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~ Founder/Director (Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Theatre)
Lisa Gumenick is the proud founding director of The Pretenders Studio, Center For The Performing Arts. She is an honors graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara and is a member of the National Dance Education Organization. Lisa has studied dance and theatre extensively since she was a small child. In her adult life, she has studied Dance and the Performing Arts at UCSB, Brandeis University, University College in The Netherlands, and participated in an extensive theatre arts program in Israel. Lisa has been teaching dance for the past nine years in the Los Angeles area. For the past four years, Lisa has taught theatre at Marquez Elementary School, in the STAR Enrichment Program, and has choreographed shows for Marquez Elementary School, Paul Revere Middle School, Theatre Palisades Kids, and the University of California Santa Barbara Drama/Dance Department. In 2004, Lisa founded a summer theatre program in the Palisades: The Pretenders Company (ages 15-25), directing and choreographing The Madwoman of Chaillot, Peter Pan, and Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. In 2006, she inaugurated, by popular demand, The Junior Pretenders (ages 9-14), in which she directed and choreographed Free to Be You and Me. These programs, combining acting, song, and dance provided a unique "stepping-stone" between educational theatre and the professional world. Lisa is delighted to be able to provide the west side with quality performing arts training for all ages! Back to the basics is the foundation of this program. Lisa believes that it is the foundational technique combined with creativity and the love of the arts that inspires people of all ages to grow and learn to be better performers and more complete versions of themselves. It is with great pleasure that Lisa welcomes you to The Pretenders Studio! |
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~ (Tap Cardio 101)
Rebecca graduated with honors from Oklahoma City University where she received a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance Performance. She recently moved to LA from NYC where on her first audition she landed a role in the European tour of West Side Story. She has traveled throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East performing in over 40 cities such as Milan (La Scala Opera House), Lebanon, Munich, Tokyo, and Paris. She has also been blessed to tour the nation with the Broadway National Tour of West Side Story. She has played such roles as Anita (West Side Story), Josie (George M), Cha Cha (Grease) and many more. While living in NYC she danced professionally with a rhythm dance company and taught at many studios throughout NJ and NYC. Since her move here to LA she has taught in Santa Monica, Malibu and Pales Verdes. Rebecca was seen during the 2005 Tony Awards dancing in a commercial for Broadway.com. She feels blessed to have the opportunity to pass on her love for dance. |
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~ (Jazz, Hip Hop)
Ginger has danced for 26 years, studying ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical and musical theatre. Before moving to Los Angeles, Ginger spent five years as the owner and director of Company One Dance Studio in Baton Rouge, LA, and in 1998 she became the coach and choreographer for the Louisiana State Tiger Girls, where, in her first year, they won the Universal Dance Association National Championship. She has toured extensively throughout the country and taught master classes for over ten years. Her work has been performed from Oahu, Hawaii to Cannes, France, and her choreography continues to win national titles for several dance studios in the south. She has choreographed for and performed in Dancescape, a benefit helping art and music programs around Los Angeles, L.A. Dances, a Los Angeles based non-profit dance company, and recently Ginger co-conceptualized and choreographed for "SLAM", a benefit show featuring original choreography by industry favorites as well as up and coming new talent with all proceeds going to the Passion for Dance Project, a Los Angeles based non-profit organization that grants financial scholarships to dancers who are seeking dance as a professional career. |
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~ (Sacred Drama)
Áine Carey is an international award-winning director of film, television and theater. Áine is a Priestess of Avalon, co-facilitator of the Glastonbury Goddess Conference, Ceremonlist and Sacred Dramatist. Áine has a BFA from NYU Film School, MFA from Mason Gross School of Performing Arts, and attended the USM Spiritual Psychology Program.
» www.aineandmremery.com
» www.om-baby.com |
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~ (Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop)
Paula hails from New York City, where she has had the pleasure of training extensively in theater and dance with many of Broadway's top industry professionals. A firm believer in the importance of the arts in early education, Paula created and helmed an after school arts program at Chatsworth Public Elementary School in Westchester, NY when she was just sixteen years old. There she produced, choreographed and directed full-scale musical productions that featured more than 80 grade school children. That was the beginning of a life-long commitment to bringing quality arts education to students of all ages. She received her B.A. in Theater and Dance, and Anthropology, graduating with top honors from Amherst College, before moving on to complete the Shakespeare Conservatory Program at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She has taught extensively throughout New York and L.A., and continues to perform professionally on both stage and screen. |
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~ (Ballet/Modern)
Jamie Gregor began dancing in her hometown of Stroudsburg Pennsylvania at the age of 5, where she studied ballet, tap, jazz, and musical theater. She spent most of her childhood on stage in ballets and regional theater productions, and began choreographing for Pocono Lively Arts and local middle school show choir programs in high school. As an undergrad at New York University, she spent four years in the Dance Education Program studying ballet under the direction of various instructors, including former principals of Alvin Ailey, American Ballet Theater and the Royal Academy of Dancing in London. She also founded the College of Arts and Sciences Theater Program (C.A.S.T). In Los Angeles, Jamie is the founding director of DANCESCAPE, an all-night event that brings the dance community together to raise money primarily for art and music programs in LA's public schools. Jamie has worked with teachers, choreographers and students at every level, ranging from arts academies to finalists and choreographers for SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE and AMERICA'S GOT TALENT. In addition to DANCESCAPE, she continues to study, choreograph, and produce other dance inspired projects. More information on upcoming projects can be found at www.cheshiremoon.org. |
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~ (T'ai Chi Chuan)
Neil R. Gumenick began studying T'ai Chi Chuan in 1976 under Professor Patrick Watson, senior student of Grand Master Cheng Man-Ch'ing, founder of the Yang Style Short Form. Neil taught T'ai Chi in New York and Los Angeles for over 2 decades.
Neil has been a licensed acupuncturist in Santa Monica, CA since 1981 and is one of the foremost teachers and practitioners of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture in the world. He is Founder and Director of The Institute of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture Inc., which trains licensed acupuncturists and physicians in this unique style, right here at the Pretenders Studio.
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www.5elements.com |
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~ (Voice)
Linda Jackson, award-winning vocalist, composer and arranger, has recorded and arranged numerous vocals for television, film, radio and theater. Most recently she has performed leading roles Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Giovanni with the Palisades Symphony, Elisabetta in Verdi's Don Carlo with the Verdi Opera Company and Frau Fluth in Nicolai's Merry Wives of Windsor for California State University, Northridge. She was featured in performances with the Emmy Award-winning Santa Monica College Opera Theatre in the principal roles of Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), the Countess (Le Nozzi di Figaro), and the title role in Carmen. Ms. Jackson performed the First Lady (The Magic Flute) and Giselda (I Lombardi) with Golden West Opera, Mama Lucia (Cavalleria Rusticana) with The Intimate Opera Company and Florence Pike in UCLA's production of Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring. She was featured as guest soloist for the Los Angeles Concert Orchestra, San Fernando Valley Symphony, St. Gregory Chamber Orchestra and the City of Bellflower Symphony Orchestra.
Ms. Jackson began her vocal studies with Dennis Parnell and coached with William Vendice, Valery Ryvkin, Frank Fetta and Sue Ann Pinner. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal performance from UCLA and her Master of Music degree at California State University, Northridge where she studied with Dr. David Scott. »
www.lindajacksonmusic.com |
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~ (Ballet)
Melissa Kite started dancing and performing at the age of 10 in Denver, Colorado with the Magical Youth Ballets. A precocious child, by age 14 she was performing with adult companies, the David Taylor Dance Theatre and traveling to New York to learn choreography. At 15, she received a scholarship to the prestigious Houston Ballet company. There she honed her technique and interpretation talents, as well as dance with the company at Wortham Hall in Houston. After graduating early from high school she made the choice to go to college and take a reprieve from dance. She feels that her academic education coupled with her personal experience with dance make her able to approach life with laughter and determination, kindness and discipline, grace and will power. Melissa graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with an art history degree and Parsons School of Design with an Interior Design degree, all the while continuing to dance part time with local companies. She constantly learns and relearns to embrace all of her talents with a sense of joy and health. Melissa is an actor, dancer, choreographer and teacher. |
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~ (Cardio Kick Boxing)
Heidi has been dancing professionally for the past 12 years. She got her start in Los Angeles as a dancer on Soul Train and went on to dance in music videos, television, film and several tours in Japan with singer Anri. Heidi has also appeared in Fitness and Dance magazines and in various instructional dance and fitness videos. In addition to being a professional dancer, Heidi is also an international instructor in dance and fitness. Teaching at studios such as Crunch in Tokyo, Sports Club L.A. and Bodies in Motion in Los Angeles, just to name a few, she has taken her talents across the globe. Heidi specializes in unique and energetic classes such as cardio kickboxing, cardio funk, cardio African, cardio salsa, cardio disco, and cardio swing. She also teaches body sculpt, indoor cycling, boot camp, and is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist. |
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~ (Afro Latin Jazz)
Cat Ramos is a multi-media artist. She graduated from Cal State Northridge with a double major in dance and fine arts. She has also persued an education in vocals and percussion at Los Angeles Music Academy and is a certified massage therapist from Emperors College, Santa Monica. Cat has been teaching jazz, ethnic dance, yoga and modern to all levels and ages (from college to pre-schools). She has taught at many private studios as well as in local after-school programs. Cat also has a dance company called GTROP (Give Thanks Ritual Ocean Project) bringing dance and environmental issues together. In addition to being a dancer and teacher, Cat is also a professional musician working as a percussionist and has a Reggae band of original music called "La Cat Experience." She has released three CD's and is working on her 4th. |
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~ (Modern I/II, II/III)
Liz Sroka has worked in film, television, commercials and on stage. Her theatrically-based modern and hip-hop choreography has been performed in venues in New York, Los Angeles, Arizona, and Cannes, France. She has created many original works including her one-woman show "Grounds for Tantrum." Liz graduated early from NYU Tisch School of the Arts' Experimental Theatre Wing with a BFA in acting. She has studied with movement masters such as KJ Holmes (contact improv), Wendel Beavers (developmental movement), Mary Overlie (viewpoints and floor barre), Pat Hall and Pam Patrick (Afro-Haitian), Kevin Khulke (paratheatrics, ashtanga yoga, the motions) and Paul Langland, (fluid systems). She was originally trained under Janet Roston, (jazz, modern and choreography), Francis Becker (choreography), and Yuri Smaltzov, (ballet). www.LizSroka.com |
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~ (Belly Dancing)
Mimi Vitale recently earned her BFA from the Guildford School of Acting in the United Kingdom. A Pacific Palisades native, Ms Vitale has performed in many productions prior to her European excursion, and was named Miss Palisades 2000 as well as 1st place winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singing annual vocal competition. Since returning to the U.S, she has completed shows with the Torrance Theatre company, and the Geffen Playhouse. Mimi is currently cast as "Queenie", a southern bell at Disneyland park, as well as in the ensemble of the new Hip-Hop musical, "City Kid", playing at the Hudson theatre in Hollywood. She is also currently working with "the Lotus Dancers", an international dance company that performs all over the world. Mimi is excited and honored to have been given the opportunity to teach at the Pretenders Studio. |
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~ (Yoga)
Rennie Yabiku has been practicing and studying yoga for more than 10 years. She began her journey at Bryan Kest's Power Yoga Studio in Santa Monica. Since then, she has completed 500 hours of teacher training through Yogaworks, where she studied with Jeanne Heilman, Annie Carpenter and Lisa Walford. She first started practicing yoga purely to exercise the physical body, but soon realized the connection of body, mind and soul through the yoga practice. "I got turned on to yoga because I loved the way I felt after class. It was such a great 'workout'. But after a few years of practicing, I began to notice a profound change within. There was a stillness and quietness that emerged as I was breathing and moving deeper into each pose. I learned how to just 'be' and accept and appreciate the present moment." Rennie uses a combination of vinyasa flow, breath awareness and alignment of poses to create a challenging class that guides students to move deeper within their own practice. Rennie is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance. |
Additional Staff Bios Coming Soon!
2912 Colorado Ave. #101, Santa Monica CA 90404
(310)-828-3030
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