 Liz Vega-GomezOwner/Choreographer Liz has been dancing since the age of 3 and has been trained in tap, jazz, ballet, and lyrical. She has studied under Belinda Lands, Kathleen Jenkins and Ernest Balderas, as well as many other professional dance teachers in southern California. She has taken classes at The Edge, Broadway Dance Center and several New York and LA dance conventions to keep up with the latest styles. In the course of her career, Liz has been awarded many high point and overall awards as a performing group dancer and choreographer (2002-2003 Choreographer of the Year). She even had the opportunity to audition for Star Search in 1990. Liz is not only the owner of Onstage Dance Center and a teacher here, but she is also a national dance competition judge. She has taught master classes, workshops and choreography for dancers in some of the competitions she has judged. In addition to dancing competitively, Liz has competed in pageants, including the Miss Downey Pageant where she was crowned a Miss Downey Princess in 1996 and 1997. She is still active with the Miss Downey Pageant choreographing participants’ opening performance as well as individual routines. She has also choreographed the Miss California International Pageant. Miss Liz is very proud of all the hard work her dancers have shown throughout the year in class as well as at competition. Thank you for making another dance recital so successful. Liz and her husband Glen are very proud parents of Bailey, six and Blake, four. Liz has passed her love of dance on to her daughter Bailey. Bailey is a member of the Diva Stars performing group. Liz would like to thank Glen for all the love and support he has given her over the years, and in making her dream of owning not only one but two successful dance studios, for being there as repairman, computer technician, costume delivery service and as fire code enforcer. |
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. Going on her 8th year of teaching, she has not only taught many wonderful dancers but has learned a lot from her dancers as well. On her 16th year of dancing, she has studied tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and lyrical under Ms. Kathleen Jenkins and Ms. Liz Vega. In her high school years, she was captain of her Varsity Cheerleading Team and was in charge of choreographing all half-time routines. She has won numerous award titles throughout our competition season as an elite dancer and was our "Miss Dance 2003-2004." She has also had the opportunity to travel with Ms. Liz as a choreographer’s assistant to New York, Arkansas, Detroit, Columbus, Biloxi, 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. Miss Alicia would like to congratulate all her performing group students once again for their amazing accomplishments from earning high scores and placing in the Top 5 to earning Special Judges Awards such as “Cutie-Pa-TooTies!” She is so proud of her girls and is looking forward to the next competition season! Currently attending Cerritos Community College; Alicia is studying in the field of Liberal Studies pursuing a teaching career as well as extending her dance career by taking classes from some of the hottest choreographers in LA! She would like to thank her mother, Maria, and her father, Eddy for supporting her dance career. Lastly, she would like to thank Ms. Liz for being a second mother, a best friend and a great boss throughout the years! Lastly, she would like to tell her students…good luck and kaa-chow!!
Amanda Miller
Amanda began her dance training at the age of 8, and has been trained in ballet, tap, lyrical, and jazz. She has competed in numerous competitions throughout Southern California and Nevada as part of a performing group, as well as a soloist. During high school she was captain of the Varsity Song squad at Santa Fe High School for the 2007-2008 season. Amanda competed against 22 young women in the Miss Santa Fe Springs Pageant and was crowned Miss Santa Fe Springs 2007. While holding her title she participated in several events throughout the city of Santa Fe Springs. Amanda is currently attending California State University Fullerton, pursuing a degree in Liberal Studies and an Elementary Special Education credential . She would like to thank Miss Liz for all her support and giving her the opportunity to be a part of the ODC staff. Also, a big thank you to all the parents and dancers for your dedication and hard work this year!
Amber Batchelor
Amber began her dance training at Onstage Dance Center at the age of 3. As her passion and love for dance grew she began dancing competitively at the age of 4 where she began as a Twinklelight. She has since trained consistently with Miss Liz, Miss Kathleen, Miss Kelly and numerous other instructors in jazz, lyrical, tap, ballet, pointe, and hip hop. She has grown up at Onstage, and has been a member of Senior Co. since the age of 11. She has competed as a group dancer and as a soloist under the direction of Miss Liz, where she has won numerous titles and awards as well as Miss Photogenic. She was a 4 year member of Millikan High School’s Varsity Cheer Squad where she was Captain during her Senior year. Amber recently graduated from MHS with honors this past June & will be attending CSULB in the Fall to study Business & Marketing. Amber has also modeled, and she is a member of the DDO Talent & Dance Agency. She has appeared in Cheer Magazine the past two years and was featured on the cover of the Spring edition in 2010. “Thank you Miss Brittany for introducing me to this agency!” She will continue to teach at ODC. Amber would like to thank Miss Liz & Miss Brittany for the wonderful opportunity to teach & do what she loves the most: DANCE! Lastly, Amber would like to thank her family for always encouraging her to pursue what she loves to do and always allowing her to reach for the stars. “You’ve allowed me to follow my dreams and were always there encouraging me every step of the way. Thank you Dad, Mom, and Hailey. I couldn’t have asked for anything more! I love you guys so much and if it wasn’t for you, none of this would have been possible!”
Anthony Addotta
Anthony Addotta, originally began his training at Marrillyn McDowell School of Dance in Long Beach, training in ballet, lyrical, musical theatre and jazz. Alongside the top studios in LA, Anthony has also trained with the American Ballet Theatre and Ballet Pacifica and performed in numerous ballets including Etudes, The Nutcracker, and The Red Shoes. Anthony has been a soloist in the Glory of Christmas production at the Crystal Cathedral for four years, and was promoted to principal dancer last season, under the direction of Tanya Durbin. Anthony has also been a judge and emcee for Bella Donna Productions for the last seven years. Anthony currently travels nationwide as an MC/Judge for Kids Artistic Review and Rainbow Connection Dance Competition. Most recently, Anthony has performed as a guest artist with the Maple Ballet, under the direction of Charles Maple, in productions of the Nutcracker and Alice in Wonderland. He has traveled the country with Kenneth Walker Dance Project; a contemporary ballet company based out of Los Angeles and has danced original roles in numerous ballet premieres. Anthony is also a makeup artist with numerous clients including fashion houses Heatherette, Luca Luca, Salvatore Ferragamo, Rag and Bone, and W Magazine. Anthony moved back two years ago from NYC where he worked for MAC Cosmetics and TRUTV, and numerous celebrity clients including Janice Dickinson, Sharon Osbourne, Melanie Trump, and Robin Antin. Anthony is also a certified kickboxing instructor for Powder Blue Productions, and is now teaching adult classes at ODC. He is so happy to be part of the ODC family.
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 Defore’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 love you so much. Miss Liz, you are one phenomenal lady. To my students, YOU ARE AWESOME! Thank you for a great year!!
Chantall Dodd
Miss Chantall started dancing at the age of 9 at Belinda’s Dance Studio. She has studied tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet, and pointe under the instruction of Miss Liz, Miss Kelly and Miss Kathleen. Chantall danced competitively for seven years at Onstage Dance Center and loved every minute of it. Throughout high school, she was a member of the Oxford Academy choir ensemble in Cypress, California. She was in competitive show choir her junior and senior year, which gave her the opportunity to perform at Disneyland and travel to New York City. Chantall was awarded the “Choreographer’s Award” by Heather Hoppus in 2005 for her outstanding work in teaching choreography. She was also voted “Best Senior Dancer” by the choir ensemble at Oxford in 2006. Miss Chantall has been a teacher at ODC for five years. She loves teaching and has a true passion for dance. A special thank you goes out to Miss Liz for giving me the opportunity to do what I really love. To my family, thank you for all of your support, and to my students; I love all of you and I wish you all a fabulous recital 2011 because YOU ARE ALL SUPER STARS! I’d like to give one last thank you to all of Miss Brittany’s hip hop students who I’ve been teaching these past few months. You guys have been so much fun and I’ve loved teaching you. Keep up the good work and remember…GET FUNKY!
Jacqueline Lynch
Miss Jackie has been dancing since the age of 3. She studied tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and gymnastics. Jackie has been teaching dance for the past 11 years and choreographed routines for high school teams and Junior All American Cheer. Her solos and groups are recognized with awards for her choreography. Miss Jackie danced at ODC when she was younger and was apart of the teaching staff in 2002-2003. She is so happy to be back teaching with her past teachers Miss Liz, Miss Kathleen, and Miss Kelly. Aside from teaching, Jackie recently married her love Ollie Lynch and is enjoying her time as a newly wed!
Jen Javier
Jen began dancing at the age of 6. She trained and competed for West Coast School of the Arts for 9 years. She attended Los Alamitos High School and was on Varsity Song for 4 years. In 2008, her team got first out seventy teams across the nation. During her senior year, she began taking classes from ODC and became captain of the Nationally ranked song team. After high school, she attended Cal State Long Beach for a year and was part of the dance team. When she was part of the Long Beach Dance Team, they were nationally ranked and received second place at the UDA National Dance Team Championships. Today, she continues to take class to keep up with her technique while attending West Coast University to become a neonatal nurse. She would like to thank Liz Vega for giving her the opportunity to work with the studio. This is Jen's first year teaching with the Onstage family and she absolutely loves it!
Jennifer Gonzalez
Jennifer Gonzalez-Jennifer’s training began at the early age of two where she studied all the many different areas of dance and got to work with many great choreographers such as Mac McKown and Donna Boise. She competed on a competition team for many years receiving many awards and honors for her dancing ability. Jennifer has been teaching dance for the last thirteen years, receiving many awards for her choreography. She has also coached and judged for many different cheer groups and organizations throughout Los Angeles and Orange County. This is where she found her passion in teaching. Jennifer attended Cal State Fullerton for her Bachelors degree and Cal State Los Angeles for her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She has taught elementary school for several years now and really enjoys it. Jennifer has worked for ODC for eight years and has really loved and appreciated all the great friends she has made along the way. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her wonderful husband, Phillip, and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for them.
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 crowned “Miss Dance of Southern California,” going on to be crowned 1st runner up in the national “Miss Dance America” pageant. At that time she had received scholarships to the Joffrey Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, American Ballet Theater and the Harkeness Ballet. Kathleen spent a year studying in New York City studying with the Joffrey Ballet and then went on to dance professionally with the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Los Angeles Ballet. Her professional repertoire includes roles in The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Cinderella, Serenade, The Four Temperaments, Carmen, The Filling Station as well as other original works. She has recently performed as a company member of the Anaheim Ballet performing various character roles. 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 productions of “Annie Get Your Gun”, “Can Can”, and as the female lead in “Hans Christian Anderson.” She has also spent many seasons traveling across the United States adjudicating for “Kids Artistic Review” in regional and national dance competitions. She recently celebrated her thirtieth year of teaching and choreographing in the Los Angeles area with over twenty of those years right here at Onstage Dance Center. Kathleen is proud of her students many accomplishments such as winning numerous overall awards at dance competitions, becoming dance teachers and studio owners, and having many go onto professional careers in ballet companies and major theme parks. She would like to thank her husband and children for their continued support as well as her outstanding students and their supportive parents that make her job a joy. Have a great recital and “break a leg” everyone!
Kelly Molnar
Kelly began training at Studio “C” in Downey. She studied under Dennis and Tina Caspary, as well as Dee Caspary, one of LA’s hottest choreographers. She studied jazz, tap, lyrical, and ballet, competing in dance competitions all over Southern California winning overall and high point awards. The first six months of her senior year she auditioned for and was accepted to OSHA school of Performing Arts. After graduating she began taking classes at Edge Performing Arts, and Jimmy Defores Dance Center, studying under some of LA’s top instructors/choreographers. Kelly has done many industrial shows and was a featured dancer in a Tomas Tran Production. Miss Kelly began teaching dance thirteen years ago at ODC. She teaches tap, jazz, and lyrical classes. Miss Kelly has choreographed many award winning solos, duets, trios and groups, and loves all of her hard working performing groups. This year Miss Kelly began a new adventure judging for The Countdown National Dance Competition, where she traveled to Arizona. Miss Kelly would like to thank all of her students for their true dedication and love. She wants to say thanks to all the parents for their never ending support. A special thanks to Miss Liz. ODC is where I found my true passion and my true best friend. Although Miss Kelly’s passion is dance, her biggest and proudest accomplishment is her five year old son, Landon, her new little rocker Hudson, and being married to her best friend, Alex. Thank You for everything!
Leslie Attwood
New to the ODC Family is Leslie Attwood. Leslie has been dancing for 23 years. As a child, she received training from top choreographers such as Dee Caspary, Tina Cyphert, Dennis Caspary, Corey Finn, Tanya Lichine, Dawni Novak and Ryan Cyphert. Leslie went to Los Alamitos High School where she was a four year member of the Song Team. As a senior, she had the privilege of becoming the Varsity Song Captain. Leslie began teaching at the age of 12 and choreographing as a high school junior. Leslie met renowned dance/song team choreographer Karl Mundt when she was in high school, and has been choreographing with him ever since. Their joint choreography credits include: University of Minnesota, University of Louisville, Hawaii Pacific University, Los Alamitos High School, Eden Prairie High School, San Diego State University and many others. Together, Karl and Leslie have also provided numerous Pro Basketball and Football dance teams with their sideline routines. Leslie could not be more pleased to be a member of the Onstage Dance Center team.
Sandi Frahm
Sandi began dancing at the age of 4 and has been dancing ever since. Most of her training was right here in Southern California where she was a member of what is now called Ballet Repertory Theater. She also danced for two years in the Chicago area for various companies until she married and started a family. Her teaching career began over 20 years ago in the Chicago area, then she came back to Huntington Beach where she choreographed award winning ballet routines for Dance Masters and Showstopper competitions. During the Holiday Season she was hired to teach the youngest members of Ballet Repertory Theater’s Nutcracker. She has experience teaching ages 3 years to adult in Ballet, Tap and Jazz. Her forte is Ballet, and it is her passion as well. She ran her own dance academy for a few years, but found she missed teaching. She started and organized a dance program at the local park district in Illinois that is still running today by one of her former students.