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Taylor Hawkins

CMI Kidz Director

Taylor Hawkins is an Engineering Project Manager from Washington, DC, and a proud alumna of Spelman College & North Carolina A&T State University. Through her experience performing locally & exploration of dance at a collegiate level, Taylor has had the honor of participating in many, diverse performing events and sharing her passion for the arts with the greater metropolitan community. Upon discovering her love of dance here in her hometown of DC, she joined the NBA Washington Wizards Junior Wizards Dance Team, where her spirit for dance was mentored and nurtured by Stephanie Jojokian and Vihky Smith. Taylor was then afforded the pleasure of joining the NFL Washington Redskins Junior All-Star Dance Team as a member of the founding squad, the nationally ranked UDA National Dance Championship team in both hip-hop & jaza, and the 2005 Battle at the Capitol-All Star Cheer and Dance National Championship team.

At Spelman College, Taylor remained committed to her love for the arts and cultural expression as a member of the Morehouse College House of Funk Marching band by joining the Mahogany-N-Motion Dance Team and competing each year at Honda’s National Battle of the Bands. She continued to study and perform throughout Atlanta’s rich arts community as a dancer in featured Speakeasy performances at The Woodruff Arts Center, directed by Stephen Greene & Jasmine Guy. Additionally, Taylor has performed in many dance performances in the Atlanta University Center including: Spelman College Dance Theatre under the tutelage of T Lang, Kathleen Wessel & Cici Kelley, Morehouse College’s Annual A Night In Harlem Event, Welcome to ‘the House’, and other various events.

Taylor was welcomed into the Capitol Movement family in 2006 and continued to perform with the Pre-Professional & Adult companies prior to college. During her tenure with CMI, she has had the extraordinary opportunity to train and perform with a host of revered creatives in the dance space, as well as take part in countless charitable performances throughout the DMV. She continues to give back to her community as a Capitol Movement Adult Company Member and Kidz Company Director, as well as advocate for legislative community justice issues as a Co-Founder of The Just Us Initiative.

Vihky Smith

Assistant CMI Kidz Director

Vihky was born and raised in Washington, D.C. She studied with the D.C. Youth Ensemble, Norfolk State University, University of the District of Columbia, Alvin Ailey American Dance Academy and Capitol Movement. For 17 years Vihky worked for the Washington Football Team (formerly the Washington Redskins) as the assistant coach/coach of the nationally ranked Junior Redskins All-Stars dance team, co-Director of the Redskins Dance Camps, a former Captain of the Washington Redskins Cheerleader Ambassadors, a coach for the Junior Redskins Cheerleaders (Angels), Ambassador Coordinator, RTeam Coordinator and Tour Manager for Military Appreciation entertainment tours. Vihky has enjoyed dance since her youth and has been a dancer for Capitol Movement, Inc., Urban Moves and X-Faction.

She was a Washington Bullets/Wizards Cheerleader for more than 10 years. She has taken her dancing on tour to countries such as Egypt, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Macedonia, Bosnia, Germany, Jordan, Puerto Rico and many others. Vihky has performed in the stage productions of The Wiz, For Colored Girls and How Long Betheren.

Lucetta Furr-Snider

CMI Adult Company Directors

Lucetta Furr-Snider is an American Ballet Theatre Certified Instructor. She is the Company Director and 10-year member of the Capitol Movement Dance Company in D.C., performing and instructing dance in the DMV area, and spent several weeks performing and teaching for the military overseas in several different cities. Lucetta owns and directs both the Woodbridge Academy of Dance and Woodbridge Dance Company since 2003. She is a member of the Prince William Arts and Virginia Commission for the Arts Councils, and in 2017 was the recipient of Potomac Local’s Forty Under Forty for her leadership in the Arts. Lucetta has studied and/or worked with many dance artists such as Joe Tremaine, Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Joe Webb, and the dancers of Tap Dog. She sang in the Stand for Children event hosted by Rosie O’Donnell in Washington, D.C. Lucetta attended The Juilliard School of Performing Arts, The Joffrey Ballet School in New York, and was a principal dancer of the Center Dance Company, VA. Lucetta’s talent has won her several choreography awards at local competitions. She also choreographs optional level floor routines for area gymnasts.

Brandi McAleese

CMI Faculty

Brandi started dancing when she was 3 years old. Throughout her teenage years, she trained at several local studios. After graduating from high school, she moved to Virginia Beach to continue her studies in dance at Denise Wall’s Dance Energy. She studied and trained with many professional teachers and choreographers such as, Denise Wall, Travis Wall, Michelle Smith, Danny Tidwell, Ivan Koumaev, Jaimie Goodwin, Tara Foy, Jason Parsons, Tony Testa, Lauren Adams and many others. She traveled to New York City to dance at The Hudson Theater for the ACE Awards performing in Travis Wall's piece, "It's Gonna Be A Long Walk". She also had the opportunity to perform at The Joyce Theater in New York City to help raise money and awareness for Dancers Responding to Aids.

Brandi is professionally trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, tap and musical theater and has received training in ballroom dancing, tumbling, acting and singing.  In 2010, Brandi made it through to “Vegas Week” on Season 7 of Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance, finishing in the top 96 dancers out of thousands who auditioned for the show.

Brandi currently teaches advanced levels of contemporary, lyrical, jazz and ballet and choreographs for several competitive studios in the Northern Virginia area. Brandi has also taken a lot of time to study the anatomy and physiology of the human body and loves to incorporate that knowledge into her teaching. She encourages her students to find an equal balance between strength and artistry. Brandi loves to teach and inspire dancers and hopes to share all that she has learned!

Rebecca Weiss

Choreographer

Rebecca Weiss is a dancer, choreographer and educator in the Washington area. Rebecca received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. She’s also studied and trained traveled at Consorzio Universitario Mediterraneo Orientale in Noto, Sicily. Rebecca has interned with Dance Place and is currently a company member, board member, and teaching artist for Jane Franklin Dance. She has worked with ClancyWorks Dance Company, performing at the American Dance Institute and Through the Fourth Wall Productions in "A Dream Within A Dream: Madness” and "Legally Blonde" at the Little Theatre of Alexandria. Additionally, she has performed throughout the District at VelocityDC Dance Festival, Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival, and Capital Fringe Festival. Save

MEDIA ADVISORY:

DC, Maryland, and Virginia Artists Unite for a commUNITY Showcase

 

Contact: Hilary Tone, Communications Coordinator Info@capitolmovement.org

(Washington, DC) MARCH 11, 2018 – Capitol Movement Inc. (CMI) is pleased to announce that more than seven local artists will unite for an arts CommUNITY Showcase on Saturday, March 17 at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD. The featured artists represent various styles of dance and musical arts from Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC.

Capitol Movement is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization seeking to build better lives through dance. In addition to boasting a Professional Dance Company, a Pre-Professional Company, and Kidz Program, CMI raises scholarship money for DC-area youth and provides free dance classes and performances to public school children. The Professional Dance Company recently returned from a 10-day military appreciation tour with Armed Forces Entertainment, performing for US troops stationed in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Djibouti. This marked their seventh tour overseas.

Capitol Movement is honored to share the stage with so many local talents, including:

• Bowen McCauley Dance Company
• Dr. Badlove and the Remedies
• Future Shock DC
• Gracie’s Guys and Gals
• Motion X Dance
• NishoSoul

“DC has a thriving arts community, including some incredible music and dance artists,” said Stephanie Jojokian, Director and Co-Founder of CMI. “We host this community showcase not only to share our love of dance with the DMV area, but to boost other local artists who have extraordinary talent.”

This marks CMI’s second CommUNITY Showcase after hosting the inaugural performance in June 2016 at Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, DC. Tickets can be purchased here on the Capitol Movement website.

WHEN: Saturday, March 17, 2018, 7:00-8:30 PM

WHO: Capitol Movement and Special Guests

WHERE: Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center 7995 Georgia Ave Silver Spring, MD 20910

Press interested in more information, including interviews, photos, or videos, are encouraged to email the Capitol Movement Communications Coordinator at info@capitolmovement.org.

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Capitol Movement’s (CMI) Mission is to build better lives through dance. CMI provides programs and opportunities for all dancers, regardless of socioeconomic barriers, through studio classes, workshops, outreach, scholarships, and a variety of community engagements. Follow Capitol Movement on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Follow Mackenize Testa on all social media @mackenzietesta.

Ayanna Quandary

CMI Faculty

Ayanna Quander was born in Washington, DC and studied ballet performance at The University of the Arts. As a teenager she studied at The Dance Institute of Washington run by Fabien Barns, former dancer of The Dance Theater of Harlem. Ayanna has studied at institutes such as The Alvin Ailey School and The Rock School for Dance Education and she has worked with choreographers including Ronen Koresh, Tommy Waheed, and Douglas Becker, to name a few.

She continues to follow her dream while educating the younger generations by teaching dance at facilities such as; Making Moves Dance Collective, The Dance Institute of Washington, The Little Gym of Alexandria, The University of the Arts, and Capitol Movement Studio.

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.

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.

Danielle “Danny” Harris

CMI Faculty

A member of the Capitol Movement Pre-Professional Company for two years, Danielle Harris made her choreographer debut in the Pre-Professional 2012 dance concert: Movement of the People. She has been dancing since 2007 at Agency 9 under the instructors CJ Hitchcock and Kelly Owens and began teaching and choreographing when other dancers aspired to move like Danielle.  Her unique style, detailed musicality, and upbeat personality make her movement memorable!

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.

She has worked with some renowned choreographers such as Andre Fuentes, Anthony Thomas, WilldaBeast, Joshua Allen, Luam, Laura Edwards, and Alec Clawson. Starr has also danced with The Washington Redskins All-Star Dance Team, The Washington Wizards “WizKids,” The Mystics Mayhem Dancers, and Future Shock DC. After completing two full years at the Joffrey Ballet School: Jazz & Contemporary Program, she trained as a member of DIPR...The Company under the direction of Dionna PridGeon.

Starr currently resides in NYC and is continuing her career as a member of Dynamic Rockers, Breakdancing Crew and iLuminate Dance. Starr is also represented by MSA Agency NYC.

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.

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.

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.

Sabina 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”, as well as choreographed and performed for his opening performance for Azealia Banks’ 2017 tour show. 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. Save

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.

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!

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.

Cartier Williams

Choreographer

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.

Zachary Venegas

Choreographer

Zachary Venegas is a young and innovative dancer/choreographer paving his way to leave a legendary mark in the dance industry. Originally from Carlsbad, Zachary has danced for renowned artist Justin Bieber, performing with him at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards and dancing in his music video “Beauty and a Beat” featuring Nicki Minaj. He also danced for pop princess Rihanna on the hit TV show “The X- Factor.” Not only has he worked alongside artists, but also on hit TV shows such as Nickelodeon's “Victorious” and Fox’s “The X-Factor,” Seasons 1 & 2. Zachary was also a character in the “Just Dance: Disney Party” video game.

Working alongside Dejan Tubic, Zachary has choreographed for MGM Grand's Hakkasan Nightclub & Restaurant for some of the world’s best DJ's, including Calvin Harris, Tiesto, Laidback Luke, and many more. Zachary is now teaching with DanceMakers Inc., traveling the country and teaching students to give out the love in the dance industry! He is continuing to balance his dance career while also adding his youthful and dynamic twist to this generation through his choreography!

Tony Tzar

Choreographer

From Washington D.C. comes Tony Tzar, who grew up in a military family, as both his mother and father worked in the Air Force. His mother used to be a b-girl street dancer and later influenced him to dance. He soon aspired to become a performer, and moved to Los Angeles with only $600 and a garbage bag of clothes. Upon arriving, he had no place to stay and was homeless for a month.

After watching the Hip-Hop group, Culture Shock, perform, he was inspired to pursue dancing. After moving to Washington, D.C., he joined their group at the age of 16. As a dancer, he toured with Ginuwine and as a singer, he did backup for Yolanda Adams and P. Diddy. He likes all kinds of music and is currently working as a hip hop and house instructor at Debbie Reynolds, International Dance Academy and EDGE Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. He has worked with Britney Spears, Jason Derulo, Jessi Malay and Iyaz as an assistant choreographer. Also He has traveled and taught around the world such as Poland, Italy, United Kingdom, South Africa, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Guam, and Russia.

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.

Gigi’s choreography credits are So You Think You Can Dance (Scandinavia, Ukraine, and Poland), KPop Girl’s Generation Japan Tour (Assistant Choreographer), Indonesian Artist Indah Dewi Pertiwi (Co-Choreographer), Indonesia’s #1 Boy Band, SMASH, Indonesia’s #1 Girl Band, 7 Icons, Bobby Brackins, Athena Ripka, Zoe Myers, and German Artist, Clara. Gigi has created shows and work for NuSkin & Vanity Fair. She has choreographed for well-respected groups including Kaba Modern, Funkanometry, Breed Dance Company, Culture Shock, and she Directed & Founded the All-Female Dance Company “Essence.”

Gigi is the Creator & Founder of Establish Your Empire, a dance program for dancers that will take their artistry to their higher level. She has worked with and mentored over 300 dancers in this program in New York, New Jersey, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, and Los Angeles. She is also a mentor and leader for Creating Opportunities, founded by Chonique Sneed & Lisette Bustamante. Gigi currently teaches weekly classes at Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio and Movement Lifestyle Studio as well as teaches on Hollywood Connection Dance Convention.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

Tim Roberts

Choreographer

Tim Roberts has been teaching in the DC metro area for over 15 years. His experience stems from both dance and theater, with performance credits include national tours with 42nd Street, Cats,and Jelly's Last Jam. He also worked for Disney and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Currently Tim teaches and choreographs for high school and college dance teams and has set multiple pieces on the Capitol Movement Dance Company annually for the Capitol Movement Project, with the 2011 show having been held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Tony Powell

Choreographer

Dubbed "a 21st Century Renaissance Man" by the Washington Post, Powell is a choreographer, composer, painter, sculptor, photographer, filmmaker, graphic designer, and writer. He is a 1995 graduate of the Juilliard School and directed his own company, "Tony Powell/Music & Movement," for ten years. This native Washingtonian has won numerous awards from the Maryland State Arts Council for his choreography, and his fourth string Quartet received the first ever Metro DC Dance Awards for Original Music.

He has written three orchestral scores for the internationally-renowned Parsons Dance Company, and he has created over 100 dances for his own company, as well as the Washington School of Ballet, the Academy of the Maryland Youth Ballet, Towson University, Harrisburg Dance Conservatory, Manassas School of Dance, Joy of Motion, Feet First, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, the Capitol Movement Dance Company, and the Jones Haywood School of Ballet.

Adam Parson

Choreographer

Adam was born in Nairobi, Kenya. He discovered dance at age 26, when his sister asked him to take her friend to a dance class. Before this he was a systems analyst and bookeeper in Georgetown. After watching people at that studio jump, kick, turn, run, and hit the rhythms, he was hooked. Now, Adam is a respected teacher and choreographer, having traveled the world setting pieces and teaching classes. He is also the Artistic Director for the Commonality Dance Company (C. DANCE Co.) and a resident instructor for the Edge Performing Arts, both based in Los Angeles, CA.

 

Adam has appeared in numerous productions and marketing campaigns including Pepsi National commercials, Shell Oil National print, the hit TV show 3rd Rock From the Sun, Fame LA, and the Power Rangers. He was also a dancer for Prince and Monica's music videos. His choreography has taken stage world wide, with works performed in Germany, Italy, Korea, Mexico, and Switzerland, and in 2009, Adam set a duet for Australia's So You Think You Can Dance in Sydney. Adam loves the art and finds it important to make connections all over through dance, as he believes we can all learn to communicate through it.

Joseph Nontanovan

Choreographer

Born and raised in the Washington, DC metro area, Joseph Nontanovan is a universal artist, currently specializing as a dancer, instructor, choreographer, and artistic director. He has performed across the United States and overseas, opened for Omarion and Marques Houston, and was casted as a featured dancer in the Touchstone Pictures film Step Up.  He presented work at the historic Lincoln Theater and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and has had the pleasure of working with choreographers such as Meisha Bosma, Lyle Beniga, Tony Czar, and Luam.  Before relocating to Los Angeles, Joseph performed in Cirque Du Soleil's special event, Mosaic.

Joseph is the former artistic director of Culture Shock, Los Angeles (CSLA) and Culture Shock, Washington, DC (CSDC). While in Washington, DC, he played a vital role in producing the largest hip hop community event in the nation's capital, the "East Coast Dance Competition", for five consecutive years. Under his direction, CSDC also won the DC Metro Dance Award for Best Emerging Performer or Group. He has taught Master Classes in Switzerland and Croatia, and directed dancers at international festivals and showcases in Canada, Switzerland, and China.  In 2010, Joseph spent three months teaching workshops across India for the renowned Shiamak Davar's Institute of Performing Arts. Joseph is well versed in many forms of hip hop street dance (training at Jacob's Pillow Dance with Rennie Harris and Mr. Wiggles), street jazz, and modern.  He strongly believes in global communication on a personal level and strives to share his unique physical language while helping dancers find and articulate their own voice.

Brice Mousset

Choreographer

A versatile talent with an eclectic career, born in France, Brice Mousset has danced in prestigious musicals, operas, concerts, TV shows, fashion shows, and with companies throughout the world. Brice Mousset is the creator, artistic director and choreographer of "Brice Mousset Company." On stage his choreography received much acclaim for his innovative work for the Opera AIDA from Verdi, at the antique French arena of Orange with more than 150 artists on stage. Brice has also choreographed for the Alvin Ailey BFA program, the Joffrey Ballet summer program, the Manhattan Youth Ballet, Romeo and Juliet the cirque contemporary project, and high fashion events for the designers Marithé & François Girbaud.

Flying between America and Europe, from company to commercial work; you can see Brice's choreography and work on screen in the European MTV Music Awards, British Music Awards (Leona Lewis), the French NRJ Music Awards, the glamorous Victoria Secret Fashion Show, the French award winning TV series Le Reveillon Des Bonnes, the French TV reality show La Musicale, the Polish So You Think You Can Dance, the American NBC LXTV, the enticing cabaret show at the "Casino de Deauville" (France), and the musical Attention Mesdames et Messieurs (Paris). Most recently, Brice and his work where featured in "Prestige International Magazine" with an exclusive interview. He also choreographed for ELLE Magazine UK 25th anniversary editorial photo and video shoot with top model Coco Rocha.

Aurelia Michael

Choreographer

Aurelia was born and raised in the northern section of the Bronx, New York – the birthplace of hip hop. At the age five she began to take ballet and tap lessons at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, but by the age of 14 she realized that hip hop dance was her calling.

A recent graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Aurelia double-majored in Modern Dance and Business, and is the founder of the University's Dynamic Dance Team, a nationally recognized hip hop dance troupe on campus. She was a four-year member of Culture Shock Dance Troupe DC, performing throughout the metro area as well as San Diego, Idaho, and Canada.

Aurelia has trained at several studios including Broadway Dance Center, City Dance Center, Dance Place, DC Dance Collective, Joy of Motion, Millennium Dance Complex, The Edge, and Debbie Reynolds. She is currently working on a second project with members of the world-renowned company Cirque du Soleil, and works as a certified NCSF Personal Trainer.

Jamile McGee

Choreographer

Jamile McGee started dancing at the age of 4. He was diagnosed at the age of 9 with Systemic Juvenille Rhumatory Arthritis and was told he would not be able to walk for the remainder of his life. He was miraculously healed and able not only to walk, but also to make his home on the stage. His gift to the world started with his first professional performance at the age of 14.

Jamile was a dance major at Wright State University where he excelled in ballet, modern, lyrical, and jazz. Jamile has performed and danced around the US and internationally since his debut on So You Think You Can Dance, where he was the 3rd place finalist. During that time, his ability to dance to any style was tested and proven on the highly rated national Fox TV show.

Jamile choreographed for Will Ferrell's Funny or Die webisode featuring Wayne Brady, Mike Tyson, and Bobby Brown. The video went viral and was one of the most circulated videos on the Internet in 2010. He has worked with artists such as Rihanna, Nelly Furtado, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj, as well as major choreographers Jimmy Locust, Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, Shane Sparks, Lavelle Smith Jr, and Lorianne Gibson. Jamile teaches workshops and master classes to eager students and is pioneering his choreography to lead the new movement of dance.

Manwe

Choreographer

Manwe started his dance career at an early age. Coming from a family of artists, Manwe learned from some of the best teachers in the country. After graduating from the School of the Arts in San Francisco, Manwe returned to New York to continue studying his craft. He attended the Alvin Ailey School where he trained for three years in Horton, Graham, ballet, and jazz. Since performing in his first music video at the age of fifteen, Manwe has worked with artists such as: Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Liza Minelli, Destiny's Child, Debelah Morgan, and Amerie, to name a few.

Luam

Choreographer

Luam began dancing with African Rhythms Dance Company at the University of Pennsylvania and Ballet Shango in Philadelphia before moving to New York. While working at AOL TimeWarner's, Time Inc. in the Advance Technology Group, she continued her training at Broadway Dance Center and Djoniba Dance Center studying jazz, hip hop, ballet, West African, Cuban, modern, and Haitian. Here, Luam also met Rhapsody, director of Rhapsody: The Company of which she was a member for several years. Meanwhile she continued at Time Inc. working on creative technology projects with Fortune, People, Entertainment Weekly, as well as their Intranet & Advanced Communications Group.

Her passion for dance grew to teaching and choreography and she began teaching at Djoniba Dance Center and NY Sports Clubs in 2000. In 2002 she left her career in technology and plans for medicine behind in order to pursue dance full time. She also started FallingRockStar, a successful web and graphic design company with partner Dar Riser. Once free to aggressively follow her dreams in dance/choreography Luam choreographed for TV, commercial campaigns (MTV's Hip Hop Week, Mastercard, As The World Turns, etc), and various recording artists (Kris, Joe Buddens, etc). She has danced for Ludacris, Kelis, Kanye West, Ashanti, etc, and toured with soca artist Kevin Lyttle on his US Promo Tour. She recently worked with Ciara, Mashonda, and Nelly Furtado, as well as choreographed for Fila and Def Jam artist, Rihanna. Luam also teaches master workshops and performs with her crew on stages and screens all over the world.

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.

Nicole Kirkland

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.

Mark Kanemura

Choreographer

Mark Kanemura was born and raised on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. He was a finalist on FOX's hit television show So You Think You Can Dance and continues to return to the show as an "All Star". Since moving out to LA, he has appeared on Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, Ellen, Oprah, Glee, and various awards shows including the Grammy's, Emmy's, and MTV VMA's. He has worked with artists Keri Hilson, Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue, Janet Jackson, and Beyonce. For the last few years Mark has been working with and dancing for Lady Gaga on various Promo Tours, "Monster Ball World Tour" and most recently on the "Born This Way Ball World Tour".

Christina Jackson

Choreographer

Christina “Tina” Jackson, was born and raised in Baltimore, MD and began dancing at the age of 3. At age 13, she realized that dance was bigger than herself and wanted to further her technique and grow as a performer. As a result she applied and was accepted to The Baltimore School for the Arts and graduated in 2007. She then continued her education at the University of Maryland College Park under the creative and performing arts scholarship where she graduated with two degrees in Dance and Public Relations in 2011. Tina is now in NYC where she works with the Professional Semester Intern Program at Broadway Dance Center.

Tina has had the opportunity to perform at venues such as: The Radio One Music Awards, The Capezio ACE Awards, The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's Holiday Spectacular, The Congressional Black Caucus Gala, Alvin Ailey's "Summer Sizzler" show, Disney World's" Stars of Tomorrow," Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center, and was a SYTYCD Vegas finalist twice. In 2010, she was also recognized for her choreography with seven other artists in the DMV area at the Choreographer's Showcase for her contemporary piece [D.O.A] Death of a Princess.

In less than a year upon moving to NYC in 2012, she has signed with BLOC agency as a commercial dancer, performed with Nikki Minaj, Nigerian songstress Zaina, Jeremy McQueen’s Contemporary Ballet company at Jacob’s Pillow, and has recently become a main dancer behind the upcoming artists O.C.A.D Music under the direction of Dana Foglia. She is very grateful for all the opportunities and awards she has received this far and believes “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams".

Jared Jenkins

Choreographer

Jared Jenkins is originally from Philadelphia, PA, but now resides in New York, NY. After Graduating from Georgetown University in 2006 with a degree in Finance, Jared decided to explore dance and take his first dance class. Since then, Jared has had the opportunity to train with the top choreographers in the industry, dancing with Culture Shock DC Dance Troupe, LRMP, Capitol Movement Project, and Georgetown's University's hip hop team, Groove Theory.

His current dance credits include Cirque Du Soleil, Touchstone Picture's Step-up 2: The Streets,VH1's Save the Music, New York City's Fashion Week, and Carnival: The Choreographer's Ball. Jared has had the opportunity to teach all over the United States and has showcased his choreography in venues such as World of Dance and Rhapsody James' Sirens After Dark.

Currently, Jared is a part of Rhapsody James' Motivating Excellence Program, where he is receiving the training and tools to further his commercial dance career. Jared continues to train with strong aspirations to pursue dance professionally. He also appreciates everyone who has helped him get this far. Save

Kim Holmes

Choreographer

Kim D. Holmes, Actress, Liturgical dancer, Master Teacher, Choreographer, Founder and Artistic Director of the Universal Dance Movement, has been in the field of dance for over 20+ years. Influences from Ballet, Jazz, Modern, African, Hip Hop and House make her solos intriguing and keep you wanting more. Kim’s artistry, talent and skill are focused on the expression of movement to inspire people of all ages to love life and commit to living to the fullest.

Kim’s philosophy is “Dance is a world of movement which allows us to express all emotions and gives us a sense of ability to release, heal, and be free spirits.” There is no room for mediocrity, only Excellence!!!!! Save

Lauren Garrett

Choreographer

Lauren has been a faculty member at Intrigue Dance Intensive for 6 seasons. Most recently, she performed in an episode of “Atlanta” on FX produced by Donald Glover. Previously she had the opportunity to work with one of her childhood idols, Matt Cady (America’s Best Dance Crew, Madonna, So You Think You Can Dance Poland) and went on to become his full-time assistant. Lauren traveled and worked with Matt on many different jobs all over the U.S. and Canada, and performed his choreography as a solo at Carnival Choreographer’s Ball and the Fanny Pak Release Party. She currently resides in Atlanta, GA, where she continues to perform professionally and travels to share her passion with dancers all over the nation.

Kyle Hanagami

Choreographer

Kyle’s unique take on choreography and creative staging has earned him a spot as an in demand choreographer, having taught in over 50 countries across North America, South America, Europe, Asia and in Australia as well. Currently, Kyle is on faculty at two of the best studios in Los Angeles, Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio and Edge Performing Arts Center.

With a rapidly growing name in LA, Kyle was recently nominated three times at the Industry Voice Awards in Hollywood, CA and was awarded Best Carnival Of The Year for 2010 as well as Best Class At Debbie Reynolds. Kyle is very excited to be newly represented by MSA Talent Agency.

Chris Hale

Choreographer

Chris Hale began his career as director, choreographer, and teacher at The Hudson Valley Conservatory under the direction of Samuel E.Wright ("Mufasa" original Broadway cast of Disney's The Lion King) and his wife Amanda. He adapted and directed a production of William Shakespeare's A Mid-Summer Night's Dream, and choreographed Retribution, an original contemporary ballet for Images dance company.

Professional credits include KTU's Miracle on 34th Street where he performed with such recording artists as Mary J. Blige, Deborah Cox, Tamia, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Jackson. He appeared as an ensemble dancer in Houston Grande Opera's production of Carmen with director/choreographer Michele Assaf. In 2002 he got the pleasure of performing with international singing sensation Anastasia at the FIFA World Cup Final Draw in Busan, Korea.

Giannini

Choreographer

Gianinni was born and raised in Holland (Europe). He started as a Bboy but soon realized he wanted to learn more styles and he began exploring popping, locking, and house. He went to the School of Performing Arts in Amsterdam and started studying more dance styles like ballet, jazz, contemporary, and musical theatre.

When SYTYCD had auditions in Holland he made it to the live shows and finished 3rd in the TV Show. After that he then moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dance career. There he was blessed to dance for Shakira, went on tour with Rihanna in Australia, and is currently on tour with the 'Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour' by Cirque du Soleil. Gianinni has worked with many choreographers/directors in the industry: Travis Payne, Brian Friedman, Luam, Nappy Tabs, Jamie King, Jamal Simms, Rich & Tone, Mandy Moore, and many more.

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.

André Fuentes

Choreographer

For over a decade, choreographer André Fuentes has been at the forefront of pop music, providing dance moves for some of the industry's biggest stars. André has choreographed and performed for Britney Spears in countless music videos (Womanizer, I'm a Slave 4 U, Born to Make you Happy, Crazy), commercials such as Pepsi, and live performances including Oops! I Did It Again World Tour, HBO Live in Las Vegas "Dream Within a Dream" World Tour. André's work with other artists includes Beyonce, Prince Jewel, No Doubt, and Brandy.

Always looking to expand his versatility as an artist, André honed his acting skills and flexed his comedic muscles with roles in The Birdcage, starring Robin Williams, and The Longest Yard, with Adam Sandler. André's remarkable talent and charismatic personality have developed him a broad international following and he frequently teaches in Australia, Japan, and other countries throughout the world.

Thomas Ford

Choreographer

Thomas, known locally as "the next Savion Glover", began dancing at the age of five and later joined the elite company of Tappers with Attitude for five years. Thomas performed with Debbie Allen's "Dreams" and is a winner of McDonald's Apollo Kids Talent Search, in Baltimore, giving him the opportunity to perform twice at the Apollo Theatre. He danced in tribute to Shirley Temple at the televised Kennedy Center Honors and performed with the Tritonus Choir from Denmark in honor of Duke Ellington's 100 birthday celebration. He has toured with the show Tap Kids, directed and choreographed by Lisa Hopkins.

In 2003, Thomas was the principle tap dancer performing the "Tap Dance Concerto", by Morton Gould, with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2004, Thomas performed at the Tropicana in Atlantic City in a show produced by David Saxe called "Prodigy, Kids with Unbelievable Talent." Thomas joined Dance Explosion in September 2002 where he studied tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet, and hip hop, and taught and choreographed tap. He has competed in regional and national competitions, where he won numerous titles, overall high scores, choreography awards, and tap scholarships. Thomas is currently in New York City continuing his dance training and career.

Brittany Fegans

Choreographer

Brittany Fegans is a proud Chicago native who began in competitive martial arts at the age of 8. She attended the prestigious University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she received a BFA in Jazz Dance Performance. During her time at the University of the Arts, she was selected to perform works from the world renowned Martha Graham company. Brittany then relocated to Los Angeles, CA where she made several television appearances and choreographic works that include MTV specials, The Today Show, The Wendy Williams Show, and So You Think You Can Dance with rapper and artist Flo-Rida. Brittany now uses her skills for live performances as well as assisting major choreographers and artistic directors for artists such as BEYONCE, Flo Rida, Jamie Foxx, and Ciara in award and television shows that include the MTV’S VMA's, Grammy's, The Ellen Degeneres Show, and George Lopez Show. During Brittany's free time she uses her passion for dance to co-choreograph for the NBA Clipper Girls. Brittany is diverse in all styles of teaching and choreography. She travels the country setting award-winning competition pieces for various studios. Which include dozens of Choreography Awards and National 1st overall titles.

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.

Alec Clawson

Choreographer

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.

Jason Cerda

Choreographer

Jason Cerda’s high-energy and gravity-defying choreography have made him one of the most memorable performers to come from the DC metropolitan area. Jason started performing at the age of 5 by participating in school talent shows and vocal contests. In 2007 he made it to Vegas with So You Think You Can Dance, and 2010-2011 found him working with Cirque du Soleil.

Jason has always looked at Michael Jackson as his biggest role model and has been working many years to perfect his craft. Needless to say, Jason is a showman and can capture the attention of any audience. He is often compared to today’s top stars, Usher and Justin Timberlake with a Latin mix of Enrique Iglesias. Jason teaches hip hop throughout the Virginia area and has a huge following for both his dancing and singing career.

Adrain Bolton

Choreographer

Adrain Bolton is an extraordinary artistic master of the arts. He carries the legacy of the top-notch dance institutions in the United States. A graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Adrain received further training from Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Martha Graham School of Dance, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Jones Haywood School of Ballet. He has worked with notable choreographers such as Louis Johnson, Rod Rogers, Kevin Jeff, Mike Malone, Jason Taylor, Keith Lee, LaVern Reed Young, Gene Hill Sagan, etc. His work has been performed in Amsterdam, Holland, Hong Kong, Xian China Mainland, Thailand, Bangkok, Jordan, USSR, Dominican Republic, South Africa, and throughout the United States including Los Angeles, Cleveland, Philadelphia, New York, and Atlanta.

Mr. Bolton is noted for training fine dancers who are now on scholarship with major dance institutions or dancing with major companies. Many of his students have become renowned choreographers or members of companies such as Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Dayton Contemporary, Joeffrey Ballet, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Alvin Ailey, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and the Debbie Allen School of Dance. He is twice recipient of fellowship grants from the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities and received an American Teacher's Honors Award that was held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles and televised worldwide on the Disney Channel.

Will B. Bell

Choreographer

Will B. Bell began his formal training starting with the dance competition circuit at the age of 15 in the Baltimore area. Right after high school, Will attended Towson University as a finalist for the “Maryland Distinguished Scholar for Talent in the Arts” scholarship. Will received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance with a concentration in Education for K-12 from Towson. During his collegiate years Will had opportunities to train prestigious programs at the Ailey School in NYC and the Lines Ballet School in San Francisco, CA.

During his training at Towson University, he studied heavily and worked under Linda Denise Fisher Harrell (former Ailey principal dancer), Troy Powell (Ailey II Artistic Director) and Runqiao Du (Former Washington Ballet principal dancer) just to a name a few.

After college, Will moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career in commercial dance where he has worked with television and movie choreographers such as Kitty McNamee, Denise Faye, Melanie Williams, Sean van der Wilt, and more. He also has had several dance videos go viral and he is working on his next masterpiece!

Chloe Arnold

Choreographer

Chloé Arnold is an International Tap Star. She was seen on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance as the winner of the dance crew battle with her company, Syncopated Ladies www.syncopatedladies.com. Along with viral video hits including a cover of Beyoncé’s “Formation” and Prince’s “When Doves Cry”, Syncopated Ladies recently had sold-out concerts in Dubai, New York City, and Washington, DC with rave reviews in The New York Times and more. As a leading lady in the Art Form of Tap, Chloé has wooed audiences in over 28 countries and 35 states. Her work can be seen on film, television, and stages worldwide. Co-Founder and Co-Director of the DC Tap Festival, Chloé’s career highlights include choreographing on CBS’s The Late Late Show with James Corden, CBS’s The Talk – Rocktober Halloween Spectacular, HBO’s The Comeback, commercials for Special K, Macy’s, and Canon, performing at Madison Square Garden for the opening of the NY Knicks 2013-2014 season, working with Beyoncé, recurring role as an Onyx Girl on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, guest performing on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, and FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance, a sold-out NY run of her One Woman show My Life. My Diary. My Dance. at La MaMa in New York City, Global Fusion Concert in Dubai, Jacob’s Pillow Dance, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids Easter Bonnet at The Minskoff Theatre, numerous musical productions with the legendary Debbie Allen and performing at a star-studded gala hosted by Diddy at the Howard Theatre in Washington, DC. Chloé is also a female entrepreneur that holds an Ivy League degree from Columbia University. She and her sister co-founded Chloé and Maud Productions and DC Tap Festival, and recently co-produced the award-winning documentary TAP WORLD with Hollywood Executive Producer Dean Hargrove.

Joshua Allen

Choreographer

Joshua Allen is the 2008 winner of the Fox hit series So You Think You Can Dance. He began his training with programs such as Debbie Allen's Summer Intensives and performed in shows with the company Pepitos Story. Joshua has done videos and commercials for Honda, McDonalds, and the US Census, and can soon be seen in Nickelodeon's Jump Around, FX's American Horror Story, NBC's Community, and the feature films Step Up 3D and Footloose (the remake). He also has choreographed for Oxygen's Dance Your Ass Off. Joshua danced at the Emmy's, Jacob's Pillow, and Six Flags, as well as the television shows Dance Club 21 and Dance 360, being crowned the winner of both shows! Along with dancing, Joshua also hopes to pursue a career as a recording artist and one day own his own record company.

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.

Dawn Linares

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.

EJ Lee

CMI Faculty

Edwin Morris Lee Jr., better known as EJ began his promising dance career at Thomas Pullen Arts Magnet School and continued his training at Suitland High School as a dance major. Although he wowed sports audiences throughout his high school football years, he equally stunned dance patrons with his gravity-defying leaps and turns combined with his unique talent of acrobatics. He has had the privilege of studying under many well know dance pioneers, teachers and choreographers for years and is looked upon as a male mentor in this female-dominated industry. EJ has worked as a background dancer for many well-known artists and choreographers such as Miguel, Louis johnson of "Forces of Rhythm", Bill T. Jones, Arthur Mitchell, Kolten Perine, Luam, Gary Beauford, and Candice Brown. He continues to make his mark in the dance world as he pushes the boundaries of mastering both classical dance genres and the hip hop dance world. He has traveled with Capitol Movement Dance Company to Italy and Turkey to perform and teach classes and will soon be heading to Japan for another tour. Save

Krista Jennings

CMI Faculty

Krista Jennings has passionately pursued dance for the last twenty years. She received a full tuition scholarship from the Maryland Council of Dance to attend Towson University Children’s Dance Division in Towson, MD. There, she studied Royal Academy of Dance ballet, pointe, modern, tap, jazz, and African. During her time studying in Towson, she had the opportunity to perform with the Kirov Ballet in the Nutcracker. Krista later switched her focus from ballet and modern to contemporary and hip hop at B. Funk Dance Company in Ellicott City, MD. Krista then attended college at Virginia Tech where she performed with and choreographed for the Dance Company of Virginia Tech. Since graduating, Krista has been busy teaching contemporary, jazz, and hip hop at various studios in the DC Metro area. Her choreography has won her many awards such as best choreography, most entertaining routine, and top scores at both regional and national competitions. Krista has also traveled as a judge and master class teacher for the last five years for various regional and national competitions including Elite Dance Challenge, On Point National Dance Competition, and Platinum National Dance Competition.

Devon Ramone Ellis

CMI Faculty

Devon Ramone Ellis began his dance training at The Orange School of Performing Arts in Orange, VA under the direction of Ricardo Porter and Heather Powell at the age of 8. There he studied and competed for 9 years Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary and Hip-Hop with teachers such as Matt Steffanina (The Amazing Race) and Voltaire Wade-Greene (Hamilton). At the age of 17 for one year he trained at Studio Bleu Dance Center in Ashburn, VA studying Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Lyrical with teachers such as Troy D. Brown (Art of Technique) and choreographers such as Ade Obayomi (SYTYCD). In the summer of '08 he trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater summer program. He recently finished a six month contract with Royal Caribbean on their 'Majesty of the Seas' ship, and danced in Keke Palmer's "Panda/Controlla" dance concept video under direction by Rosero McCoy, Eric McCoy and Michelle Soulchild of 'RoseroInc©'. He teaches and choreographs for The Orange School of Performing Arts in Orange, VA and Polaris Dance Institute in Stafford, VA.

Teren Dickson

CMI Faculty

Teren Dickson emerged as a young dancer who was recruited to audition for Future Shock DC. He has toured with them to places such as Atlanta, Ottawa, New York, and San Diego. Within a year he grew into a Culture Shock DC member as well as shared his choreography with the team. Teren is also part of GnC dance crew of DMV, within one year they placed first in Coalescence Competition. Gnc has also toured up and down the east coast including World of Dance New York 2010, Sirens After dark, and Boogie Bots two year anniversary. Teren's choreography has been viewed by millions on Instagram, Twitter, and Vine and his videos have been shared by artist such as Diggy Simmons, CJ Holland and Avant to name a few. His credits so far include: Gatorade, ABC'S Extreme Home Makeover, Utz Chips, and The Voice. Teren thanks God for everything he has accomplished so far and looks forward to where dance takes him to next.

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.

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. Save

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.

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.

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.

Britney Olanrewaju

Membership Director

Britney Olanrewaju has had a love for dance since she was a toddler, and she officially started taking dance classes at the age of 6. She attended Chesterfield Dance Center throughout her youth, and she learned and competed various styles of dance to include jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip hip, and more. She attended the Specialty Center for the Arts at Thomas Dale High School to continue her study dance .  

She attended George Mason University, specializing in modern and ballet in the dance program there. She was a part of the George Mason University Dance Company, performing student and faculty works every semester. She was also a part of the hip hop dance group, Urbanknowlogy, while in school. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance in 2014. Britney has recently completed her MA degree in Human Resource Management earlier this year. She currently works in HR at consulting firm in Northern Virginia.

Britney has been dancing with Capitol Movement since 2014, and has enjoyed being in the company for the last five years! She has been able to perform works by DJ Smart, Nicole Kirkland, Bobby Dacones, Tony Tzar, FeFe Burgos and more! She has also traveled to California to train in hip hop dance and was able to perform a piece by Alec Clawson in the Carnival Choreographer's Ball. 

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.

London Myrick

CMI Apprentice 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!

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.

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 a Pilates Instructor for Club Pilates and she also teachers barre, TRX, Interval Training, and more... She specializes in sports-specific training, Pilates for dancers, and Pilates for Post-Rehab.

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.