Staff

Click on the individual’s names to view their bios.

Leadership Council

Board

2017 Board of Directors

Lucetta Furr-Snider

CMI Faculty

Lucetta attended The Juilliard School of Performing Arts, The Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Lucetta’s talent for choreography has made her a valued member and instructor for Capitol Movement.

View Full Bio

.

Danielle “Danny” Harris

CMI Faculty

A member of CMI Pre-Pro for 2 years, Danny made her choreographer debut in the 2012 Movement of the People. Her unique style, detailed musicality, and upbeat personality make her memorable!

View Full Bio

Save

Emma Presing

CMI Faculty

Emma has taught workshops and choreographed for various organizatoins. Her choreography is a fusion of contemporary and hip hop that is rooted deeply in musicality and groove.

View Full Bio

Choreographers

Choreographer

Eddie danced with Janet Jackson and did several world tours with Michael Jackson. Along with Chris Judd he choreographed the Jennifer Lopez Aint It Funny and I’m Real videos.

View Full Bio

Karla Garcia

Choreographer

Karla was part of the top seven female dancers in season five of Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance. She has a BFA in dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

View Full Bio

Choreographer

View Full Bio

Neil “Dradle” Schwartz

Choreographer

Neil has been part of such companies as Dynamic, Culture Shock DC, and CMI Company. He encourages dancers to always “live your dreams, follow your heart, and above all be true to yourself.”

View Full Bio

Save

Garen Scribner

Choreographer

Garen is a former soloist with the San Francisco Ballet and artist of Nederland Dans Theater I. He went on to star on Broadway and in the National Tour of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS as Jerry.

View Full Bio

DuJuan “DJ” Smart

Choreographer

DJ has received remarkable reviews for his performances and choreography in magazines and newspapers. He continues to study, perform, choreograph and teach around the world.

View Full Bio

Bethany “Peanut” Strong

View Full Bio

Save

Stephanie Jojokian

Co-Founder

Stephanie Jojokian has been fortunate to participate in many, diverse performing events. She has performed at the Kennedy Center and in New York City as a member of the modern dance company, Tony Powell Music & Movement, as well as at Dance Place as a member of Carla & Company. Stephanie has choreographed and performed for Master P's 504 Boys “Whoodi” video, Crystal Waters “Just Say Hey” video, and danced with Darrin Henson in his “Darrin’s Dance Grooves 2” video.

Stephanie has traveled to Italy, Egypt, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Germany, Portugal, Greenland, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, The Netherlands, and Spain as a dancer, choreographer, and show producer with the NBA Washington Wizards Dancers, Jojo Entertainment, LLC, and now with the NFL's Washington Redskins Cheerleaders and Capitol Movement. Stephanie has taught master classes in Tokyo, Japan, and Lublijana, Solvenija as well as here in Washington, DC. Stephanie has been a director and main choreographer for the Redskins Cheerleaders since 2005. Before that she was the director/choreographer for the NBA's Washington Wizards NBA Dancers and coached the National Champion, Redskins Junior All Stars competition team. She studied dance at UNC-Greensboro and Alvin Ailey in New York City and is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administration.

Amber Yancey

Co-Founder

Amber Yancey is a Co-Visionary of the Capitol Movement Brand. She has taught, performed, and produced shows in Portugal, Greece, Spain, Egypt, Puerto Rico, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in Seoul, Korea, and all over the United States. In addition to paving a path for DC area dancers to perform at the professional level, Amber's work has included performances and choreography for many local dance companies. She has choreographed for and danced with Grammy Award winning artist Monica, Treniti, KiMani, Robin S, and Harley Davidson. Amber was a founding company member of Culture Shock Washington, DC and has also appeared in numerous films and fitness videos.

Amber has diverse training in dance and fitness. She earned the prestigious Certificate of Dance from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City, an Associates of Arts in Dance from Miami Dade College (where she was a scholarship recipient for dance), and a Bachelors of Science in Community Health Education from the University of Maryland. In addition to her work with Capitol Movement, today Amber is the Corporate Director of Mind/Body Programs for Sport & Health Clubs. She is also a Practitioner of Studio Pilates and a Fluidity Barre instructor. She specializes in sports-specific training, Pilates for dancers, and Pilates for Post-Rehab. Amber also teaches cardio dance, Anti-Gravity Yoga, body sculpting, and more.

Nicole Klett

Director of Programming

From an early age Nicole Klett knew dance would be part of her forever. She has performed and choreographed for events at Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center, Dance Place, Wolftrap, Historic Lincoln Theatre, Sidney Harman Center for the Arts, Jack Guidone Theater, and the Fillmore Silver Spring. Her work has also been seen on tours with Capitol Movement Dance Company partnered with Armed Forces Entertainment through Greece, Portugal, Spain, Egypt, and Cuba, and she’s directed tours to Italy, Turkey, Djibouti, Bahrain, and Japan.

Nicole is the Director of Programming for Capitol Movement as well as the Director of their Pre-Professional Company, in Washington, DC. She is also co-founder and Artistic Director of The Movement Studios based in Springfield, VA. Nicole has been awarded a Virginia Governor’s Award for service to Virginia youth in the arts and has received numerous choreography awards throughout the DC area. While a student at the University of Virginia, Nicole was co-director of a student run team that was instrumental in organizing and founding the Dance Minor at The University of Virginia. She is very passionate about both dance and teaching, believing that every movement and moment has meaning that extends far beyond the studio.

Jamilla Keene

Studio Manager

Jamilla Keene is currently Studio Manager for Capitol Movement, Inc. Since CMI's inception in 2005 she has been involved with the organization, dancing with Capitol Movement Dance Company for 10 of those years.

Jamilla is a former Washington Redskins Cheerleaders for ten seasons and spent eight seasons as captain. She had the honor of representing the “First Ladies of Football” at the 2005 NFL Pro Bowl in Honolulu, HI.

Prior to dancing with Capitol Movement and the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders, Jamilla cheered on the nationally ranked George Mason University Coed squad for five years, and then coached the George Mason University All-girl squad for four years.

Jamilla is also a former Universal Cheerleaders Association instructor of seven years and currently works for All-American Cheer and Dance. She has judged various local, state, and national cheer and dance competitions.

London Myrick

CMI Kidz Director

London Myrick, trained and graduated from Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts with a major in Dance. Graduating with 2 diplomas, she moved to Philadelphia with a scholarship for the Philadanco Summer Intensive Program. While training with Philadanco she had a chance to join and perform with Eleone Dance Theatre, and she was also provided with a scholarship to Alvin AILEY Summer and their Pre-professional Program. She has performed at the IABD (International Association of Blacks and Dance Conferences) with choreographer such as Debbie Allen, Lula Washington, and Joan Myers Brown. She also performed at the Kennedy Center, The Kimmel Center of Performing Arts, and FedEx Field. As a Washington Redskin Cheerleader she has traveled to Mexico for their annual calendar shoot and resort performance. She is very passionate about teaching young dancers throughout the DMV!

Shontal Snider

Rehearsal Director

Shontal Snider is a founding member of the Capitol Movement Dance Company. She performed with CMI for 6 years and led the NBA Jr. Wizards and WNBA Mystics Mayhem dance team as the assistant director for 3 seasons. Shontal has also founded her own dance crew called G.U.M. Crew and teaches throughout the DC, MD, VA area.

Lucetta Furr-Snider

Rehearsal Director

She returned to the DC area after four years of studying, performing, and incorporating dance and dancers in high designer fashion shows throughout the Los Angeles area. While in CA, Lucetta had the opportunity of working with many dance artists such as Joe Tremaine, Gregory King, Geoffrey Cascio and the dancers of Tap Dog. She performed in Washington, DC on National Tap Day with guest stars, Gregory Hines, Joe Webb, and Savion Glover, and performed in the Stand for Children event hosted by Rosie O’Donnell. Lucetta attended The Juilliard School of Performing Arts, The Joffrey Ballet School in New York, and was a company member of the Center Dance Company in Arlington, VA.

Lucetta’s talent for choreography has won her several choreography awards at local competitions. She is currently a member and instructor for the Capitol Movement, and most recently she has become an American Ballet Theater certified instructor.

Kelly Owens

Membership Director

Kelly graduated from the Freehold Fine & Performing Arts Program in New Jersey as a dance major and studied at the NJ Governor's School of the Arts at Trenton State University. She then continued her music and dance training at Howard University. Musically, Kelly is a singer with Kaleidoscope, a 10-piece band based in Maryland, and has done all types of performances ranging from NFL Football games to the Inaugural Balls for Presidents George Bush and Barack Obama.

Kelly was a dancer with the Washington Wizards for 3 years and with the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders for 7 years, serving as captain for both teams. She choreographed for the Washington Wizard Junior Dancers and made several trips to the Middle East, Europe, the Balkans, Central America, and Greenland to entertain and boost the morale of our troops. Over the past 15 years, Kelly has donated time performing as a dancer, singer, actress, and choreographer for musical productions presented by Cabaret for Life, Inc. (CFL). She is also currently a member of the Capitol Movement Dance Company and a dance instructor for Agency 9. With Capitol Movement Dance Company, Kelly had the honor of performing (both dancing and singing) in 6 Capitol Movement Concerts at the Historic Lincoln Theater, as well as the Kennedy Center, under some of the country's top choreographers including Tony Powell, Luam, Laura Edwards, and Chris Hale, as well as the at the 25th Anniversary Radio One Gala.

Ashley Banek

Marketing Coordinator

Ashley's love affair with dance began at the age of three. She had the privilege of training for 10 years at Denise Wall's Dance Energy, dancing alongside some of today's greats like Travis Wall and Jaimie Goodwin. As an undergrad at James Madison University (JMU), Ashley was a member and choreographer for the Madison Dance Club. After moving to DC to attend grad school at American University, she discovered Capitol Movement and has been a part of the CMI family ever since. Ashley's tenure with Capitol Movement includes performing in three Capitol Movement Projects, dancing internationally during three military appreciation tours with Armed Forces Entertainment, teaching classes regularly at the Capitol Movement Studio, and most recently, joining the CMI staff as our Marketing Coordinator.

Ashley holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from JMU and a Master's degree in Public Communication from American. By day, she is the Associate Director of Content Strategy at LMO, a marketing communications agency in Arlington, VA. As CMI's Marketing Coordinator, Ashley combines her marketing and advertising expertise with her passion for dance to promote Capitol Movement's mission and build better lives through dance.

Raeya Cobb

Social Engagement Associate

Raeya Monique Cobb began her dance training at the age of four at RJV Performing Arts Center in Temple Hills, MD under the direction of Renee Lindsay-Henry and Vicki Millard-Cobb. At age twelve, she joined BodyMoves Contemporary Dance Company. Raeya studied ballet, tap, jazz and Horton under the direction of Katherine Smith, Jennifer Buchanan, Jamie Sutton, Cherdise Foy-Nixon, Zahra Carpenter, Monique Burt, and Jennifer Johnson.

When she was in high school, Raeya became a founding member of Vision Contemporary Dance Company. She also joined Capitol Movement’s Pre-Professional Company and her love for Hip-Hop was ignited in 2011. She has performed for UTZ Chips company, FKA Twigs, toured overseas in Djibouti and Bahrain with Armed Forced Entertainment and trained with various industry choreographers.

Raeya is currently a senior at Bowie State University studying Broadcast Journalism and Dance. She is extremely excited to be one of the Social Engagement Coordinators for the 2017-2018 dance season!

Sabrina Monet

Social Engagement Associate

Originally from Suitland, MD, Sabina Monet’ is currently a student at Towson University. She has completed a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Media & Film, and will complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance by Spring 2018. She has studied hip hop, jazz, modern, contemporary, tap, African, ballet, pointe, liturgical, and Hawaiian dance styles at Towson University, Capitol Movement, Ballet Arts Academy, BodyMoves Fitness, and RJV Performing Arts Center, Inc.

Sabina is currently a member of Capitol Movement Dance Company and Purge Dance Crew. She is a back up dancer for Latin music artist Jason Cerda and is featured in his music video “Alarma”. She is also a backup dancer and choreographer for Baltimore music artist Kotic Couture. She is featured in and choreographed for his music video “Get Ya Life”. Sabina has performed with Vision Contemporary Dance Ensemble, the Capitol Movement Pre-Professional Dance Company, BodyMoves Contemporary Dance Company and Arlington Youth Street Theater.

Sabina has worked with choreographers such as WilldaBeast Adams, Laura Edwards, Bobby Dacones, Nicole Kirkland, Kash Powell, Andre Fuentes, Alec Clawson, DuJuan “DJ” Smart Jr, Jenelle Figgins, Samantha Figgins, Katherine Smith, Nicole Klett, Carol Foster, and Christopher Huggins. She toured with Capitol Movement’s “Freedom Tour” to Africa and Bahrain sponsored by Armed Forces Entertainment. She’s performed in London music artist FKA twigs’ “Radiant Me2” concert, Carnival Choreographers Ball Los Angeles, CA, WilldaBeast Adam’s Build-a- Beast Experience Showcase Los Angeles, CA, Discovery Communications Innovation Awards, DC’s National Cherry Blossom Festival, International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference, and many more.

Katrina King

Event Assistant Coordinator

Katrina King is an actor, model, and aesthetic dancer that has appeared in commercials, print, films, and music videos for Snoop Dogg, Mya, Tanu, Ky-mani, and Sean Paul. She has performed onstage with Snoop Dogg, toured with R&B singer Monica, and toured to the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe with Armed Forces Entertainment and Capitol Movement Dance Company. She has danced for international choreographers such as Jawole Zo Wallar, Maru Montero, Chuck Davis, King Charles, Kim Holmes, Andre Fuentes, Terry Creach, Liz Imperio, Alcine Wiltz, Miriam Rosen, Peter Schmidt, Don Redlich, Sheila Barker, Claire Porter, Alec Clawson, Gianinni and Leeco, Luam, Analeah Stamps, Tim Roberts, Neil Schwartz, and Bev Brown.

Her training in jazz, laban movement, improvisation, ballet, ethnic, modern, and hip hop has allowed her to perform with Culture Shock Dance Troupe, Maru Montero Dance Company, NBA Washington Wizards Dancers, Motion Mania Dance Theatre, Urban Moves Entertainment, X-Faction, KatWildish NYC Showcase, We The Fix, and Capitol Movement Dance Company.

Katrina is the founder of the dance talent agency: King Empire Entertainment, LLC. She is also a proud member of Dance Masters of America and has choreographed and taught master classes in the DC, MD, and VA area including the All-Star Adrenaline Dance Team, Capitol Movement, Agency 9, Concepts in Motivation, Wheaton Studio of Dance, Jr. Washington Redskins All-Star Dance Team, and BADD Dance Company. She also served formerly as director for the WNBA Washington Mystics Mayhem.

Kristin Scalzo

Scheduling Associate

Kristin Scalzo started dancing at the age of three in her hometown of New Berlin, Wisconsin. Through high school Kristin was a part of the Anita's Dance Center Junior Company, Midwest Connection Dance Company and Competition Team, as well as a dancer for Radio Disney.

While earning her Bachelor's Degree in International Affairs at Marquette University, she was a member of Pure Dance Marquette, a student-run dance organization, and served as co-president for two years. She also danced with Friction Dance Company, an independent dance company in Milwaukee, WI.

Kristin recently received her Master's Degree in International Peace & Conflict Resolution from American University in Washington, DC and currently works in the Levine Institute for Holocaust Education at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. She has been a part of the Capitol Movement Dance Company for three years, and currently serves as their Scheduling Coordinator.

Hilary Tone

Communications Specialist

Hilary Tone, a California native, is a product of Retter’s Academy of Dance in Los Angeles. She has been teaching and sharing her love of dance since 2005 at studios, workshops, and master classes in California, Arizona, Virginia, Maryland, and DC. Hilary began teaching at Capitol Movement Studios in 2012, and soon after became a member of the Capitol Movement Dance Company in 2013. Since then she has performed for US military overseas in Turkey, Italy, Djibouti, and Bahrain on two tours with Armed Forces Entertainment and Capitol Movement Dance Company. Hilary's work has been performed in such venues as the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum, and The Fillmore Silver Spring. She specializes in tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and (occasionally) hip-hop, and she is also on faculty as an instructor and choreographer at Buffa's Dance Studio in Burke, Virginia.

Hilary holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Spanish from Santa Clara University and a Masters of Public Diplomacy from the University of Southern California. By day, she is the Director of Communications for DC Public Schools, where she oversees digital communications for the district including websites, emails, social media, and special projects.

Eriana McCarley

CMI Intern

Eriana McCarley started dancing when she was 10 years old. Her early training included modern dance and hip-hop, and she later joined the dancers with her marching band in high school. While at George Mason Eriana minored in dance and was part of their hip hop dance team, Urbanknowlogy, where she eventually became the Artistic Director. Being in Urbanknowlogy allowed Eriana to choreograph and compete in competitions such as Prelude, Rip the Floor, and ECDC. Eriana currently is an Intern at Capitol Movement where she assists the director of the CMI Kidz as well as volunteers in outreach programs to teach after school classes at Garrison Elementary and Creative Minds International Public Charter School.

Jana Kalivoda

CMI Apprentice

Jana Kalivoda began dancing in 2008, training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and tap. She currently trains at The Movement Studios, and has been part of Capitol Movement's Pre-Professional Company for 5 years. Jana has performed throughout the DC area including performances at the Kennedy Center, Sidney Harman Center for the Arts, the National Cherry Blossom Parade, Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center, and the Fillmore Silver Spring. She has worked with well-known choreographers such as Zach Venegas, Dejan Tubic, Laura Edwards, DJ Smart, Courtney Thurston, Kassidy Bright, and more. In college, she hopes to continue studying dance as a major, in addition to a double major in business. Jana is extremely excited to be a new member of Capitol Movement Dance Company and wishes to inspire others to stay determined, follow their dreams, and to share love through dance.

Victor Adebusola

CMI Faculty

Victor Adebusola started his dance career in 2002 in Baltimore, MD, where he trained in ballet, tap, modern, jazz and hip hop for several years. After graduating high school, Vic went to the University of Maryland College Park where he discovered Dynamic Hip-Hop Dance Troupe and eventually became Artistic Director of the group. Vic became an official member of Culture Shock, Washington, DC in 2011. Through Culture Shock DC, Vic has had the opportunity to travel to places such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Ottawa, Canada, and New York showcasing with the troupe. Vic has also taught nationally and internationally at locations such as University of North Carolina, Virginia Tech, George Mason University, New York, New Jersey, and most recently teaching abroad in Ottawa, Canada. He has also judged several competitions, including Rip the Floor, a competition hosted by University of Maryland’s own Dynamic Hip-Hop Dance Team.

Vic has recently taken on the full time role as a choreographer, dancer, and instructor in pursuit of his goal and dream of becoming a house hold name in the dance community and a professional working dancer/choreographer. Vic most recently was the Chief Artistic Director of Culture Shock DC and a cofounder of the all male Hip Hop crew, UpperClassMen, while also performing with the Tito Boyscouts. He teaches at several studios in the DMV area, most notably Calvert School of Dance (national champions), and is an adjunct faculty member at George Mason University teaching hip hop to college students. Vic has choreographed several competition-winning pieces for dance studios in the Maryland and DC area.

Tiffanie Carson

CMI Faculty

Originally from southern California, Tiffanie earned her MFA in Dance and Choreography from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance at Chapman University. Tiffanie recently joined dance faculty at Shenandoah University as Assistant Professor as specialist in the area contemporary & commercial jazz dance. She has danced professionally for Sean Greene of Gallimaufry & Greene, and for Mike Esperanza, Artistic Director and Choreographer of BARE Dance Company. She has also performed in works created by Benoit-Swan Pouffer (Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet) and the highly acclaimed post-modern choreographer Lucinda Childs. She currently dances and acts as Assistant Director with Christopher K. Morgan & Artists (CKM&A, directed by Christopher Morgan), with whom she has performed at the Millennium Stage at Kennedy Center and Sidney Harman Hall in Washington, DC. This will be her 4th season with the company. From CKM&A's most recent performance, in Mr. Morgan's work Selling Out, Tiffanie was described as a “very talented dancer” (isitmoderndance.wordpress.com), who was “absolutely ripping the solo to shreds” (criticaldance.org). She has conducted CKM&A's annual winter and summer intensives at the American Dance Institute in Rockville, MD as well as residencies at DeSales University and Muhlenburg University, with Mr. Morgan. She has also traveled with the company to France to conduct an intensive at the Ècole Superieure de Danse de Cannes Rosella Hightower. Tiffanie has been a dance educator for the past 10 years traveling nationally and internationally, having been welcomed as a guest artist in California, Hawaii, Missouri, and Taiwan.

Julika Cuffy

CMI Faculty

A Hampton Roads native from Virginia, Julika started to dance at a young age in her home church, where she was taught the basics of hip hop and liturgical dance. It wasn't until 2013 when she started training with CREWcial, where she learned the basics and fundamentals of other dance genres. Her training continued at Movement Lifestyle 2013, Culture Shock DC, Kodachrome, as well as competitions with Prelude DMV & NC and local showcases. In the summer of 2014 Julika became Company leader of CREWcial and continued to travel and train. While living in VA she also became a hip hop instructor for different studios and recreational centers. Recently she has moved to Maryland and has become a member of Capitol Movement Dance Company. Currently she teaches at New Hop Academy in Hyattesville, Maryland and is the Hip Hop teacher for the charter school DC Prep after school program.

Starr Deemer-White

CMI Faculty

Starr Dee was born in San Diego but grew up in the Washington, DC area. She is proficient in numerous styles of dance, both street and classical, and continues to train in both. Most of Starr’s training came from her home studios Agency 9 Performing Arts and Capitol Movement.

CMI Faculty

Dawn began her dance and gymnastics training at the age of 2 with one of the largest dance and gymnastics studios on the east coast. At age 5 she was part of the studio's top performing/competitive dance company and competitive gymnastics team till age 18. Dawn has pursued training in several forms of dance including, Jazz, Cecchetti Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Tap, learning from some of the industry’s best. Studying the more artistic side of dance in her later years she continued her training as an artist and performer with Capitol Movement Dance Company, Dawn’s passion as a dancer/ performer has led her to pursue her career as a dance educator and choreographer.

Dawn has been teaching for the last 12 years around the DC Metro area, and for the past 5 years she has been the Company Director for the competitive team at her home studio in Sandy Spring MD. Dawn has been fortunate enough to choreograph serval pieces for competitive teams in the area and is a resident choreographer for the Greater Washington Maccabi Dance Troupe. Dawn’s students and her work have won numerous top scoring awards, titles, best choreography awards, highest scoring dance, and technique awards at the regional and national level.

Dawn's top priority as a dance educator is to stress the importance of technique and proper body placement. She inspires the artist inside each student while she challenges them to make every movement count weather in the studio or on the stage.

George Marcos

CMI Faculty

George Marcos began dancing at a very young age. Growing up he studied all types of dance at various studios and companies in the DMV area. George has traveled extensively on the east coast teaching his own pieces at various studios, as well as assisting major choreographers. He is now signed in NY with Clear Talent Group and will soon be based in LA as a dancer/ choreographer. George has been a member of Capitol Movement Pre-Pro, Future Shock DC, CMI Kidz, and the Two-AM Project.

Chris Munar

CMI Faculty

Chris Munar started dancing in 2008 with a DMV-based crew called Ajnin Precizion. Since then he has danced with the collegiate competitive team from UMBC, Major Definition, the crew Tito BoyScouts, known for their comedy and urban stylized sets, KCX artists, a division within KODACHROME network, and Culture Shock DC.

In the year 2012, he signed with the Cruz Productions management company and also became sponsored by Fresh From Birth clothing line. In 2013 Chris became the assistant director of Mini Shock DC dance Troupe, a co-founder of an all-male dance crew from the DMV called UpperClassMen, and a member of the More Than Dance street team. He has worked for many studios in the DMV area including C-Unit Studio, Mid-Maryland Performing Arts Center, and American Dance Institute.

He currently works with Dance Dimensions, Studio 180, and Strictly Rhythm. His journeys has taken him to teach and perform at places such as DC, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, Texas, Utah, California, and Canada. Throughout these many events, Chris has also been privileged to judge prestigious dance competitions such as Prelude Carolinas, Prelude DMV, and Prelude Championships held in Philadelphia.

Chris hopes to share what he has learned from many great dancers, mentors, and friends.

Monica Polk

CMI Faculty

Monica Polk began her dance training at the age of 10 when she joined the youth company Future Shock here I'm Washington, DC. At age 15, she began teaching and choreographing for studios such as JAMZ and B.funk, and just a year later she started the company Piernas Locas Project. The company went on to perform all over the east coast at major showcases and competitions such as World Of Dance, ECDC, and Prelude. Today, Monica continues to teach and choreograph for numerous companies including Capitol Movement, while traveling the country continuing her own dance training.

Emma Presing

CMI Faculty

Growing up, Emma Presing travelled the country assisting at such conventions as Hollywood Vibe, DanceMakers, and Intrigue Dance Intensive. At Intrigue, she was given the opportunity to choreograph numerous opening numbers for the welcome shows as well as the finale piece at last year’s nationals gala. She has taught workshops and choreographed for such organizations as Joy of Motion Dance Center, Capitol Movement, The Movement Studios, and Gainesville Dance Center. Her choreography is a fusion of contemporary and hip hop that is rooted deeply in musicality and groove. Emma just finished her first year of college in LA, where she continued her training and worked with Matt Cady, Andrew Winghart, and others.

Ayanna Quandary

Alec B. Clawson in his own words is a “creative movement artist”. As a multi-dimensional performer, choreographer and director, his journey has currently lead him to the stage of Cirque du Soliel’s Michael Jackson One in Las Vegas, Nevada. His passion for his craft and work ethic have put him front and center tackling multiple featured roles in the show. Over the course of his professional career which began at the age of 8, he has gained great respect from his fellow artists, has been honored with industry recognition for his choreography. Alec has performed professionally on stage, for film and television as a solo artist as well as along the side of many celebrities. His inspired vision for his craft has brought him many successful jobs and experiences, but at the forefront of all of his success is his ability to inspire others and will tell you that this is his goal above all others. For Alec, “impossible” is not in his vocabulary because everything he puts his mind to comes to fruition. His ability to create is top notch because he digs deep within himself to tell life’s stories through movement. Alec B. Clawson is truly blessed with a unique talent and loves his art form with a passion.

Laura Edwards

Choreographer

Laura Edwards has done it all. From the movie Step Up to America's Best Dance Crew, and most recently, Britney Spears' Circus Tour, Edwards isn't stopping anytime soon. Laura began dancing at the age of 2 in Waldorf, MD and continued dancing competitively in the Washington Metropolitan area until she graduated from high school. She also choreographed and taught at her studio since the age of 14. One year after finishing high school, she got her first professional dance job for a Lil' Mo music video. She has continued to be successful in the dance industry as she has appeared in the movies Step Up, Hairspray, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and Step Up 2: The Streets. Pushing her even further into the spotlight, Laura danced with the all-female group, Fysh n Chicks, during the first season of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew. She teaches classes all over the world and looks forward to her next big adventure.

Brittany Fegans

Choreographer

Karla Garcia

Choreographer

Born in Oxon Hill, MD, Karla Garcia was part of the top seven female dancers in season five of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance. From learning traditional Philippine folk dances, she went on to dance for the National Tour of Wicked, the Broadway run of Hot Feet, and the 2009 VH1 Divas Live show behind Jordin Sparks. She is also a member of the Boogie Bots Crew (from MTV's America's Best Dance Crew, Season 2). She has a BFA in dance and a minor in Journalism from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She is former captain of International Filipino Association hip hop team at NYU (which branched off to become "Epic Motion"). Other credits include performing in Carnival Choreographer's Ball NY and LA, and a series of Lucille Roberts Fitness commercials. Now residing in Brooklyn, NY, Karla is represented by Clear Talent Group.

Lauren Garrett

Choreographer

Nicole Kirkland is one of the youngest choreographers in the industry. Her choreography talent is apparent in both community and industry dance. She choreographs for hip hop companies GRV, Gravy Babies and immaBEAST. On the industry side, Nicole has choreographed for Prince, Ceelo Green, K. Michelle, Liv Warfield, 3rdEyeGirl, NPG, Blaq Tuxedo, Paloma Ford, Kehlani, Nevaeh, Tayla Parx, and Polish Pop star Patricia Kazadi. Nicole also teaches and travels with NRG Dance Project.

Leeco

Choreographer

Leeco was born in Georgia (ex-Russia), raised in Cyprus. He fell in love with dance at the age of 3. Leeco started as a Bboy followed with Greek traditional dances. At the age of 14 he began experimenting with different style of Street dance (popping, locking, hip hop newstyle, etc.)

He is the winner of the Greek SYTYCD. After winning SYTYCD Leeco moved to London, UK for 2 years to study at Labanmore dance styles like ballet, jazz, and contemporary, and explored movement in general.

He worked with various number 1 recording artists in Greece as a dancer and choreographer and in 2010 Leeco decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue his dance career. After 1 1/2 months he booked the Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil and is currently on tour with this production.

Neil "Dradle" Schwartz

Choreographer

Neil "Dradle" Schwartz, a native New Yorker, has been dancing since the age of ten. He has been part of such companies as Dynamic, Culture Shock DC (Scholarship), and Capital Movement Dance Company. After an almost fatal blood clot, Neil fully recovered and decided to return to NYC to pursue his career. Since then, Neil has choreographed for major recording artists Push Play, Taylor Bright, and Claudia. He has also had the privilege of working with Luam on Monica Rush and new artist ..ME. He has also had the honor of working with Rhapsody James, Eric Jenkins, and Nick Morin and is now a proud member of the House of De La Blanca.

Neil's work was nominated and showcased at the Young Choreographers festival 2010. His choreography can also been seen at World Of Dance LA, Carnival Choreographers Ball NYC, Scene Interactive, Sybarite, NYU Fashion Show (Kaleidoscope), and Rhapsody James presents Sirens After Dark. He has also had the privilege of teaching workshops in Hawaii.

Neil encourages dancers to always remember to "live your dreams, follow your heart, and above all be true to yourself."

Garen Scribner

Choreographer

Garen is a performing artist based in Brooklyn, NY. A former soloist with the San Francisco Ballet and artist of Nederland Dans Theater I. He went on to star on Broadway and in the National Tour of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS as Jerry. He's worked closely with William Forsythe, Christopher Wheeldon, Jiri Kylian, Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon, Jorma Elo, Mark Morris, among others. Garen loves encouraging students to find their inner voice and express themselves honestly, coupled with meticulous technique.

DuJuan "DJ" Smart

Choreographer

DuJuan (DJ) Smart, Jr. recently returned home from an extensive international tour with Bad Boys of Dance. He is a Detroit native who began his formal dance training at the age of 12. He trained extensively at Fem Fatale Dance Studio in Oak Park, MI. As he excelled rapidly in multiple styles, he continued his studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA where he graduated in 2011 with a B.F.A. in Ballet Performance. As a graduate with honors, Mr. Smart was awarded both the prestigious "Stella Moore Prize" and "Outstanding in All Styles Award." He has worked with choreographers such as Roni Koresh, Louis Johnson, Ismael Ivo, Francesca Harper, Tokyo, Donyelle Jones, Christopher Huggins, Ron de Jesus, Donald Byrd and Arthur Mitchell.

He has toured internationally in places such as Germany, Chile, Canada, Rwanda, South Africa, Italy, Brazil and France. He has received remarkable reviews for his performances and choreography in magazines and newspapers such as Dance Spirit, Philadelphia Inquirer, LA Times, Houston Chronicle, Off Off Off Dance and Baltimore Sun. Some of his performance history includes Momix Dance Company, Camille A. Brown and Dancers, Junk Dance Company, Oklahoma!, Carbon Dance Theatre, Koresh Dance Company, Eleone Dance Theater and he is featured in the Step Up Revolution Fitness DVD. Most notably, he was a special guest artist on the hit TV series So You Think You Can Dance and a guest judge on Lifetime’s Dance Moms. He continues to study, perform, choreograph and teach around the world.

Latonya Swann

Choreographer

Currently on tour with Gwen Stefani, LaTonya Swann began her dance career as a member of the Jr Washington Redskins All Star Dance Team, and with Capitol Movement, training in hip hop, jazz, ballet, and contemporary. In 2011, she won BET’s TV Show, Born to Dance, and from there worked as a dancer and/or actress with Lady Gaga, Dawn Richard, Cassie, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, Lil Mama, Aloe Blacc, Beyoncé, Cher Lloyd, Avenged Sevenfold, Memphis May Fire, Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Tinie Tempah, Jonas Åkerlund, Gil Green, Colin Tilley, Rich Lee, Joe Dante, Matt Alonzo, Jon Jon Augustavo, Melina Matsoukas, and So Me. LaTonya has also worked as a choreographer on television, tours, music videos, and stage plays including 106 and Park, WDCW and Royal The Stage Playwritten and directed by Chris Clanton.

Courtney Thurston

Choreographer

Courtney Thurston grew up in Clifton, VA training since she was 4 years old from schools such as The Rock School for Dance Education, The Joffrey Ballet, ABT, and the Washington Ballet. Courtney was featured on the hit TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” season 10 and was the cover model for Wolff Fording costume catalog. You can also find her starring in Frankie Z’s video cover of Adele’s “Hello”; produced by Johnny Wright, and as a main dancer in commercials for Canon Camera, McDonalds and Degree. She is currently a student at Pace University located in New York City, receiving her BFA in commercial dance. When she is not in school, she shares her passion for dance by traveling the country choreographing and teaching. Her motto is to live, dream, and inspire.

Dejan Tubic

Choreographer

Dejan Tubic is leaving his mark on the dance industry, regularly teaching master classes to professional dancers all over the world. Dejan emerged as a sought after choreographer when he choreographed for America's Got Talent under the direction of Brian Friedman. He is currently choreographing for the hit vocal group Pentatonix. Dejan has also appeared in various television shows from X-Factor, to Glee, to MTV's The Electric Barbarellas. With over 100 million views online, and over a quarter of a million followers, Dejan has people like Ellen Degeneres, The New York Times, Fox News, and even Perez Hilton blogging about his "fierce" choreography! With an incredible presence online, Dejan has changed the way dance is looked at when it comes to social media.

TOKYO

Choreographer

TOKYO had a very unique induction into dance as he was not introduced to dance until he was a Senior in high school. Tokyo grew up in the martial arts and began training at age 5. By the age of 15 he attained several black belts in various arts in addition to training in wrestling, Muay Thai, boxing, and MMA (Cage Fighting). At age 17, after a promising undefeated amateur record, just a few months shy of making a professional career in MMA (mixed martial arts/cage fighting), TOKYO discovered dance and his life changed drastically.

Since leaving the “fight” world and entering the dance world, TOKYO has been fortunate to do master classes and choreography in the US, Canada, Australia, Central America, France, Poland, Ukraine, and UK for many studios, companies, colleges, casinos, and Cirque Du Soleil. TOKYO is returning from France where he choreographed the largest musical production in France’s history, Adam et Eve. In addition, during his time in France, TOKYO choreographed and directed several music videos and TV shows.

Most recently TOKYO choreographed several pieces for SYTYCD-Ukraine as well as for Paula Abdul in Russia. Due to TOKYO's background in martial arts his approach to dance movement, philosophy, and teaching is very unique and has been received and loved by many. TOKYO is currently on faculty at the world-renowned professional dance studio Millennium Dance Complex as well as guest faculty with EDGE, Broadway Dance Center, and Perridance. He is extremely excited to give back to those that have given so much to him, through the art of dance!

Gigi Torres

Choreographer

Gigi Torres is originally from Irvine, CA and has been training in all areas of dance from the age of 3. She has been a working performer and creator in the dance industry for over a decade. Gigi is a worldwide instructor, sharing her knowledge and love for dance from the East Coast to the West Coast and overseas in Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Australia.

Cartier Williams Hoofer, Choreographer, Filmmaker and Performer who hails from Washington, DC, began his tap dancing career at the age of four. Cartier learned his first tap steps from his grandmother Audrey Williams. At the age of six Cartier performed a piece choreographed by Mýa Cartier won Apollo Kids at The prestigious Apollo Theater Distinguished as one of The Apollo Theater's youngest "Apollo Legends". Later that year Cartier was invited to the Kennedy Center Honors along side Robert Downey Jr.

Mr. Williams studied at The Washington School of Ballet under the tutelage of Mary Day. When he was 10 years old, Cartier Co-Starred with Tap Legends Buster Brown, Jimmy Slyde, and Dianne Walker in the International tour of Footnotes.

Cartier considers it a blessing to have danced and shared the stage with tap pioneers and masters Peg Leg Bates, The Nicholas Brothers, and Gregory Hines. He has performed for 2 US Presidents, and in 1998 Co-Starred in the PBS Special: In Performance at The White House with President Clinton.

He toured the US and Japan in the Tony Award Winning Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk, Co-starring with Savion Glover. He has performed at The Joyce Theatre, New York City Center as well as the L.A Kodak Theatre where he performed The AFI Awards: A Tribute to Tom Hanks.

Other appearances include a performance at Usher's birthday bash in New York City performances for the FCC, The CIA, The State Department and Department of Justice. Now 21, Cartier is currently performing his latest production A Beautiful Chaos, which is slated to tour in 2011 created by Cartier and one New York Film Academy friend Matt Denoma. He is collaborating with Harold Cromer on a new work that will premiere in Spring 2011.

He is a student of The New York Film Academy. As a Filmmaker Cartier has written, directed and produced: Phone Bait, The Violinist, and My Love Awaits. He's appeared in Spike Lee's Film Bamboozled. Cartier also performed at The Opening of the Cannes Film Festival for Moulin Rouge. Cartier Williams performed with Super-DJ Chew FU at The Palms Hotel/Resort in Las Vegas.

His first Instructional DVD: Cartier Williams’ Hoofing with the Basics Vol. 1 is available at all Capezio Retail Stores. Cartier choreographed and directed Cartier Williams Rhythm Refix in May 2011 at Joe's Pub.