Andrea Paris, Los Angeles Ballet Academy, President and Artistic Director
Ballet - Men's Class/ Open Classical

Andrea started dancing at the age of 5 at Bernice McGough's (her mother) Ballet School in Auckland, New Zealand. She passed all her Grade and Major examinations under the British Ballet Method with Honors and holds the Solo Dancer's Diploma. Andrea was awarded the Paul Hammond Scholarship and a Full Scholarship to the National Ballet School where she studied before joining the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Andrea moved to Los Angeles in 1979 where she trained under Dolores Terry, Robert Rossoulatt and Stanley Holden. She then traveled to and performed in Japan, Europe and Mexico.

Andrea toured the US and Canada with the National Touring Company of Sugar Babies as well as performed in Los Angeles productions of Sugar Babies, Song of Norway, Anyone Can Whistle, Anything Goes, My Fair Lady, Pajama Game and more. She choreographed, assisted and performed with Opera Pacific at the Orange County Performing Arts Center and the Los Angeles Opera. Her choreography has been seen on music videos, soap operas, industrials and ballet companies.
Andrea's television and film credits include General Hospital, The Academy Awards, the films Beaches and Pennies From Heaven. She was the assistant choreographer on the TV series Rags to Riches which produced 2-3 musical numbers per episode. She coached Fred Savage on The Wonder Years, Rita Moreno on a TV movie for PBS, and Tony Geary on General Hospital. Some of her more interesting jobs included, sitting in a bathtub of bubbles doing high kicks for a Japanese beer commercial, being a Dancing "Star" on The Academy Awards, choreographing an award winning video for the rock/punk band ‘Jane's Addiction’, and being a tap dancing truck in a Ryder Truck commercial!
In 1992 Andrea started her own school and has since passed the Royal Academy of Dancing Teacher's Certificate. Andrea has taught Master Classes, judged dance festivals and traveled to NY, and London to further her education as a ballet teacher and dance educator. Andrea has been awarded Outstanding Choreographer at Company Dance and the Youth America Grand Prix Regional. She has been awarded Outstanding Teacher at the YAGP and LABA has 4 times been awarded outstanding school at the same venue. In 2007 Andrea was awarded the Outstanding Teacher of the Year award from Dance Teacher Magazine. She travelled to New York to participate in a forum to mentor other teachers and accept her award. Miss Andrea lives in Van Nuys with her husband Iker and her daughter Veronica. Their son Dylan is now a member of the Joffery Ballet Company.

Nichelle Bane, Associate Teacher
Musical Theatre 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.

Raul Arauz
Zumba

Raul hails from Panama via Boston and has been dancing and performing since the age of 12. He has taught Salsa, Merengue and other Latin rhythms for the past 8 years in the East Coast. His love of dance has taken him aboard the Princess Cruise line and to the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant stage. Raul is certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and is a licensed Zumba instructor. He brings his high energy, passion for dance and knowledge of international rhythms such as Flamenco and Bollywood to his Zumba classes. Raul is also a Civil Engineer and in his spare time enjoys dancing, mixed martial arts and traveling.

Havic Gregory, Associate Teacher
Hip Hop

Havic was born in the Philippines and grew up in San Diego, California. He began dancing during his early teen years and quickly moved to Los Angeles to pursue professional dancing. His career took off by dancing in high profile music videos for some of the top artists in the world including Michael Jackson, Aaliyah, Destiny's Child, Brandy, Maya, The Backstreet Boys and many others. Havic's career eventually transitioned into touring and live performances with highly respected artists such as Diana Ross, T.L.C., Toni Braxton, Shanice, Sisqo, Montell Jordan, Chris Brown, Diddy, Madonna, Prince and Monica… just to name a few. When he wasn't on tour around the world he was shooting several national commercials for companies like General Motors, Coca Cola and Kmart. Recently, Havic was the assistant choreographer for the feature film Honey 2 and the hit MTV television series America's Best Dance Crew. Havic is passionate about passing down the knowledge he has acquired through out the years to the next generation of dancers around the world.

Roxana Olesijuk
Adult Ballet

Roxana has 20 years of experience teaching in the Los Angeles area. Her training background is based in Russian and British technique and as a young dancer she also trained at the school of American Ballet.

Tracy Rounds, Associate Teacher
Ballet

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.

Gina Starbuck
Jazz

Gina Starbuck, a native of Fresno, California, is one of the hottest performers on the scene. She recently finished a long run with the LA company of the broadway hit Wicked, as the Witch's Mother. She has received endless amounts of awards and recognition for her work as a dancer/choreographer, as well as being a respected and accomplished singer and actress. Adding to her artistic abilities, Starbuck's unique sense of style and fashion earned her a full page spread in one of Japan's most prestigious magazines, Woofin' Girl and a style feature in online dance magazine Gendance. At the age of 17, Gina traveled and performed with the contemporary dance company MKF Altered Modalities, winners of the 2000 Jazz World Congress. At 18, she was assistant Choreographer for the Miss California Pageant. She attended college at Chapman University, where she was awarded Freshman of the Year in Dance, and was selected to perform at the Kennedy Center. Since Gina arrived in Los Angeles, she has worked with artist such as Prince, Lindsay Lohan, Gavin Degraw, Gene Simmons, Josh Kelly, and many more. Her skills as a teacher and choreographer have taken her around the world, and her work has won awards at numerous competitions and conventions, including NYCDA and CO Dance. She is on faculty at many prestigious studios and dance conventions including The Edge Performing Arts Center, Millennium Dance Complex, Debbie Reynolds Studios, Celebrity Dance and Muse Dance Co. Appearing in a variety television shows, films, and commercials, Starbuck's credits include Bring It On 3 and 5, Y & R, Passions, AXE, and Visa- for which she worked with Emmy Award winning choreographer, Mia Michaels. She has assisted many top choreographers, including Brian Friedman, Bobby Newberry, Andre Fuentes, and Blake McGrath. You can catch her strutting her stuff on Blake's instructional DVD Dance Driven. In the summer of 2009, Gina had a successful launch of her hip, unique and affordable line of accessories, Star Beat. She uses her success as an outlet to help others, contributing to many charities. In 2007 she created and founded Art4Life, which is now an annual event involving numerous artists in support of the American Cancer Society and in honor of her father. In 2008, Gina performed with American Idol Finalist Adam Lambert at her Art4Life event! She will continue to grow and achieve her goals, and will always give back!

Rob Vinson
Zumba

WOW! How do you sum up Rob Vinson. With his extensive track record, you don't know where to begin. Rob is a native of California, raised on the mean streets of L A where dance competition was always tough. Nevertheless, he always made his mark. As a teen, Rob had already made a name for himself around town as part of L.A.'s most famous dance group, the "TEAZERS". School shows, club performances and local dance competitions were just the beginning of his career.

No longer a rookie, Rob stepped into the world of professional dance with a vengeance. At the age of twenty-one he jumped right into choreographing "Tone Loc's" show for the American Music Awards. The rest is yet to be heard.

A seasoned dancer and choreographer, Rob, landed jobs with the best in the world to name a few Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Mya, Missy Elliot, Whitney Houston, N'Sync and Destiny's Child. You can catch Rob on the big screen in such movies as Austin Power's"Gold Member", "The Hot Chick" starting Rob Schneider, "Stay Tuned" starring The Late Great John Ritter, and one of Hip Hop's first movies "House Party" starring Kid 'N' Play, Tisha Campbell, and Martin Lawrence.

But it doesn't stop there. Internationally, Rob has choreographed for some of Japan's most influential artists; such as theL.L. Brother's, Namie Omori, and Anri. With yearly dance conventions in Thailand, and Singapore, Rob spent time teaching his own scholarship program and instructed workshops in Canada.

In 1999 Rob was nominated for an Emmy Award for his part of Choreography in the HBO special live performance of the "Velvet Rope Tour". This is in addition to other various dance awards that he's won throughtout his career.

What sets Rob apart from most dancers is his versatility and his ability to execute a broad range of styles from hip hop to jazz. He is an agile, creative, and innovative artist. To catch him in a performance, be it on T.V., on someone's tour, or on a stage in town is breathtaking! This is something you don't want to miss. You can truly feel his passion for the people. He dances not only for himself but for the people. He is serious about what he does and is the type of dancer most aspire to become.

Kelley Voy, Associate Teacher
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.