STAFF
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We take pride in our staff. All of Dance Connections Staff are professional instructors.
They all have college degrees and have performed professionally or are currently performing professionally.

Cherilyn Beanan:Owner/Studio Director brings more then 30 years of experience working with professionals and 19 years of professional experience herself. Born in Las Vegas and raised in California, Cherilyn received her BA in Theater Arts/Dance from San Jose State University and her Drama Teaching Certificate for Ca. from National University.
As a professional dancer, Cherilyn has graced the stages with companies such as Paramount Productions, Princess Cruise Lines, Disney/ABC, Crest, NBC, Kings Entertainment, KQED/PBS, American Musical Theater, San Jose Opera, San Jose Ballet, and Solid Gold Industrial Productions.

Cherilyn’s unique theatrical style has landed her many choreography and director positions. Some of her credits include NBC Television, Horizon Awards, Fairmont Fashion Shows, DeAnza College, Foothill College, West Valley Light Opera, SJ Children’s Musical Theater and Presentation High School. She has trained and danced with such greats as Joe Tremaine, Carol Conners, Bill Prudich, Marie Stinnett, Keith Banks, Pam East, and Tom Hanson.

Cherilyn is a dedicated and gifted teacher/choreographer, she has won numerous awards for her entertaining choreography including AMT’s Honor Awards for Best Musical Choreography “Jesus Christ Superstar” Many of her students have gone on to dance professionally in New York and Hollywood. Cherilyn wishes to teach Dance Connection students a sense of professionalism, a respect for the art, and a respect for themselves. She believes her students will apply what they learn at Dance Connection to life; including a sense of accomplishment, self-esteem, health, and self-respect. Cherilyn is a proud wife and mother of two beautiful children.

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Mindy Draney received extensive training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Modern and graduated with a BS in Dance Performance from Southern Utah University. Mindy’s calm demeanor and charm allows children to grasp the quality dance lessons that she teaches. She has a true gift with young children. Mindy has trained and choreographed many beautiful award winning numbers for various dance teams in the U.S. We are happy to have her with us at Dance Connection.

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Ashley Holbrook is currently attending college studying to become an elementary school teacher.  Ashley is no stranger to Dance Connection.  Ashley has been with us from the beginning.  She started as a dancer, then a teacher assistant, substitute teacher, and now returns to Dance Connection as an instructor.  In addition to Dance Connection, Ashley works for Celebrate Kids where she is a children’s entertainer and party planner where she is acting, charactering, scheduling, costume designing, and script writing. Some of Ashley’s professional performing credits include, Undercover Productions, Lied Children’s Benefit, and Regional Transportation Banquet.  In addition to studying dance at Dance Connection, Ashley has taken classes from Napoleon and Tabitha, Blake McGrath, Ryan Conferido and the Edge in LA.  Ashley enjoys her charity work with Child Haven and Make a Wish Foundation. We are thrilled to have her teach at Dance Connection.

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Kelly Inskip recently relocating to Las Vegas from Australia is an accomplished dancer and choreographer.  Kelly is currently performing with Stomp Out Loud.  She comes to us with professional experience in film, television, modeling, stage and corporate stage work.  Her credits include Calvin Klein, V8, Advil, Air Jordan, Princess Cruise Lines, ABC Television, Magic Mountain, and many more.  Kelly has taught for West Coast Dance Theatre in Southern California, West London Theatre Arts in London, and Northern Ballet School in Sydney Australia.  She is please to be part of the Dance Connection family and she is a true asset to Dance Connection.

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Adel Rivera is currently working as a Las Vegas Gladiator Goddess, Adel has studied many forms of dance including hip hop, jazz, ballet and contemporary which has helped her to develop a very unique individual style. She is an accomplished choreographer and dancer. Her resume includes work with Las Vegas Gladiators, UNLV, “Sincere” Beach Night Club, “Projecto Akwid” and video backup dancer with a local Las Vegas group “Just Us.” Adel also enjoys theater tech, singing, cheerleading, and photography. We are pleased to have her at Dance Connection

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Jennifer Romas Ferreira started out as a spitfire gymnast who became the USGF Minnesota State Floor Champion.  Coaches thought it would be a good idea to take dance to improve her gymnastics ability, it was whole new beginning from there.  With huge support from her parents, she left Minnesota for a scholarship to the deep theatre jazz roots of Chicago.  She would later tour and teach with world renowned Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago Dance Company.  She was fortunate to play Snow White for Disney’s Pocahontas at the Shubert Theatre and The Lopa De Vega in Spain.  After her last concert performance at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, for former Pres. Bill Clinton, she decided to make a move to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas.  While in Vegas she has worked with such stars as recording artist Kristine W, KC & the Sunshine Band, Sinbad, Charo, Olga Breeskin and mastered her LIZA MINNELLI impression.  She was a dancer in many Las Vegas Shows, including SPLASH, X-Treme Scene, Golden Rainbow Aids benefits and performed with Cirque de Soleil.  She has choreographed for SPLASH, Stars in Concert, Legends of Rock & Roll, Femme Magique, shows in Japan and a Broadway Celebration Tribute with the cast of Rent and Chicago. When not dancing, you may have seen her modeling for Harley Davidson, Toyota, Reebok, Redkin, or releasing a new 7-UP jingle and can. She was also the dance instructor for televisions VH-1 LAS VEGAS SHOWGIRL BOOTCAMP.  She enjoys guest teaching and judging National Dance Competitions for the up & coming little stars of today along side such inspirations as, Gregg Russell, John Crutchmen, and Alan Sherfield.  Most recently she and her husband together have toured China as Headliners of the show Iron Beats, Rick Thomas Korea Tour, as well as headlined at the Hilton, Fiesta, Mandalay Bay, Sin City Circus, BEACHER’s Madhouse, Royal Caribbean Int.,  NCL,  and Holland America, in a show they wrote, directed, choreographed and produced entitled, COMEDY-VARIETY with a TWIST.   She is very excited to be on board with Dance Connection this year, and hopes to pass her love and passion for dance on to others, dance is truly the most beautiful art in the world.

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Christy Rube Heaton an Arizona native, has been dancing professionally for 15 years. Her training includes ballet and pointe at such noted schools as the School of the Cleveland Ballet, BalletMet Dance Academy, the Deane Dance Centre in Sacramento and San Francisco Dance Center. She has danced with several ballet and modern companies, including the James Sewell Ballet in Minneapolis, Minnesota Dance Theatre, Sacramento Ballet and Ricardo Peralto Danza Performa in Tijuana, Mexico. Locally, Ms. Rube has been a dancer in “Jubilee.” She has also recently been a singer/dancer with the “Legends in Concert” show in Seattle. Her teaching and directing experience include instruction in ballet, pointe, modern, variations and conditioning. She has directed the “Nutcracker”, “Twelve Dancing Princesses” and several modern pieces for the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet where she taught previously. She is very excited to share her love of dance with the students here at Dance Connection!

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Abbie Taylor Yates has been dancing for 21 years. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Abbie has a BA in Dance from the University of Akron where she was both a Cheerleader and a member of the Dance Team. Abbie has extensive training in jazz, ballet, lyrical, tap, modern, tumbling, and hip-hop and has trained at multiple locations including Steps and the Broadway Dance Center. Abbie has been teaching and choreographing for 7 years and has received numerous awards from multiple competitions (including Best Dance and Best Choreography). Abbie is pursuing a career in the dancing field and is currently working as a fitness model in Las Vegas. Abbie dances at the Rio and also dances in the Dirk Arthur XTreme Magic Show at the Tropicana Hotel. She is very please to be part of the Dance Connection family

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2008-2009 TEACHER ASSISTANTS

..........Taylor LaBruzzo .............

GUEST TEACHER

Ashley Collingwood received her BA in Dance Jazz/Modern from Point Park University in Pittsburg, PA. Ashley’s has an extensive resume, with credits in video, theater, music modeling, and industrial. She has worked with Pillow Project Dance Co., Columbia Records, PBS, CBS, Sabre Entertainment and many more. Ashley’s training includes Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Modern, Hip Hop, and Ballet. Ashley has also been an adjudicator for Stage One and StarQuest. We are thrilled to have her teach at Dance Connection. She is currently on leave to dance the Show in the Sky at the Rio.

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