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Our Faculty

Star Dance Center has been under the new ownership of Joe & Erin Sanfelippo since 2005. Since that time, enrollment has tripled and a new studio has been added to accommodate the tremendous growth. Both professional performers from Los Angeles, Erin and Joe believe it is possible to provide quality dance training while having fun at the same time. We offer the largest variety of classes in the Santa Clarita Valley, ranging from dance to musical theater to piano to cheerleading to tumbling. And that’s not all! We provide a family friendly atmosphere and two recitals a year to offer our students numerous opportunities to perform. Our teachers are of the highest quality and stand by our positive, self esteem building philosophy. Whether your child is looking to dance for fun or become a professional, we have classes for everyone ages two to adult.

We look forward to seeing you at Star Dance!

 

Star Dance Center owners Joe & Erin Sanfelippo

 
Faculty Bios

Erin Sanfelippo Miss Erin has been teaching dance and musical theater throughout Southern California for over 10 years. After graduating from UCLA's School of Theater, Film & Television, Erin pursued her career in theater and television, appearing in various commercials, original cast album recordings, live performances for Disney, various Civic Light Operas, working with such celebrities as Fred Willard, Jim J. Bullock, Nancy Dussault, and more. Since taking over Star Dance Center with her husband in 2005, with the help of their staff, they have watched their business grow as they continue to pass along their love for the performing arts to their students.	Erin Sanfelippo Owner/Director, Tap/Ballet Combination, Pop Singing, Jazz, Hip Hop/Jazz Combination, Musical Theater Instructor
Cherlyann Grasso Miss Cherylann began as an assistant teacher at age 14. By the age of 17 she had her very own successful classes. Cherylann has taught at numerous dance studios coast to coast.  For the past 10 years she has taught dance in Los Angeles. Presently she teaches tap for West LA College and Academy of Dance. Also, Cherylann is the dance director for the young children's dance program at YMCA Culver-Palms. She also received certification of completion for preschool dance curriculum at the Royal Academy of Dance. The most current class she has created is the "Mommy 'n Me Toes & Taps" at Star Dance Center. This class is her very favorite. The children and parents alike experience an energetic curriculum with many different kinds of music genres. Locomotor and Non-locomotor skills are introduced with fun and innovative props, with a concentration on rhythm and movement.	Cherlyann Grasso Mommy & Me, Tiny Stars Instructor
Christina Noland Miss Christina loves to dance! She is truly grateful to have been blessed by God with such a gift that enables her to feel such a happiness. She started taking dance class at 7 years of age, training in Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Tahitian. Her love for God and dance are one on the same for He is her true reason dancing. She is thankful for the opportunity to share what she loves to do with others and hopes to be an inspiration. One day you'll see her on Broadway!	Christina Noland Tap/Ballet Combination, Tap, Jazz, Dance Team Instructor
Udee McGeoy Originally from the bay area, but having been a professional dancer & choreographer in the entertainment industry for over 10 years, Udee McGeoy nows calls Los Angeles home. Udee trained in jazz, ballet and modern while living in San Diego but ultimately found her love in hip hop. Udee's love for dance and music runs deep and she believes that both music and dance are theraputic for your mind, body and soul.. "No matter what problems you have goin on, when you're immersed in dancing or making music it all dissapears for those focused and passionate moments." In her years in Los Angeles Udee has built up her resume working in all facets of the industry. You can see her as sexy bar tending dance double and assistant choreographer in Walt Disney's "Coyote Ugly" and a cheerleader w/ lil' Bow Wow in " Like Mike". She has had numerous television appearances on several episodes of the "The Tonight Show", the "ESPY", " Video Game" and "American Music Awards", and the "Jimmy Kimmel Show" amongst others, but her favorite T.V. job to date is an episode of "Madd T.V." where she was a dancer in a Brittney Spears spoof. The actors were so hillarious and spontaneous it inspired her to want to get into sketch comedy sometime in the future. Udee is not only a veteran in film and television but has also danced on stage with artists like Snoop Dogg, Monica, Limp Bizkit, Bon Jovi & JC Chazes to name a few & in music videos with the ledgendary artist Stevie Wonder, the much missed Notrious B.I.G., Marcus Houston & Christina Agulera. AU Choreography is the name of her choreography company along with her partner of many talents, Amy Allen from St. Louis. They have choreographed commercials for Mejii Coffee & Gap kids, videos for Paulina Rubio & Dear Jane and are contributing choreographers for Neyo, Ciara, Amerie & Usher. They are also developing hot new artist Miss Issa in and contributed freestyle segments in the animated film "Chicken Little".... the list goes on and on. Udee says that different styles of dance all have a very different feeling behind them, and a different culture, lifestyle, circumstance, or emotion that inspired them. She has been all over the world teaching and performing and loves to teach those who want to learn and give forth maximum effort. She loves dance, the entertainment industry and passing her talents on to the generations to come.	Udee McGeoy Hip Hop & Jazz Instructor
Leon Henderson Leon Henderson, a native New Yorker, living in Hollywood California has been dancing for a decade, 2 years as a professional. Upon entering his professional career, he has been training rigorously in acrobatics. With that training, he was blessed to be apart of the new unreleased film “Bring It On 5” where he got to show his extensive training with tumbling as well as dancing. He also had the privilege to be a featured tumbler in the new Britney Spears video “Circus”. To end off 2008, Leon is featured along with his amazing dance crew in the film Boogie Town, which will hit theatres June 2009. Furthering his dancing skills, he recently joined the company “Klaamation” which features choreography by known choreographer Free. Along with his talent in acrobatics and dancing, he has a strong passion for choreography. That passion has led him to instruct at the following schools in California: Millennium Dance Complex, The Basement and New World Dance Academy. Along with instructing, He has worked with Terry Bixler, whom has done choreography for Janet Jackson, in creating Choreography for special events and so on. With all that talent, he hopes to share it with the world whether it be on tour with an artist or teaching workshops. His passion for dance is unexplainable and it can only be demonstrated through his teaching.	Leon Henderson Boys Hip Hop/Break, Hip Hop Instructor
Maria Diaz Miss Maria started performing at the age of 3. As a child, she loved participating in dance competitions and conventions. At the age of 19, she won a dance scholarship to study in Los Angeles at Tremaine, under the direction of prestigious choreographers in the entertainment business. Since then she has danced with artists such as Usher, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys (The Grammy’s), Brain McKnight, The Backstreet Boys, & P-Diddy, just to name a few. Maria has also done over a dozen national commercials, which include, Dr. Pepper, Mc Donald’s, Carl’s Jr, Bally’s Total Fitness, & Pepsi. Besides dancing, she launched her career as an actress guest starring on award winning shows such as, Six Feet Under, Nip/Tuck, The Division, & Strong Medicine.  Her film credits include, Bring it On Again, Love Don’t Cost a Thing, What’s Cooking, The Elian Gonzalez Story, & Hot Chick. Maria Carmen also graduated from CSLA with her B. A. in Child Development! Look for her this season on the ABC Family show, Lincoln Heights!	Maria Diaz Dance Team, Hip Hop, Tap/Ballet Combination Instructor
Michelle Ferris Miss Michelle was born in the Virgin Islands and began dancing at the age of 5. At the age of 7 she was accepted into the St. Thomas Performing Arts Company and continued to dance with them until age 16. During this time she learned and performed various dances; tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, and ballet. At age 18 Miss Michelle relocated to California. Michelle furthered her dance education in college and taught at various dance schools. For the last 8 years, Miss Michelle has been teaching our award winning Hip Hop and Production Teams here at Star Dance, leading her Adult Hip Hop Team to win 1st Place at the 2005 Kids Artistic Review National Dance Championships in Las Vegas. Miss Michelle is also a proud mother to her 3 beautiful children, Justyce, Chance and Estrella.	Michelle Ferris Hip Hop, Tap, Dance Team Instructor
Suzette Marechal Ms Suzette began ballet classes at age 11. She was trained in classical ballet at the Washington School of Ballet in Washington, D.C. by the late Mary Day, Martin Buckner, and Choo San Goh. She also trained at The Joffrey Ballet in New York City, and the prestigious Julliard in NYC. She has her Royal Academy of Dance (England) certification grades pre-primary to Grade 5 and Grades 1-3 in the Cecchetti (Italian) Method. She danced with the Washington Ballet, the Los Angeles Ballet and Ballet Ecarte. She has also performed with the Culver City Civic Light Opera. Her teaching and choreography methods are drawn from the many styles she has studied over the past 33 years. Miss Suzette is mother to son, Oliver. Her early years were spent on an 85-acre horse ranch in the mountains of Virginia.	Suzette Marechal Ballet Instructor
Vanessa Rosson Miss Vanessa fell in love with dance at the age of 4 under the instruction of Miss Lisa A. Baker-DiGiacamo at the Young Artist's Community Ballet School of Dance. In her 15 years with Miss Lisa, Miss Vanessa was instructed in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, and pas de duex. She has also had the honor of studying under Miss Jane Matty Willet, Mindy White, Sean Franze, Mr. Byrd, Elizabeth Holst, and the late Lil Liandre. At the age of 16 she joined the teaching staff at Y.A.C.B. and began spreading her love of the art with children of all ages. At the age of 14, Miss Vanessa auditioned for Ballet Continental, a performing Ballet Company in Southern Arizona. In her years of performing with Ballet Continental, she had the honor of dancing several Senior Corps, Soloist, and Principal roles including: Clara, Spanish Lead, Chinese Lead, Reed Pipe Lead, Flower Lead, and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker; additional Ballet Continental performances include: Coppelia, La Fille Mal Garde, Tribute to Riverdance, Le Corsaire, and several local productions. Miss Vanessa is proud to be in her fourth year at Star Dance! The art of Dance is one that is held very close to her heart, and it is her hope and desire to continue to share it with others.	Vanessa Rosson Office Manager, Ballet, Pointe, Tap/Ballet Combination Instructor
Merrideth Lesyshyn Mrs. Lesyshyn is a graduate of Bard College with a degree in dance and choreography. She has first year certification from Dance Educators of America and has trained with Arthur Murray Studios teacher training program, US Latin champion Melissa Dexter, and the Boston Conservatory. She has performed in films and stage productions and has been teaching all over the country for over 20 years. Merrideth has worked with award winning dance companies as a coach and choreographer. She also teaches and choreographs for public and private schools in NY and NJ. Her choreography was recently featured in a showcase in NY where she performed with her daughter. She has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has trained as an instructor in both TKD and Karate.	Merrideth Lesyshyn Receptionist, Acting Lab, Ballroom, Musical Theater Instructor
Rhonda Kess Composer/Conductor/Pianist, has conducted and played keyboard with orchestras and ensembles in Los Angeles, New York, and London. With her own Music Theater company, New Music Settings, Rhonda has conducted her own compositions and premiered works by today’s leading contemporary composers, including American and European premieres of works by John Williams, John Adams, Philip Glass, and Kurt Weill to sold-out houses in New York and London. She has guest conducted some of today’s leading orchestral and vocal ensembles, including the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Western Winds Vocal Ensemble, the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico City, and the London Sinfonietta. Rhonda taught Musical Theater at London’t Trinity College of Music, and her vocal students have sung with the BBC, in Broadway productions, and London’s West End. She has conducted and served as Music Director for productions of Fiddler On the Roof, The King and I, Flower Drum Song, Music Man, Gypsy, and West Side Story. Rhonda Kess has her music performance degrees from the USC School of Music and the Mozarteum in Salzburg. This fall Rhonda will appear as a guest with rapper Ludichris on the New Jay Leno Show. Rhonda Kess and The New Music Settings Ensemble are recorded on the Musical Heritage label, with soloist Marni Nixon. Miss Kess currently lives in Los Angeles.	Rhonda Kess Vocal Instructor
Seth Ettinger A classically trained operatic tenor, Seth has been singing and performing music professionally for over 10 years. As an instructor, Seth specializes in children's education in both music and dramatics. He is an award winning composer, poet, and playwrite with many of his works having been performed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Palm Springs. He is very excited to debut his theatrical workshop camp entitled "A Frenzy of Fractured Fairytales" this summer at Star Dance. Come join the fun!	Seth Ettinger Guitar Instructor
Mark Nilan Mark was born into the music business and has been playing the piano since he was 4 years old. Mark has taught private lessons for 7 years to students ranging in ages 4-84. He was a graduate teacher's assistant for piano lessons at the California Institute of the Arts and has his Master's Degree in Jazz Piano for Cal Arts as well. Look for Mark on his recurring role on the hit television show "Glee!"	Mark Nilan Piano Instructor

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