Guest Master Artists
HELEN ESTRELLA
Helen was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. Much of her youth was spent in the rigors of competitive artistic and rhythmic gymnastics through which she found her love of dance.
Helen eventually moved to Los Angeles to dance with some of the industry’s top choreographers. She can be seen in print and commercial work for Sola Optical Lenses and 2000 Olympics, as well as danced for various contemporary companies while in LA.
In 2002 she found her way back to Sonoma County where she directed local competitive companies until the birth of her own, Estrella Dance Company. After a few yeas of directing her own company, Helen decided to follow one of her life long dreams and opened her studio: The Dance Room.
Helen is currently a faculty member of Winterfest & Summerfest The Convention, Talent on Parade Dance Directive Convention, as well as judges for Talent on Parade, the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop, Theater Arts Preparatory School and instructs training classes for many members of the U.S. Figure Skating team at the World Arena in Colorado Springs. She is a nationally recognized instructor and choreographer who travels extensively teaching master classes and setting choreography on various dance companies. In 2010 Helen relocated to Colorado to be the Artistic and Company Director of various studios in the area. Helen is known for her cutting edge, contemporary style while focusing on the technical details of dance.
Between teaching at conventions, judging, owning her own studio, running competition companies, teaching and choreographing for studios around the nation, and being a parent herself... Helen has every aspect of the dance world under her belt.
MEGHAN LAWITZ
Meghan Lawitz is the Artistic Director and Founder of the Denver-based contemporary dance company, Rogue Co. Originally from Arizona, Meghan has established a strong foundation in the Colorado community as a dancer, choreographer and teacher over the past 15 years. Before founding Rogue Co, she was the Co-Director/Choreographer for the Damsels Contemporary Dance Company. Meghan has been a guest artist for Soul De Soul Dance Convention, United We Dance, You See These Moves, Releve Dance Competition, PUSH, The Block Party, Murmuration, St. Michael’s College, Denver School of the Arts, and most recently toured with DMC China International. She has been an Official Judge for UDA Mile High Dance Championships, The Groove Experience, and the ICU World Cheerleading Championships. A few performance credits include Interweave Dance Theatre, The Janes Dance Crew, Imprint Group, Vail International Dance Festival, 8150 Urban Dance Challenge and the Denver Dance Festival. Meghan also currently dances with Boulder Jazz Dance Collective and is on faculty with Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop.
Meghan focuses primarily on contemporary movement and its rich storytelling ability. Her distinctive contemporary style stems not only from her diverse dance background but also from her love and appreciation of all dance forms.
Meghan Lawitz is the Artistic Director and Founder of the Denver-based contemporary dance company, Rogue Co. Originally from Arizona, Meghan has established a strong foundation in the Colorado community as a dancer, choreographer and teacher over the past 15 years. Before founding Rogue Co, she was the Co-Director/Choreographer for the Damsels Contemporary Dance Company. Meghan has been a guest artist for Soul De Soul Dance Convention, United We Dance, You See These Moves, Releve Dance Competition, PUSH, The Block Party, Murmuration, St. Michael’s College, Denver School of the Arts, and most recently toured with DMC China International. She has been an Official Judge for UDA Mile High Dance Championships, The Groove Experience, and the ICU World Cheerleading Championships. A few performance credits include Interweave Dance Theatre, The Janes Dance Crew, Imprint Group, Vail International Dance Festival, 8150 Urban Dance Challenge and the Denver Dance Festival. Meghan also currently dances with Boulder Jazz Dance Collective and is on faculty with Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop.
Meghan focuses primarily on contemporary movement and its rich storytelling ability. Her distinctive contemporary style stems not only from her diverse dance background but also from her love and appreciation of all dance forms.
DANA BENTON
Dana Benton was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and at the age of 9, she was accepted to the National Ballet School in Toronto where she trained for eight years. Dana graduated from the National Ballet School with Honors in Academics and was awarded the Peter Dwyer Award for Excellence in Dance. Upon graduating in 2000, Dana received a contract with Alberta Ballet Company in Canada. She spent one year with the Company as an Apprentice. In 2001, she joined Colorado Ballet and she has performed many soloist and principal roles with the Company. Dana was promoted to Soloist in 2007 and then to Principal in 2014. Dana will be retiring at the end of this 2022/23 season. She is looking forward to working with the Colorado Ballet Academy as the Academy Principal.
ADE OBAYOMI
Arizona native, Ade Obayomi, began dancing at a young age. His early credits include touring with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montreal and the film "A Diva's Christmas Carol." Studying and competing in Arizona, Kansas and Canada, Obayomi trained in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, African and hip-hop dance. An accomplished gymnast, Obayomi was named the Arizona State champion for gymnastics when he was just ten.
His love of dance earned him a scholarship to attend Chapman University, where he also studied sound engineering. While attending Chapman, Ade auditioned for Season 5 of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, eventually becoming a finalist on the show. During his time on the FOX hit show, Obayomi ended his run in the Top 6. Since then, he has performed throughout the U.S. on the SYTYCD National Tour and has also enjoyed teaching contemporary and hip-hop dance around the country. Obayomi recently performed on the 2010 Grammy Awards broadcast with Beyonce and can be seen in Rihanna’s Hard music video, Alicia Keys Element of Freedom World Tour as well as working with such artists as Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, JLO, Kelly Rowland and the cast of American Idol. Most recently, Ade became a SYTYCD All Star and completed a 40 city National Tour. Ade teaches hip hop and contemporary master classes nationwide.
Arizona native, Ade Obayomi, began dancing at a young age. His early credits include touring with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montreal and the film "A Diva's Christmas Carol." Studying and competing in Arizona, Kansas and Canada, Obayomi trained in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, African and hip-hop dance. An accomplished gymnast, Obayomi was named the Arizona State champion for gymnastics when he was just ten.
His love of dance earned him a scholarship to attend Chapman University, where he also studied sound engineering. While attending Chapman, Ade auditioned for Season 5 of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, eventually becoming a finalist on the show. During his time on the FOX hit show, Obayomi ended his run in the Top 6. Since then, he has performed throughout the U.S. on the SYTYCD National Tour and has also enjoyed teaching contemporary and hip-hop dance around the country. Obayomi recently performed on the 2010 Grammy Awards broadcast with Beyonce and can be seen in Rihanna’s Hard music video, Alicia Keys Element of Freedom World Tour as well as working with such artists as Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, JLO, Kelly Rowland and the cast of American Idol. Most recently, Ade became a SYTYCD All Star and completed a 40 city National Tour. Ade teaches hip hop and contemporary master classes nationwide.
MELISSA SANDVIG
Melissa Sandvig was born and raised in Orange County California. She began her ballet training at Long Beach Ballet at the age of 5 and began dancing professionally at age 15. Melissa was also a young actress and starred in commercials and after school specials, but soon chose to put that on the backburner to fully commit to her future as a ballerina. While still in high school, she won 2nd place in the prestigiousMusic Center Spotlight Awards and toured internationally with the Los Angeles Classical Ballet to Taiwan and China. After graduating she was recruited to join The Milwaukee Ballet where she danced soloist roleswith them for 6 seasons. Melissa then returned home to Los Angeles to become a freelance artist and a certified Pilates instructor. Her interest in Pilates came after suffering a fracture in her lower back which caused her to retrain her body and posture to protect her back from future injuries. She enjoys teaching younger dancers how not only to be healthy but to work their bodies correctly to prevent injuries. She was recently certified in Progressive Ballet Technique as well.Melissa continues to perform with companies such as Helios Dance Theater, Sacramento Ballet, Los Angeles Contemporary Ballet, Luminario Ballet, Motion Tribe, Body Traffic, Strange and Elegant Dancers, String Theory, The Los Angeles Opera, and many more. She is most well known for her performance on Season 5 of "So You Think You Can Dance" as the "Naughty Ballerina". Melissa was the first classically trained ballerina and the oldest contestant at age 29. She broke stereotypes about age and ballet and made it all the way to the top 6.
Now she continues to perform, teach master classes, and choreograph nationwide. She was lucky enough to be partnered with fellow faculty member Ade Obayomi, their friendship and partnering is stronger than ever. Melissa is thrilled to have been with Velocity Dance Convention since the beginning and loves teaching ballet and judging on panel for competition. She has loved working commercially over the years, her favorite job was performing as one of the ballerinas in Taylor Swift’s music video “Shake it off” choreographed by Tyce Diorio, as well as on Nappytabs “Harlem Hopscotch” Video. She has been a guest dancer on the hit show "Glee", “Bunheads”, “Vegas”, “Dancing With The Stars”, “America’s Got Talent”, “Mobbed”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Hart of Dixie”, “The Young and the Restless”, “Lucifer”, a Microsoft Tablet commercial and continues to perform her piece about breast cancer "This Woman's Work" with Ade Obayomi for fundraisers and events everywhere. She has also performed in motion capture work for many of the “Shrek” movie dance scenes “Puss in Boots” and “Madagascar 3”, and has worked with Cirque Du Soleil and Disney to create a new show. She can also be found as one of the Ballet instructors for CLI Studios, on Youtube, Buzzfeed, DS2DIO and the webshows EHOW and HealthyPowerTV. She was also chosen to perform as the principal ballerina in the Hit Off Broadway Musical “Silence” opening in Los Angeles.
Melissa Sandvig was born and raised in Orange County California. She began her ballet training at Long Beach Ballet at the age of 5 and began dancing professionally at age 15. Melissa was also a young actress and starred in commercials and after school specials, but soon chose to put that on the backburner to fully commit to her future as a ballerina. While still in high school, she won 2nd place in the prestigiousMusic Center Spotlight Awards and toured internationally with the Los Angeles Classical Ballet to Taiwan and China. After graduating she was recruited to join The Milwaukee Ballet where she danced soloist roleswith them for 6 seasons. Melissa then returned home to Los Angeles to become a freelance artist and a certified Pilates instructor. Her interest in Pilates came after suffering a fracture in her lower back which caused her to retrain her body and posture to protect her back from future injuries. She enjoys teaching younger dancers how not only to be healthy but to work their bodies correctly to prevent injuries. She was recently certified in Progressive Ballet Technique as well.Melissa continues to perform with companies such as Helios Dance Theater, Sacramento Ballet, Los Angeles Contemporary Ballet, Luminario Ballet, Motion Tribe, Body Traffic, Strange and Elegant Dancers, String Theory, The Los Angeles Opera, and many more. She is most well known for her performance on Season 5 of "So You Think You Can Dance" as the "Naughty Ballerina". Melissa was the first classically trained ballerina and the oldest contestant at age 29. She broke stereotypes about age and ballet and made it all the way to the top 6.
Now she continues to perform, teach master classes, and choreograph nationwide. She was lucky enough to be partnered with fellow faculty member Ade Obayomi, their friendship and partnering is stronger than ever. Melissa is thrilled to have been with Velocity Dance Convention since the beginning and loves teaching ballet and judging on panel for competition. She has loved working commercially over the years, her favorite job was performing as one of the ballerinas in Taylor Swift’s music video “Shake it off” choreographed by Tyce Diorio, as well as on Nappytabs “Harlem Hopscotch” Video. She has been a guest dancer on the hit show "Glee", “Bunheads”, “Vegas”, “Dancing With The Stars”, “America’s Got Talent”, “Mobbed”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Hart of Dixie”, “The Young and the Restless”, “Lucifer”, a Microsoft Tablet commercial and continues to perform her piece about breast cancer "This Woman's Work" with Ade Obayomi for fundraisers and events everywhere. She has also performed in motion capture work for many of the “Shrek” movie dance scenes “Puss in Boots” and “Madagascar 3”, and has worked with Cirque Du Soleil and Disney to create a new show. She can also be found as one of the Ballet instructors for CLI Studios, on Youtube, Buzzfeed, DS2DIO and the webshows EHOW and HealthyPowerTV. She was also chosen to perform as the principal ballerina in the Hit Off Broadway Musical “Silence” opening in Los Angeles.
GRETA SUGAI
Greta Sugai was born and raised in Colorado where she grew up dancing in Fort Collins since the age of 8. She is now a traveling contemporary fusion teacher and choreographer.
In 2015 Greta developed her own traveling dance company called Messengerz Dance Co. in which she led her company to New Zealand for a month to teach dance camps to students of all ages, and has since built partnerships there to return back to. She has also been a part of several Denver based companies as well as Justin Gile’s company SoulEscape in Texas and in Utah. Currently she is dancing with Chadash Contemporary Dance Movement in Denver as a professional level dancer. She is also a dance professor at Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, CO for their developing dance program. Greta specializes in guest teaching, choreographing and creating workshops across Colorado, and now out of state as well. This summer she will be teaching out of state across Texas, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Arizona and more. Greta has also begun her competition choreography journey and one of her solo’s received 2nd place award for the senior prodigy division at NRG Nationals this past year. She is very excited about this journey ahead and is so thankful for each opportunity and relationship she gets to build on.
Greta Sugai was born and raised in Colorado where she grew up dancing in Fort Collins since the age of 8. She is now a traveling contemporary fusion teacher and choreographer.
In 2015 Greta developed her own traveling dance company called Messengerz Dance Co. in which she led her company to New Zealand for a month to teach dance camps to students of all ages, and has since built partnerships there to return back to. She has also been a part of several Denver based companies as well as Justin Gile’s company SoulEscape in Texas and in Utah. Currently she is dancing with Chadash Contemporary Dance Movement in Denver as a professional level dancer. She is also a dance professor at Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, CO for their developing dance program. Greta specializes in guest teaching, choreographing and creating workshops across Colorado, and now out of state as well. This summer she will be teaching out of state across Texas, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Arizona and more. Greta has also begun her competition choreography journey and one of her solo’s received 2nd place award for the senior prodigy division at NRG Nationals this past year. She is very excited about this journey ahead and is so thankful for each opportunity and relationship she gets to build on.
MICHAELA MOORE
Michaela was born and raised in Colorado Springs, CO. There, she began dancing at the age of 4 and has been dancing ever since. She has trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, contemporary, lyrical, modern, hip hop & pom. Her dance education has come from Robin’s Danceworks in Colorado Springs, the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management Program in Oklahoma City, and the BFA Dance Program at the University of Colorado - Boulder. In December 2015, she graduated from CU - Boulder with a bachelor of fine arts in Dance Performance and Choreography. Some of her accomplishments include performing at the Annual Beaux Arts Freedom Ball under the direction of Tara Cluck and AXS Group. In 2017 she joined AGT's "The Silhouette's" for an international tour where she spent 4 months dancing across Germany and performing in 75+ shows. Michaela now resides in Los Angeles as a professional dancer where she is an active member of Geometry Dance Company, under the direction of Mackenzie Martin. With Geometry Dance Company she has performed at the International Women's Day Festival, Fiestalonia Sea Sun Festival in Costa Brava, Spain, and Capezio's A.C.E. Awards. She has also had the privilege of being featured in numerous dance films including Donovan Woods' Music Video "She Waits For Me To Come Back Down" & Duomo's Music Video "What About Us" in collaboration with Netflix's hit show, Bridgerton. Aside from performing, her love for teaching and choreographing is expansive and has choreographed/produced award winning pieces for the past 6 years and has found a love being the SOULELITE Director for SOUL DE SOUL Dance Convention. She truly believes in the art of dance as a way to globally communicate through movement, and how it can positively change a person and a community as a whole.
Michaela was born and raised in Colorado Springs, CO. There, she began dancing at the age of 4 and has been dancing ever since. She has trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, contemporary, lyrical, modern, hip hop & pom. Her dance education has come from Robin’s Danceworks in Colorado Springs, the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management Program in Oklahoma City, and the BFA Dance Program at the University of Colorado - Boulder. In December 2015, she graduated from CU - Boulder with a bachelor of fine arts in Dance Performance and Choreography. Some of her accomplishments include performing at the Annual Beaux Arts Freedom Ball under the direction of Tara Cluck and AXS Group. In 2017 she joined AGT's "The Silhouette's" for an international tour where she spent 4 months dancing across Germany and performing in 75+ shows. Michaela now resides in Los Angeles as a professional dancer where she is an active member of Geometry Dance Company, under the direction of Mackenzie Martin. With Geometry Dance Company she has performed at the International Women's Day Festival, Fiestalonia Sea Sun Festival in Costa Brava, Spain, and Capezio's A.C.E. Awards. She has also had the privilege of being featured in numerous dance films including Donovan Woods' Music Video "She Waits For Me To Come Back Down" & Duomo's Music Video "What About Us" in collaboration with Netflix's hit show, Bridgerton. Aside from performing, her love for teaching and choreographing is expansive and has choreographed/produced award winning pieces for the past 6 years and has found a love being the SOULELITE Director for SOUL DE SOUL Dance Convention. She truly believes in the art of dance as a way to globally communicate through movement, and how it can positively change a person and a community as a whole.
ANJELINA ESCOBAR
Int/Adv Hip Hop Master Class
2024 Date TBD
Anjelina began studying dance at the age of three, training in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, technique, modern, and taking part in convention and workshops. She danced competitively and continued training with master choreographers and teachers. Anjelina has assisted master choreographers such as Liz Imperio, Randi Kemper, Hefa Tuita, Kevin Maher, Hani Abaza, and Jojo Gomez on the convention stage. She auditioned at the University of Arizona and received a scholarship to audition for the dance program. Anjelina has been awarded convention scholarships including travel to California with Hollywood Vibe. Upon returning to Colorado she was introduced to Dance Unlimited and fell in love with teaching.
Int/Adv Hip Hop Master Class
2024 Date TBD
Anjelina began studying dance at the age of three, training in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, technique, modern, and taking part in convention and workshops. She danced competitively and continued training with master choreographers and teachers. Anjelina has assisted master choreographers such as Liz Imperio, Randi Kemper, Hefa Tuita, Kevin Maher, Hani Abaza, and Jojo Gomez on the convention stage. She auditioned at the University of Arizona and received a scholarship to audition for the dance program. Anjelina has been awarded convention scholarships including travel to California with Hollywood Vibe. Upon returning to Colorado she was introduced to Dance Unlimited and fell in love with teaching.
PAST GUEST ARTISTS
KATIE SNEED
Jazz Master Classes
Katie Sneed is the current NRG Competition Director and Mini/Lil' Spark Director. A former NRG Prodigy, Katie grew up in the NRG family. Katie has enjoyed dancing with many artists including Janet Jackson, Michelle Delamor, Ashley Brinton, Sofya Wang, Bow Wow/Young JT, GSnaps, and Farrah Fitzhugh. TV/Video: the Ellen Degeneres Show, iCarly, Good Morning America, and Good Morning Memphis. The Amplify NYE show at the Aria Las Vegas and is Creative Director/Choreographer for international recording artist Damian McGinty. Other credits include Pronamel toothpaste, Date Night (Ashton Kutcher, Elan Gale), Autozone Liberty Bowl, St Jude Benefit Gala, Hot House Gruv & Memphis Redbirds.
Jazz Master Classes
Katie Sneed is the current NRG Competition Director and Mini/Lil' Spark Director. A former NRG Prodigy, Katie grew up in the NRG family. Katie has enjoyed dancing with many artists including Janet Jackson, Michelle Delamor, Ashley Brinton, Sofya Wang, Bow Wow/Young JT, GSnaps, and Farrah Fitzhugh. TV/Video: the Ellen Degeneres Show, iCarly, Good Morning America, and Good Morning Memphis. The Amplify NYE show at the Aria Las Vegas and is Creative Director/Choreographer for international recording artist Damian McGinty. Other credits include Pronamel toothpaste, Date Night (Ashton Kutcher, Elan Gale), Autozone Liberty Bowl, St Jude Benefit Gala, Hot House Gruv & Memphis Redbirds.
MARK GOODMAN
Tap Master Classes
Mark travels and teaches both in the United States and internationally. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, he joined the American Tap Dance Orchestra. Mark has worked with such tap legends as Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Buster Brown, and Sandman Sims. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and with Savion Glover and Friends at Central Park. His stage performance credits include the musicals 42nd Street, No No Nanette, and Anything Goes. Mark has also appeared in the movie The Polar Express, and he is currently working on a screenplay based on the legend of Don Quixote. Mark teaches for Velocity Dance Convention and also owns the Mark Goodman Tap Company.
Tap Master Classes
Mark travels and teaches both in the United States and internationally. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, he joined the American Tap Dance Orchestra. Mark has worked with such tap legends as Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Buster Brown, and Sandman Sims. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and with Savion Glover and Friends at Central Park. His stage performance credits include the musicals 42nd Street, No No Nanette, and Anything Goes. Mark has also appeared in the movie The Polar Express, and he is currently working on a screenplay based on the legend of Don Quixote. Mark teaches for Velocity Dance Convention and also owns the Mark Goodman Tap Company.
LACEY SCHWIMMER
Ballroom Master Classes
Lacey Schwimmer is perhaps best known for her success as a finalist on Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance (season 3) and as one of the most popular professional dancers on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars (six consecutive seasons).
Lacey has choreography and artistic direction credits on DWTS, Strictly Come Dancing, and So You Think You Can Dance. Other choreography credits include Las Vegas shows, Frankie Moreno Live and Pin Up starring playmate Claire Sinclair, as well as Holland America’s Dancing with the Stars at Sea and Lions Gate’s Dancing with the Stars workout DVD.
She has worked with Grammy award-winning artists such as Christina Aguilera, Nikki Minaj, LMFAO, One Republic, Reba McEntire, One Republic, Backstreet Boys, and New Kids On The Block.
Lacey is currently a guest designer for her signature line at Discount Dance Supply.
In addition to Lacey’s industry choreography she has created many award-winning contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, Latin, swing, and ballroom pieces for competition, and has won multiple U.S. and world titles for Swing dance and International Latin.
She owns and co-directs The Dance Center, a competitive powerhouse dance studio in Redlands, CA along with her famous dancing family and is continually proud and honored to educate dancers all around the world.
Ballroom Master Classes
Lacey Schwimmer is perhaps best known for her success as a finalist on Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance (season 3) and as one of the most popular professional dancers on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars (six consecutive seasons).
Lacey has choreography and artistic direction credits on DWTS, Strictly Come Dancing, and So You Think You Can Dance. Other choreography credits include Las Vegas shows, Frankie Moreno Live and Pin Up starring playmate Claire Sinclair, as well as Holland America’s Dancing with the Stars at Sea and Lions Gate’s Dancing with the Stars workout DVD.
She has worked with Grammy award-winning artists such as Christina Aguilera, Nikki Minaj, LMFAO, One Republic, Reba McEntire, One Republic, Backstreet Boys, and New Kids On The Block.
Lacey is currently a guest designer for her signature line at Discount Dance Supply.
In addition to Lacey’s industry choreography she has created many award-winning contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, Latin, swing, and ballroom pieces for competition, and has won multiple U.S. and world titles for Swing dance and International Latin.
She owns and co-directs The Dance Center, a competitive powerhouse dance studio in Redlands, CA along with her famous dancing family and is continually proud and honored to educate dancers all around the world.
MALLAURI ESQUIBEL HANSEN
Jazz Master Classes
Mallauri Esquibel Hansen, a native of Colorado, moved to Los Angeles at 17, Mallauri quickly began making a name for herself.
Film/TV credits include: LALA land, Valley Girls, Behind the Candelabra, The Greatest Showman promo/live commercial, FAME, Princess and the Frog, High School Musical 3, Frozen, Amazon, Google, Dancing with the stars, Gilmore Girls, Good morning America, The Academy Awards, Blunt Talk, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Bunheads, House, Bones, Vegas,The Mindy Project, CSI, the Grammys, 2008 Beijing Olympics, Billboard Music Awards, Much Music Awards, AMA’s, and VH1 Divas Live. Broadway and stage credits include: Travis Walls “Shaping Sound” “Wonderland” A broadway musical, Twyla Tharp's “Come Fly Away”, Odyssey Dance Theatre, Evolution Dance Company, AR Rahman “Jai Ho” world tour, and Taylor Swift's RED world tour. She has worked with artists such as Camilla Cabello, JLO, Joss Stone, Florence and the Machine, The Gypsy Kings, Jordin Sparks, Paula Abdul, and Taylor Swift. Mallauri was also the cover model for Dance Spirit in December 2011. Currently she travels and teaches with NRG dance project, and has a true passion for teaching the next generation of dancers. @mallauri @nrgdanceproject
Jazz Master Classes
Mallauri Esquibel Hansen, a native of Colorado, moved to Los Angeles at 17, Mallauri quickly began making a name for herself.
Film/TV credits include: LALA land, Valley Girls, Behind the Candelabra, The Greatest Showman promo/live commercial, FAME, Princess and the Frog, High School Musical 3, Frozen, Amazon, Google, Dancing with the stars, Gilmore Girls, Good morning America, The Academy Awards, Blunt Talk, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Bunheads, House, Bones, Vegas,The Mindy Project, CSI, the Grammys, 2008 Beijing Olympics, Billboard Music Awards, Much Music Awards, AMA’s, and VH1 Divas Live. Broadway and stage credits include: Travis Walls “Shaping Sound” “Wonderland” A broadway musical, Twyla Tharp's “Come Fly Away”, Odyssey Dance Theatre, Evolution Dance Company, AR Rahman “Jai Ho” world tour, and Taylor Swift's RED world tour. She has worked with artists such as Camilla Cabello, JLO, Joss Stone, Florence and the Machine, The Gypsy Kings, Jordin Sparks, Paula Abdul, and Taylor Swift. Mallauri was also the cover model for Dance Spirit in December 2011. Currently she travels and teaches with NRG dance project, and has a true passion for teaching the next generation of dancers. @mallauri @nrgdanceproject
DJ GUTHRIE
Contemporary Master Classes
DJ Guthrie hails from Dallas, Texas and made his way to LA after dancing with the Orlando Ballet for 9 years. Since then DJ has appeared in films such as High School Musical 3, 500 Days of Summer, Shrek Forever After and The Greatest Muppet Movie Ever, as well as television performances on Glee, Dancing With The Stars, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Video Game Awards, American Idol, Bones, Better With You, The CMA Christmas Show, America’s Got Talent, The 81st Academy Awards, The 63rd Emmys, CSI: Las Vegas, So You Think You Can Dance, and also performed with the national touring company of CATS.DJ has co-choreographed/danced in commercials and live performances for Ford, McDonald’s, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Memorial Hermann, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, and was choreographer for the TV show “Your Chance to Dance” on CMT, and on the creative team for Miss Angola.
Aside from working commercially, he teaches master classes for The Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, CA as well as studios and professional companies all over the country. His innovative approach to musicality and movement theory, extensive technical vocabulary and blend of several styles into one has gained him a continually growing following. Most recently, DJ has found himself back home in Dallas!
Contemporary Master Classes
DJ Guthrie hails from Dallas, Texas and made his way to LA after dancing with the Orlando Ballet for 9 years. Since then DJ has appeared in films such as High School Musical 3, 500 Days of Summer, Shrek Forever After and The Greatest Muppet Movie Ever, as well as television performances on Glee, Dancing With The Stars, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Video Game Awards, American Idol, Bones, Better With You, The CMA Christmas Show, America’s Got Talent, The 81st Academy Awards, The 63rd Emmys, CSI: Las Vegas, So You Think You Can Dance, and also performed with the national touring company of CATS.DJ has co-choreographed/danced in commercials and live performances for Ford, McDonald’s, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Memorial Hermann, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, and was choreographer for the TV show “Your Chance to Dance” on CMT, and on the creative team for Miss Angola.
Aside from working commercially, he teaches master classes for The Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, CA as well as studios and professional companies all over the country. His innovative approach to musicality and movement theory, extensive technical vocabulary and blend of several styles into one has gained him a continually growing following. Most recently, DJ has found himself back home in Dallas!