We are very blessed to have had several celebrity artists come in and teach our students!
Rudy Abreu
Rudy Abreu is originally from Miami, FL, where he received his early dance training with Manny and Lory Castro. Under their direction, Rudy went on to perform on various reality TV shows including Paula Abdul’s “Liveto Dance”, “America’s Got Talent”, and at the age of 18, after placing in the top 8 of the hit tv show, “So You Think You Can Dance”, he danced on a 77 city tour around the US and Canada with the “So You Think You Can Dance” tour. Rudy relocated to LA following the “So You Think You Can Dance” tour and immediately began teaching at several professional studios including Millenium Dance Complex, Movement Lifestyle and currently is on faculty at the Edge Performing Arts Center. Recent performance credits include Derek and Julianne Hough’s “Move Live on Tour” and Rudy is currently dancing behind JLO in her new residency show at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. Rudy also continues to educate and connect with young dancers all over the country, touring with Artists Simply Human Dance Convention.
Stephen "Twitch" Boss is a freestyle dancer from Montgomery, Alabama. As a child, he was always seen moving and dancing hip-hop, which is how he earned the nickname "Twitch." He graduated from Lee High School in Montgomery, Alabama in 2000 and continued to study dance at Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, Alabama. Twitch first appeared on television when he placed second on Star Search behind America's Best Dance Crew group Super Crew's "Do Knock". Then in 2003, Boss went to Los Angeles and auditioned to become a contestant on MTV's "The Wade Robson Project" where he eventually placed third in the competition. At the same time, he attended Chapman University in Southern California where he studied dance.
Boss originally auditioned for Season 3 of SYTYCD, and made it through 'Vegas Week' but was beaten out by Hokuto "Hok" Konishi when it came to placing in the Top 20. Boss returned in Season 4 making it all the way to the finale, as runner-up. While his breakout performances occurred on So You Think You Can Dance, he previously appeared as a dancer in Hairspray. He can be seen in the dance number at the platter party and in "You Can't Stop the Beat". Boss also choreographed dances for singing groups, such as South Korean singer Se7en and Disney's Cheetah Girls.
Boss has been teaching at South County Classical Ballet for just over a year now with fellow finalist Katee Shean. On July 30, 2009, Boss returned to So You Think You Can Dance with fellow Season 4 contestant Katee Shean to perform their Emmy-nominated piece "Mercy", choreographed by Mia Michaels. Boss continues to teach dance classes and workshops around the world and has even created an online video sketch-comedy in December of 2009 called TheKommune.com.
Recently, Boss landed the movie roles of Jason in "Step Up 3D" (releasing August 6, 2010) and Taz, in "Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming". Boss is in the process of producing a casual wear clothing line in Fall 2010 called tWitch Boss Clothing, that will be offered online. In his current residency of Los Angeles, Boss is part of dance groups Breed OCLA and Chill Factor Crew and is participating in the non-profit, Dizzy Feet Foundation, which supports underprivileged youth in dance education and opportunity.
Monique Borromeo
Monique was born and raised in Seattle, WA where she trained at Pacific Northwest Ballet School for many years. Later on she danced with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks for two seasons while in college before taking the plunge into the commercial dance world. Monique then moved to Los Angeles to follow her Dream of traveling the world dancing with major artists, appearing in music videos and dancing in commercials.
Monique has gone on tour with Rihanna’s European Promo Tour and Keri Hilson’s “I Am Music” Tour. She has danced in music videos by Rihanna, Chris Brown and even Raven Symone. Monique has been involved in live award shows; MTV VMA’s for Rihanna ‘08, Teen Choice Awards and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve Special with Sean Kingston, MTV VMA’s with Beyonce in ’09 and the Victoria Secret Fashion show with the Black Eyed Peas. She has appeared in the Atlantis Resort Commercial, a National commercial for NAIR as well as a FIAT car commercial starring Jennifer Lopez.
Always interested in films, after relocating to New York she attended New York Film Academy and learned about the world of digital filmmaking. She aspires for the next ‘chapter’ in her lyfe and is currently undertaking The “GldnChld” Project with creative partner Will B. Wingfield. Monique is not just a dancer but an Artist and now she will tell stories through the medium of film and it is her responsibility to push ‘it ‘to the limits and b.yond.
Anna Dobbins
Anna Marie has been dancing since the age of 5. She has won numerous regional titles as well as National Champion Titles in the fields of jazz and hip hop. She has been trained under the "LDD" program as well as world re-known studios in Los Angeles such as "The Edge" "Millennium" and "Debbie Reynolds". Anna Marie is an intern for the world re-known company The Pulse (home of Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, Sonya and more superstars of the dance world).
She graduated college with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Dance and Choreography, where she was awarded numerous scholarships and high honors for her choreography and dance work while she was there. Her choreography has won numerous awards around the world as well. She received an invitation to perform and choreograph for the Aberdeen Youth International Festival in Aberdeen, Scotland. She has also won the Top Choreographer award at 4 Nationally ranked Competitions. Her work can be seen with numerous studios, middle schools, high schools and colleges around the country.
She is currently on staff with Celebration Talent Competition where she Emcee's and teaches Master Classes. She is also on staff with Platinum Dance Competition where she travels as a judge and Master teacher.
Anna Marie is also a professional actress working the Birmingham, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles Markets. She has been signed with JPervis Talent of Atlanta, The Brock Agency of North Carolina, Real People of Birmingham and Diverse Talent in Los Angeles. Anna Marie is also named one of Birmingham Magazine “Most Beautiful People”.
She can be seen in the feature films and television shows such as: "Footloose” "Lifted" Tyler Perry’s feature film "Georgia Sky" “Vampire Diaries” and BET's “Being Mary Jane”. Her commercial work includes Royal Caribbean, Nickelodeon, Nike, Exxon, Cracker Barrel, Ford Fusion as well as print work in Justine Magazine, LAT sportswear, and more. Anna Marie trains in acting with "The Company Acting Studio" in Atlanta as well as private instruction with Mary McCusker of Nip/Tuck and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in Los Angeles. You can view more info on Anna Marie - www.annamariedobbins.com
Courtney Galiano
Courtney is one of the top 20 dancers on So You Think You Can Dance. Courtney is a contemporary dancer from Commack, NY. Though she specializes in Contemporary, Galiano also loves to dance hip hop. She appeared in the music video for Kat De Luna’s “Whine Up” and is a dancer for the New York Knicks.
Jessica King
Jessica King is a top contemporary dancer from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She is well known for her top 10 appearance on So You Think You Can Dance and appeared as “The Dreamer”, the lead role in the highly acclaimed show Le Reve in Las Vegas at the Wynn Hotel and Casino for two years.
Jessica is also a highly regarded instructor and choreographer of various styles including contemporary, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap and ballroom. Learn more at her website.
Talia Favia
Talia Favia is a Los Angeles based Choreographer, Dancer, Artist, and creator/artistic director of LIV Dance. She has taught and choreographed all over the United States, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, and has choreographed on "So You Think You Can Dance" Vietnam. Along with traveling the world, Talia is the founder and director of her Los Angeles based contemporary company, "The Difference Between." Talia and her company had their first show, "The Difference Between Sinking & Drowning" in Phoenix, AZ and performed to a sold out audience in 2013. In 2014, she brought the show to Los Angeles, CA and was fortunate enough to perform for another sold out audience. Talia's dream to keep her company going is becoming reality.
Her most recent accomplishments include being a finalist in the 2014 Capezio A.C.E Awards where she and her company took home 1st place. In July of 2015, Favia's company took the stage with a brand new show, "The Difference Between Actions & Words" at Dancerpalooza in Long Beach, CA where her work preceded to touch and affect a brand new sold out audience. Favia's blessings increased soon after when she went straight into rehearsal for Season 12 of So You Think You Can Dance.
Talia's choreography has been described as challenging from the inside out. Her passion and love for teaching is indescribable when you see her in a room and watch her spread her knowledge to the next generation.
Mia Michaels
Mia was born in Coconut Grove, Florida, to a family of dancers. Her father and dance teacher, Joe Michaels, taught her jazz, tap and ballet, while her sister, Dana, taught her contemporary dance. Though she began her training with members of her family, she also trained at Miami Conservatory, the Miami Performing Arts Center and Michigan's Interlochen Arts Academy, as well as, the New World School of the Arts. Her first work experience was with her father at the Miami Dance Center, even though she began choreographing at the age of 11. She still works with her father at Joe Michaels Miami Dance Center. She has also taught dance in several schools, including the International Dance Festival of Italy, Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida, and as a guest jazz teacher at the Broadway Dance Center in NYC.
She has choreographed for Madonna's "Drowned World Tour," Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Prince, DK 96, Jon Secada, PYT , and Jimmy Ray. She has also worked with Debbie Allen and Dreamworks on an AMC cable series "Cool Women."
She has choreographed a series of commercials, some award-winning, for the WNBA, Mike's Hard Lemonade, Bacardi, Coldwell Banker, Ziploc, Lady Luck Casino in Las Vegas, MTV's "Hot Properties," Star TV and VISA.
She is the founder, artistic director and choreographer of RAW (Reality At Work), a critically acclaimed New York-based dance company begun in 1997. Mia's contemporary dance company "Mia Michaels R.A.W." has performed in Seoul, Korea, the Jazz World Congress, the International Dance Festival in Amsterdam, the Gypsy Project, Jacobs Pillow, and the New York City '99 concert season. In 2001, the dance company went on a 6-week European tour.
In 2003, she was Director of Choreography for Cirque du Soleil's "Delirium." She has created commissioned-work for Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Oslo Dance Ensemble, and Rhythmek Lightbody. She's worked for the American Music Awards, Celine Dion's "A New Day" and "Taking Chances World Tour," "West Side Story" and "Hello, Dolly!" on Broadway, and off-Broadway with "If These Shoes Could Talk" and "Fort Chaffee".
Her claim to international fame came in 2005 when she became a guest judge and contemporary choreographer for the "So You Think You Can Dance" competition television series. In 2009, she abruptly left the show after the auditions in New York City. In 2010, she returned, becoming the new resident judge for the show, replacing Mary Murphy.
David Rossetti
David is a actor/choreographer birthed in Southern Maryland, but claiming Central FL as his home. In the early stages of his career he performed in many church musicals and wanted to be a Marine Biologist. In 10th grade, though, everything changed after making audiences laugh as simpleton “Goat” in The Robber Bridegroom.
David attended Valdosta State University and received his B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Performance. Immediately following college he created the role "Cleareen Clawson" in the World Premiere of Diva Diaries at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and then toured the country & Canada (135 cities in 10 months, to be exact) in the Fame National Tour as the trumpet-playing “Goody.”
He then spent a brief, yet enriching, time in the Atlanta theatre scene where he performed at the Tony-award winning Alliance Theatre and with Theatre of the Stars in their production of “The Music Man” (which also toured to Houston, TX). He also played tennis and was a 2006 Tournament Finalist. (Who knew all those tennis lessons would pay off?!)
David then hit the road again with the National Tour of Hairspray as "Brad" and would later go on to Assistant Direct for the tour as well as the critically-acclaimed Paper Mill Playhouse production.
While in New York, David began working at the West Side YMCA in the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre as a House Manager and Freelance Production Manager for special events including "Little Theater, Big Dreams"; a benefit cabaret that he has created, produced and directed for 3 years running. Click here for our page on Facebook.
He is a proud inhabitant of Sunnyside, Queens and has been a member of Actors Equity Association since 2007.
He is very proud to be a Swing and Dance Captain for his first Broadway show, Annie currently playing at the famed Palace Theatre in Times Square NYC.
From a future Marine Biologist to Broadway! Just crazy!
Gregg Russell
Gregg Russell is an Emmy nominated Choreographer and has worked with such stars as: Bette Midler, Gene Kelly, The Nicholas Brothers, Michael Jackson and many more! You may have seen him on television in "Even Stevens", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "The Tonight Show", in the GAP national commercials or his choreography on the hit soap opera "Bold and the Beautiful". He is hosting and production "Tap into the Network" intensives which will have him traveling to 4-6 different cities throughout the country in the summer of 2011 (www.tapintothenetwork.com
"Gregg brings to tap an eclectic mix of style including hip-hop, jazz, and lyrical, with a traditional base, reminiscent of Gene Kelly and the Nicholas Brothers. It is a joy to watch him dance"- Kenny Ortega, Emmy Award winning Director and Choreographer
Cherrise Wakeham
Cherrise Wakeham has been dedicated to the art of movement since the age of seven and is now employing her passion for choreography and instruction on a national level. Upon moving to Atlanta in 1998, Cherrise became a founding member of The Phoenix Dance Project, under the direction and choreography of John Mattson, where she began performing, teaching, and choreographing professionally. Since that time, she has developed a relentless vision for joining forces of both style and technique within her work and has gone on to work with a wide range of students, companies, and programs throughout the southeast.
In 2007, Cherrise founded the Atlanta-based, non-profit professional contemporary commercial dance company, Project 7. Her work both independently and with Project 7 and as has been featured in Dance Spirit and Dance Informa Magazines and on stages ranging from the Joyce Theatre in New York City to the Alliance and Balzer Theaters in Atlanta. She has been recognized as a 2-time choreographer pick for the Pulse on Tour and invited to a variety of guest performances, including Women in Film and Television of Atlanta, Project S.A.F.E., Phazes of Love and The Pink Frog Foundation. Most recently, Cherrise was named the 1st runner up of the 2014 Capezio ACE Award and winner of a $5000 production budget toward her own show this summer in Los Angeles. Having graduated Summa Cum Laude with Honors from Georgia State University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Cherrise aims to combine a concentration in child development with her passion for cultivating creativity, discipline, and self-worth within her students in a professional and positive atmosphere.
Will Wingfield began training at age nine at D.C. Dance Factory in Nashville, TN. At age 15, he was noticed by one of the true pioneers of the arts, Mrs. Debbie Allen. Soon thereafter, he moved to L.A., and went on a full scholarship at the "Debbie Allen Dance Academy"(D.A.D.A), where he had the opportunity to train in nine different forms of dance technique. While on scholarship at D.A.D.A he had the pleasure to do five full-length plays, written and directed by Mrs. Debbie Allen. He starred in four principal roles, and served as one of her assistant choreographers on a play she was choreographing, and directing in Beirut Lebanon.
Will joined Terry Beeman's Co. for two years, appearing in two of his full length shows; "Bound" and "La Piccolo Concerto. He danced in the 57th Annual Emmy Awards in the very first competition of "Emmy Idol." He had the experience of being a part of the skeleton crew, for the Paramount Pictures movie "Dreamgirls." After graduating high school he moved to Las Vegas to be a part of "A New Day" by DRAGONE, starring the world renowned Celine Dion. In 2008 Will was one of the "Top 8" finalist on Season IV of "So You Think You Can Dance." He performed in the "Emmy Award" winning piece choreographed by Tyce Diorio. Will has done work recently overseas in OMAN with Debbie Allen, The Kennedy Center, and the Sultanate of Oman.
Will premiered as the Lead Flying Monkey in the revival of "The Wiz," as well as being a part of the ensemble cast at City Center in NY 09'. In the fall of 09 Will joined the Tony award-winning cast of "In The Heights," as the principal role of "Graffiti Pete". After Broadway Will was on set choreographer for a GE super bowl commercial, and has been Assistant Choreographer to Mia Michaels on the 1st musical episode of "House," as well as ABC's Pilot "GRACE." Will just finished work on the "Rock Of Ages" Feature Film directed by Adam Shankman. Will has been fortunate enough to work for, and train with, some of the most talented Artist's still around today.