Arts

Faculty



Ellen Rosa
Dance Department Chair
Ellen Rosa is a freelance dancer, choreographer and dance teacher based in Los Angeles. She was a scholarship student at Indiana University School of Music where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Ballet. She received her MFA in dance from Florida State University where she was the recipient of the Dean’s Teaching Fellowship and a University Fellowship. Miss Rosa also received additional training at Pennsylvania Ballet and Boston Ballet summer programs where she was on scholarship.

Miss Rosa has performed as a principal dancer in productions with the Los Angeles and New York City Opera and with the San Diego Opera. As a concert dancer, Miss Rosa has performed with the Charleston Ballet Theater, Russian Ballet Theater of Delaware, and as principal dancer with the Chattanooga Ballet. In Los Angeles she has performed as principal dancer with City Ballet of Los Angeles, La danserie and as with Media City Ballet. Miss Rosa has also performed as the Bluebird in Disney’s Snow White, an Enchanting Musical at Disneyland and has toured nationally as principal dancer in the multi-media cirque showDreamscapes.

As a choreographer Miss Rosa has had her choreography presented nationally and was a finalist in the 2006 Dance Under the Stars festival in Palm Desert, CA. Recently, Miss Rosa was chosen as one of three young choreographers to present her work, Bach in Blue, as part of City Ballet of Los Angeles' Concerto Project presented at the Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles. As a dance educator, Miss Rosa has been on the dance faculty of Moorpark College, East Los Angeles College, Chattanooga Ballet School, and Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts. Miss Rosa is an ABT certified instructor in levels primary-level 5 and teaches all levels of ballet, and pointe as well as pas de deux and dance conditioning.

Recent Accomplishments:
1.) One of three featured young choreographers for the Concerto Project, City Ballet of Los Angeles, chosen for her classical ballet style and attention to ballet line.

2.) Attended the American Ballet Theater National Training Curriculum Program in NYC to become an ABT certified ballet teacher.

3.) Performed as principal dancer with City Ballet of Los Angeles at the Ford Amphitheater in June, 09.

4.) Nominated for a Lester Horton dance award for her performance in the Scheherazade Pas de deux, produced by Media City Ballet of Los Angeles.

Ellen Rosa is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level Five of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.



Jonathan Sharp

Ballet Instructor/Mens' class/Pas de deux

Jonathan Sharp was trained at National Academy of the Arts and the School of American Ballet which is the official school of the New York City Ballet. While on full scholarship at SAB he was trained by master teachers 
Stanley Williams, Peter Martins, Andrea Kramarevsky, Suzanne Ferrell, Alexandra Danilova, Suki Schorer, and Sean Lavery. After finishing his training, he danced professionally with the Boston Ballet and the Pennsylvania Ballet. He was also a member of Stars of American Ballet (A touring group headlined by Robert LaFosse and Darci Kistler). He returned to NYC and has appeared in the Original Casts of five Broadway shows- THE RED SHOES,CAROUSEL(1994 Tony- winner for Best Revival),THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW LIVE, THE DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES, and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. He has also appeared on television as a contract player on the Daytime Drama ANOTHER WORLD- as well as guest starring on Law and Order and Gilmore Girls. He has been a faculty member of Idyllwild Arts Academy for four years. He also teaches and directs all over Southern California. Currently he is on faculty at the California Dance Theatre, Inland Pacific Ballet, and the EDGE Performing Arts Center.

Recent Accomplishments:

1.) Performed as principal dancer with Inland Pacific Ballet, Claremont,CA, in their productions of Dracula and Little Mermaid.
2.) Guest teacher for Inland Pacific Ballet's Summer dance program
3.)Attended the American Ballet Theater National Training Curriculum Program in NYC to become an ABT certified ballet teacher.
4.) Principal dancer for the Dallas Opera December 08.

Jonathan Sharp is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level Five of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.


Bill Bartlett
Tap instructor 
Bill Bartlett started dancing at Paul Armstrong studios in Salem, OR at age 12. He studied tap with Carole Long, Gene GeBauer, Paul Armstrong; and  Emery Clay at Clay Brother's Studio in Portland, OR. Ballet with Robert Erwin, ballroom dancing from Don Allen Studios and Dale Rittermeyer at Arthur Murray Studios. After completing his training at Arthur Murray Studios he began teaching and received high school credits in his senior year for his work teaching.

Winning first place with his tap dancing in Carl Hawley's Mr Talent statewide competion awarded him a one week expense paid trip to Hollywood.Within one year moved to Southern California, studying tap with Eddie Gay ( noted teacher of film star Vera Ellen ) and jazz with Bill Roberts. Some of the highlights of Bill's career as a dancer include
:
 


Appearing  as solo tap dancer in Amato's Supper Club show starring  Sophie Tucker.
Gene Kelly Special for NBC with Gene Kelly, Donald O'connor and Carol Lawrence.
Don Knott's Special.
Disney On Parade   touring US, Canada and Mexico.
Chandler Conspiracy Night Club Act  touring US and Canada.
Madeline Kahn's  Find Me A Primitive Man number in Peter Bogdanovitch's film At Long Last Love.
No! No! Nanette with Martha Raye.
Orange Shasta commercial choreographed by Peter Gennaro.
Gene Nelson's  video  Come Tap With Me.
The 8th season of The Palm Springs Follies working with Donald O'connor,The Mills Brothers, The Mercer Brothers and Kay Starr.
Ghost dancer with his wife Deborah in the Disney film Haunted Mansion.
Tap dancing with his wife Deborah in  Live at the Victory The Variety Special  starring Jay Johnson and Linda Purl at the Victory Theatre.  
Technical advisor dance:  The O.C.  t.v. series episodes, The Debut and The Best Christmukkah Ever.
Dance coach for Felicity Huffman and Michael Gambon on John Frankenheimer's film Path To War.
Co-choreographer and performer in Ray Of Sunshine, film starring Nancy Kwan and Seymour Cassel.
Choreographer:  AFI film Floor 29 directed by Korinna Sehringer.
Dance Coach:  You Wish t.v. series pilot, ABC Disney.
Co-Choreographer:  Ginseng Power, Cine Kingdom Film Co.
Co-choreographer:  Tender Is The Night, Dottie!, The Last Tycoon and Ancient History at The Fountain Theatre  receiving
LA Weekly 1998 Production Design Of The Year Award For Choreography  for The Last Tycoon.


Ronald E. Brown 
Modern Dance/African Dance instructor 
Ronald began training in classical ballet, studying at the Ballet Russe of Cleveland, the Akron Chamber Ballet and the School of American Ballet .Later, he explored the modern disciplines of Jose Limon, Martha Graham and Lestor Horton. Presently, Ron has found the joy of movement in West African dance under the guidance of Nzingha Camara. Ronald’s professional credits include performing with such notable companies as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Alvin Ailey II, Dianne McIntyre’s Sounds in Motion, UCLA Dance Company, JazzAntigua and Malathi Iyenger & Rangoli Dance Company. Ron has taught extensively throughout the United States at Interlochen Arts Academy, Brown University, Loyola Marymount University , Los Angeles County High School for the Performing Arts, Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences and the Lula Washington Dance Theater. Internationally, Ronald has conducted workshops in Finland, Italy, Taiwan, Canada, Brazil, Spain and Mexico. He has served as associate adjunct professor of Dance in the department of World Arts and Cultures at UCLA for fifteen years. He has received several nominations for the Lestor Horton Teacher of the Year Award. For two years Ronald resided in Manaus-Amazonas-Brazil as instructor and choreographer for several schools and dance companies for the Secretaria de Estado da Cultura e Tourismo. Presently, Ronald is on faculty with California State University Long Beach, Santa Monica College, and local dance studios. 

Recent Accomplishments:
1.) Received the 2010 Lester Horton Lifetime Achievement Award. pdf
 
Patrick Doran-Sheeran
Dance Faculty


Patrick Frantz
Variations/Ballet Instructor
Trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School, Patrick FRANTZ entered the Paris Opera Ballet in 1959. He is named Premier Danseur in 1966. His multiple talents are quickly recognized. At 23 years old, he is not only Artiste, but Pedagogue and Choreographer. He is invited as Guest Teacher to the International Mime School of Marcel MARCEAU, he founds the Young Choreographers of the Paris Opera, and is invited to choreograph at the well-known Festival of Avignon. He simultaneously wins the First Prize of Piano at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris.

In 1971, he leaves France for an international career accepting positions as Principal Dancer, Professor and Resident Choreographer for Pennsylvania Ballet in the United States.

In 1973, he is named Artistic Director of New City Ballet in Columbia, Maryland for which he choreographs several original works. His choreography of Janacek’s Missa Glagolitica brought collaboration with Emilio Pucci who designed the dance floor for performances in the Cathedral in Washington D.C.

The Tucson Ballet in Arizona invites him in 1975 to become Artistic Director. He founds the Tucson Ballet School and enjoys excellent reviews all the while creating original works and inviting other Master Teachers and Choreographers to the Southwest. It is here that FRANTZ was inspired to choreograph his Firebird. Saturday Review’s dance critic Walter Terry writes: “In his Firebird the Frenchman has combined a Russian score with an American Indian theme. His technique of classical ballet, fused with the expressivity of modern dance and the cabalistic intensity of primitive ritual, works like magic.”

He is named as Artistic Director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 1979 where he continues his work of creation and founds Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. Meanwhile, he is invited as international Guest Choreographer and Master Teacher.

From 1983 to 1990, many establishments of reputation call upon his experience. He is on Faculty at the Stanley Holden Dance Center of Los Angeles, Choreographer in Residence of Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, Guest Master Teacher at the Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Guest Teacher and Choreographer at Westside Ballet of Los Angeles.

Since 1990, the career of Mr. FRANTZ continues to develop internationally. He has created and runs to date his contemporary ballet company La Danserie, acclaimed by the press and the State of California. He is also Artistic Director of Rozann-Zimmermann Ballet Center, Guest Teacher at Joffrey Ballet, and Hubbard Street Dance Theatre of Chicago, at the very selective Theatre Colon of Buenos Aires, at the University of Utah, the Crystal Cathedral, and the Danshaus in Copenhagen, Denmark, Ecole de Ballet Contemporain de Montreal. He also takes part as a Guest Teacher in many international Intensive Workshops.

Mr Frantz has worked with the greatest names of the dance world: Serge LIFAR, George BALANCHINE, Jerome ROBBINS, Yvette CHAUVIRE, Maurice BEJART, Leonide MASSINE, Mikhael BARYSHNIKOV, Roland PETIT, Harald LANDER, George SKIBINE, John BUTLER, Milko SPAREMBLEK, Gene KELLY, Kenneth McMILLAN.

Recent Accomplishments:

1.) Guest teacher at Colburn School, Los Angeles, CA
2.) Guest teacher at Point Park University, Pittsburgh, PA
3.) Guest teacher, Paris, France.


Stephanie Gilliland
Modern Dance/Dance Composition instructor 

Described by the Los Angeles Times as one of the most inventive minds in LA dance, Stephanie Gilliland is a West Coast choreographer and solo dance artist who has been working outside mainstream dance since 1977. She has founded and directed two dance collectives and her own companies both in New York and California, including the highly acclaimed TONGUE/ contemporary dance, based in Los Angeles until 2005. Her work has been presented throughout the United States and abroad including Scotland, Mexico, the Soviet Union and Canada.


Gilliland is a recipient of a Creativity Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, an awardee of a Dance Maker grant from the Irvine Foundation, and she has received three Lester Horton awards for choreographic achievement and for performance by her company, TONGUE. Her work has been supported by numerous granting organizations including Dance USA, the Durfee Foundation, Los Angeles Cultural Affairs, the Annenburg Foundation, and the California Arts Council where she was a member of their touring roster. In 2007 she was awarded a residency at the prestigious Montalvo Arts Center.

Gilliland began her teaching career in 1980 and has served on the dance faculties of UC Riverside, UC Irvine, Loyola Marymount University, Mt San Jacinto College, Riverside Community College and the Idyllwild Arts Academy where she is currently in her fifteenth year as a teacher of modern dance technique, yoga and dance composition. Gilliland is the artistic director of TONGUE/ Contemporary Dance Projects, based in Riverside, CA.



Stephanie Jamieson
Modern Dance Instructor
Stephanie Jamieson graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Dance with a minor in theatre arts. She performed in and choreographed numerous pieces while completing her undergrad work, which offered her the opportunity to work with artists such as Hassan Christopher, Mike Esperanza, Chad Michael Hall, and Holly Johnston among others. Since then she has become a CertifiedGYROTONIC Instructor and performed and worked with Ledges and Bones Dance Project, Method Contemporary Dance and Invertigo Dance Theater. Stephanie is also a founding member of the dance company KDUB dance, directed by Kevin Williamson, with whom she performed his premier work entitled, Fruit. Stephanie has choreographed; Kiss Me Kate and Cabaret, for Loyola Marymount University; as well as music videos for various artists including Rough Duchess and Puddle Of Mud.  Most recently she performed at City Hall for Collage Dance Theater’s 25th Anniversary Show, Governing Bodies. She currently teaches dance full-time in Eagle Rock, California at Renaissance Arts Academy, and continues to pursue her choreographic and performance career throughout the greater Los Angeles area.  

Heather Phillips
Jazz Dance Instructor
Originally from the East Coast, Heather began dancing at the age of two at her mother's dance studio. As she grew older, she branched out to train at other schools including Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, Rock School for Ballet, and Broadway Dance Center. She is trained in all styles of dance, and was a member of Opus 1 contemporary company from age 15 to 18. After graduating from a performing arts high school, she auditioned and was accepted into the 1 year scholarship program at Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood. Upon completion, Heather was signed to a dance agency and began working in both the company, and commercial sides of dance. Some of her credits include: -Principle dancer in the 2009 remake of the movie FAME, A&E's "The Cleaner", CATS, 2006-2007 season with Odyssey Dance Theater (toured the US and Europe/ rep pieces include works by Mia Michaels, Dee Caspary, and Mandy Moore), Untitled Ivan Reitman movie (2011 release), Star Magic World Tour, Rihanna music video, High School Musical 2, Cheetah Girls 2, 2007-2008 season with Brice Mousset's Contemporary company, various off-Broadway shows, and Aida. While living in New York, Heather began teaching advanced contemporary jazz classes at Broadway Dance Center. She is currently working with Josie Walsh's company Myo Kyo, auditioning/working in TV/Film, and on faculty at Wildcard Dance Co.

Alla Plotkin
Dance Accompanist


Patti Davis Raffy
Dance Instructor
Patricia Davis was born in Los Angeles, California.  In 1965, she was awarded a Ford Foundation Scholarship to the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet.  Ms. Davis danced for two seasons with American Ballet Theater Repertory Company and made frequent guest appearances with regional ballet companies.  She joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theater in 1978 as a soloist and became a principal ballerina in 1980. Ms. Davis has danced many of the lead roles in the classical repertory including Giselle, Odette/Odile, and Swanhilda in Coppelia.  Rave reviews followed her moving rendition of Michael Smuin’s Harp Concerto Pas de Deux.   Anna Kisselgoff of the New York Times stated: “Davis...has a special purity of classical dancing.  She is so extremely well placed and schooled, with a beautiful floating jump.”   These qualities inspired many leading roles in Patrick Frantz’s contemporary ballets, among them Firebird, Romeo and Juliet, and The Triumph of Dance.”


Lauren Smith
Musical Theatre Dance Instructor, Jazz Dance Instructor
Lauren Rose Smith began dancing at the age of three and quickly became a competitive performer traveling throughout the country to pursue her love for dance. During her competitive dancing career, Lauren was awarded numerous scholarships and awards including Senior Top Soloist, scholarships to Broadway Dance Center in New York City, as well as the opportunity to assist at Company Dance Convention. She also traveled to London to perform in the New Year’s Day parade. After graduating from high school, Lauren attended California State University of Long Beach to study modern dance, ballet and dance composition and earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in dance. Lauren now teaches jazz, ballet, and modern at several schools throughout southern California and is currently dancing for choreographer and teacher Stephanie Gilliland.


Carlton Wilborn
Jazz Dance Instructor


Guest Artists:
Josie Walsh
Chad Michael Hall
Lilian Barbeito
Nina Watt
Leslie Stevens
Megan Way