Cory Antipa
Instructor
Degrees: B.A. and M.A., Modern Dance from Mills College
Ms. Antipa has been an instructor of dance at SRJC
since 1977, teaching ballet, modern and dance history. She was co-founder,
choreographer and performer of Dance Is A Language, member of Footloose
Dance Company, soloist and choreographer for Redwood Empire Ballet, and
has been a freelance dancer in the greater Bay Area. She performs historical
dance and has been a member of Historic Dance Ensemble for Cal Performances,
Berkeley.
Theatrical choreography includes Kiss
Me Kate, Carousel, No No Nanette, King and I, and Brigadoon.
Ms. Antipa is also a teacher of the Feldenkrais® Method.
Ms. Antipa is a 30 year member of Santa Rosa Symphony,
and has played with Marin Chamber Orchestra and Napa Valley Symphony. She
has performed as both a solo and chamber player for concert series throughout
Northern California. She has been a member of Santa Rosa Chamber Players,
North Bay Chamber Ensemble, Quartet Artemesia, and is currently a member
of the Mercury Ensemble.
Series and festivals include Redwood Arts Council,
Music at the White Barn, Redwoods Summer Music Festival, St. James Chamber
Series, Old First Church, and Sundays in the Chamber at Luther Burbank
Center. She has also been a soloist with Santa Rosa's Baroque Sinfonia.
She also maintains a private cello studio.
Lara Branen
Instructor
Lara Branen received her masters in dance from the University of Colorado in
1987. Lara has served on the dance faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College since
1988. She started her dance studies in ballet at Colorado College, Colorado
Springs with Norman Cornick. She has studied jazz with Lynn Simonson in NYC,
Joe Tremaine in Los Angeles, Ed Mock and Anne Marie Garvin in San Francisco.
Lara is the Director of the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop
held annually at the University of Colorado in Boulder and the Artistic Director
of the workshop's resident dance company Interweave Dance Theatre.
Lara previously taught at the University of Colorado as
well as in numerous private studios in the Denver Metro area. She first taught
aerobic dance at the Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa and was a Pilates Trainer at Sonoma County's first Pilates studio BodyChange.
Lara has choreographed musicals including The
Fantastiks, The Wiz, and two SRJC productions, The
Rock Opera Tommy and Fiddler on the Roof. In addition to
her work at SRJC for the annual dance production and the touring Dance Ensemble,
her choreography credits include several Sonoma County World Aid's Awareness
Day performances, rock concerts
and fashion shows throughout the 80's in the Denver metro area, and the International
Skiwear Convention in Las Vegas.
Michele Camozzi
Instructor
Michele Camozzi Schmidt is a dedicated dance adjudicator, choreographer and instructor. The excellent classical training she received from the San Francisco Ballet (SFB) led to an accomplished performing and teaching career. As a young ballet dancer Michele was chosen from her pre-professional program to premiere original works by Julia Adam and Christopher Stowell, two of SFB’s most innovative choreographers. After moving to Los Angeles she expanded her foundation by training in jazz, lyrical, contemporary and hip hop. She continued to perform under the direction of choreographers such as Chebar Williams and Malaya (both whom she also assisted), Bubba Carr, Denise Leitner and more. She was a principal guest artist with Kitty McNamee's Hysterica Dance Company (contemporary works) and had appearances in the Disney movie Freaky Friday (LA) and the TV show Sex and the City (NY). Michele taught Ballet at the Edge Performing Arts Center and Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles. In New York she joined the prestigious faculty at Steps on Broadway where she taught Ballet, Jazz and Lyrical. She also furthered her training by studying tap and musical theater with the best from Broadway at Steps and Broadway Dance Center. After returning to California, Michele graduated from the University of CA, Berkeley with a BA in Cultural Anthropology and published, “The Art of Perfection: A Look Inside the World of Pre-Professional Ballet Dancers.” Currently, Michele teaches master classes around the world, adjudicates and teaches nationwide for Talent on Parade’s dance competitions and directives, and is on faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College and Petaluma School of Ballet in northern California.
Susan Conway
Instructor
Susan
Conway, AKA Susan Conway Mangini, graduated from Mills College with a masters
degree in dance. She has been teaching ballroom, social and artistic dance
for 30 years. For 11 years Susan operated a dance studio where she taught
tap, jazz, creative movement, ballet, and ballroom to children and adults.
She has extensive experience choreographing dance routines and has been teaching
at SRJC since fall of 1996.
Kelvin Cooper
Instructor
Kelvin has a Masters Degree in Dance Education from New York University. He presently work as a full-time faculty at the Santa Rosa Junior College. He completed a study abroad program in Uganda as a teacher’s assistant for New York University. He was also a professional development trainer for a partnership program with New Orleans Ballet Association through the University. He believes that dance is for everyone. That the power to identify, understand, create and express through movements can open doors to growth in all aspects of life. He has performed in the Equity Showcase of the Darker Face of the Earth directed by Trezana Beverly. Kelvin has performed with numerous dance theatre companies including Elizabeth Streps at the Joyce Theatre, Joan Peters and Roots of Brazil at Symphony space and two different projects for Douglas Dunn at St. Marks Church, New York. He was a featured dancer for the Grammy Award winning band Arrested Development at the Madison Square Garden and has performed in Samson and Delilah at the Metropolitan House. Kelvin has also played the main role of Jesus in two films at New York University and has worked as a dance director at the Center for Family Life. He is particularly interested in understanding the way dance and social work can be used for social justice.
Eileen Dabbs
Instructor
Eileen Dabbs received her B.A. in theater arts from
Sonoma State University and her M.A. in Dance from Mills College. She has
called Sonoma County home for the past 30 years. During those years
she has worked, taught, performed, married and raised a son.
She has had
the privilege of teaching for Santa Rosa Junior College for over 20
years and still feels it is the best job on earth. A teacher by profession,
she regards teaching dance as more of a vocation and hopes that her classes
may inspire others to enjoy the art of dance as much as she does.
Mary DiLillo
Instructor
Mary DiLillo holds a B.A. in physical education, and a K-14 Single Subject Teaching
Credential in physical education with Movement Education emphasis. Mary performed
with Sacramento Ballet, and has directed and performed with the Pacific Regional
Ballet Company, Redwood Empire Ballet.
She has owned her own dance school, produced and directed
several full-length performances at Sonoma State University, and created
lecture-demonstrations for Elementary Schools.
Mary is a Registered Master Teacher with the Royal Academy
of Dance. She has successfully entered all level students in the R.A. D.
vocational and children exams.
Ms. DiLillo has taught for the SRJC Physical Education,
Dance and Athletics Department for 23 years, teaching ballet,
jazz, aerobics, body conditioning, dance composition, and all courses related
to the dance performance.
Mary's teaching emphasis is on the whole person, with
sound technique and contemporary style. She lives with her husband and
daughter. Her current hobbies are horseback riding and home decorating.
Kristine Marchus
Instructor
Kristine Marchus began her training in Vagonova Ballet and Jazz at the age
of nine in Indianapolis, Indiana. She continued her study of dance and theater
at Broad Ripple High School for Performing Arts. Kristine attended the Boston
Conservatory, where she received her BFA and performed for four years with
The Boston Conservatory Dance Theater.
After graduation she taught for the
Boston Public Schools and Boston Ballet's New Ballet School. Kristine moved
to New York City to teach for Elliot Feld's Feld Ballets New York/BalletTech.
While in New York, Kristine performed at the Merce Cunnigham Space and
danced for several modern dance companies.
Kristine later earned her M.A. from UCLA and taught
dance for Los Angeles Unified Schools. She performed with the Department
of World Arts and Cultures and as a company member of Regina Klenjoski
Dance Company.
Kristine
is currently on the faculty of Sonoma State University, the Sonoma Ballet
Conservatory, The Yoga Company, and has been teaching jazz, hip hop, modern,
ballet, and, most recently, Yoga for SRJC since 2001.
Susan Matthies
Instructor
Susan Matthies has taught modern and jazz dance for over 29 years. She
has been on the dance faculty at SRJC for 20 years. She has a B.A. in theater
arts and dance from Sonoma State University and a M.A. in counseling/psychology
from University of San Francisco.
Susan performed professionally for 14 years
with four different dance companies, including Crossweave Modern Dance Company,
the Timpany Company, Rec Russel Jazz Dance Company, and Interweave Dance
Company.
She was a guest artist at the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop
for five years. She has performed in many cities all over the U.S.A. and has
choreographed pieces for several professional companies and colleges.
Susan enthusiastically
teaches jazz and modern technique, composition, and rehearsal and perfromance
classes at SRJC.
Debbe-Ann Medina
Dance Coordinator/Instructor
Debbe-Ann Medina is an instructor and the Dance Coordinator for the Physical
Education, Dance and Athletics Department. She has taught at SRJC since 1980
and is presently the only full-time instructor teaching in the Dance Program.
Over the years at SRJC, Ms. Medina has taught Jazz, Hip-Hop/Funk, Introduction
to Movement, Aerobic Dance, Step Aerobics, Weight Training and Weight Lifting,
Aqua Calisthenics, Body Conditioning, and Body Mechanics, along with courses
involved with the annual Spring Dance Concert.
Prior to employment at SRJC, Debbe-Ann taught and coached
gymnastics in a variety of settings including Santa Rosa City Schools, Santa
Rosa Parks and Recreation Department, Terra Linda High School, and Sonoma State
University's Physical Education Department.
Debbe-Ann's educational background began as a student at
SRJC. Transferring to San Jose State University, she earned her bachelor of
science degree and Secondary Teaching Credential in Physical Education. Her
master's of arts degree was received from SSU in physical education, with special
studies in exercise physiology.
Debbe-Ann is the proud mother of three children. Denelle,
who was tragically killed in a plane crash in 1986 at the age of 2 1/2, Christopher
a strong Hip-Hop performer, born in 1989, and Raquel who loves both hip-hop
and jazz, born in 1991.
Interestingly, Ms. Medina has an unusual hobby: she is
a champion barefoot water skier, having participated in a number of regional,
national, and world championship competitions.
Over the years Debbe-Ann has mentored a number of SRJC students,
watching their progress evolve from budding novices to confident, accomplished
artists. She takes great pride and joy in the success and determination of
her all students, regardless of activity and skill level.
Debbe-Ann is a strong educator with a terrific sense of
humor. She expects as much from her students in class as she demands of herself.
Her summer intersession "Boot Camp" classes are always filled to capacity,
as are each of the popular Hip Hop/Funk classes she teaches.
Lea Marcella Poisson
Instructor
Lea Marcella Poisson finished her BA in Dance at CSU Long Beach (2003), after transferring from SRJC where she received her AA and Certificate Degree in Dance. Graduate studies have been at Sonoma State University for an MA in Education, with a concentration on CTL (Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning), and an emphasis in Kinesiology. Lea has found that her experiences and education were immensely imperative in her development as a performer, choreographer, and teacher. She started instructing at SRJC in 2006.
Lea has always enjoyed the art and joy of performing, the creative process of collaboration with others, the composition experience and results of choreographing. As a performer, she has worked as a Warrior Girl for the NBA's Golden State Warriors and a Gold Rush member for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. Lea has performed with modern dance companies in the North Bay such as De/Em Dance Collective and Expressive Motion. Also, she loves practicing methods of teaching dance that will help dancers to maximize their potential.
Lea has not only danced but choreographed, taught, and coached dance locally for years. She specializes in Hip Hop/Funk, Jazz, Modern at SRJC. Other special dance passions of hers are Contemporary Dance, Contact and Lifts, Improvisation, Ballet, African, Musical Theater, and Conditioning for Dancers. She loves teaching people of different characteristics and those of diverse abilities. A few other places Lea has taught are: Sonoma State University, Mendocino College in Ukiah, Santa Rosa High School (in the ArtQuest Dance program and as a Cheerleading/Dance Team coach), at Dance Innovations (formerly known as Fantastic Feet Studio of Dance), and Santa Rosa Dance Theater.
Marilyn Smith
Instructor
Marilyn Smith has been teaching International Folk
Dance at Santa Rosa Junior College since 1970. She has traveled extensively
in the former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary as well as Greece,
Ireland and Portugal.
In the 1980's, Marilyn began researching regional
folk dances of France and has brought French dance teachers and musicians
to California to participate in workshops and tours. Marilyn has been
invited to teach at major folk dance camps in the United States and Canada.
She organizes and directs an annual folk dance camp in Northern California.
Outstanding folk dance teachers and musicians come from throughout the
United States as well as Europe to teach at her camp.
Tamara Statkoun
Instructor
Tamara Statkoun danced professionally for 20 years with the Kirov and Maly Ballet Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia. After her career as a ballerina she received her M.A. in Dance from St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia and she went on to become a choreographer and ballet teacher working with professional ballet companies in Great Britain and South Korea.
She also is a guest teacher in Washington D.C., Chicago,
and Baltimore. She appeared in the Americam documentary film of ballet, "The
Children of Theater Street," 1978, and "Encycopedia of Russian Ballet," St.
Petersburg, 2000.
Carrie Lynn Stillman
Instructor
Carrie Lynn Stillman received her M.A. in dance from CSU, Long Beach (2001) and
her B.A. in dance from UC, Santa Barbara (1992), and has been on the dance
faculty at SRJC since fall 2000.
Carrie has also worked as a certified Pilates instructor
since 1995, and owns her pilates-based studio, Mindful Movement, in Santa
Rosa.
She has choreographed, danced, and co-directed for several
local dance companies and studios in a variety of settings throughout Sonoma
and Marin counties since 1992 to the present.
Carrie is continuously striving to stay
open, innovative, and present through movement expression and education,
not letting the ego block conscious creativity, with the intention of propelling
students into a positive state of being through learning and self discovery.
Ariel Weymouth-Payne
Instructor
Ariel
Weymouth-Payne: M.F.A. in dance University of North Carolina; Assistant Professor
and Dance Program Chair 1983-97 at Eastern Michigan University; Instructor and
guest teacher Jacksonville, State University, Columbia College, Sacramento State,
UC Davis, University of Lisbon, Shasta College; Creative Artist Grant from the
Michigan Arts Council, Sacramento Arts Commision Artist-in Schools Grant,
currently, Director/Choreographer of the Kitchen Kut-ups, a group of 45
entertaining and energetic senior musicians, dancers, and singers.
