Alana Tillim  | Owner/Director

Alana is a proud wife, mother, and female entrepreneur. She has owned Santa Barbara Dance Arts since 1998 and built  her business while managing a career in Corporate Marketing Non-Profit and the Political Arena.   In 2004, Alana left her ‘day jobs’ and co-founded the Arts Mentorship Program with Steven Lovelace with the mission of creating support and access to young and emerging artists.  Since its inception, it has gone on to give out over $200,000 in scholarships, provide over 30,000 hours of affordable rehearsal space, and support over 1,000 pre-professional company dancers.

She was honored to be named  Pacific Coast Business Times “Top 40 Under 40” in 2009, and has gone on to receive honors from several dignitaries and local organizations for her dedication to the community.  Alana has volunteered for several local non-profits including Take Back the Night, United Way, Girls Inc, Fun In the Sun, and she served on the board of the SB Neighborhood Clinics and SB Dance Alliance where she served as president from 2007-2011. She received an Apogee Award in 2018 for her legacy in dance education and the Inspiration Award from More Than Just Great dancing for her leadership during the twin tragedies of the Thomas Fire and Debris Flow.

She is a Certified Coach for More Than Just Great Dancing and speaks to entrepreneurs, leaders, and youth to expand and inspire their own journey. In 2019 she was a invited guest on the podcast Onward Nation.

Alana believes that dance can heal, and the lessons it teaches extend far beyond the classroom.  She hopes that all who visit SB Dance Arts feel a sense of belonging, community, and creative freedom. 

Sunny Reichert |  education director, competition team director, instructor

Sunny Reichert was born in rural Illinois where she started training in dance at the age of 5. At the age of 10, she joined her first dance company and began traveling nationwide, competing in various dance competitions. Throughout high school she received numerous dance scholarships and earned national recognition with her dance companies. Sunny moved to Los Angeles in 2004 to pursue her career in dance and quickly began working in film, TV and print. Some of her career highlights were working for Aamco, Comedy Central, FOX, Matchbox 20, NBC, Pepsi and William Morris Entertainment. While working, Sunny also received her degree from Cal State Northridge in 2009, where she minored in dance. Sunny is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, contemporary and hip-hop and has used her well-rounded training to build a successful teaching career. For 18 years now, Sunny has been a teacher producing and choreographing many of her own dance performances and productions. She has also directed two different dance companies for children and pre-professionals. Sunny is proud to say some of her dance students have gone on to train at Julliard, NYU Tisch School of the Arts and The American Ballet Theatre. Sunny continues teaching dance full-time while also traveling to teach as a master teacher at other schools and dance intensives; she is especially excited to call Santa Barbara Dance Arts her new home!

JERELYN BARBER | MARKETING AND OPERATIONS Director

Jerelyn has lived and worked in Santa Barbara for 10 years. Originally from a small Texas town, she made the trek to San Antonio several times weekly to attend Jazz and Ballet classes at her dance company through her high school years. She graduated with a BFA in Studio Arts from Biola University in 2010. She’s new working in the Dance Industry, coming from a nearly ten year career in the local craft beer scene, working all facets of the industry. Jerelyn spends her free time learning traditional cooking techniques, camping, reading history books, spending quality time with her partner and two kitties, and making art and jewelry. Jerelyn believes in the power and ability of dance to transform community and lives. She’s thrilled to be surrounded by dance again, and to be calling Santa Barbara Dance Arts her home.

michelle mauk | customer care Manager

Michelle came to SB Dance arts in January 2021 after a long successful career in Consumer Product and Pharmaceutical sales in the SF Bay Area. She spent 25 years representing Consumer Product companies like Bristol Myers Squibb, L'Oréal and Mars with both Regional and National accounts. Michelle and her husband KC returned to Santa Barbara from the Bay Area after he retired to be closer to her parents. They have three adult children with their oldest son and his wife now also living here in Santa Barbara. Michelle enjoys using her career skills to help administratively and more importantly engaging with kids of all ages and their families. Michelle is also a new grandma to twin girls Rye & Shay and enjoys spending lots of time with them!

Maria Pantoja | Sr. Customer Care Manager

Maria is an Oxnard/Ventura native who has over 16+ years of administrative and customer service experience. Coming from managing state programs and accounting, Maria is excited to offer exceptional office support and transition into the Sr. Customer Care Manager role with SBDA. Maria and her husband, Cesar, are a blended family of 7! She enjoys weekly soccer games with her step kids and Violin recitals with her daughter. They have a Yorkshire Terrier named Simba who is about to be 3yrs old and the baby of their home! Maria is also a former Sizzling Dulzura Bachata/Salsa dancer and performed Folklorico for several years! In her free time, she enjoys horse races, reading, rollerblading, and Zumba classes. She is also a State of California wedding officiant and celebrates weddings most every weekend! Maria enjoys building relationships and looking forward to working with you to have a successful season with SBDA! You'll find Maria in the office ready to help!

JEnnifer MArtinez | Assistant Customer Care Manager

Jennifer Martinez is a Santa Barbara native and is grateful to be working at Santa Barbara Dance Arts and the Arts Mentorship Program. She starting dancing at the age of 13, and continues to incorporate dancing in her everyday life. Jennifer's love for dance started while she was at Santa Barbara High School dancing all four years in dance program. She is also a former Donnette Dance Team Member! As an adult, she participates in the Old Spanish Days shows performing alongside her team Sahagun Dance Studio, dancing all kinds of styles like Folklorico, Flamenco, Salsa, Jazz, & more. When Jennifer is not dancing or working, she enjoys travel adventures with her Husband and long walks with her Husky Thor! She believes dancing is good for the soul, a great way to exercise, and it is an amazing way to express yourself! Jennifer is excited to share her warm and friendly personality, welcoming all who walk in the doors of SBDA!

lacy olivera | costume concierge

Lacy Olivera was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California. At the age of 4 she was bouncing around doing cartwheels and handstands wherever she could. She became a competitive gymnast and traveled all over the United States for over ten years. After quitting gymnastics there seemed to be something missing in her life, so she tried out for the dance team at her local high school. From there another passion grew and she started taking jazz, ballet and hip hop classes. She performed with her dance studio and competed at many competitions with her school dance team. After college and working full time, she became a mom of two little girls. Lacy's passion for dance came back after her children were born and has never stopped since. She loves teaching the Cardio Hip Hop for adults at Santa Barbara Dance Arts. She enjoys the escape that dance brings and how all the problems of the day just seem to melt away. Lacy describes dance as a therapy and has seen how it can impact so many people. The concept of making dance accessible to all and the community that it builds is something that she knew she wanted to be a part of.

Nathan Calzada  | Youth Department Head, Acrobatics Director, Instructor

Nathan is a Santa Barbara native; he was born here and finally found his way back. He moved around California and went onto a stint at Ventura and Moorpark Colleges where he truly fell in love with Dance. He has graduated from UCSB with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with an emphasis in choreography. Picking up dance at a late age of 18, his training started with a rigorous gymnastics and diving training regime for ten plus years. He then went on to dance in college and found a love for hip-hop and has acquired the grace of ballet, modern and jazz. In 2004 he was on MTV’s show The Wade Robson Projects, as well as dancing in music videos and has graced his presence across international stages. In 2014 he toured with UCSB’s Senior Dance Company across Europe through Prague and Italy. He has choreographed for many colleges throughout California, Washington and Arizona, creating works to bring joy, comedy and thoughtful art to the minds of audience members.  He has been teaching since he was 16, so for the past several years has taught at many studios, gymnastics and Cheer Gyms in the Ventura and Orange Counties.

amara galloway   |  Ballet department head

Amara Galloway, originally from Fairfax, Virginia, received her formal ballet training from BalletNova Center for Dance, The Joffrey Ballet Chicago, and Ballet Arizona. She is currently a professional dancer with State Street Ballet. Her performance experience includes principal roles in Carmina Burana and The Nutcracker as well as soloist roles in Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, and The Sleeping Beauty. Amara has performed full-length ballets by George Balanchine and Sir Frederick Ashton and has been featured in numerous contemporary works. In 2021 she performed as an Ababu Princess and held the position of Dance Captain for the Broadway musical Kismet, directed by Lonny Price. This past spring she toured internationally with State Street Ballet to Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. Amara has a background in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, tap, improvisation, hip hop, and acrobatics and was a semi-finalist at The Youth America Grand Prix Competition. She is looking forward to a new season sharing her love of dance with the students of Santa Barbara Dance Arts!

vanessa Mendiola |  INSTRUCTOR

Vanessa Campos, Santa Barbara native, is honored to be working at Santa Barbara Dance Arts and the Arts Mentorship Program.  She starting dancing at the age of 2, and continues to incorporate dancing in her everyday life. Vanessa comes from a Customer Service background, having managed numerous local restaurants, then moving on to serve patients as the Patient Care Coordinator and Practice Manager of local prestigious plastic surgeon’s practices.  Serving and caring for others has always come naturally to Vanessa.  She believes that dance has the capability to heal one’s trauma, calm one’s mind, and create a safe space to express oneself.  Vanessa’s love for dance coupled with her dream to make dance accessible and equitable to all children and adults in our community, makes her presence truly valuable within our organization.    

ALIYAH HABIB | INSTRUCTOR

Hi everyone, I’m Aliyah! I’m 20 years old and  I’m from the Bay Area. I grew up dancing since I was 2 at my local dance studio, training in many styles such as hip-hop, ballet, jazz, contemporary, and tap. I began competing at age 9, and have been passionate about dance ever since. I currently dance on a hip hop team at UC Santa Barbara called Untitled Dance Company. While hip hop is my favorite style, I have always loved training in other styles as well, especially jazz and contemporary. I’m passionate about creating a safe space and welcoming community through dance, as it continues to be just that for me. I’m looking forward to sharing my love for dance with you all! 

Anna Nader | instructor

Anna Nader grew up in Indiana and has been dancing since she was 3. Anna first started in a competition studio where she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, musical theater, and contemporary. This allowed her to take classes from Abby Lee Miller, the Rockettes, the cast of Newsies on Broadway, and many more! Around sixteen Anna started teaching for the first time, becoming certified in the Leap ‘n Learn syllabus. She attended a special ballet high school but left home early to train at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Afterwards she was a trainee at Richmond Ballet, and then made her way to Santa Barbara where she is now a part of State Street Ballet. Throughout the years Anna has continued to teach everywhere her path has taken her and is excited to share the love of dance with these students!

ARIADNE FERNANDEZ | INSTRUCTOR

Ariadne Fernandez grew up in Laguna Beach, CA, and has been dancing since she was 10 years old. Ariadne first started in a local studio where she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, musical theater, and contemporary. At the age of 13 she began to study classical ballet, and in 2022 she graduated with honors from the Kirov Academy of Ballet, in Washington D.C. She has performed in full length ballets, such as: The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Don Quixote, and La Bayadere. She is currently in the Professional Track at State Street Ballet. She has also performed in contemporary and new choreographic works, most recently with Selah Dance Collective. Ariadne is so grateful for the art of dance, and the joy and beauty it has brought to her life. Ariadne looks forward to sharing her love for dance, and all of the wonders it has to offer, with the young artists of SBDA!

EMMA GLASER | INSTRUCTOR

Emma Glaser was born and raised in Vero Beach, Florida where she started dancing at the age of three at a local studio called Dance Space. She took ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre, lyrical, modern, contemporary, acro and hip-hop and has been in love with dance from the beginning! She was a part of the competition team for 7 years and loved learning from many different instructors and competing in various categories. She also attended summer intensives such as Joffrey Miami, LEON Dance Arts NYC and the Summer Dance Sessions in Massachusetts. Emma attended college at the University of South Florida in Tampa where she earned a bachelor's degree in Integrated Rublic Relations and Advertising. She now works as a Marketing Specialist at Alexander Gardens Assisted Living and even teaches dance to the residents! She was also an instructor at her studio, teaching all ages and styles and is so excited to continue teaching at the Santa Barbara Dance Arts and continue her dance journey! Emma was recently in the musical Guys and Dolls at the Santa Barbara City College in the ensemble. She loves the theatre, whether that be by being a part of it or watching from the audience. She loves meeting new people and learning every day!

Erin de Leon Sanchez   |  instructor

Erin is currently a Ph.D. student in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology at UC Santa Barbara and she is very excited to be back in a dance studio! After nine years of training in Taekwondo, Erin transitioned to dancing at the age of 13 at her local studio in Tracy, CA. Her training includes ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, modern, and pom. She served as captain on her high school dance team and continued to dance, primarily in jazz, hip-hop, and pom, on the UC Davis Dance Team. Erin is thrilled to be a part of the Santa Barbara Dance Arts family and can’t wait to share her passion for dance with her students!

GIANNA COSSITOR | INSTRUCTOR

Gianna grew up in San Jose, California, and started dancing at 3 years old. She trained in tap, jazz, acro, modern, and ballet throughout her dance experience. At the age of 13, Gianna began teaching alongside her mentors, gaining valuable experience and knowledge from seasoned professionals. By the time she was 17, she was given the opportunity to teach her own classes and teach young aspiring teachers as well. She is a dedicated and passionate dance teacher with 9 years of experience in the Cecchetti method of ballet. She attended the Cecchetti Council’s summer intensive at 15 years old, receiving a full ride scholarship from them 2 years in a row. She moved to Santa Barbara to study dance and sociology at Santa Barbara City College, with the intention of getting her Associates degree in dance and transferring to UC Santa Barbara to continue her sociology degree. Throughout the pandemic, Gianna's love for teaching children flourished even more. She discovered a passion for nurturing and helping them develop their skills and confidence through dance. This experience solidified her desire to pursue a career centered around helping and teaching kids. Gianna's goal is to combine her love for dance and her dedication to helping children by pursuing a career that encompasses both. Whether it be through teaching dance or working in a role that supports and empowers young minds, she is determined to make a difference and inspire the next generation. Gianna is very excited to be able to share her love for dance and join the Santa Barbara Dance Arts family!

Hannah Wagster | Instructor

Hannah Wagster is a dancer and choreographer based in the California Bay Area. She began dancing at the age of 2 and trained at Lana’s Dance Studio in Morgan Hill, California. She trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and hip-hop for over 15 years. She began competing at the age of 12 and won many Regional titles with her team. After graduating high school, she attended West Valley College and began teaching at her home studio. Hannah fell in love with teaching kids various styles of dance as well as choreographing her own pieces. She led many of her students to excel in their competition pieces. Hannah takes pride in creating a welcoming and fun dance environment for her students. After graduating with an associate’s degree in Biology, she was accepted to the University of California-Santa Barbara where she is majoring in Biopsychology. Hannah is excited to continue her love for teaching here at Santa Barbara Dance Arts!

JACQUELYN RABAGO | INSTRUCTOR

Jacky Rabago is a student at UCSB studying Psychological and Brain Sciences. She grew up in San Diego where she began dancing at the age of three, and has loved dancing more and more every day since then. She began taking ballet classes, and over the years has added contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, improvisation, and choreography to her training. She competed with Neisha's Dance and Music Academy as well as with her high school dance team, Eastlake Dance Company. In her junior year of high school she was the vice president and, in her senior year, she was the president of the company. On this team, she taught classes and choreographed several pieces. When she is in San Diego, she is a substitute dance teacher for a variety of styles. She is now dancing as part of the UCSB dance team, Untitled Dance Company. Jacky is excited to share and spread her love for dance with SBDA!

keely ross | instructor

Keely Ross is currently a student at UCSB, having been admitted as a dance major. She has been dancing since the age of three at a studio based in Los Angeles, studying all disciplines of dance. She has competed and performed at The Pulse, Radix, Art of Movement, Dance Atak, and Nuvo, as well as numerous charity events, and local performances. Keely was chosen to be captain of her high school dance team junior and senior year, and continues creating choreography and training the team after graduation. Keely has choreographed for dance studios, high school dance teams, and competitive groups. Keely is currently captain of the hip-hop group at UCSB, Untitled Dance Company. Keely trains, conditions, performs, and choreographs for this collegiate team. Keely has worked with children at all levels, emphasizing safety, creativity, positivity, and fun. Keely is so excited to begin a new chapter at SBDA, and is so grateful she is teaching at a studio that nurtures each student with open arms and big hearts!

LEANNA KESENCI | INSTRUCTOR

Leanna Kesenci is a dancer and choreographer based in Los Angeles. She began dancing at the age of 4 and trained at Degas Dance Studio. Dance was always in her life but in 2016 the passion reignited in her and she decided to take action and go full force by putting herself into training programs led by the best choreographers in the industry to further her dance career. Although Hip Hop is her favorite style she is trained in Jazz Funk and Contemporary as well. She went to a small Armenian school where the dance program lacked a Hip Hop teacher so as an alumni she now goes back to her home base to teach the the fundamentals of hip hop. Leanna is currently a senior at the University of California-Santa Barbara where she is majoring in Communication and is the Artistic Director of a hip hop dance group. Being a teacher of the Santa Barbara Dance Arts family fills Leanna with excitement, and she's eagerly anticipating the opportunity to impart her love for dance to her students!

Meredith Ventura | instructor

Meredith Cabaniss Ventura is a multi-creative artist based out of southern California. She graduated with honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a B.F.A. in Dance. During her studies, she received a University Research Grant for her departmental Honor’s Project, the Corwin Award for choreography, and other departmental honors. Ms. Ventura also traveled to Tel Aviv, Israel, to study with Batsheva Dance Company. After finishing her undergraduate education, Ms. Ventura received her M.F.A. in dance at Hollins University in collaboration with the Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main, and The Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company (formerly the Forsythe Company). Additionally, she continued her professional studies in dance and movement and has pursued certifications in Vinyasa and Yin yoga, the Acrobatic Arts syllabus, and Dance Education Laboratory, through which she holds Level 1 and 2 certifications for Language of Dance. Ms. Ventura is currently a graduate student at the University of California, Santa Barbara as an M.A./Ph.D. student in the Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies department. As the founder and artistic director of Selah Dance Collective, Ms. Ventura has produced full evening-length performances and presented works throughout the United States and abroad, most recently in Estonia, Norway, Finland, and Italy. She also co-directs Ventura-based company Sespe Dance Co and is the dance and choreography director of Lights Up!, a teen theatre conservatory. Ms. Ventura is currently on faculty at dance studios throughout the Southern California area and travels nationally and internationally as a dance educator and advocate for the arts. In addition to her creative work, Ms. Ventura also coordinates arts programming for schools from Cambria to Oxnard through Children’s Creative Project and serves as a board member for Artspace Inc/Center Stage Theater, a black-box style community theater in downtown Santa Barbara.

MADELINE STINER | INSTRUCTOR

Madeline grew up in Orange County, where she began her formal dance training at the American Ballet Theatre Gillespie School under the direction of Alaine Haubert. She has attended summer intensives with companies such as American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Bolshoi Ballet, Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and many more. She received private training from former principal dancer Stella Abrera, the current director of ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. While completing her B.A. in Political Science at the University of California, Irvine, she received a two-year contract to train with American Repertory Ballet, where she danced roles in ballets including The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Cinderella, and Giselle. Madeline is currently a State Street Ballet trainee.

PRESLEY O’HEARN | ASSISTANT TEACHER

Presley is a senior at SB High School. She can't wait for her 6th year in Company and 3rd year as a member of Apex Dance Company. Presley enjoys barbecues with her friends and traveling and is a proud member of NDEO and MAD Academy. Presley’s been at SBDA for 8 years and is on her 6th year as a member of TDA within which she has attended many conventions and competitions along the west coast. She also participated in student choreography last year and won first prize for her solo! She looks forward to taking steps in her mentorship this year as she choreographs on Impulse dance company and is a teacher for the spring season! Presley has participated in projects like the student showcase, helping raise hundreds of dollars for AMP and hopes to work as an entertainment promoter/manager after college. Presley is beyond grateful for the lessons she’s learned at SBDA, like leadership and hard work, and knows she will use them in whatever her future brings.

Rachyl Pines | instructor

Rachyl has more than 4 years of experience teaching ballet. She began her ballet training at The Ballet Studio in Temecula, CA. She attended summer intensive programs with American Ballet Theater, Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Walnut Hill School of the Arts to augment her training. Rachyl was a company member at City Ballet of San Diego for 3 seasons when she shifted focus to go to graduate school. Rachyl recently completed her PhD in Communication at UCSB. Rachyl is now a company member in her third season with Selah Dance Collective and Nebula Dance Lab. She has also recently begun training in aerial silks and is excited to be incorporating that into performances.

Chloe Roberts  |  Instructor & Choreographer

CHLOE GRACE ROBERTS was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Chloe is trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, musical theatre, hip-hop, tap, ballroom, and improvisation. She has worked with choreographers including Jodinik Jo of the Centre du Danse Marais in Paris and Tucker Knox of So You Think You Can Dance. Company work includes Urbanity Dance Company (Boston), Selah Dance Company (SB), Nebula Dance Company (SB), The Prague Shakespeare Company (CZ), and Reject Dance Theatre (NYC). Recent productions include Chicago (Liz and Dance Captain), American Psycho (SB), Grease (Cha-Cha and Dance Captain), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (Choreographer), and High Society (Mavis and principal dancer). Chloe travels across the US to set choreography for studios and companies for both the competition and concert stages. She is a judge and member of Impact Dance Adjudicators.  She is also the Jazz Director at Santa Barbara Dance Arts.  @chloerobertsdance, #chloerobertschoreo

gianna burright | instructor & Choreographer

Gianna Burright is a California based dance artist who holds a BFA in Dance from UCSB and an MFA in Choreography from Trinity Laban Conservatory of Music and Dance. At UCSB she received the Tonia Shimin Award for excellence and promise in the field of dance and at Laban she was a Leverhulme Scholar and recipient of the Lesley Anne-Sayers Research Award. 

Gianna has presented her work in England, Scotland, Wales, Italy, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Cyprus, Greece and the US, including locations such as the Turner Contemporary Gallery, Bonnie Bird Theatre, Waterloo East Theatre, The Place and the International Edinburgh Fringe Festival, ZOO venues. Gianna’s credits include; UCSB Dance Company, Selah Dance Collective, The Improv Sessions, A Truefitt Collective, Nebula Dance Lab, Motion Theatre Dance Company, Santa Barbara Museum of Art (dance education lesson plans), Devin Fulton Dance, Irvine Valley College performance ensemble, assistant/rehearsal director to Danielle Agami of Ate9, a part of LA Contemporary Dance Companies first ever choreography lab and has been a guest artist for the dance departments at Nordhoff High School, Thacher High School, Ojai Valley School and Santa Barbara High School (Musical Theater). Burright is the co-founder/co- artistic director of the newly established international dance collective GBworks; which supports and produces work of female, female identifying and non-binary artists that has crossed the borders of the US, England and Scottland with desire to keep expanding. 

Gianna is passionate about creativity and collaboration which are her foundation for choreography, performance and dance education. She continuously asks the question of how dance can cross borders, change perspectives and outlooks on collaboration and communication. Gianna is currently dancing and choreographing professionally, and is honored to be on both a teacher and administrator at Santa Barbara Dance Arts.

Steven Lovelace  | Instructor, Director Emeritus

Steven Lovelace founded Santa Barbara Dance Arts (formerly Santa Barbara Jazz Dance Academy) in 1997. Shortly after he met Alana Tillim, the two of them co-directed the business from 1998-2013, when Steven sold the business to Alana. Steven loves teaching at Dance Arts and choreographs for the Student Dance Companies. Steven began his dance career in Kay Fulton's Santa Barbara City College Dance Department. Since then, he danced with Repertory-West Dance Company, Santa Barbara Dance Theatre, Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera, Bill Evans Dance Company, and Nora Reynolds Dance. He was a member of the Lit Moon Theatre Company and co-directed Dance Warehouse from 1985-91. He has taught locally at Laguna Blanca, Marymount, Cate, and San Marcos, Crane and currently teaches at Peabody school. He co-directs Stage Left Theatre Company. 

Steven’s reach in the community includes work with the Summer Solstice Celebration, SB Dance Alliance and he is the co-founder and scholarship mentor for the Arts Mentorship Program. He has helped generations of children fall in love with dance! 

Lauren Serrano | guest Instructor

Lauren graduated from University of California Santa Barbara with a B.F.A. in dance. She is originally from Orange County where she trained at many local studios including Jimmy Defores, and Edge Performing Arts Studio in Los Angeles. She went to Orange County High School for the Performing Arts for classical and commercial dance. She has won various scholarships including a 3-month training scholarship at Edge Performing Arts studio, Miss Drill Team USA and she received the departmental achievement award from UCSB in 2011. Lauren moved to New York City in 2012 for a work-study scholarship with Jennifer Muller and the Works. She has had the opportunity to dance with singing artists such as Mayer Hawthorne, and performed choreography in New York for choreographers Young Soon Kim, Toni Renee Johnson, Jacobs Dance Collective, Pedro Ruiz, Jennifer Muller and Mike Esperanza. Lauren recently graduated Summa Cum Laude with her masters in dance education from the Arnhold Graduate Dance Education Program at Hunter College with the Presidential Special Recognition Award. Lauren is also a certified Pilates mat teacher and certified personal trainer. She is currently dancing professionally in Santa Barbara and is honored to be teaching at Santa Barbara Dance Arts.