has choreographed commercials for companies including Gap Kids, Old Navy, JCPenney, and Carl's Jr. He also choreographed "The Cheetah Girls 2" with Kenny Ortega.

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Nanci Hammond, one of the founders of The Performing Arts Center, began dancing at the age of four and was instructing children at the age of 15.  Born in Hanford California and raised in Fresno California she attended Denise Sommers School of Dance and opened her first dance studio, The Dance Programme at the tender age of 20. 

In 1975, Nanci moved to Los Angeles to study fulltime at Eugene Loring's American Ballet School and within a year was working professionally on a national commercial choreographed by Jo-Jo Smith.  Since that time, she worked professionally in a variety of theater, television, film, video and commercial venues.  Nanci has performed in such prestigious television programs as The Academy Awards, The Peoples Choice Awards, The Movie Awards and Carnivale and in the films Thank God It's Friday, Stayin Alive and The Jackson Brothers, Lionel Ritchie and Kenny Rogers videos. 

Nanci credits her success as a dancer to her husband, Joseph Malone, who diligently and meticulously trained her, Alex Ruiz, who taught her to listen, Michael Peters who taught her to dance from the inside out.  She also credits her Mother and Father who instilled the idea that she could do anything and her Buddhist training which taught her to never give up.  

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Ka-Ron Lehman-Dancer/Choreographer -Teaching Lehman Technique (Contemporary Modern) currently the Artistic Director of the Dance Department at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts is known for spotting talent, motivating students to work, and helping students to unlock their emotions through dance. A recipient of the “Distinguished Teacher Award by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars”, and “ACA Educators Award”, and the Drama Logue Critics Award for her performance in Jon Hendricks’ “Evolution of The Blues”.  Choreographed numerous first place winners for Spotlight, Emerging Young Artist, NAACP-ACT-SO, and Presidential Scholars.  In 1993 created the Lehman Dance Awards to honor members of the dance community and to educate today’s’ young dance students about their pioneers of dance.

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Joseph Malone born Joseph Patrick Sheck, Joe decided on a performing career while doing musicals in high school.  At the age of 20, this goal eventually led him to start his formal dance training at Eugene Loring's "The American School of Dance.”  In the past 25 years, Joe has sung and danced in over 100 television specials, films and nightclub acts.  One of Joe's biggest highlights was when Director/Choreographer Michael Peters took him to Broadway to sing and dance in Michael's directorial debut, Leader Of The Pack.

Deciding to augment his dancing and singing career, Joe started acting in 1985.  Since then he has garnered roles in feature films as well as guest starred on many television show including the ever-popular Seinfeld.  His work, as an actor and as a choreographer, on the Emmy Award winning Tracey Ullman Show and Tracey Takes On... are among his most proud.  Joe has also choreographed "Inauguration Dance" in the film Primary Colors starring John Travolta and Emma Thompson.

He began directing and choreographing shortly thereafter and has worked on such prestigious productions as director/choreographer for Sunday in the Park with George which he restaged for Reprise! at UCLA as well as opening sequence of Tracey Ullman's television series Visible Panty Line.  His most recent television work includes choreographed sequences for the critically acclaimed Joan of Arcadia and Judging Amy.  Last year Joe worked on an animated sequence for the upcoming Disney feature, Tinkerbell and has just returned from New York where he made his Broadway choreographic debut with his contribution to Lennon; a musical based on the life of the prolific artist, John Lennon.

In 2000, Joe was honored with an Emmy nomination for Best Achievement in Choreography for his work on Tracey Takes On..., and again in 2003 with another Best Achievement in Choreography for his work on Boston Public.  Joe was recognized for his choreographic efforts on Alley McBeal with an American Choreography Award, and received another American Choreography Award for his work on Boston Public.  Additionally, Joe has been honored with The Lehman Award, The National Academy of Dance Award-Best Choreography on a Television Series.  Of all his accolades, the most meaningful for him is receiving The Min-on Art Award, The SGI Culture Award and this past May The Soka Art Award for his contribution for the realization of lasting world peace through the development of the arts from his mentor in life, Daisaku Ikeda.

In 1992, along with dancer (and wife of 22 years) Nanci Hammond, he established The Performing Arts Center, a school concentrating on the training of young artists with a dream of a career in the performing arts.  In 1994, again with Nanci and Louise, he established, Mandalone Project; a company devoted to the ongoing development of music and dance related projects geared toward concert theater.

He credits the success he has enjoyed to his practice of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, the compassionate training of many dedicated teachers, and the support of wonderful friends.  His wife Nanci and sons Patrick and Michael are without a doubt his greatest treasures.

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Dennon gained international recognition for his work as a choreographer, performer, and educator with credits in Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and Hollywood. Along with his wife, Sayhber, he has choreographed six feature films including, John Travolta’s STAYING ALIVE, and BUGSY, staring Warren Beatty. He choreographed for Ann-Margret in Las Vegas, commercials, musicals, stage productions, television and ballets; not to mention, countless numbers for his college classes. Throughout his career he has continually bridged the gap between the creative/concert world and the more lucrative commercial one. He has choreographed several musicals and original musical revues for Moorpark Community College.

In addition to his regularly scheduled classes, Dennon has taught numerous master classes at such universities as UCI, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, University of Utah at Salt Lake City, and UC Santa Barbara. He has been a faculty member at CSULB, UCLA, Loyola Marymount University, Santa Ana College, Allan Hancock College and the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program since 1987. His teaching transcends the eras as he bridges the gap from the classic to the contemporary.

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Jessica Rawles has been dancing since the age of seven.  She is a product of the excellent ballet training of the Pacific Dance Academy, at the Performing Arts Center, under the direction of Louise Mandel.  She has also trained in jazz under the direction of Joe Malone and tap with Mark Goodman at the Performing Arts Center.  Jessica has attended summer programs with such prestigious ballet schools as the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, The Joffrey Ballet Workshop in San Antonio, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, in which she was offered a scholarship. She has twice been recognized as a semi-finalist in the Music Center's Annual Spotlight Awards Competition in 1996 and 1999.  She is presently continuing her training in classical jazz technique with Dennon and Sayhber Rawles at Moorpark Community College where she is also furthering her education and working toward her Master's degree in dance.

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Nadia Schlosser joined The Performing Arts Center in 1990. Nadia has always known that she wanted to be an entertainer. She has been studying ballet, tap, and jazz since the age of two. Dancing, acting, and singing became essential creative outlets that allowed her imagination to soar. She developed an obsessive appreciation for the production and development of dance, theater, and film. She attended Cal Arts as a Dance major, completed an intense Apprenticeship at the Performing Arts Center, received her Level I Certificate in Entertainment Studies through UCLA Extension and is currently working on a bachelor in Kinesiology. Some of her dance credits include acceptance to the Milwaukee Ballet School, Various Nike Jobs, The Jerry Lewis Telethon, Gap dancer, All Wheel Sports, Mattel E-doption Kids, "Jance Productions" Assistant Choreographer, and Choreographer’s Carnivale. Some of her film/television credits include Legally Blonde, How High, Ally McBeal, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Downer Channel, Rowell, CSI, and Boston Public.

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Candy Sherwin has been on The Performing Arts Center faculty since 2001.  She brings with her a wide range of experience as an actress, dancer, teacher and choreographer.  She began studying ballet at the age of nine, and never stopped, adding jazz and tap to the mix along the way.  She performed with Ballet Des Arts as a teenager, and in various local theatrical productions.  She continued to perform and teach while she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts at California State University, Northridge.  Candy trained with Paul Maure, Salle Whalen, Joe Tremaine, Joe Bennett, and Doug Caldwell just to name a few. 

She has appeared on over 100 industrials, videos, and musical theater productions.  Her choreography credits include, but are not limited to, Once Upon a Mattress, Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz. and Fiddler on the Roof.  Candy has taught ballet, jazz, and Musical Theatre at California State University Northridge’s Teenage Drama Workshop every summer for over 20 years.  She continuers to head up its’ dance division.  Candy’s desire to share her love for dance and theatre infuses her classes with positive energy, as she addresses proper technique and styling.

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Deborah Shulman has been a performer, teacher, director and producer in Los Angeles and New York for many years.  She studied at the prestigious Music Academy of the West, UCLA and CSUN, surveyed a range of vocal, pedagogic and coaching authorities and melded her studies into an effective and practical approach to vocal studies and problem solving for singers.  She has performed and taught successfully in all styles - from classical to pop, and stage and rock to the recording studio.  Deborah portrayed Jellylorum in the Second National Company of CATS at the Schubert Theater for two years, created the role of Emma in the Los Angeles premiere of Tell Me On Sunday, has been active in Equity-Fights-Aids, premiered the Requiem for the Victims of Aids and done voice-overs for film and television.  Her vocal clients have included pop stars Bette Midler, Jennifer Warnes and Linda Ronstadt, rock stars David Lee Roth of Van Halen, and Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, among others.  She was awarded a platinum album for her work on Skyscraper.  Shulman has served as a faculty member of the Musical Theater Workshop of Los Angeles Civic Light Opera at the Music Center, The American Center for Music Theater.

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Wanting to experience the world of television and the movies, she moved to Los Angeles where she was fortunate enough to work nonstop.  She dance and sang with many artist such as Janet Jackson, Prince and Debbie Gibson just to name a few. She’s written and starred in her own one-woman show! Having been fortunate enough to be on many television shows, in the movies and even touring places such as the U.S., Japan, Brazil and such, Terrance feels the most important aspect of her career has been in her ability to give back. As a teacher for over thirteen years and working as one of the directors of the apprentice program, she feels there’s always more to learn and will forever be a student of this wonderful art form called dance!

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