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| BILLY LARSON A native of Philadelphia, PA, Billy Larson brings an impressive array of performing, teaching, and choreographic experiences to East Coast Movement. As a performer, Billy most recently danced the lead role in Mia Michaels' 3 Steps From Heaven for ASH Contemporary Dance Company, where Billy performed as principal male dancer for four years. Billy traveled throughout North America as "Funky" in Dein Perry's critically acclaimed TAP DOGS, and was a dance champion on CBS's Star Search. He has also had principal roles with the late Mark Marino's American Dance Company throughout Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Yugoslavia. His credits also include the 2002 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies in Salt Lake City, Carnival Choreographer's Ball NYC, The Elan Awards, Broadway Dance Center's Performance Outlets, and Dancers Responding to AIDS benefit performances. As an accomplished dance competitor during his years of training, Billy received countless awards, medals, and other recognition in all forms of dance. In 1998, he was named the highest-ranked solo tap dancer in the United States at the North American Tap Dance Championships. Later that year, he traveled to Riesa, Germany with the United States team and captured the gold medal in solo tap dance. Billy's win garnered two more "firsts": He was both the first American and the youngest competitor ever to achieve this honor. In 1999, Billy was honored to represent New York as "Mr. Dance of New York City" at the Dance Masters of America's Mr. and Miss Dance of America scholarship pageant. Again, Billy captured the top honor, the first tap dancer ever to win this title. In addition to his work as a performer, Billy is recognized around the world as a master class teacher and choreographer. He is currently on the faculty at the prestigious Broadway Dance Center in New York City, where he teaches contemporary jazz. In 2007, Billy was named the resident contemporary teacher at the famed Joffrey Ballet School's first annual summer Jazz and Contemporary Dance Intensive. He will return to Joffrey to teach again in the summer of 2008. Billy also travels throughout the country as the contemporary-jazz master teacher for WILD Dance Convention. He continues to travel to major dance studios throughout the continent as a guest teacher and choreographer, and serves as a judge with numerous performing arts competitions. Broadening his career as a choreographer, Billy recently formed Truth In Progress, a contemporary dance company based in the Philadelphia/NYC area. The company received outstanding reviews for its debut performance. |
| Burn the Floor Faculty Sally and Nicole Doerr (Click here for more information on the Directors) (Faculty is subject to change due to schedules and conflicts in the dance industry) Guest Artists |
| MICHELLE HELD WITH Jeff Daniel's Purple Rose Theatre Co. Actor and Playwright, Jeff Daniels, always dreamed of working and teaching in Michigan. In 1991, he founded the Purple Rose Theatre Co. in his hometown of Chelsea. Today, the Purple Rose enjoys a national reputation for excellence. The Theatre's highly acclaimed educational outreach program "Kid Purple", is the foundation for our "Intro to Acting" workshops. www.purplerosetheatre.org |
| AND MORE!!! |
| Joe Loera Joe Loera is a dancer, actor, producer, and teacher/choreographer for TV, film, stage and convention. He has been involved with the entertainment industry for fifteen years, twelve of which he has spent as an active member of SAG and AFTRA. Joe has been fortunate to work with some of the most reputable Director/Choreographers in the business, including Rob Marshall, Wayne Cilento, Fatima Robinson, Adam Shankman, Rob Iscove, Otis Salid and Vincent Patterson. As a performer, Joe has toured internationally as well as performed on award shows, television series/sitcoms, commercials, films with artists such as Will Smith, Jessica Simpson, Enrique Iglesias, Bette Midler, Bebe Neuwirth, Victor Garber, Kathy Bates and Freddie Prinze Jr. to name a few. Joe has even had the unique opportunity of appearing as a series regular on The Wayne Brady Variety Show. As a teacher, choreographer and mentor, Joe has dedicated seven years to working for two of the nation's top dance conventions: L.A. Dance Magic and L.A. Underground. He has taught at world-renowned Broadway Dance Center and Steps NYC. He is currently on tour teaching for Manhattan Dance Project and LA Elite workshops. Joe believes in the importance of being a well-rounded dancer and performer. He incorporates acting and story telling into combinations that work on simultaneously developing the dancer's mind, body, and spirit. Joe's goal is to be a positive force in helping nurture the artist's passion for movement. You will leave his class feeling empowered! |
| Miss Beth Perry |
| Tony Vitale Versatility might as well be Tony’s middle name. From Hip-Hop and Break dancing to the classic styles of Jazz and Tap, Tony can do it all and has. His film and television credits include: SISTER ACT II, CLUELESS and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. Tony worked as an improv comedian at THE COMEDY STORE in Hollywood and as magic assistant to legend, HARRY BLACKSTONE. He can be seen in commercials for FRITOS, THE STATE NEWSPAPER and BANK OF AMERICA. He has worked on industrial shows for FORD, LINCOLN-MERCURY, DENNY’S, HONEYWELL, NCR and DISNEY and was a principal dancer on tour with REBA MACINTYRE. Tony most recently appeared in the Broadway show, A FEW GOOD MEN DANCIN’ and is also a member of the music production team, THE EGGBEATERS. He is known for his high- energy classes and his choreography can be seen in shows and competitions from coast to coast. |
| Jaci Royal Jaci Royal moved to New York City in the summer of 2005 as a scholarship recipient of an intensive 10-month professional dance training program. Upon graduation, her journey continued. Jaci has taught at prestigious New York professional studios, Broadway Dance Center, Steps, and Dance New Amsterdam. Jaci produced and directed the annual Capezio Fashion Show, and she assisted on a Reebok industrial. She has taught master classes and set choreography at various studios around the country. In June she performed at Solstice in Times Square, a professional performance featuring dancers from Lion King and other Broadway Shows. In July, Jaci left for two weeks to assist international teacher and choreographer, Wes Veldink, in Italy. She is now spending six weeks teaching and choreographing in Monterrey, Mexico. In between all of these adventures, Jaci finds time to return home and train our students. She has choreographed numerous high point routines for our top competitive companies. |
| Beth Perry earned her MA in American Dance Studies from Florida State University and her BA in History with a Specialization in Dance from Michigan State University. While at MSU she performed with the Dance Repertory Company, Orchesis, and in the MSU School of Music’s production of Orpheus and The Underworld. She was also on the executive board for Orchesis, the student dance group. After graduation Ms. Perry taught at several dance studios and after school programs in and around Detroit while working for the Detroit Historical Museum. She performed for two years with MoreDances Contemporary Dance Company based in Troy, Michigan and also in Bravo, Bravo! an annual fundraiser for the Detroit Opera House. While at FSU, Ms. Perry danced in Days of Dance, Awaken and Shift an MFA Concert, represented FSU at American College Dance Festival, and extensively researched Alwin Nikolais, the subject of her thesis. She also had the fabulous opportunity to study with Suzanne Farrell, Jowale Willa Jo Zolar, Dan Wagoner, Sheila Humphreys, Lynda Davis, and Geri Houlihan at FSU. Since receiving her Master, she has danced with stb dance in Men Dance Michigan. Ms. Perry will also be teaching dance history this summer at the Detroit session of the American Ballet Theater’s Summer Intensive. |
| Scott MacDonald Scott MacDonald, an accomplished and well-established Canadian-born dancer, brings his extensive skills and experience in performance, teaching and choreography to East Coast Movement. Scott’s professional dance career began with the Philadelphia-based ASH Contemporary Dance Company, where he was honored to work with renowned choreographer Mia Michaels in the world premiere of her work, 3 Steps from Heaven. Later, Scott worked for a Helix Dance Project, a Toronto-based company, where he performed as a principal dancer in “West Side Stories,” the work of top Canadian choreographer Linda Garneau. Trained by top ballet teachers such as Paul Boos, Wihelm Burmann and Olga Kostritzky, Scott worked as a soloist in the world-renowned all male ballet company, Les Ballets Grandiva. With the company, Scott performed works by George Balanchine and William Forsythe, as well as the world premiere of Brian Reeder’s "They Who Wore a White Flower," for which Scott received rave reviews in New York City, Japan, Korea and Italy. Scott most recently traveled to the most prestigious venues across Europe and the United Kingdom to perform in Cirque Du Soleil’s touring show Delirium, choreographed by Mia Michaels. While with Cirque Du Soleil, he was also honored to work with famed choreographer Wade Robson on the workshop for the Vegas show “Believe” and with Brazilian choreographer Deborah Colker on the new touring show for 2009. As a competitive dancer, Scott won many top honors. In 2002, he was a member of the Canadian jazz team, representing his country as the Canadian Jazz Champion. He competed at the World Jazz Dance Congress and was honored with the prestigious Gold Medal for Jazz Dance. Scott was also named Male Dancer of the Year at American Dance Awards, where his solo received the highest mark in the entire competition. He was also named Junior Mister Dance of America and Teen Mister Dance of America by the prestigious Dance Masters of America. As a teacher/choreographer, Scott is best known for his unique choreography and intense, informative classes. He has choreographed for Toronto’s Carnival, Milk and Honey Series, Western University Dance Team, Mind Body and Soul, and OIP Dance Centre, as well as many competitive dance studios. He has won numerous awards for his choreography and was most recently honored for “Excellence in Teaching” at the top competition, Flashdance. |
| Shayna Fink |
| Hollie LeVine |
| Chelsea Swanderski National Tour of Hairspray Voice Classes |
Sarah Savelli, known for her "intricate footwork yet easygoing sensuality" (Dance Magazine
2007), has a style that is distinct and exciting. She began her dance training at an early age
in Cleveland and has since grown to be among the most respected professional tap
dancers of her generation. Her training with The School of Cleveland Ballet and growing up
in her mother’s dance studio coupled with her career accomplishments have established
her as an invaluable adjudicator and instructor in the competitive dance world. As a
proactive force in the dance field she has consistently created opportunities to keep Tap
in the public eye. Sarah has been commissioned three times by PlayhouseSquare, the
second largest performing arts center in the country to create, choreograph and present
her original work "Tap Into Peace"; a show with the incredible music of Stevie Wonder as
its inspiration and soundtrack. "Tap Into Peace" made its debut at New York City Center's
Fall for Dance in 2008.
As a choreographer, performer and producer, Sarah has presented "Tappy Holidays!", an
annual Holiday show in New York, Montana and Cleveland. Sarah also served as Artistic
Director and Choreographer for Rhythm ISS…, an all female Chicago based Tap Company
she co-founded in 1995. The group was hailed by Dance Magazine as “a quintet of women
tappers impressive as much for their exuberant spirit as for their blistering footwork.”
Savelli’s soloist work is as extensive as her company work. She has been featured in the
PBS documentary“Juba! The Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance” and has performed at
The Apollo as part of Ayodele Casel’s Diary of a Tap Dancer, Symphony Space in NYC,
Playhouse Square, The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, New York’s City Center
among many others.
Sarah has developed her own specific method for teaching a blend of crisp, clean,
technique and intricate rhythm that makes tap dancing accessible for all ages and levels.
Her work has been presented and performed by the top tap professional tap dancers in the
country, as well as competitive groups nationwide. She is a sought after and respected
teacher who is known for combining honesty and humor with technique so that her classes
remain fun, while challenging. Sarah is currently working regularly with Perseverance
Dance Company, (Missy Ridgway, Chicago) and DD&TA, (Krista Sorensen, Montana) as well
as several other studios and companies nationwide. As co-founder of Tandem Act
Productions, Sarah continues creating events and programs to maintain interest in tap
dancing for students and audiences alike.
2007), has a style that is distinct and exciting. She began her dance training at an early age
in Cleveland and has since grown to be among the most respected professional tap
dancers of her generation. Her training with The School of Cleveland Ballet and growing up
in her mother’s dance studio coupled with her career accomplishments have established
her as an invaluable adjudicator and instructor in the competitive dance world. As a
proactive force in the dance field she has consistently created opportunities to keep Tap
in the public eye. Sarah has been commissioned three times by PlayhouseSquare, the
second largest performing arts center in the country to create, choreograph and present
her original work "Tap Into Peace"; a show with the incredible music of Stevie Wonder as
its inspiration and soundtrack. "Tap Into Peace" made its debut at New York City Center's
Fall for Dance in 2008.
As a choreographer, performer and producer, Sarah has presented "Tappy Holidays!", an
annual Holiday show in New York, Montana and Cleveland. Sarah also served as Artistic
Director and Choreographer for Rhythm ISS…, an all female Chicago based Tap Company
she co-founded in 1995. The group was hailed by Dance Magazine as “a quintet of women
tappers impressive as much for their exuberant spirit as for their blistering footwork.”
Savelli’s soloist work is as extensive as her company work. She has been featured in the
PBS documentary“Juba! The Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance” and has performed at
The Apollo as part of Ayodele Casel’s Diary of a Tap Dancer, Symphony Space in NYC,
Playhouse Square, The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, New York’s City Center
among many others.
Sarah has developed her own specific method for teaching a blend of crisp, clean,
technique and intricate rhythm that makes tap dancing accessible for all ages and levels.
Her work has been presented and performed by the top tap professional tap dancers in the
country, as well as competitive groups nationwide. She is a sought after and respected
teacher who is known for combining honesty and humor with technique so that her classes
remain fun, while challenging. Sarah is currently working regularly with Perseverance
Dance Company, (Missy Ridgway, Chicago) and DD&TA, (Krista Sorensen, Montana) as well
as several other studios and companies nationwide. As co-founder of Tandem Act
Productions, Sarah continues creating events and programs to maintain interest in tap
dancing for students and audiences alike.
Sarah Savelli