THAT'S DANCING

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS

Andrea LaMaina, BFA & Michele Walsh, M.Ed

Andrea LaMaina received her BFA in Dance Performance and Education from Towson University in Maryland. She is a certified teacher with the Dance Masters of America Organization, Florida Chapter 2. She holds a National Teacher Education certification as well as a Teacher Certification in Dance/Vocational Arts. Andrea is the teacher and choreographer of Petite Miss Dance Rave 2009 & Petite Miss and Mr. 2010; Petite and Junior Miss On Stage America 2009; DMA Miss Dance of Florida 2007 & 2011; DMA Teen Miss Dance of Florida 2011; DMA Junior Mister Dance of Florida 2012; DMA Petite Master Dance of Florida 2011 & 2012; Miss Headliner 2006; DMA Petite Miss Dance of Florida 2006, 2011; DMA Mini Miss Dance of Florida 2005; Teen Miss Headliner of Fort Lauderdale 2005; and Senior Miss Global Dance of Fort Lauderdale 2003. Her choreography has earned many awards in the competition circuit. She has worked as a guest teacher for Palm Beach Atlantic University and travels to teach master classes in tap and modern dance. Before college, Andrea trained under master teacher Fred Knecht. She continues to supplement her dance education by taking classes from well-known teachers and choreographers and attending festivals like Florida Dance Festival and Southeastern Tap Explosion. Andrea has choreographed for the Wellington High School Dance Team from Wellington, Florida, who was invited to perform at the Orange Bowl Classic’s half time show. Before becoming co-owner and Artistic Director of That’s Dancing, she was a faculty member at Glen Rock Middle School where she designed and created an exploratory arts curriculum, which included dance and creative movement. In 1997, she was nominated for The Sallie Mae Best New Teacher of the Year Award, a national honor recognizing her achievements in innovative curriculum development and design for public education. Andrea has also danced professionally with DDM Company based in Fairlawn, New Jersey. She is an active member of the National Dance Association and the Florida Dance Association. In 1994, she was chosen to perform with renowned choreographer Maureen Flemming in an original work at the Stephen’s Hall Theater in Baltimore. In 1990, Andrea was a scholarship recipient for the Alvin Ailey Summer Dance Program. For several years, Andrea was a performer and featured dancer in various roles at the Bucks County Playhouse in Pennsylvania including: 42nd Street, Babes in Toyland, and The King and I.

Lawrence Albright has been teaching, dancing, and performing his style of hip-hop for fourteen years all over the US and abroad. He has choreographed for artists such as Mohombi “Bumpy Ride,” Sean Kingston “Fire Burning,” Sophia Del Carmen “No Te Quiero.” He has been featured as an opening act for such artists as nelly, Common, Lil Mo, and Fabolous. Larry has also been seen on MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16” where he opened for Pitbull. Though he loves to perform, his passion lies in teaching. His teaching experience is quite extensive having taught all levels from elementary to collegiate and professionals. He has conducted master classes for many conventions including Dance Educators of America, Dance Masters of America, Pick the Stars International (Can), and StreetStylz Hip Hop Convention. He has also taught at many colleges including Rutgers University, Florida International University, Northwood University, Florida State, and Florida School of the Arts. Currently, he is the lead choreographer for the new Interscope recording artist J Randall “Spirit of the Radio – Step up 3D movie soundtrack.” Mr. Albright joined our faculty in 2008.

Jessica Pearl received her BFA from the University of Florida’s New World School of the Arts in 2008, and joined That’s Dancing as a full time faculty member in 2009. While at New World, she performed works by renowned choreographers such as Jose Limon “Psalm,” Paul Taylor “Esplanade,” and Robert Battle “Primate.” While at New World she studied under many respected dance teachers including Daniel Lewis, Peter London, Dale Andree, Fredick Bratcher and Gerard Ebitz. Jessica has choreographed several pieces including Paper Jam, Talking Bird, A Woman’s Expectations of a Grocery List, Double Take and Throwing Rocks. Paper Jam was performed by The Good For Something Dancers in 2006, and was also performed during a benefit concert which raised awareness for AIDS in Africa in 2007. She attended the Martha Graham Dance Companies Summer Intensive in 2005, where she studied with former company members Jennifer Conley, Peter London, Pearl Lang and Dudley Williams. She began her professional dance training as a student of Andrea LaMaina & Michele Walsh of That’s Dancing and was thrilled to join the faculty in 2009. In the summer of 2010, she attended Southeastern Tap Xplosion in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2010 she performed the solo "Blackbird" choreographed by Loren Foster, with dance company Reach. She is now a part of a collabrative performing group that dances at benefit events in the community. She supports creativity and individualism in her classroom to allow each of her students to seek their greatest potential.

Loren Foster received her BFA in Dance from Florida State University with honors in Liberal Studies. While at FSU, she was a member of the Dance Repertory Theatre, the dance department's performance company. She was also a member of FSU's Golden Girls, the university's competition dance team. A native Floridian, Loren trained with many local teachers and graduated from the Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts as a dance major. She joined the faculty of That’s Dancing in 2002 teaching classes in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical and modern dance at all ages and levels. Ms. Foster also works with Fusion Force Dance Company and her choreography has received numerous awards at regional competitions. Ms. Foster is the teacher and choreographer of Senior Miss Headliner National 2006-2007. Her award winning solo choreography represented Team USA at the IDO World Showdance Championships 2006 in Riesa, Germany and placed 4th in the world. She was a member of the Deborah Lopez Modern Dance Company and Platinum Gold Entertainment Company. Before joining the That's Dancing family, she served as Dance Director of LimeLight Productions, Inc. in Sierra Vista, Arizona, teaching ballet, jazz, and tap, modern, hip-hop and musical theater. She regularly attends dance workshops and festivals including the Arizona Jazz Dance Festival in Tucson, the Florida Dance Festival in Miami, the Southeastern Tap Explosion in Atlanta and the Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago. Loren is also an Artist in Residence at Berkshire Elementary School in Palm Springs where she presents Arts Integrated lessons in association with classroom teachers to inspire students to learn through dance.

Gregory Gilman moved to the US in 2002 where he met his first professional choreographers that inspired him to embrace the artistry of hip-hop style of dance. In 2005 Greg moved to Pennsylvania where he continued to practice with “street dancers," and also learn some of the more Northern style of hip hop. Gregory returned to Florida after two years and in 2007 met Larry Albright, who discovered that Greg had a “Good demeanor for teaching, especially kids.” Larry’s first task was to train Greg enough to be a reliable substitute. He learned quickly and within the first year of training subbed for several prominent Hip-Hop Dance Instructors, including Larry. His resume grew at a rapid pace. Within just a few school semesters he had taught at several schools across South Florida, even picking up a few classes of his own. By the following year Greg’s classes jumped to a very solid number for someone who only had a year’s worth of experience. He has lent his talent to the media by doing staged performances, choreography for entertainers and in music videos such as “I Think I like It” by Enrique Iglesias. Greg is also a versed DJ, which showcases his aptitude for music. He is constantly training and continues to learn new things from practicing with several Master Class Instructors. Mr. Gilman joined the faculty of That’s Dancing in 2012.

Katherine Lameyer has been teaching in Palm Beach County for the past thirteen years and joined the faculty of that's Dancing in the summer of 2008. She teaches full time at That's Dancing and is also the Co-Director of the Young Dancers Program at the studio. She has twenty-five years of experience as a dancer, as well as many years of competing and winning regional and national competitions. She has also won several dance scholarships, including the overall in Acrobatics “Edith Royal Scholarship”, with these honors she had been given the opportunity to train with many respected and admired dance teachers. She was also a member of Florida Dance Masters “Main Attraction” and a contestant on ABC Family’s “Dance Fever” in 2003. Katherine also pursues film and TV and was part of the filming of the Adam Sandler movie, “Jack and Jill”. She was also part of the filming for “Rock of Ages” and “Step up 4”, to be released this summer. Ms. Lameyer aspires each day to share her knowledge and love of dance to her students in an educational and fun atmosphere.

Nicole Jaquetti Requito joined the faculty of That’s Dancing in 2008. She works locally both as a professional dancer and dance instructor. She is involved with several dance companies and teaches dance at local studios as well as Palm Beach Atlantic University and Palm Beach County Schools. She has studied with many professionals in the field and has earned her Bachelor of Arts from Palm Beach Atlantic University, majoring in Dance, with a track in Performance and Pedagogy, and a minor in Exercise Science. Nicole has studied dance in South Florida and New York for most of her life. Teaching and performing nearly all styles of dance and in an array of venues has given her opportunities to study under some world renowned dancers and choreographers. Professionals in the dance industry such as Luigi, Francois Szony, Alice Condolina and Wade Robeson have shaped her as a student and as an instructor of dance. She also has studied under Jennifer Archbald of Arch Dance and graduate of Fordham, Steven Caras of New York City Ballet, Patricia Fredricova and Patrick Riley of Millenium Dance Syndicate, Eileen Hebron of American Ballet Theatre, Stacey Downs, Harriet Wilson, Demetrius Klein and many other great dancers, choreographers and teachers in the field. Nicole enjoys teaching and performing styles of dance such as jazz, tap, modern, ballet, hip hop, liturgical, lyrical, ballroom and authentic Latin dance. She enjoys teaching students of all levels and all ages, children and adults, and is eager to share her experiences as a dancer with them. Nicole loves to help cultivate other’s passion for dance because of her deep appreciation for the fine arts.

Vicky Smith born in South Africa, started dancing at the age of 5. She then furthered her training by completing her R.A.D, Cecchetti and S.A.D.T.A examinations with honors while being privately coached in Vaganova method. In her professional career overseas, she performed with Ballet Theater Afrikan, South African Ballet Theater, O Dance as well as guest teaching in South Africa and America. Her repertoire includes: Giselle, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, Worlds Apart - Warren Adams and more. Viky’s goal as a teacher is to share her knowledge, discipline and passion for dance. Viky joined the That’s Dancing faculty in 2011.

Erin Sinsley has been a teacher at That’s Dancing since 2008. She is on faculty as a dance teacher at Seminole Ridge High School in Loxahatchee. Florida. She graduated summa cum laude from Kent State University (Kent, Ohio) with a BFA in Dance Education. While a student at Kent, she performed with the Kent Dance Ensemble, performing works by faculty as well as guest artists. Erin began teaching in 2001 at Dance Academy South in Akron, Ohio, where she was the Director of the Youth Program, developing a curriculum for multiple levels of ballet, modern and jazz dance. She has contributed to the choreography and production of many of their year-end concerts including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Isadora Dances and The Christmas Angel. Erin served as the Artistic Director of the Manchester Dance Ensemble, a non-profit pre-professional youth dance company for their 2007-2008 season, until she relocated to Florida with her family in June 2008. To further enhance her training, she previously completed a summer of dance study at the American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina and has attended the Ohio Dance Festival. Last summer Erin attended Monsters of Hip Hop Convention and in December she attended The Pulse on Tour Convention. Erin believes in teaching anatomically correct technique and giving individualized attention and instruction to enable each student to develop their potential, unique style, and personal expression through movement.

Julie Thurman teaches in That’s Dancing’s Young Dancer Program. From the time she could walk, she danced. Julie Thurman, new to the That’s Dancing faculty in 2011, has studied a variety of dance styles for 15 years, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, latin, swing and ballroom. She loves the arts and has also studied modeling and acting, competing at the National level in modeling, acting, and dance in 2006 and 2008. She began teaching and choreographing at age 17 and was the Student Choreographer for her high school’s Musical Theater department. She was invited to join the Palm Beach Atlantic University’s dance team where she has served for 2 years and was recently asked to choreograph a student “musical” film that was released in April 2012. Julie is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Pharmacy at PBAU while continuing to study the arts and share her passion for dance with the next generation.