Conny Mathot. BA. CDTA. RAD Associate Teacher
Ballet / Jazz / Contemporary

At The National Theater Ballet School in Melbourne, Australia, Conny studied under the careful guidance of Director, Gaileen Stock. On graduation Conny was awarded a full scholarship to The Victorian College of The Arts – School of Dance. Completing four years of full time study, Conny Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance and a Teaching Major. Her performance experience included touring with Ballet, Opera and Musical Companies, Plays and Commercial Ventures including Video Clips, TV Commercials, Band Gigs, and Fashion Shows.
As a teacher Conny has had a variety of positions in both styles and environments. These include: Teaching formalized Dance Techniques in Dance Studios, Setting up and implementing Teaching Programs at TAFE College/University and Movement and Dance Programs in Public and Private Schools. Conny has tought Master Classes and has judged at dance festivals. Past students have and are still working professionally in Classical Ballet Companies, Musicals and Commercial Ventures. In addition to student design, Conny’s choreographic experience includes professional works created for corporate events, commercials, city festivals, broadcast awards, club entertainment, casino shows, theater and television.
Recently Conny won 1st place in the McCallum Theater Choreography Festival “Dancing Under the Stars”. And was awarded Outstanding Choreographer at the 2008 Youth American Grand Prix Regional. Conny is a Full Teaching member of the Royal Academy of Dancing and an Associate Member of the Classical Dance Teachers of Australia.

Nicolette Atkins, Associate Teacher
Ballet

Started ballet lessons at the age of 3 with Sannie Marie Slabbert (her mother), who continues to teach in South Africa. Studied ballet (Cecchetti Method) and some tap, modern and Spanish with Pam Wedd and Hennie Grobbelaar. Graduated from the Pretoria High School for Art, Ballet and Music with a distinction in Practical Ballet, and completed Cecchetti Advanced Exam in the same year. Attained the Cechetti Associate Teacher's Diploma (with Honours) and is a member of the International Society of Teachers of Dancing (I.S.T.D.). Graduated from the University of Pretoria (South Africa) with a Bachelors of Arts degree (English, Afrikaans/Dutch as majors, and History of Music (sub-major)) and attained the post-graduate Teacher's Diploma. She also has a Marketing Certificate from Damelin College, Durban South Africa. Nicolette has worked in arts marketing in South Africa and at the Los Angeles Opera, and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. She is married to an opera singer. “I love ballet, and I love to teach at Theatrics because I believe in a solid technique, the beauty of each little person, and the positive gifts that dance brings into our lives. . I hope that everyone -- whether a dancer or a member of the audience --, will experience the joy that dancing has given me.”

Nichelle Bane, Associate Teacher
Jazz

Looking for technique? Nichelle's class will deliver that and more. Every class begins with an extensive warm-up including center barre and technique, combined with conditioning exercises. Her passion for teaching and inspiring people shines through in her class and work. Her choreography is influenced by her strong classical background of ballet, jazz, and lyrical, and incorporates the feeling and movement of today's contemporary styles. Her theater dance class is full of energy. She brings a new twist to styles of classic to contemporary musicals. Nichelle is always challenging herself to grow as an artist, and trying new things. Thus her class is always fresh.

As a dancer Nichelle was a member and soloist with the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo. She was line captain and featured dancer on the Princess Cruises Line. Since moving to LA some of her credits include Friends, Clueless, Austin Powers 2, Totally Blonde, Divine Design, and Her Last Chance. She has appeared in commercials for Mervyns, McDonalds, Bacardi, and NBC. Nichelle has worked with the likes of Marguerite Derricks, Mia Michaels, and Vincent Paterson. She has been a guest artist with Rei Aoo's Dance planet, and assisted Doug Caldwell on a Trading Spaces commercial.

Nichelle is currently on faculty at Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, and The Los Angeles Ballet Academy. She has taught all over the United States, and is an award-winning choreographer. Nichelle is the founder and artistic director of the Los Angeles based Reflections Dance Company. Out of hundreds of applicants she had two pieces accepted as finalist in the 13th annual Dance Under The Stars Choreography Festival in Palm Spring. Recently Nichelle co-directed the 8th annual Momentum, An Evening Of Dance, at the El Portal Theater where she brought in guest artist from the Joffrey Ballet, and the Groovaloos.

Stacey Valentino, Associate Teacher
Jazz/Tap

Stacy, born and raised in Los Angeles, has been dancing since the age of three. During adolescence she began training under the direction of Marguerite Derricks and then became part of Marguerite's Teen Company "Generation Next" where she was able to train with top choreographers such as Liz Imperio, Doug Caldwell, and Michael Rooney.  She has assisted Michael Rooney at the Performing Arts Center in Van Nuys and Millennium Dance Complex in North Hollywood.  She has assisted on Jackie Slight's competition/convention "LA Dance Magic" as well as taught on "Dance Masters of America" and "VIP Dance".  Stacy is currently involved in Gregg Russell's company Tapsounds Underground and has performed as a part of Joelle Martinec's company "Unbound Dance Ensemble".  She has choreographed musicals for Hamilton High School of the Performing Arts that include "A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum" and "Gypsy".  Stacy's live show credits include "Promotion for Candies Perfume", "Relay for Life Cancer Benefit", "Dancer's Unite 3/4", "Reflections" under Nichelle Bane, and guest artist in "S.H.E. Dance company".  She can most recently be see in a webisode aired in the presentation of Cisco video telephones, and is currently working with Crisitan Castro on tour in "viva El Principe". Stacy has an Associates Degree in Psychology/Child Development, a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology from Cal State Northridge, and is now pursuing her Masters as well. She currently travels as a master teacher, choreographs award winning competition numbers all over the USA, and shares her passion for dance that comes out in her teaching as she guides and inspires dancers all over the country.

Alexander Greschenko, Associate Teacher
Ballet

Alexander Greschenko was born in Moscow and began his dance training at the age of ten at the prestigious Moscow Choreographic School where his teacher was Igor Uksusnikov, form soloist with the Bolshoi and Kirov Ballet.  After graduating with the highest honors, he was invited to join the Bolshoi Ballet.

Alexander was a soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet for nine years where he danced the entire Classical Ballet Repertoire including the Grand Pas de deux from Raymonda, the Black Man in Mozart and Salieri and roles in the Golden Age, Swan Lake, Spartacus, Giselle, Don Quixote, Macbeth, and The Nutcracker.  While at the Bolshoi, he trained under the great Russian Teacher Asaf Messerer and danced in many other ballet productions such as original ballets of Vladimir Vasiliev and Ekaterina Maximova.  In addition to his career as a soloist with the Bolshoi, he was also recognized for his talents as a musician by being invited to perform occasionally as a musician (guitarist) with the Bolshoi Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble of the Bolshoi Orchestra.  As a soloist with Bolshoi Ballet, Alexander toured the United States, Central and South America, Japan, Australia, and many other counties worldwide.

In 1989, Alexander Greschenko moved to America and joined the Princeton Ballet as a principal dancer.  In 1990, he moved to Los Angeles and joined Los Angeles Classical Ballet where he performed for two years dancing principal roles in their productions of The Nutcracker, Midsummer Night’s Dream, On Occasion and Aymara.

Tracy Rounds, Associate Teacher
Ballet / Pilates

Tracey was born and raised in Chicago, IL . At the age of 5 Tracey started ballet classes at the Sammy Dyers School of Ballet. At age 9 she went to study at the Ellis DuBlay School of Ballet where she studied throughout high school. Tracey danced semi-professionally
throughout Chicago.
In 1987 she joined the renowned Dance Theatre of Harlem, during which she performed nationally and internationally for over ten years. After relocating to Los Angeles, Tracey transitioned into Pilates and has been a certified in Pilates instructor in the greater Los
Angeles area is for the past thirteen years.

Kelley Voy, Associate Teacher
Beginning Ballet

Kelley began her dance training in Atlanta, GA at the age of 19 under the direction of Kathryn McBeth, Tom Pazik, and Robert Barnett. She committed herself totally to ballet and just two years later was dancing pre-professionally. She danced with Capital City Ballet in Atlanta for six years. Then she moved to Colorado where she danced with Springs City Ballet and then Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. She taught for the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet for two years before moving to Los Angeles. She is honored to be among such great talent here at LABA.

Samantha Weber, Associate Teacher
Preschool Dance/ Tap/ Jazz, Ballet

Samantha has been dancing since the age of 3 with Andrea Paris. She is an original member of Theatrics Dance Company. She takes 8 classes per week and teaches or assists 10 others. She has passed both her Intermediate and Grade 8 Classical Ballet exams. She is also a graduate of Granada Hills Charter High School and is on her way to becoming a dance teacher and physical therapist.

Alexa Anderson, Associate Teacher
Jazz

Alexa Anderson grew up in Chandler, Arizona where she trained and
competed in many different styles of dance including Ballet, Jazz,
Lyrical, Hip- Hop, and Contemporary. She was a talented and dedicated
pupil, and at the age of 16, was awarded Student of the Year for Arts
and Academics at The Arizona School of the Arts.
In 2008, she was featured in DanceSpirit Magazine as a young up and
comer, and in 2010 was the featured on the cover of DanceSpirit.
In the summer of 2010 Alexa traveled to NYC and was a principal dancer
in the off Broadway show, "Beneath the Surface" and a solo dancer in a
music video for Kyle Patrick. Soon after, she decided she was ready to
move to Los Angeles to pursue her dream career as a dancer. Since then
she has performed in commercial work, on television, and done various
stage performances from Contemporary to Burlesque.
Alexa is also a passionate teacher of dance (at the renown Millennium
Dance Complex) and is a Yoga Alliance certified yoga instructor. Above
all else, Alexa continues to be an avid student of movement, confident
that being authentic and driven will keep her traveling forward on the
road to success.

Nick Long, Associate Teacher
Hip Hop

Nick is an enthusiastic teacher who has been teaching for the past 5 years all over the country and internationally. He got his start dancing at Arizona State University where he took his first dance class from Leslie Scott, and soon after began teaching. He started dancing on the ASU hip hop coalition and then became the coach of the team and head choreographer and artistic dancer of the group. He has worked with some of the top choreographers including: Napoleon & Tabitha D'Umo, Marty Kudelka, Phlex, Brian Friedman and Melanie Benz, Sky Hoffman, and Roman Vasquez to name a few. Nick has also worked on numerous music videos, commercials, and live performances for CBS, Disney, MTV, FOX, A&E, as well as even performing superstar Rihanna for several performances. Nick is also a faculty member of Loyal Maramount, where he teaches Hip Hop for the dance department, is also Artistic Director of Asylum Dance Company. He is signed to MSA dance agency and also occasionally teaches at the famed Millennium Dance Complex. Nick likes to share his knowledge of dance with all ages and levels and hopes to inspire through his movement.

Christian Beasley, Associate Teacher
Contemporary

Christian began training in New Orleans LA, at the age of eight, under the direction of Myra Mier of the Jefferson Ballet Theatre. He attended summer intensive programs with the Kirov Ballet in Washington D.C., The Rock School in Philadelphia and with Principal Dancers of the Miami City Ballet.

Christian attended the New Orleans Center of Creative Arts School before moving to Florida as a member of the Northwest Florida Ballet. He continued to study jazz, lyrical, and contemporary dance with The Sheffield School of the Dance in Mobile Alabama, with whom he competed at national competitions. On moving to Houston he studied with Ben Stevenson’s Houston Ballet Academy for 18 months under the direction of Claudio Munoz and Phillip Broomhead. He then continued his ballet and contemporary training in Houston with the Dominic Walsh Dance Theatre and Hope Stone, while dancing hip hop at Planet Funk and Marvelous Motion, where he went on to dance and perform with Marvelous Motion “The Next Level” crew.

Christian recently completed a four month tour of Europe with Rasta Thomas as a member of “The Bad Boys of Dance” in a show called, “Rock the Ballet” which performed to sold out theatres in Germany, Switzerland, Finland, and Spain.

He continues to be a touring member of “The Bad Boys of Dance” with another European scheduled for 2010.

Juanda Marshall, Associate Teacher
Vocal

Juanda Marshall fell in love with singing at an early age and began formal voice training at the age of 15. She later got her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Portland in Oregon with a major in voice. She has enjoyed a diverse career in the Los Angeles area where she has both performed as a singer/actress and taught music to students pre-school aged through adult. Juanda, currently a music teacher with the Los Angeles Unified School District, has been twice selected as a featured teacher in "Accent on Performance" a video documentary that highlights the benefits and quality of LAUSD music instruction. She also was appointed to a Peer Coach position and provided ongoing support to music teachers for three years. Her passion for music education has led her to develop and present numerous teacher workshops for LAUSD as well as the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Juanda's performing experience ranges from soprano soloist to musical theatre to commercials and television. She was a member of the world renowned Los Angeles Jubilee Singers and also sang with the Grammy nominated Los Angeles Jazz Choir. Her musical theatre credits include Polly in Threepenny Opera, the touring company of Jesus Christ Superstar, and Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors. Juanda sang with the Hidden Valley Opera Ensemble in Carmel, California and the Portland Opera Association in Portland, Oregon.

Mikhail Tchoupakov, Guest Faculty
Ballet

Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, Mikhail graduated from the famous Bolshoi Ballet Academy. He had danced with the renowned Bolshoi Ballet for eight years, during which time he performed full repertory of the theatre, including soloist parts in such ballets as Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Spartacus, Swan Lake, Sketches, Raymonda, Don Quixote, Golden Age, and many others. Among his teachers are Asaf Messerer and Boris Akimov. With the Bolshoi, he toured all over the world, particularly such countries as Brazil, Australia, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy, France, Morocco, India, Japan, China, and the Unites States. Mikhail is a graduate of the Moscow State Choreography Institute. Under Professor Peter Pestov, he received his M.F.A. in Dance Pedagogy and Choreography.

Since 1990, Mikhail has been residing in the US. He has performed with the following companies: Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Los Angeles Classical Ballet, Vienna State Opera Ballet, and San Francisco Opera Ballet as well as appeared as a guest artist with many others throughout the United States. He spent six years with Colorado Ballet performing diverse classical and contemporary repertoire, including ballets by George Balanchine, Choo San Gogh, Alvin Ailey, Christopher Wheeldon, and Frederick Ashton. He has also served as a Ballet Master and Repetiteur for Colorado Ballet and on the faculty of the Academy of Colorado Ballet. He has taught for the Houston Ballet, Oregon Dance Theatre, David Taylor Dance Theatre, State Street Ballet, Ballet Arlington, Guangzhou Ballet of China, and Galili Dance in Netherlands. He has been a guest teacher in Brazil, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, and Great Britain, and appeared as guest lecturer at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, UK, Colorado College, and Wyoming State University. He served as a judge and master teacher for Youth America Grand Prix Competition as well as other international dance competitions. His choreographic credits include staging the all-Goleizovsky program for Ballet Arlington, TX, and Universal Ballet Academy (formerly Kirov Ballet Academy) as well as choreography for Opera Colorado’s Eugene Onegin, La Traviata, and Don Giovanni, and Grand Défilé for Youth America Grand Prix Competition Gala at Lincoln Center, NY. He taught for the Royal Ballet School in London and is now on the faculty of the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s official school, the Elmhurst School for Dance in Birmingham, UK.
Mikhail is an official representative and appointed trustee of the Kasyan Goleizovsky Foundation.

Allyson Weber, Junior Teacher
Preschool Dance

Allyson has been dancing since the age of 3 at Los Angeles Ballet Academy. She is currently dancing with TDC and is proud to say she has been on all of the teams and participated in many performances such as The Wizard of Oz, Paperbag Princess, and A
Midsummer Night’s Dream. Apart from her LABA training, she has also attended summer intensives such as Royal Academy of Dance and American Academy of Ballet. Allyson is be a senior at Granada Hills Charter High School and will continue
her dance education and training here at Los Angeles Ballet Academy. She is looking forward to graduation and to see what life holds in store for her!

Laurie Weber, Office Manager