PDN’S FESTIVAL OF DANCE FACULTY

MEERA VARMA

Meera’s musical upbringing has trained her to be an artist since the age of four. Daughter of Classical Indian Tabla player, Raj Kumar Varma, and international Indian and Oriental dancer, Zarina, at a very young age this multi-award-winning Dancer has entertained and captivated audiences reaching six different continents.

During her artistic career, Meera been featured as an actress, guest dancer and choreographer in both Hollywood & Bollywood films, television shows and commercials, and music videos internationally. Having performed for dignitaries, royalty, and worldwide audiences, she was chosen as the artist to represent ancient to modern India in the Commonwealth Games Bid for 2010.

With a stage presence that is powerful yet playful, Meera’s creativity as an artist captures the emotions of rhythm and reveals the sensuality of her soul. Her stage presence is powerful yet playful, expressing extraordinary style with grace and beauty. She has performed to a vast array of cultural music and styles, ranging from the traditional styles of the East fused together with the more modern, progressive and dub-step styles. She has trained in India, USA, Canada and Egypt with world renowned Dancers and choreographers.

With the natural essence of her East Indian heredity and technique flowing through every performance, her style of dancing is unique, focusing on fusing various Classical and Folk Dances of India, and authentic Egyptian and Cabaret style Bellydancing, with modern Urban elements, leaving you with a classical, but funky “In-Fusion” style. She has released four Instructional DVDs, including “Bellydance: The Art of Toning & Technique”, and three Dances of India Instructional DVDs – “Ancient to Modern”, “Bollywood to Bollydance”, and “Urban Bhangra Bounce”. Meera is also a Principal Dancer and Choreographer of the most prestigious, world renowned Bellydance group, Bellydance Superstars, and is a featured artist in their live DVD, “Bombay Bellywood: Live from Los Angeles”.

Today, Meera carries on the tradition of her ancestor’s musical background, and pursues her artistic career before audiences around the world, teaching her “In-Fusion” style.

FRIT AND FRAT FULLER

PDN celebrates the opportunity for Frit and Frat to arrange their busy world-wide schedule and again be a favorite faculty member of PDN’s Festival of Dance, especially their “Rhythm Steppin” classes. As the Artistic Directors for LA based KIN Dance Company, KIN has performed in Los Angeles and abroad.

Frit and Frat have choreographed for Mrs. America & Mrs. World Pageants, at theme parks and in Taiwan and London.  Their jukebox stage musical, “Down Around Brown Town”, celebrating the music of Mr. James Brown, received the 2013 NAACP Theatre Award for Best Director of a Musical/Local Division.

PAMM DRAKE

Since 1984 Pamm has owned and operated DANCE/10 Performing Arts Center in Alameda, California and is Director and Creator of The Tap Dancing Christmas Trees. She has studied with famous dance legends including Twyla Tharp, Merce Cunningham, Jose Limon, Joe Tremaine and Frank Hatchett.

Her professional career includes dancing roles in Applause, Music Man, A Chorus Line and performances in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Hollywood Holiday Parade. Pamm has a BA in Dance from UCLA and a Masters Degree in choreography from Mills College and is a member of Actors Equity, AGVA and Past President of Dance Masters of California Chapter 13.

SUSAN PRESS

Teachers and adults at past PDN conferences welcomed the informative and creative approaches Sue’s classes offered.  Teaching for more than 15 years at the YMCA of Los Angeles,  Sue has been a fitness educator for 35 years.  Her certifications include Arthritis Foundation in Aquatics and Exercise, Pilates, Yoga Stretch I and II, Restorative Breathing Development, Functional Strength and Balance Solutions and the Parkinson Foundation.

Her classes offer core focus programming, blending power, grace and building on the foundations of proper body alignment with precise cueing. Sue has a BA in Medical Social Work from Cal State University Northridge, with graduate studies in Health Sciences.

IRIS SPECTOR

PDN welcomes Iris who always brings our dancers a perspective on World Dances and various styles of ethnic dance.  She began studying dance at age three and continued her extensive training with African, Afro-Caribbean, Middle Eastern, Flamenco and Salsa. Also dabbling in Bollywood, Polynesian and other world dance genres, Iris is known for creating exciting fusion choreographies that promote multi-cultural awareness.  She had competed all over the world as both a soloist and troupe dancer.

 

MICHELLE ZEITLIN

Michelle began her career as a classical ballet dancer in New York City. She danced with the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group and then was chosen to work with Michael Bennett with the creation of “Scandal” on Broadway. Michelle was also a regular dancer/singer/actress in “Fame”, was a choreographer/director for Rascal Flatts, Yin Yang Gang, and Pat Benatar and more. Michelle has four decades of dance, drama, film, and music training from around the world.

 

RAYDEL CACERES

Born in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, Raydel began studying at the Professional School of Arts Raul Sanchez and continued his training at the National School of Ballet in Habana, Cuba.  As a lead soloist, Raydel was cast as the main lead role in Silent Roar, choreographed by Zena Buthune in Hollywood, CA and was described as “Raydel, the Cuban dancer, which reaffirmed his total domination of this ballet Coppelia style and technically shown — especially in his leaps, spins in the air and good extensions.”  Rayed has been an international guest artist with multiple companies.

Raydel will be part of PDN’s 2018 Professional Faculty, teaching ballet technique, partnering and pirouettes.

JAYMZ TUAILEVA

We are pleased that Jaymz will again be part of our professional faculty, having been well-received last year.  Jaymz offers his expertise as a dancer, actor and singer.  He was a finalist, second season, on So You Think You Can Dance and on their 2006 Tour.  Jaymz was in the opening number on Season 17, week 5 on Dancing with the Stars, and on their Las Vegas and @ Sea shows.  He has been a principle dancer with Cher, Donnie and Marie, World Champions Tour: Ballroom and World Jazz Congress in Costa Rica.  His TV and film credits include Glee Live, High School Musical, Legally Blonde and the 2002 Winter Olympics.  Jaymz starred as Bernardo in West Side Story and Danny Zuko in Grease.

PDN is pleased that Jaymz will offer his expertise at our 2018 Festival of Dance with ballroom, jazz, lyrical, hip hop and creating music videos.

DEBI WHITE

Debi, “Miss Debi” has over 30 years of teaching experience in both dance and fitness from beginner to advanced levels. Debi received her BA from UCLA in World Arts and Cultures, concentrating on dance and her training includes Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical and dances of the African Diasporas. She has learned dancing principles, rhythms and techniques from the most skilled and knowledgable instructors in the industry, spending more than 10 years as a dancer, choreographer, and instructor.

It was a natural transition to the dance fitness format of Zumba. She is an AFAA certified group exercise instructor, a certified personal trainer, and certified nutritionist. She currently holds licensing in Zumba, Zumba Gold, Aqua Zumba, Zumba Toning, and Zumba GoldToning and has been voted as one of the top Zumba instructors in Los Angeles. Miss Debi’s credentials illustrate her commitment, dedication, and passion for fitness and dance, and are brought to her classes as she instructs, encourages, motivates and teaches students how to pursue healthier, happier, and more productive lives. Miss Debi’s classes are high energy, fun, motivating, dance parties. 

KELLY LAMOUREUX

Kelly began her dance training in Riverside, California at age five. At 12 years old she accepted a year-round full scholarship at the National Ballet School in Toronto, Canada where she stayed for five years dancing in productions of Swan Lake, Giselle, La Bayadere, and Serenade. Kelly danced with the Inland Pacific Ballet and remains on their faculty. She is a certified Pilates Instructor and on faculty with Riverside Community College where she teaches ballet, Pilates, Kinesiology for Pilates/Dance and is Co-Director of the RCC Pilates Certification Program.

Kelly states, “There is so much positive energy and enthusiasm at PDN. I enjoy working with the students and meeting their teachers. Sheri creates such an inclusive and encouraging environment. It is a fun weekend with such a wide variety of dance genres and activities. Not to be missed!”

NELLY CAMACHO

Nelly has 20 years of experience as a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer and has performed with numerous professional dance companies, choreographers, and has been showcased in Festivals throughout Southern California. Nelly currently works as a K-12 LAUSD dance teacher for Renaissance Arts Academy in Los Angeles, CA.

Nelly explains, “PDN is the yearly event to attend if dance is a part of your journey. My time teaching here alongside these great artists has been full of life giving experiences. Walking in as a teacher and being able to move through the festival as a student also helps me to continue my development as a current professional in this industry.”