OUR TALENTED TEACHERS

LIZ VEGA-GOMEZ
Liz has been dancing for 26 years, starting at the age of 3 at Belinda’s Dance Studio. She has been trained in tap, jazz, balled, and lyrical. Studying under Belinda Lands, Miss Kathleen Jenkins and Ernest Balderas, as well as many other professional dance teachers in southern California. She has taken many classes at the Edge Performing Arts Center, Broadway Dance Center, New York and several LA dance conventions to keep up with the latest styles. She had the opportunity to try out for Star Search in 1990 with a group called “Living Dangerously.” She also was awarded many high point and overall winnings as a performing group dancer. Liz was trained for and competed in the Miss Downey Pageant where she was crowed Miss Downey Princess in 1996 and 1997. She has trained several pageant girls who entered beauty pageants. Liz is currently a National Dance Competition judge where she teaches master classes, workshops and choreographer for dancers in the competition. In the last 4 years she has been offered jobs as a choreographer for dance studios in Michigan, Ohio, and Sacramento. Ms Liz is going on her 13th year of teaching and is very proud of her dancers. During the 2004-2005 competition year Liz choreographed top overall winning solos, groups and small groups. Miss Liz was awarded Choreographer of the year in 2002-2003 competition year. She is very proud of all her dedicated dancers who work extremely hard for her. Liz continues to teach dance while all of her wonderful students who have worked very hard. Miss Liz’s daughter, Bailey three years old and a member of the Teenie Stars competition group. Glen and I are so proud of our little dancer.  Blake is our little guy.  He will be 1 year old soon and is growing quickly. We are looking forward to summer vacation when we can spend some time having fun in the sun. Thank you Glen for being my other half.  You have made ODC our dream studio.  Lots of love, Liz.  Thank you for making this year an adventure. Good luck my beautiful dancers. Thank you to all the parents for letting me share my love of dance with your children.

KATHLEEN JENKINS
Kathleen began her dance training at the age of five. She studied not only ballet, but jazz and tap as well. Before graduating from high school, she was performing with the Ballet Theater of North Hollywood. Spent a summer studying with the San Francisco Ballet, and was crowed “Miss Dance of Southern California.” She went on to be crowned 1st runner up in the national “Miss Dance America” pageant. At this time she had received scholarships to the Joffrey Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, American Ballet Theater and the Harkeness Ballet. Kathleen spent a year in New York City studying with the Joffrey Ballet and then went on to dance professionally with the Pacific Nutcracker, Coppelia, Cinderella, The Four Temperaments, Serenade, Hansel and Gretel and other original pieces. Kathleen has toured Canada and Japan with various dance groups appearing in television specials and commercials. She has also appeared in local civic light opera production of “Annie Get Your Gun”, “Can Can”, and as the female lead in “Hans Christian Anderson.” For the past 26 years she has been teaching and choreographing in the Los Angeles area, with the past 15 of those years right here at Onstage Dance Center. Many of her students have gone on to dance professionally with ballet companies and major theme parks. Her students have also won numerous overall awards at the dance competition and many have gone on to become dance teachers and studio owners themselves. She has recently enjoyed judging Regional and National dance competitions for “Kids Artistic Review”. Kathleen is currently performing character rolls with the Anaheim Ballet. She would like to thank her husband and children for all their support and all of her students who have worked so hard- “Remember girls dance outside the box”.

KELLY MOLNAR
Miss Kelly has been dancing for 20 years and has studied under some of L.A.’s top choreographers, such as Jerry Evans, Tina and Dee Caspary, and Wes Veldink. Kelly has done many industrial shows and was a featured dancer in a Tomas Tran Production. Miss Kelly has taught at Onstage for 9 years, teaching jazz, lyrical, and combo classes. Kelly has choreographed many award winning numbers and is very proud of all her dancers. Miss Kelly is enjoying motherhood with her son Landon, and wants to thank her husband Alex for his continued love and support. Thank you to all my parents for your endless love and support, and to all my dancers…..you are incredible, I love you! A special thanks to Miss Liz, ODC is where I found my true passion and my true best friend. (Thank you)

JENNIFER MURPHY
Miss Jen has been dancing for over 20 years and has studied with many great choreographers such as Mac McKown and Donna Boise. She has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and modern. However, her favorite is tap and lyrical. Miss Jen has been teaching dance for the last nine years to children and adults of all ages. This is where she found her true passion, teaching. Miss Jen is a teacher at Carpenter Elementary in Downey.  Miss Jen teaches a variety of different classes at Onstage and has just finished her third year teaching with the studio, I love you girls and have a wonderful recital.  She would like to thank her wonderful boyfriend Phillip for all of his love and support; I couldn't do it without you!  She would also like to thank the wonderful staff at ODC; you are all truly amazing and I am very privileged to work with all of you!!

COURTNEY APPLETON
This has been a big year for Miss Courtney.  Her hip-hop performing groups have done very well, winning many awards including the “hip hop don’t stop” judges award and “top line” award.  But Miss Courtney’s exciting season didn’t stop with competition, she also got married to her fiancé Ron who she has been with for several years!  “The students and parents have been so great and so supportive of my husband and I and the new chapter we have started in our life and we thank them all!!!”  Miss Courtney is celebrating her 5th year with Onstage Dance Center.  Her credits include competitive dance all through highschool and dancing in Disney’s Electrical Parade as well as choreographing for their annual “Flashback” charity event for 5 years.  Miss Courtney would like to thank her husband Ron for all his constant love and support while she works so hard both at Onstage and at Schlick Photography.  “And to all my dedicated students and parents, you are the heart of the studio! You are what keeps me coming back every year! Thank you for your dedication!!!”

ANTHONY ADDOTTA
Anthony began his training at Marrillyn  McDowell Studio of Dance in Long Beach where he studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, and Lyrical. He continued to train during his high school years at Wilson High School, while attending classes at studios throughout Long Beach and Orange County, and numerous Dance in Action workshops. In 2001 and 2002, he attended American Ballet Theatre summer intensive workshops where his love for ballet grew tremendously. In High School, he choreographed over 10 pieces, directed a whole concert, and was chosen by Broadway star Joy Phillips to dance the lead in a new adaptation of “The Red Shoes”, later to be staged on Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. Upon graduation, Anthony spent his days training at EDGE, Millenium Dance complex, and Defore Dance Center . He has danced soloist roles for three years in “The Glory of Christmas” at the Crystal Cathedral, traveled the east coast as a member of Kenneth Walker Dance Project, and choreographed for numerous studios, high schools, and colleges throughout Southern California. Anthony also works for That’s Dancin Productions, under Donna Boise, where he is the emcee for all their dance competitions. Anthony is currently a makeup artist for MAC Pro and balances a career in the beauty industry and dance world. Anthony is so excited to be a part of Onstage Dance Center and looking forward to a long future in the ODC family.

ALICIA MARTINEZ
Alicia started dancing at the age of 5 at Belinda's Dance studio. She is still dancing today as a part of our Senior Company. She is currently attending Rio Hondo College in pursuit of a teaching career. On her 13th year of dancing, she has studied tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and lyrical under Ms. Kathleen Jenkins and Ms. Liz Vega. She has won numerous award titles throughout our competition season as an elite dancer and was our "Miss Dance 2003-2004." Alicia has had the opportunity to travel with Ms. Liz as a choreographer assistant to New York, Michigan, Little Rock, Ohio, Mississippi, and Fremont, CA. Just to name a few. She was very honored to assist Ms. Liz and have the chance to experience the travel life of a dancer. Going on her fourth year of teaching dance, Miss Alicia would like to wish all of her students an amazing recital 2007!  She would like to thank her mother, Maria, and her father, Eddy for all of their love and support throughout her dancing career. Lastly, she would like to thank Ms. Liz for her love, support and guidance throughout the years!

BRITTANY MIRELES
Brittany began her dance training at the Studio of Fine Arts in Diamond Bar, CA at the age of 4.  She has been trained in Hip-hop, jazz, modern, ballet, musical theatre and competitive cheer.  While in high school she found her passion for hip-hop and street jazz and became a part of the KISS FM Street dancers in Boise, Idaho.  They traveled with the KISS FM street team and performed at various concerts and events.  Brittany was on an all-star competitive cheer squad for 3 years and was the first sophomore to be placed on her high school varsity squad.  She stared choreographing routines for her varsity squad, which placed 1st and 2nd at United Spirited Association (USA) competitions.  After graduating high school in Boise, ID, Brittany decided to pursue her hip-hop dancing career in the great city of Los Angeles with her father (the best Dad in the whole world – you have always believed in me, I love you).  Brittany began taking hip-hop class from some of the hottest choreographers in the industry.  While training at Debbie Reynolds Studio, Millenium Dance Complex, Synthesis, and Jimmy Deforj’s dance center she attended school at Long Beach Community College.  After a couple of years of training and hard work Brittany auditioned her way into one of the top dance agencies in LA.  She has been on a national tour with Jesse McCartney and Nikki Flores (we did shows with Ciara, T-Pain, Pretty Ricky, Mario, Frankie J, & Natalie…It was amazing!  We traveled everywhere)  She has appeared in a few music videos and performed several times at the Key Club for the Choreographers Ball “Carnival” in Hollywood.  (I want to thank my best friend Mr. Anthony for introducing me to Onstage Dance Center.  It has been incredible teaching there – I can’t explain how much you mean to me.  I also want to say thank you to my wonderful boyfriend Demetri for helping find all the hottest new music to take to my classes!  I love you so much.  Miss Liz, you are one phenomenal lady.  To my students, YOU ARE THE BOMB and you know it!

MARCELA MARTINEZ
Marcela Martinez started dancing at the age of ten at Belinda’s dance studio. She started of with a combo class and soon became part of the performing group, which took her to several important dance events. Marcela has been competing for nine years through out Los Angeles and Las Vegas in dance competitions such as KAR, Rainbow connections, Showstoppers, among others. She has placed in the overalls several times and wants to continue achieving that goal as well as performing on stage. Marcela graduated from Warren High School in the year 2006, and during her 11th grade year she was a part of the Warren High Cheer squad. After High School she attended Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa where she was part of the national championship dance team. Marcela currently 19 years old is attending Cerritos Community College, where she is studying in the field of Communications and Journalist broadcasting. She hopes to transfer to the University Of California Los Angeles and pursue her career as an Entertainment reporter. This is Miss Marcela’s first year teaching and she’s enjoying every moment of it. She wants wish all her students good luck in this year’s recital, and to remind them to have fun and make the best of it. She will like to thank Liz Vega for giving her the opportunity to be part of the onstage dance center staff.

CHANTALL DODD
Miss Chantall has been dancing for the past 10 years at Onstage Dance Center.  She has studied tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet and pointe under the instruction of Miss Kathleen, Miss Kelly, and Miss Liz.  She is currently a student at the University of California, Irvine, where she is pursuing a double major in biology and dance.  Throughout high school, Chantall was a member of the Oxford Academy choir ensemble in Cypress, California.  She was in a competitive show choir her junior and senior years.  As a part of show choir, Chantall traveled and performed at several different places including Disneyland and New York City.  She was awarded the “Choreographer’s Award” by Heather Hoppus in 2005 for her outstanding work in teaching choreography, maintaining a positive attitude, and helping other students in class.  Chantall was also voted as “Best Senior Dancer” by the choir ensemble in 2006.  She has always had a passion for teaching dance, even in high school where she was captain of the dance team.  Chantall has been a teacher at ODC for the past two years but this is the first year that she is teaching a class of her own.  She has been a student teacher for Miss Kelly in the past and is currently Miss Kathleen’s assistant.  Chantall has been dancing competitively as part of performing groups for the past 6 years.  She has also been competing as a soloist for the past 2 years.  Currently, she is a part of Senior Company.  Chantall would like to thank Miss Kelly and Miss Kathleen for always pushing her to give that full 100% in class.  She’d to thank Miss Liz for all her support in all aspects of her life.  She would also like to thank her mom and grandma because without them she wouldn’t have been able to get where she is today.  She loves you very much!  Miss Chantall is excited to be a part of the ODC staff and wishes her girls the best of luck.

FRANCINE VICTORIA
Francine has been teaching for 4 years.  She started dancing at the age of 3.  She has been trained in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, hip-hop, and acro under many talented instructors such as, Liz Vega-Gomez, Kathleen Jenkins, Dee, Dennis, and Tina Caspary, Belinda Lands, Donna Boise, Claylee Stewart, Valerie Hart, and many more.  Francine had the opportunity to try out for Star Search under the instruction of Lissa Stone.  She also had the opportunity to try out for commercials, shows and movies.  During this time she was able to meet and work with many amazing people such as Debbie Reynolds, Debbie Allen, and many more.  She also had the opportunity to be featured in a dance scene in the movie, 3 Ninjas Knuckles Up, under the instruction of Bobbi Dellos.  Francine has choreographed overall award winning and “judges” award winning groups and solos.  Francine will like to thank her husband Gabriel, her mom and had for all of their hard work and support.  She will also like to wish her daughter Roxy the best of luck! I am so proud of you!  I love you Roxy Bear! Last she will like to thank Miss. Liz for giving her this opportunity to be apart of the “ODC” Family.  Thank you parents, dancers, and teachers for welcoming us in and making this the best year!  I love you all!! Good Luck Dancers and Have Fun!