Aimee Young Hopkins, M.A. and California Credentialed Teacher, has worked extensively in literacy and arts education since 1988. Originally from Rhode Island, Aimee achieved her B.A. Magna Cum Laude from Middlebury College in Vermont and her M.A. in Theatre from Trinity Rep Conservatory in Rhode Island. Holding both the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and the Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development (CLAD) Certificate, Aimee received the prestigious “Golden Apple Award” from LA Unified School District in 2002. Aimee has taught English in Latin America and toured the U.S. as an Artist-in-Residence. Before settling in Los Angeles, she won First Place in Rhode Island's NATS (National Association for Teachers of Singing) Vocal Competition and several honors at the Solo/Ensemble Competition for Vocal Music. Since coming to the west coast, Aimee has performed in musical theatre and in her own musical one-woman shows and original plays. With her company, Aimee Art Productions and with the Music Center of Los Angeles, Aimee continues to offer quality arts instruction at schools and non-profits throughout the Los Angeles area. She is passionate about using the arts as a tool to build literacy and self-esteem and about sharing her expertise with classroom teachers. (Program Director; Private Teacher – piano, voice; Teaching Artist – Music, Dance, Musical Theatre, Art)
Ali Mandelbaum has been working with young people in Musical Theatre since 1996, from Pre-K to high school seniors. She received her Theatre training at the California Youth Theatre and later at the American Academy of Musical and Dramatic Arts in New York City. A native Los Angeleno, she has written and directed plays with young performers at the Marlborough Summer School, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Theatre of Hearts Youth First, Hollygrove Children’s Home, Willows Community School, and Franklin Avenue Elementary. Ali’s mission is to help young people have fun and learn through Theatre Arts. (Teaching Artist – Musical Theatre)
David Cutter's career has been somewhat unique. He didn't start playing piano seriously until age 18 and was stubborn enough to go it alone without instruction. Proceeding to practice 6 hours a day by ear, he spent the next 5 years learning by ear, continuously rewinding cassette tapes of a particular song to get exactly note-for-note. Finally, he began to feel he wasn't moving forward fast enough. Taking the opposite tack, he enrolled at California State Northridge's Music Department as a piano performance major. In 1981, Northridge was one of the top 10 music school's in the country and had a local reputation of demanding more performance skills from students than other local music schools. As a piano performance major, David studied and practiced classical pieces and technique for at least 8 hours a day and loved it. "There was a day where I was walking down the practice room hallway and hearing some students practicing jazz. I remember thinking “how are they making those sounds?" After that he began studying jazz with a private teacher in addition to classical assignments. After 4 years at Northridge, David joined a top 40 dance band. Two months later they hit the road. He has since been in many local Top-40 bands working in many diverse settings throughout the Los Angeles area. During this time, David was fortunate to have worked with a couple of really excellent drummers. As a result, he has developed a rhythmic feel and style that really swings. He also began jazz improvisation studies with Terry Trotter. He continues to pay his dues working both as a solo pianist and teaching piano, in both classical and jazz styles. Since 1989, David has been a house pianist at the Beverly Plaza, the Midtown Hilton, the University Hilton, the Biltmore Hotel, and the Westin in Pasadena. Additional teacher training and experience includes twenty years as a classroom high school science teacher with LA Unified. David has a valid, current California State Teaching Credential and has taught some music as well under a district board permit. (Private Teacher – piano)
Kathy O'Mara has been a teacher of Performing Arts since 1992; she currently teaches history and theater at the Cooperative Arts and Humanities Magnet High School in New Haven, CT. She is committed to the development of educational programs for students interested in the arts. Kathy aims to provide students of every age the opportunities to explore the world of theater- from classic Shakespearean works to the vibrant plays of the Harlem Renaissance to cutting-edge original work created by the students themselves. She holds a Bachelors degree in history and political science from Rosemont College and Master's degree in Teaching from Trinity College; she is a state certified teacher. (Teaching Artist – Theatre)
Jessica Gentes has received her B.A. in piano performance and choral education from CSU Stanislaus. She is now completing an additional A.A. degree in contemporary keyboard performance/production from Musician's Institute in Hollywood. (Private Teacher – piano)
Kevin Holmes holds a M.M. degree in guitar performance from Cal State University Los Angeles and has attended the USC Thornton School of Music (Studio/Jazz guitar) for two years working towards a D.M.A. He has studied with many outstanding guitarists including Joe Diorio, Pat Kelley, Frank Potenza, Ted Greene, and Jean-Marc Belkadi. He currently teaches at the Chandler School in Pasadena and at the Marlborough Summer School program. As a contractor for Aimee Art Productions, Kevin has taught at the Los Feliz Charter School, and Franklin Elementary. In addition, he has instructed private lessons at the Los Angeles Music and Art School and guitar classes at Murchison Elementary and 32nd Street Arts Magnet School as part of the House of Blues music outreach program. Kevin also has a studio of private guitar students. (Private Teacher – guitar; Teaching Artist – Music)
Docious Godfrey’s painting career started in 1999 when she was working in San Francisco as an interior designer. Prior to moving to California, she worked in New York City at design firms which offered both residential and commercial services. When she moved west, Docious started a design firm with a colleague from New York. In the process of working on a home in the Bay Area, they encountered difficulties finding artwork for their client. They needed to photograph the home for their portfolio and decided that they would create a painting for the rooms most in need. Docious painted a triptych for the dining room. While they were shooting, the client returned home unexpectedly. The next day they asked if they could buy the triptych. Docious said yes. She continued to paint. More people became interested and she opened an open studio in his home later that year. Docious received a commission for a very large piece and began work on that while also working on other smaller paintings. She worked in acrylic primarily, though she also painted several works in oil. Docious also developed an interest in collage, creating pieces which combined acrylic paint, pastel and hand-made paper. She moved to Los Angeles in 2001. That spring Docious worked at Creative Space teaching art to various age groups. She also worked with kids at Borders in Glendale, doing the Saturday morning book reading and art program. She has worked one-on-one with children and recently taught art classes to second grade students at an elementary school in Simi Valley. Nineteen of Docious' paintings were hung at Off-Vine, a popular restaurant in Hollywood. She has sold work through a small gallery in Claremont and recently some of his bird paintings were in an art gallery in Eagle Rock. Docious has donated his works for the AIDS Spin-a-Thon and PAWS LA benefit and has sold prints of his work at Filagree, an upscale arts and crafts boutique in San Francisco. Docious has a studio in his home in Glendale, CA and is currently working on small, primitive paintings of birds, landscapes on wood panels, and since 1999, has been exploring color fields and their ability to convey landscape and mood. (Teaching Artist – Art)
Amanda Johnson is a teaching, gigging and touring musician who resides in Hollywood but travels all over the Los Angeles area for her “work”-which is ALWAYS play! For over 12 years, she has been teaching students of all ages guitar, bass, flute, piano, and the basics of playing and maintaining their specific instruments. The private and group lessons integrate music theory, ear training, and song writing with entertaining and efficient results. The objective is not to be a “guitarist” or a “pianist”, but to become a well-rounded musician and person. Amanda graduated from the world-renowned Citrus College (Glendora, CA) where her experiences there allowed her to tour internationally with jazz and led her to connections that took her on national U.S. tours with an original rock band. Currently, she can be seen gigging all over Southern California every weekend with many different cover and original bands. She is young enough to make the experience of learning an instrument fun and easy, but old enough to show a student you don’t have to be starving to be a musician. (Private Teacher – piano, guitar, flute, bass)
Nikki Adkins has an undergraduate degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Central Oklahoma, and has studied Shakespeare at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. She has worked with children's theatres as a teacher and performer for several years. For two of her years at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, North Carolina, she toured with their professional troupe the Tarradiddle Players. They visited schools and civic venues all over the Southeast, performing and teaching playwriting workshops. Although she and her husband have relocated to Los Angeles, Nikki continues to contribute monthly articles, short plays, and stories to the North Carolina children’s magazine My School Rocks!, which can be found at www.myschoolrocks.com. She enjoys sharing her love of theatre, creative writing, literature, and life with young people, and as such, is currently spending summers pursuing her M.F.A in Children's Literature at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA. (Teaching artist – Theatre, Creative Writing)
Alina Hevia is a native of Miami, where she received a Bachelors of Music as well as a Bachelors of the Arts in English. She is a singer/songwriter and actress, and has been seen on stage and film in Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Washington State. Her teaching career began as a school teacher with Miami Dade County Public Schools, and she recently achieved Certification Level One with Music Together, a national music development program. She is delighted to join Aimee Art Productions, and gladly brings her passion for arts education to the West Coast. (Teaching Artist – Music, Theatre; Private Teacher – voice, guitar)
Susan Linville found her passion for dance at an early age and just knew she had to explore it. She studied ballet, tap, jazz and cheerleading throughout her childhood and in college was a Ballet major at The Florida School For the Arts. While studying dance in college, she learned she was full of potential as a teacher and choreographer. She soon discovered Modern Dance and after a move to Austin, Texas she danced with Ballet East Dance Theatre under the direction of Rodolofo Mendez. While at Ballet East she got to work with many great chorographers from Alvin Ailey, Joyce Trisler, PhiliDanco and Ballet Austin. She also choreographed solo works that premiered at fringe festivals and collaborative dance projects. She taught dance at an outreach program for at-risk youth and at The Griffin School, a college prep. school. After graduating from Austin Comm. College with an AA degree in Dance, she moved to Los Angeles. She expanded her studies to include Hip Hop, Yoga, Ballroom and Martial Arts. In 2002 she received her Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Certificate. She has been teaching dance and yoga in Los Angeles at numerous schools, studios, recreation centers and outreach programs for the past seven years. She is currently the dance teacher at Carpenter Ave. Elem. in Studio City. She has also gotten to work with many talented performers and choreographed for both live theatre and film. She is the Creator of The Muse Project, a monthly cabaret at El Cid in Silverlake. (Teaching Artist – Dance)
Joanne Esser is from San Francisco, CA and has been involved in the arts since she was 5 years old. In 2004, she graduated with a BFA in Theatre from UC Santa Barbara, and then moved to Los Angeles in pursuit of a career in Theatre and Film. While continuing her Education in Los Angeles, Joanne takes Acting classes with Chris Fields, and Viewpoints (a movement theatre technique) with Steppenwolf West. For the past two years Joanne has been teaching with East LA Classic Theatre Company. ECT is made up of a group of Professional Actors, Writers and Directors who undertake 16-week residencies in lower-income, English-Second-Language (ESL) classrooms. Joanne also recently became a member of ECT's Equity Acting Company, where they are currently touring a Mariachi Much Ado About Nothing and a Zoot Suit Romeo & Juliet. For the past three years Joanne has also been involved with Boxtales Theatre Company, of Santa Barbara, touring with their Educational Outreach program, as well as performing all over the country with their critically-acclaimed production of The Odyssey. In this production the actors use five aerial silks, aerial acrobatics, acroyoga, various instruments from all over the world, and a whole lot of creativity, to create a piece that has defied the boundaries of Theatre. As a company, they utilize masks, storytelling, music, and movement to present world myths and folktales to audiences of all ages. If you want to more about Joanne Lubeck, including announcements and performance dates, go to www.JoanneLubeck.com. Joanne is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association. She is very excited to be involved with Aimee Art Productions!
Kal Drakopoulos started playing piano at the age of 7, and drumset at the age of 14. He studied for 6 years at his home town, Athens ,Greece. After that he moved to Los Angeles and studied at the L.A music academy with world famous players and teachers such as Joe Porcaro, Ralph Humphrey, Mike Shapiro and many others. Today, he keeps busy playing about 120 shows per year in the Los Angeles area, as well as touring and recording with many different acts. He has opened for acts such as Michelle Branch, The Wreckers, Sarah Evans, and he has played or/and recorded with players such as Phil Bynoe (Steve Vai), Richie Garcia (Sting), Nick Mancini (N.Y vibraphonist) to name a few. He is also a dedicated drum and piano instructor.
Michelle Hanley began studying dance at the Newport School of Ballet at age 19 in Newport, Oregon. She went on to minor in Dance at the University of Oregon, specializing in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Improvisation, and African Dance. Michelle auditioned for and was accepted into the University’s African Dance Troupe, performing at schools and community centers around Eugene from 1995-1998. Michelle continued her dance education after college at the Stites Performing Arts Center in Portland, Oregon, receiving top-notch training from world-renowned instructors in Jazz, Modern, and Ballet. In 2000 Michelle was hired on as a Creative Movement teacher for children ages 3-12. The Performing Arts Center also gave Michelle an outlet for expressing herself through choreographing dance pieces for her students and performing as part of Modern, Jazz, and Hip-Hop ensembles. She was also given a forum for her own artistic interpretation, working along-side the studio owner, directing shows and designing costumes. Michelle’s enthusiasm and talent for working with children and sharing her love of dance, lead to her career development at a variety of Dance Institutions around Portland including teaching Ballet, Tap, and Hip-Hop to kids age 2-18 with KinderDance International; Ballet, Hip-Hop and Stretch to teens and adults at the East Portland Community Center; and Jazz and Hip-Hop to college students at the Mt. Hood Community College. Michelle currently lives in Hollywood and furthers her Jazz and Hip-Hop training at MaDonna Grimmes Dance Fitness Theatre and her Ballet technique at Edge Performing Arts Center. She also continues to incorporate her passion of teaching and dance at the local YMCA and various after-school enrichment programs, instructing kids 3-10 in Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop, and Creative Movement, as well as Jazz, Hip-Hop, Beginning and Intermediate Ballet to adults of all ages.
Stacy Highsmith has been working with Aimee Art Productions for several years now and has directed and/or co-directed over ten plays. Including "Oliver Twist", "A Midsummer Night's Dream and "The Wizard of Oz" to name a few. Her primary focus has been working with the Kindergarten, first and second grade groups giving them an introduction oftentimes to classical texts, simple choreography and syncopated rhythms. Her greatest joy has been in seeing a very young child, with initial doubts a mile long, finally experience the exuberance and self-confidence that comes with performing for the first time live on stage with an awe-struck and appreciative audience of parents and peers.
D.M. Osborne is among 500 yoga instructors nationwide who are certified to teach YogaEd, a curriculum that has been used by schools in 30 states, and that has been shown to improve academic performance and physical fitness. Prior to teaching yoga, D.M. enjoyed a career as a senior staff writer with national business and legal magazines. Growing up on the Florida Panhandle, Osborne studied ballet and apprenticed with Elvie S. DeMarko, an influential teacher who garnered Osborne a spot at New York's Jaffrey School of Ballet. Osborne continued to study and perform dance at Hunter College in the City University of New York, where she obtained her BA. She went on to obtain a Masters of Science at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, and began working as a magazine writer. In 2007, inspired by DeMarko's positive influence on her own life, Osborne embarked on a new career as a children's yoga teacher, hoping to have a similarly beneficial impact on the physical and emotional well-being of children and young adults. She lives in Hollywood with her husband, Donald Brown, and their two teenage children, Anna and Lewis.
Ellen Lawler has over twenty years of experience as a professional actor, writer, producer and choreographer, with extensive experience teaching in the theater and educational outreach communities. She has received numerous grants for her work, including commissions from the Massachusetts Council of the Arts and the Women's Center of Princeton University. Ellen currently assists her husband John Lawler, with his theatrical productions at Verdugo Hills High School, and has made costumes, choreographed the musicals and will coach the actors for their upcoming production of "Rent". In 2006, Ellen's play, "Glory Pie" had a full scale production at the Coronet Theater in Los Angeles, and it received a rave review in Variety. She was also a staff writer on the TV comedy, "Malcolm and Eddie" for one season. Ellen received her M.F.A. from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts.
Brittany Cotto is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and began her music education at the age of two. She received a Bachelors of Arts from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She has performed throughout Europe and the United States with various artists including LeAnn Rhimes, Tony Bennett, John Williams, Patrick Williams, Burt Bacharach, Bobby McFerrin, Quincy Jones, Barrage and Marco Antonio Solis. She has performed with the Henry Mancini Institute, Santa Monica Symphony, and the American Youth Symphony, and has played on Grammy-award nominated recordings. Ms. Cotto is currently teaching the String Project with the American Youth Symphony and LA's BEST After School Enrichment Program, Harmony Project, Education Through Music-Los Angeles, sectional and tutorials for public and private school orchestra programs, and her own private studio. She is an active member of AFL-CIO Local-47.Kirstin Eggers(Cooking with Character) has been teaching for the past 15 years, most recently as a teaching artist with LAUSD’s most successful arts education program, Enter Stage Right/24th Street Theatre. Among others, Kirstin has facilitated programs at LA Children’s Museum, Brentwood School, BrainPlay, Burbank Creative Arts Center, and Neighborhood Outreach in Osaka, Japan. Kirstin holds a BFA from USC and strives to release kids’ most creative expression, whatever the medium.
Lorraine Heitzman(Mosaics, Sculpture, & Jewelry Making) attended Goddard College, in Vermont and studied briefly at The Arts Students League in NY, before earning her BFA from the Philadelphia College of Art. She received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. That same year she won a Traveling Fellowship Award for her sculpture and subsequently was awarded an Illinois Completion Grant. In Chicago, she was represented by the Nancy Lurie Gallery and was included in group shows at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Chicago Cultural Center, Navy Pier and the Randolph Street Gallery. Lorraine relocated to Los Angeles, where she lives today with her husband and daughter. She was an artist in residence at Oxbow, in Saugatuck, Michigan and has shown her work in group shows in LA, and at the University of Arizona Experimental Art Gallery, in Phoenix. For the past twenty years, Lorraine has been designing furniture and interiors in New York and Los Angeles. In addition to her interior designs, Lorraine has had extensive experience in the decorative arts, including mosaics, stencils, gilding and specialty finishes. Quite naturally, living in Los Angeles, she has used her art expertise assisting art directors on features, television, commercials and music videos and most recently set dressing a television pilot. Lorraine taught sculpture while she was a graduate student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has also instructed mosaic workshops at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in N.Y. As an undergraduate, she assisted teaching with the Guggenheim Museum’s summer art program for children and worked with children again at a Montessori preschool in Chicago and workshops at the Art Institute of Chicago. She has taught art to children at the Chouinard School of Art in South Pasadena and in school enrichment programs in Los Angeles
Aja Benton is a native Detroiter and a lover of theatre. She graduated with a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Michigan. In addition to studying in Michigan, she also spent a semester studying at the University of Ghana, West Africa in order to get a broader outlook on the art form that she has grown to be so passionate about. Her true joy, however, lies in cultivating that passion for artistic expression in minds, bodies and hearts of children. Aja has been inspiring young minds as a teaching artist on both the east and west coast for 5+ years.
Tiffani Tendell brings over 15 years of experience as a Performing Art's instructor and performer. Tiffani began her teaching and performing career in her home state of Maryland prior to relocating to New York City to continue her pursuits in the performing arts. From Chelsea to Harlem to the heart of Midtown Manhattan, Tiffani taught children tap, ballet, jazz and creative movement (to name a few) in numerous NYC schools, as well as privately. Also, while on the East coast, Tiffani provided acting coaching and choreographed various shows for children as well as adults. As a performer, Tiffani has performed throughout the country in Regional Theatre in shows such as Damn Yankees, 42nd Street, Annie Get Your Gun, West Side Story, and A Chorus Line. Tiffani holds a BFA in acting and a dance teaching certificate from West Virginia University.
Ann Marie Smith is an art teacher, muralist and art enthusiast with a special gift for building confidence, appreciation and enthusiasm for the arts in every student. She teaches the Master Artist Series where students learn to imitate the styles of artists such as Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne, van Gogh, Dali and others. All in an exploratory, fun, grade level manner. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) certification from the LA Music Center. She is in her ninth year at Brand Art Studios and continues to teach in afterschool programs in the Glendale Elementary Schools.
Beth Gamwell Guerrette is a mama, dancer, choreographer, producer, and teacher with over 15 years experience teaching dance to children as young as 2 to adults as young as 75! Since moving to Los Angeles 5 years ago, Beth has taught ballet, tap, modern, and creative movement at Inner City Arts, Los Angeles Music and Art School, and Studio A Dance among others. A devout yoga practitioner, Beth is also founder of Yogi Playground, a yoga program for children. Beth strives to foster children’s self esteem, freedom of expression, and promote an overall healthy lifestyle, while having FUN, through teaching the art of dance and yoga.
Aleks Peck’s educational experience includes all ages and skill levels. He teaches a variety of styles in guitar technique including blues, jazz, Rock-a-billy, classic rock, funk guitar, slide guitar, metal/shred guitar, pop music/modern rock, classical guitar, Afro-Cuban music, reggae, ska, bluegrass and country. He also teaches music theory clef reading, ear training and other necessary musicianship skills. Alex is comfortable working with groups or private students and accompanying singers. He has performed in a variety of venues including the Knitting factory, The Rox, Whiskey-a-go-go, Pasadena Jazz institute, Tigeorge’s Haitian Restaurant, Marty’s bar, Pasadena dance studio, Pasadena women’s club, Cuban music festival in Echo Park, Eagle Rock music festival, Jax Bar, Studio Suite, Universal Bar and Grill, Pasadena Hilton, the Pasadena Country club Pasadena City College graduation, Pasadena Westin, Pasadena Sheraton, Left Coast wine bar, Café 322, Crystal Cathedral, Pasadena art night, Arnie’s Italian Restaurant, South Pasadena Masonic Lodge, Congregation Kol Ami, Silverlake Fire Station, Sunset Junction, Santa Monica youth hostel, Pasadena convention center, Sepulveda garden festival, Oxnard salsa festival, various musicals, recording sessions, and many other parties/bars/weddings/events.
Jasmine Orpilla is an international vocalist, sound and theatre artist with a Berkeley degree in world theatrical traditions and music. Over the past15 years, her vocal research has led to residencies and performances throughout the world. Since returning to the USA in 2007, she has completed a national theatrical tour of a one-woman, eight, multi-ethnic character show about racial diversity in America; she has performed at the majority of commercial and underground concert venues, as well as galleries and festivals in Los Angeles as a bunraku puppeteer, vocalist and musician, as well as recorded and broadcast with popular musicians from groups/artists such as Devo, Rickie Lee Jones and Willie Nelson to name a few. Aside that Ms. Orpilla has won a number of artistic grants from the cities of Los Angeles and Pasadena, she offers leadership to the community as a teaching artist for various award-winning, not-for-profit organizations such as the Skirball Cultural Center (master trainer in percussion) Inside Out Community Arts, Venice (site artist/director), and 24th Street Theatre (actor, ESR teaching artist), with Debbie Devine, in collaboration with Jack Black. In July 2009, Jasmine Orpilla was selected to participate in a highly competitive, year-long commitment with the Music Center, Los Angeles, to create her own curriculum based on her particular background in intercultural artistic exchange.
Eric Layer received his BFA in Acting/Original works at the Cornish College of the Arts. Since then he has formed the theatre company Piece of Meat, and the film production company Magic Beans Productions. Their first short, The Second Death, played in several prestigious festivals across the country. He is a recent finalist in the PEN Center’s Emerging Voices program, which mentors up-an-coming writers. He has also directed music videos, pilots, and short films.
Chisa Yamaguchi is originally from Northern California but now resides in Los Angeles after receiving two bachelor degrees from UCLA in Asian American Studies and World Arts and Cultures. She has been a performing artist for the past several years as well as an arts educator. Her performing background includes modern/contemporary, capoeira, Rhaq Sharqi (Egyptian belly dance), Balinese dance, Bharata Natyam, gymnastics and circus sports. She is currently finishing a yoga certification in Vinyasa Flow and is a certified teaching artist through The Music Center of Los Angeles. She has worked with such artists as Shel Wagner, Maria Gillespie, Germaine Acony and Alison Rootberg. She has danced with such companies as DanceArt, KinestheticSense, Intersection Dance Project, and she is now currently touring with Diavolo Dance Theatre throughout Europe, South America and the US.
Caitlin Lainoff graduated with her masters from CalArts in 2008 with a focus in scenic design and puppetry. Since then, she has been teaching at Plaza de la Raza, where she co-heads a puppetry program, Franklin Avenue Elementary School, where she taught a hand puppet workshop, and at Larchmont Charter School’s after school program, where she teaches art. Caitlin also toured Le Petit Macabre, the puppet opera she created, at the Great Small Works International Toy Theater Festival and the Puppet Shows at Santa Monica Museum of Art. Caitlin also works as a freelance scenic designer. Recently, she had her Philadelphia premiere designing Psalms of a Questionable Nature with the Nice People Theatre Company. You can find her at California State University Northridge this semester teaching scenic design.
Sarah Peters has been performing since 1996 and has been an early childhood educator since 2003. She received her BA in Theatre Acting/Directing from Mesa State College in Colorado, where she also studied music and dance, and spent several years in Chicago working as a theatre actor. In January 2003, she completed the Music Together teacher training and began teaching early childhood music around town, including at the Old Town School of Folk Music, where she learned to play guitar and first discovered capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art. In July 2004, she studied classical acting techniques with the British AmericanDrama Academy in Oxford, UK. She is a founding member of Song Weavers, an acapella song/chant group that has performed in Sebastapol, CA, New York City,and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Sarah has been teaching Music Together in LA since she moved here in July 2005 and began developing and teaching World Citizen Baby, a multilingual, multicultural music and movement class for infants to 4 year olds and the adults who love them, in January 2007. Sarah playsguitar, bodhran (an Irish frame drum), flute, banjo, berimbau (anAfro-Brazilian instrument) and djembe and brings a passion for creating a global community to her performance and teaching. Sarah’s cd Rest My Love,a collection of lullabies from around the world, is available on at http://cdbaby.com/cd/sarahpeters or on iTunes.
Born in Paraguay, Madeleine Zygarewicz grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where her appreciation of art and books was fostered at an early age. She received her BA in Book Arts at Mills College in 2000. Shortly after, she had a residency at the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, Germany to print a collaborative artist book, Body of Text. Her work can be found in special collections around the country and has been exhibited internationally. Printmaking in particular, has captivated Madeleine Zygarewicz for over 13 years, cranking presses throughout the country and abroad. Inspired by the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles, she established her imprint Panorama Press, (www.thepanoramapress.com) offering a wide survey of printed matter ranging from limited edition art prints, artist books, as well as greeting cards, posters, invitations. She also teaches art classes at Oakwood School, the International Printing Museum and the Irvine Fine Arts Center. Madeleine's day is not complete, without cranking the press once and getting her hands inky. She loves sharing her passion for art with students of all ages and abilities.
Angela Perino, an Erie, Pennsylvania native, earned her B.F.A. with a concentration in Painting and minors in both Drawing and Art History from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. During her undergraduate years she spent two semesters abroad in Florence, Italy at Santa Reparata International School of Art and Studio Art Centers International. Angela took several classes that involved on‐site lessons, drawing from classical and renaissance sculpture and painting landscapes and cityscapes of Florence and the surrounding countryside. After graduating from Edinboro University Angela moved to Pittsburgh, PA in August of 2006 and began teaching at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. Initially Angela went to PCA with the hope of teaching adult art classes, however she was hired to teach pre‐school art classes. Angela immediately fell in love with teaching this age group and her classes quickly became very popular at the Center. She focused on art fundamentals and stressed the importance of process over product. Her own education in art was fairly traditional and Angela’ firm belief in the importance of helping children build a strong foundation in the basics and fundamentals of art is evident in her classes. While living in Pittsburgh Angela’ work was regularly shown at Birds of a Feather Studio in Lawrenceville and she was also affiliated with the Mattress Factory Art Museum. Angela assisted resident artist Tom Sarver with the upkeep of The Tom Museum, an interactive art space built for children. Her duties included hanging shows, teaching classes and further developing the mural that adorned the outside of the museum. Upon moving to Los Angeles in 2008 Angela began working as a part time nanny for 3 pre‐school aged children and continues to work out of her home studio in Silverlake. She focuses on both painting and drawing and has recently begun exploring screen‐printing at a Silverlake print studio.
Medea Reagan Akopovich was born in Moscow in a small town near the Black Sea. Her childhood was marked by a great emphasis in music and she attended the Professional Music School from the age of 7 - 13. The year before she came to the United States she was accepted to a very exclusive conservatory where she focused on piano and singing. At the age of fourteen her family moved to the United States and settled in Glendale, CA to start their new life. She attended Glendale High School and continued her passion for the piano. While in High School she played in numerous events and also took a keen interest in Fitness. She began teaching aerobic, aqua aerobics, silver sneakers, and kick boxing classes at the age of 15. After receiving her AFFA certification she began teaching adults and children which she continues to do to this day. Medea attended California State University Northridge where she earned her degree in Management Science and Marketing. While in college she taught group and individual Piano and Chorus lessons to children and adults from the ages 4 and up. She now coaches with the Girls on the Run Program where a physical activity is based on the lesson plan to improve a girl's self-esteem. She has been awarded for her lessons in parenting, relationships and improving self confidence, and self-awareness. She is currently a PTA member at Verdugo Woodlands involved with various activities for children. She continues to coach for Girls On The Run, Basketball and constantly expands her involvement in children's activities and education.
Dana Maman was born in Tel Aviv Israel, to immigrant parent of Moroccan and Persian decent. She started her involvement with music at the age of six with the violin, learning classical music and musicianship in the Catherin Luis Music Conservatory in Tel Aviv. Maman learned the violin for 13 years, traveling to England, Germany, and the Netherlands and participating in various youth orchestras and musical groups. At the same time of her formal violin training, Maman played percussion as well. During her late high-school years she began to learn more about Afro Brazilian beats due to her involvement with capoeira. At 2001 she moved to Los Angeles and became part of Capoeira Batuque, furthering her studies of capoeira and percussion. Three years later she became a part of Amen Santo’s Dance group Bale Folclorico do Brazil, with whom she have been touring and performed across California. In the past three years Maman has been playing West-African drumming and performing in this genre with various groups as well. She is still a member of the Bale Folclorico Do Brazil participating in school show and introducing Brazilian culture in various locations around California. She teaches a capoeira music class and is part of the children program in the Brazil Brazil Cultural Center. Recently Maman has completed conducting research in Salvador-Bahia regarding women in the music of Candomblé. The research explored women’s issues in the religion and music while getting an understanding of the effects of this topic to women in capoeira. Currently Maman is releasing her first capoeira music CD.
Kristen Lynn Herbert is a professional working actor in LA. She holds a BFA in acting from WVU and has extensive training in various styles of theatre and performance. During her training in college, Kristen worked with young children at a daycare center preparing them for their spectacular talent show. And since the acting bug hit Kristen at a young age, this is when she realized that she had a great gift working and inspiring kids in the arts. Kristen then went on to be a Guest Teacher at Penndale Middle School and North Penn High School in PA. She has also been teaching after school programs and Private Piano and Guitar Lessons to ages 3-12 in the LA area for over 2 yrs. Kristen teaches: Piano, Guitar, Voice, Theatre, Improv, Cooking, Stage Combat, Dance and Movement. Whether Kristen is performing for or teaching children, she has found a great love in knowing the impact she can make on a child’s life by not only sharing her experiences but by being a great role model. This kind of work is absolutely inspiring and rewarding.
Aimee Young Hopkins, M.A. and California Credentialed Teacher, has worked extensively in literacy and arts education since 1988. Originally from Rhode Island, Aimee achieved her B.A. Magna Cum Laude from Middlebury College in Vermont and her M.A. in Theatre from Trinity Rep Conservatory in Rhode Island. Holding both the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and the Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development (CLAD) Certificate, Aimee received the prestigious “Golden Apple Award” from LA Unified School District in 2002. Aimee has taught English in Latin America and toured the U.S. as an Artist-in-Residence. Before settling in Los Angeles, she won First Place in Rhode Island's NATS (National Association for Teachers of Singing) Vocal Competition and several honors at the Solo/Ensemble Competition for Vocal Music. Since coming to the west coast, Aimee has performed in musical theatre and in her own musical one-woman shows and original plays. With her company, Aimee Art Productions and with the Music Center of Los Angeles, Aimee continues to offer quality arts instruction at schools and non-profits throughout the Los Angeles area. She is passionate about using the arts as a tool to build literacy and self-esteem and about sharing her expertise with classroom teachers. (Program Director; Private Teacher – piano, voice; Teaching Artist – Music, Dance, Musical Theatre, Art)
David Cutter's career has been somewhat unique. He didn't start playing piano seriously until age 18 and was stubborn enough to go it alone without instruction. Proceeding to practice 6 hours a day by ear, he spent the next 5 years learning by ear, continuously rewinding cassette tapes of a particular song to get exactly note-for-note. Finally, he began to feel he wasn't moving forward fast enough. Taking the opposite tack, he enrolled at California State Northridge's Music Department as a piano performance major. In 1981, Northridge was one of the top 10 music school's in the country and had a local reputation of demanding more performance skills from students than other local music schools. As a piano performance major, David studied and practiced classical pieces and technique for at least 8 hours a day and loved it. "There was a day where I was walking down the practice room hallway and hearing some students practicing jazz. I remember thinking “how are they making those sounds?" After that he began studying jazz with a private teacher in addition to classical assignments. After 4 years at Northridge, David joined a top 40 dance band. Two months later they hit the road. He has since been in many local Top-40 bands working in many diverse settings throughout the Los Angeles area. During this time, David was fortunate to have worked with a couple of really excellent drummers. As a result, he has developed a rhythmic feel and style that really swings. He also began jazz improvisation studies with Terry Trotter. He continues to pay his dues working both as a solo pianist and teaching piano, in both classical and jazz styles. Since 1989, David has been a house pianist at the Beverly Plaza, the Midtown Hilton, the University Hilton, the Biltmore Hotel, and the Westin in Pasadena. Additional teacher training and experience includes twenty years as a classroom high school science teacher with LA Unified. David has a valid, current California State Teaching Credential and has taught some music as well under a district board permit. (Private Teacher – piano) 
Kathy O'Mara has been a teacher of Performing Arts since 1992; she currently teaches history and theater at the Cooperative Arts and Humanities Magnet High School in New Haven, CT. She is committed to the development of educational programs for students interested in the arts. Kathy aims to provide students of every age the opportunities to explore the world of theater- from classic Shakespearean works to the vibrant plays of the Harlem Renaissance to cutting-edge original work created by the students themselves. She holds a Bachelors degree in history and political science from Rosemont College and Master's degree in Teaching from Trinity College; she is a state certified teacher. (Teaching Artist – Theatre)
Jessica Gentes has received her B.A. in piano performance and choral education from CSU Stanislaus. She is now completing an additional A.A. degree in contemporary keyboard performance/production from Musician's Institute in Hollywood. (Private Teacher – piano)
Kevin Holmes holds a M.M. degree in guitar performance from Cal State University Los Angeles and has attended the USC Thornton School of Music (Studio/Jazz guitar) for two years working towards a D.M.A. He has studied with many outstanding guitarists including Joe Diorio, Pat Kelley, Frank Potenza, Ted Greene, and Jean-Marc Belkadi. He currently teaches at the Chandler School in Pasadena and at the Marlborough Summer School program. As a contractor for Aimee Art Productions, Kevin has taught at the Los Feliz Charter School, and Franklin Elementary. In addition, he has instructed private lessons at the Los Angeles Music and Art School and guitar classes at Murchison Elementary and 32nd Street Arts Magnet School as part of the House of Blues music outreach program. Kevin also has a studio of private guitar students. (Private Teacher – guitar; Teaching Artist – Music)
Docious Godfrey’s painting career started in 1999 when she was working in San Francisco as an interior designer. Prior to moving to California, she worked in New York City at design firms which offered both residential and commercial services. When she moved west, Docious started a design firm with a colleague from New York. In the process of working on a home in the Bay Area, they encountered difficulties finding artwork for their client. They needed to photograph the home for their portfolio and decided that they would create a painting for the rooms most in need. Docious painted a triptych for the dining room. While they were shooting, the client returned home unexpectedly. The next day they asked if they could buy the triptych. Docious said yes. She continued to paint. More people became interested and she opened an open studio in his home later that year. Docious received a commission for a very large piece and began work on that while also working on other smaller paintings. She worked in acrylic primarily, though she also painted several works in oil. Docious also developed an interest in collage, creating pieces which combined acrylic paint, pastel and hand-made paper. She moved to Los Angeles in 2001. That spring Docious worked at Creative Space teaching art to various age groups. She also worked with kids at Borders in Glendale, doing the Saturday morning book reading and art program. She has worked one-on-one with children and recently taught art classes to second grade students at an elementary school in Simi Valley. Nineteen of Docious' paintings were hung at Off-Vine, a popular restaurant in Hollywood. She has sold work through a small gallery in Claremont and recently some of his bird paintings were in an art gallery in Eagle Rock. Docious has donated his works for the AIDS Spin-a-Thon and PAWS LA benefit and has sold prints of his work at Filagree, an upscale arts and crafts boutique in San Francisco. Docious has a studio in his home in Glendale, CA and is currently working on small, primitive paintings of birds, landscapes on wood panels, and since 1999, has been exploring color fields and their ability to convey landscape and mood. (Teaching Artist – Art)
Amanda Johnson is a teaching, gigging and touring musician who resides in Hollywood but travels all over the Los Angeles area for her “work”-which is ALWAYS play! For over 12 years, she has been teaching students of all ages guitar, bass, flute, piano, and the basics of playing and maintaining their specific instruments. The private and group lessons integrate music theory, ear training, and song writing with entertaining and efficient results. The objective is not to be a “guitarist” or a “pianist”, but to become a well-rounded musician and person. Amanda graduated from the world-renowned Citrus College (Glendora, CA) where her experiences there allowed her to tour internationally with jazz and led her to connections that took her on national U.S. tours with an original rock band. Currently, she can be seen gigging all over Southern California every weekend with many different cover and original bands. She is young enough to make the experience of learning an instrument fun and easy, but old enough to show a student you don’t have to be starving to be a musician. (Private Teacher – piano, guitar, flute, bass) 
Nikki Adkins has an undergraduate degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Central Oklahoma, and has studied Shakespeare at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. She has worked with children's theatres as a teacher and performer for several years. For two of her years at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, North Carolina, she toured with their professional troupe the Tarradiddle Players. They visited schools and civic venues all over the Southeast, performing and teaching playwriting workshops. Although she and her husband have relocated to Los Angeles, Nikki continues to contribute monthly articles, short plays, and stories to the North Carolina children’s magazine My School Rocks!, which can be found at www.myschoolrocks.com. She enjoys sharing her love of theatre, creative writing, literature, and life with young people, and as such, is currently spending summers pursuing her M.F.A in Children's Literature at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA. (Teaching artist – Theatre, Creative Writing) 
Alina Hevia is a native of Miami, where she received a Bachelors of Music as well as a Bachelors of the Arts in English. She is a singer/songwriter and actress, and has been seen on stage and film in Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Washington State. Her teaching career began as a school teacher with Miami Dade County Public Schools, and she recently achieved Certification Level One with Music Together, a national music development program. She is delighted to join Aimee Art Productions, and gladly brings her passion for arts education to the West Coast. (Teaching Artist – Music, Theatre; Private Teacher – voice, guitar) 
Susan Linville found her passion for dance at an early age and just knew she had to explore it. She studied ballet, tap, jazz and cheerleading throughout her childhood and in college was a Ballet major at The Florida School For the Arts. While studying dance in college, she learned she was full of potential as a teacher and choreographer. She soon discovered Modern Dance and after a move to Austin, Texas she danced with Ballet East Dance Theatre under the direction of Rodolofo Mendez. While at Ballet East she got to work with many great chorographers from Alvin Ailey, Joyce Trisler, PhiliDanco and Ballet Austin. She also choreographed solo works that premiered at fringe festivals and collaborative dance projects. She taught dance at an outreach program for at-risk youth and at The Griffin School, a college prep. school. After graduating from Austin Comm. College with an AA degree in Dance, she moved to Los Angeles. She expanded her studies to include Hip Hop, Yoga, Ballroom and Martial Arts. In 2002 she received her Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Certificate. She has been teaching dance and yoga in Los Angeles at numerous schools, studios, recreation centers and outreach programs for the past seven years. She is currently the dance teacher at Carpenter Ave. Elem. in Studio City. She has also gotten to work with many talented performers and choreographed for both live theatre and film. She is the Creator of The Muse Project, a monthly cabaret at El Cid in Silverlake. (Teaching Artist – Dance)
Joanne Esser is from San Francisco, CA and has been involved in the arts since she was 5 years old. In 2004, she graduated with a BFA in Theatre from UC Santa Barbara, and then moved to Los Angeles in pursuit of a career in Theatre and Film. While continuing her Education in Los Angeles, Joanne takes Acting classes with Chris Fields, and Viewpoints (a movement theatre technique) with Steppenwolf West. For the past two years Joanne has been teaching with East LA Classic Theatre Company. ECT is made up of a group of Professional Actors, Writers and Directors who undertake 16-week residencies in lower-income, English-Second-Language (ESL) classrooms. Joanne also recently became a member of ECT's Equity Acting Company, where they are currently touring a Mariachi Much Ado About Nothing and a Zoot Suit Romeo & Juliet. For the past three years Joanne has also been involved with Boxtales Theatre Company, of Santa Barbara, touring with their Educational Outreach program, as well as performing all over the country with their critically-acclaimed production of The Odyssey. In this production the actors use five aerial silks, aerial acrobatics, acroyoga, various instruments from all over the world, and a whole lot of creativity, to create a piece that has defied the boundaries of Theatre. As a company, they utilize masks, storytelling, music, and movement to present world myths and folktales to audiences of all ages. If you want to more about Joanne Lubeck, including announcements and performance dates, go to www.JoanneLubeck.com. Joanne is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association. She is very excited to be involved with Aimee Art Productions! 
Kal Drakopoulos started playing piano at the age of 7, and drumset at the age of 14. He studied for 6 years at his home town, Athens ,Greece. After that he moved to Los Angeles and studied at the L.A music academy with world famous players and teachers such as Joe Porcaro, Ralph Humphrey, Mike Shapiro and many others. Today, he keeps busy playing about 120 shows per year in the Los Angeles area, as well as touring and recording with many different acts. He has opened for acts such as Michelle Branch, The Wreckers, Sarah Evans, and he has played or/and recorded with players such as Phil Bynoe (Steve Vai), Richie Garcia (Sting), Nick Mancini (N.Y vibraphonist) to name a few. He is also a dedicated drum and piano instructor. 
Michelle Hanley began studying dance at the Newport School of Ballet at age 19 in Newport, Oregon. She went on to minor in Dance at the University of Oregon, specializing in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Improvisation, and African Dance. Michelle auditioned for and was accepted into the University’s African Dance Troupe, performing at schools and community centers around Eugene from 1995-1998.
Stacy Highsmith has been working with Aimee Art Productions for several years now and has directed and/or co-directed over ten plays. Including "Oliver Twist", "A Midsummer Night's Dream and "The Wizard of Oz" to name a few. Her primary focus has been working with the Kindergarten, first and second grade groups giving them an introduction oftentimes to classical texts, simple choreography and syncopated rhythms. Her greatest joy has been in seeing a very young child, with initial doubts a mile long, finally experience the exuberance and self-confidence that comes with performing for the first time live on stage with an awe-struck and appreciative audience of parents and peers. 
D.M. Osborne is among 500 yoga instructors nationwide who are certified to teach YogaEd, a curriculum that has been used by schools in 30 states, and that has been shown to improve academic performance and physical fitness. Prior to teaching yoga, D.M. enjoyed a career as a senior staff writer with national business and legal magazines. Growing up on the Florida Panhandle, Osborne studied ballet and apprenticed with Elvie S. DeMarko, an influential teacher who garnered Osborne a spot at New York's Jaffrey School of Ballet. Osborne continued to study and perform dance at Hunter College in the City University of New York, where she obtained her BA. She went on to obtain a Masters of Science at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, and began working as a magazine writer. In 2007, inspired by DeMarko's positive influence on her own life, Osborne embarked on a new career as a children's yoga teacher, hoping to have a similarly beneficial impact on the physical and emotional well-being of children and young adults. She lives in Hollywood with her husband, Donald Brown, and their two teenage children, Anna and Lewis.
Ellen Lawler has over twenty years of experience as a professional actor, writer, producer and choreographer, with extensive experience teaching in the theater and educational outreach communities. She has received numerous grants for her work, including commissions from the Massachusetts Council of the Arts and the Women's Center of Princeton University. Ellen currently assists her husband John Lawler, with his theatrical productions at Verdugo Hills High School, and has made costumes, choreographed the musicals and will coach the actors for their upcoming production of "Rent". In 2006, Ellen's play, "Glory Pie" had a full scale production at the Coronet Theater in Los Angeles, and it received a rave review in Variety. She was also a staff writer on the TV comedy, "Malcolm and Eddie" for one season. Ellen received her M.F.A. from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts.
Brittany Cotto is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and began her music education at the age of two. She received a Bachelors of Arts from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She has performed throughout Europe and the United States with various artists including LeAnn Rhimes, Tony Bennett, John Williams, Patrick Williams, Burt Bacharach, Bobby McFerrin, Quincy Jones, Barrage and Marco Antonio Solis. She has performed with the Henry Mancini Institute, Santa Monica Symphony, and the American Youth Symphony, and has played on Grammy-award nominated recordings. Ms. Cotto is currently teaching the String Project with the American Youth Symphony and LA's BEST After School Enrichment Program, Harmony Project, Education Through Music-Los Angeles, sectional and tutorials for public and private school orchestra programs, and her own private studio. She is an active member of AFL-CIO Local-47.Kirstin Eggers (Cooking with Character) has been teaching for the past 15 years, most recently as a teaching artist with LAUSD’s most successful arts education program, Enter Stage Right/24th Street Theatre. Among others, Kirstin has facilitated programs at LA Children’s Museum, Brentwood School, BrainPlay, Burbank Creative Arts Center, and Neighborhood Outreach in Osaka, Japan. Kirstin holds a BFA from USC and strives to release kids’ most creative expression, whatever the medium. 
Lorraine Heitzman (Mosaics, Sculpture, & Jewelry Making) attended Goddard College, in Vermont and studied briefly at The Arts Students League in NY, before earning her BFA from the Philadelphia College of Art. She received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. That same year she won a Traveling Fellowship Award for her sculpture and subsequently was awarded an Illinois Completion Grant. In Chicago, she was represented by the Nancy Lurie Gallery and was included in group shows at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Chicago Cultural Center, Navy Pier and the Randolph Street Gallery. Lorraine relocated to Los Angeles, where she lives today with her husband and daughter. She was an artist in residence at Oxbow, in Saugatuck, Michigan and has shown her work in group shows in LA, and at the University of Arizona Experimental Art Gallery, in Phoenix. For the past twenty years, Lorraine has been designing furniture and interiors in New York and Los Angeles. In addition to her interior designs, Lorraine has had extensive experience in the decorative arts, including mosaics, stencils, gilding and specialty finishes. Quite naturally, living in Los Angeles, she has used her art expertise assisting art directors on features, television, commercials and music videos and most recently set dressing a television pilot. Lorraine taught sculpture while she was a graduate student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has also instructed mosaic workshops at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in N.Y. As an undergraduate, she assisted teaching with the Guggenheim Museum’s summer art program for children and worked with children again at a Montessori preschool in Chicago and workshops at the Art Institute of Chicago. She has taught art to children at the Chouinard School of Art in South Pasadena and in school enrichment programs in Los Angeles
Aja Benton is a native Detroiter and a lover of theatre. She graduated with a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Michigan. In addition to studying in Michigan, she also spent a semester studying at the University of Ghana, West Africa in order to get a broader outlook on the art form that she has grown to be so passionate about. Her true joy, however, lies in cultivating that passion for artistic expression in minds, bodies and hearts of children. Aja has been inspiring young minds as a teaching artist on both the east and west coast for 5+ years.
Tiffani Tendell brings over 15 years of experience as a Performing Art's instructor and performer. Tiffani began her teaching and performing career in her home state of Maryland prior to relocating to New York City to continue her pursuits in the performing arts. From Chelsea to Harlem to the heart of Midtown Manhattan, Tiffani taught children tap, ballet, jazz and creative movement (to name a few) in numerous NYC schools, as well as privately. Also, while on the East coast, Tiffani provided acting coaching and choreographed various shows for children as well as adults. As a performer, Tiffani has performed throughout the country in Regional Theatre in shows such as Damn Yankees, 42nd Street, Annie Get Your Gun, West Side Story, and A Chorus Line. Tiffani holds a BFA in acting and a dance teaching certificate from West Virginia University.
Ann Marie Smith is an art teacher, muralist and art enthusiast with a special gift for building confidence, appreciation and enthusiasm for the arts in every student. She teaches the Master Artist Series where students learn to imitate the styles of artists such as Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne, van Gogh, Dali and others. All in an exploratory, fun, grade level manner. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) certification from the LA Music Center. She is in her ninth year at Brand Art Studios and continues to teach in afterschool programs in the Glendale Elementary Schools.
Beth Gamwell Guerrette is a mama, dancer, choreographer, producer, and teacher with over 15 years experience teaching dance to children as young as 2 to adults as young as 75! Since moving to Los Angeles 5 years ago, Beth has taught ballet, tap, modern, and creative movement at Inner City Arts, Los Angeles Music and Art School, and Studio A Dance among others. A devout yoga practitioner, Beth is also founder of Yogi Playground, a yoga program for children. Beth strives to foster children’s self esteem, freedom of expression, and promote an overall healthy lifestyle, while having FUN, through teaching the art of dance and yoga.
Aleks Peck’s educational experience includes all ages and skill levels. He teaches a variety of styles in guitar technique including blues, jazz, Rock-a-billy, classic rock, funk guitar, slide guitar, metal/shred guitar, pop music/modern rock, classical guitar, Afro-Cuban music, reggae, ska, bluegrass and country. He also teaches music theory clef reading, ear training and other necessary musicianship skills. Alex is comfortable working with groups or private students and accompanying singers. He has performed in a variety of venues including the Knitting factory, The Rox, Whiskey-a-go-go, Pasadena Jazz institute, Tigeorge’s Haitian Restaurant, Marty’s bar, Pasadena dance studio, Pasadena women’s club, Cuban music festival in Echo Park, Eagle Rock music festival, Jax Bar, Studio Suite, Universal Bar and Grill, Pasadena Hilton, the Pasadena Country club Pasadena City College graduation, Pasadena Westin, Pasadena Sheraton, Left Coast wine bar, Café 322, Crystal Cathedral, Pasadena art night, Arnie’s Italian Restaurant, South Pasadena Masonic Lodge, Congregation Kol Ami, Silverlake Fire Station, Sunset Junction, Santa Monica youth hostel, Pasadena convention center, Sepulveda garden festival, Oxnard salsa festival, various musicals, recording sessions, and many other parties/bars/weddings/events.
Jasmine Orpilla is an international vocalist, sound and theatre artist with a Berkeley degree in world theatrical traditions and music. Over the past15 years, her vocal research has led to residencies and performances throughout the world. Since returning to the USA in 2007, she has completed a national theatrical tour of a one-woman, eight, multi-ethnic character show about racial diversity in America; she has performed at the majority of commercial and underground concert venues, as well as galleries and festivals in Los Angeles as a bunraku puppeteer, vocalist and musician, as well as recorded and broadcast with popular musicians from groups/artists such as Devo, Rickie Lee Jones and Willie Nelson to name a few. Aside that Ms. Orpilla has won a number of artistic grants from the cities of Los Angeles and Pasadena, she offers leadership to the community as a teaching artist for various award-winning, not-for-profit organizations such as the Skirball Cultural Center (master trainer in percussion) Inside Out Community Arts, Venice (site artist/director), and 24th Street Theatre (actor, ESR teaching artist), with Debbie Devine, in collaboration with Jack Black. In July 2009, Jasmine Orpilla was selected to participate in a highly competitive, year-long commitment with the Music Center, Los Angeles, to create her own curriculum based on her particular background in intercultural artistic exchange. 
Eric Layer received his BFA in Acting/Original works at the Cornish College of the Arts. Since then he has formed the theatre company Piece of Meat, and the film production company Magic Beans Productions. Their first short, The Second Death, played in several prestigious festivals across the country. He is a recent finalist in the PEN Center’s Emerging Voices program, which mentors up-an-coming writers. He has also directed music videos, pilots, and short films.
Chisa Yamaguchi is originally from Northern California but now resides in Los Angeles after receiving two bachelor degrees from UCLA in Asian American Studies and World Arts and Cultures. She has been a performing artist for the past several years as well as an arts educator. Her performing background includes modern/contemporary, capoeira, Rhaq Sharqi (Egyptian belly dance), Balinese dance, Bharata Natyam, gymnastics and circus sports. She is currently finishing a yoga certification in Vinyasa Flow and is a certified teaching artist through The Music Center of Los Angeles. She has worked with such artists as Shel Wagner, Maria Gillespie, Germaine Acony and Alison Rootberg. She has danced with such companies as DanceArt, KinestheticSense, Intersection Dance Project, and she is now currently touring with Diavolo Dance Theatre throughout Europe, South America and the US.
Caitlin Lainoff graduated with her masters from CalArts in 2008 with a focus in scenic design and puppetry. Since then, she has been teaching at Plaza de la Raza, where she co-heads a puppetry program, Franklin Avenue Elementary School, where she taught a hand puppet workshop, and at Larchmont Charter School’s after school program, where she teaches art. Caitlin also toured Le Petit Macabre, the puppet opera she created, at the Great Small Works International Toy Theater Festival and the Puppet Shows at Santa Monica Museum of Art. Caitlin also works as a freelance scenic designer. Recently, she had her Philadelphia premiere designing Psalms of a Questionable Nature with the Nice People Theatre Company. You can find her at California State University Northridge this semester teaching scenic design.
Sarah Peters has been performing since 1996 and has been an early childhood educator since 2003. She received her BA in Theatre Acting/Directing from Mesa State College in Colorado, where she also studied music and dance, and spent several years in Chicago working as a theatre actor. In January 2003, she completed the Music Together teacher training and began teaching early childhood music around town, including at the Old Town School of Folk Music, where she learned to play guitar and first discovered capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art. In July 2004, she studied classical acting techniques with the British AmericanDrama Academy in Oxford, UK. She is a founding member of Song Weavers, an acapella song/chant group that has performed in Sebastapol, CA, New York City,and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Sarah has been teaching Music Together in LA since she moved here in July 2005 and began developing and teaching World Citizen Baby, a multilingual, multicultural music and movement class for infants to 4 year olds and the adults who love them, in January 2007. Sarah playsguitar, bodhran (an Irish frame drum), flute, banjo, berimbau (anAfro-Brazilian instrument) and djembe and brings a passion for creating a global community to her performance and teaching. Sarah’s cd Rest My Love, a collection of lullabies from around the world, is available on at http://cdbaby.com/cd/sarahpeters or on iTunes.
Born in Paraguay, Madeleine Zygarewicz grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where her appreciation of art and books was fostered at an early age. She received her BA in Book Arts at Mills College in 2000. Shortly after, she had a residency at the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, Germany to print a collaborative artist book, Body of Text. Her work can be found in special collections around the country and has been exhibited internationally. Printmaking in particular, has captivated Madeleine Zygarewicz for over 13 years, cranking presses throughout the country and abroad. Inspired by the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles, she established her imprint Panorama Press, (
Angela Perino, an Erie, Pennsylvania native, earned her B.F.A. with a
Medea Reagan Akopovich was born in Moscow in a small town near the Black Sea. Her childhood was marked by a great emphasis in music and she attended the Professional Music School from the age of 7 - 13. The year before she came to the United States she was accepted to a very exclusive conservatory where she focused on piano and singing. At the age of fourteen her family moved to the United States and settled in Glendale, CA to start their new life. She attended Glendale High School and continued her passion for the piano. While in High School she played in numerous events and also took a keen interest in Fitness. She began teaching aerobic, aqua aerobics, silver sneakers, and kick boxing classes at the age of 15. After receiving her AFFA certification she began teaching adults and children which she continues to do to this day. Medea attended California State University Northridge where she earned her degree in Management Science and Marketing. While in college she taught group and individual Piano and Chorus lessons to children and adults from the ages 4 and up. She now coaches with the Girls on the Run Program where a physical activity is based on the lesson plan to improve a girl's self-esteem. She has been awarded for her lessons in parenting, relationships and improving self confidence, and self-awareness. She is currently a PTA member at Verdugo Woodlands involved with various activities for children. She continues to coach for Girls On The Run, Basketball and constantly expands her involvement in children's activities and education. 
Dana Maman was born in Tel Aviv Israel, to immigrant parent of Moroccan and Persian decent. She started her involvement with music at the age of six with the violin, learning classical music and musicianship in the Catherin Luis Music Conservatory in Tel Aviv. Maman learned the violin for 13 years, traveling to England, Germany, and the Netherlands and participating in various youth orchestras and musical groups. At the same time of her formal violin training, Maman played percussion as well. During her late high-school years she began to learn more about Afro Brazilian beats due to her involvement with capoeira. At 2001 she moved to Los Angeles and became part of Capoeira Batuque, furthering her studies of capoeira and percussion. Three years later she became a part of Amen Santo’s Dance group Bale Folclorico do Brazil, with whom she have been touring and performed across California. In the past three years Maman has been playing West-African drumming and performing in this genre with various groups as well. She is still a member of the Bale Folclorico Do Brazil participating in school show and introducing Brazilian culture in various locations around California. She teaches a capoeira music class and is part of the children program in the Brazil Brazil Cultural Center. Recently Maman has completed conducting research in Salvador-Bahia regarding women in the music of Candomblé. The research explored women’s issues in the religion and music while getting an understanding of the effects of this topic to women in capoeira. Currently Maman is releasing her first capoeira music CD. 
Kristen Lynn Herbert is a professional working actor in LA. She holds a BFA in acting from WVU and has extensive training in various styles of theatre and performance. During her training in college, Kristen worked with young children at a daycare center preparing them for their spectacular talent show. And since the acting bug hit Kristen at a young age, this is when she realized that she had a great gift working and inspiring kids in the arts. Kristen then went on to be a Guest Teacher at Penndale Middle School and North Penn High School in PA. She has also been teaching after school programs and Private Piano and Guitar Lessons to ages 3-12 in the LA area for over 2 yrs. Kristen teaches: Piano, Guitar, Voice, Theatre, Improv, Cooking, Stage Combat, Dance and Movement. Whether Kristen is performing for or teaching children, she has found a great love in knowing the impact she can make on a child’s life by not only sharing her experiences but by being a great role model. This kind of work is absolutely inspiring and rewarding.