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.

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.

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.