Faculty / Staff

Faculty

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Owner/ Artisic Director
Danielle Marie Roe

Danielle

Shaun Curtin began dancing at the age of seven. He trained at The LaPierre School of Dance in Reading, Massachusetts.  He also studied at The Boston Ballet and The Joffrey Ballet on full scholarship.  He received a BFA cum laude in dance from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
He has danced professionally for over 25 years  He was a member of The Richmond Ballet, Granite State Ballet and Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre of Boston.  He fulfilled several contracts with Disney Land (Snow White/ An Enchanting New Musical), Disney World (Kids of The Kingdom/ Best of Disney) and Tokyo Disney Sea (Sail Away). He also danced at Busch Gardens Tampa (Rockin’ The Boat & Funiculi Funicula). He was a featured dancer on Celebrity Cruise Line (Opryland Productions) and later starred in A Country Christmas in Nashville, TN. (Opryland/ Gaylord Productions). Shaun toured for two seasons with The Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes. He danced back up for Deborah Gibson at the renowned GLAAD Awards. Shaun also toured internationally through China, Spain, France and Hong Kong with the show LUMA, a theatrical production bringing light from the dark through dance and the use of props. LUMA was also featured on America’s Got Talent.  TV credits include Days of Our Lives, MAD TV, General Hospital and several national commercials.
Shaun’s teaching experience spans over 17 years and he is passionate about continuing to instill proper technique and appreciation of this creative art form in dancers of all ages.

Danielle Marie Roe started dancing at the age of five at Encore Dance Center in Lancaster, PA. She graduated from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA with a BA in dance, concentrating in jazz and ballet. Her most influential teachers include Nicolas Petrov (a founder of Pittsburgh Ballet Theater), Marion Petrov, Marjorie Dougherty, and Broadway performer Ron Tassone. She has extensive training from teachers whose credits include Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Boston Ballet Company, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and Paris Opera Ballet. Danielle has advanced gymnastics training with several schools including the Los Angeles Valley College.
Danielle is an experienced performer having worked with Debbie Allen, performed for several years with the Donlavy Dance Company in Los Angeles, Shaqtacular at Universal Studios, LUMA on America’s Got Talent, as well as performing TV commercials and in numerous shows at venues including, The Kodak Theater in Hollywood, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, and several locations in Las Vegas. She currently appears as a dancer in Magic Redefined with illusionist John Gabriel.
Danielle has been a dedicated teacher for over 15 years. She promotes the importance of dance on both the physical and emotional level for every student. Her goal is to help her students realize their full potential.

Owner / Artistic Director
Shaun Curtin

Shaun

Shaun Curtin began dancing at the age of seven. He trained at The LaPierre School of Dance in Reading, Massachusetts.  He also studied at The Boston Ballet and The Joffrey Ballet on full scholarship.  He received a BFA cum laude in dance from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
He has danced professionally for over 25 years  He was a member of The Richmond Ballet, Granite State Ballet and Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre of Boston.  He fulfilled several contracts with Disney Land (Snow White/ An Enchanting New Musical), Disney World (Kids of The Kingdom/ Best of Disney) and Tokyo Disney Sea (Sail Away). He also danced at Busch Gardens Tampa (Rockin’ The Boat & Funiculi Funicula). He was a featured dancer on Celebrity Cruise Line (Opryland Productions) and later starred in A Country Christmas in Nashville, TN. (Opryland/ Gaylord Productions). Shaun toured for two seasons with The Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes. He danced back up for Deborah Gibson at the renowned GLAAD Awards. Shaun also toured internationally through China, Spain, France and Hong Kong with the show LUMA, a theatrical production bringing light from the dark through dance and the use of props. LUMA was also featured on America’s Got Talent.  TV credits include Days of Our Lives, MAD TV, General Hospital and several national commercials. Shaun’s teaching experience spans over 17 years and he is passionate about continuing to instill proper technique and appreciation of this creative art form in dancers of all ages.

Shaun Curtin began dancing at the age of seven. He trained at The LaPierre School of Dance in Reading, Massachusetts.  He also studied at The Boston Ballet and The Joffrey Ballet on full scholarship.  He received a BFA cum laude in dance from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

He has danced professionally for over 25 years  He was a member of The Richmond Ballet, Granite State Ballet and Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre of Boston.  He fulfilled several contracts with Disney Land (Snow White/ An Enchanting New Musical), Disney World (Kids of The Kingdom/ Best of Disney) and Tokyo Disney Sea (Sail Away). He also danced at Busch Gardens Tampa (Rockin’ The Boat & Funiculi Funicula). He was a featured dancer on Celebrity Cruise Line (Opryland Productions) and later starred in A Country Christmas in Nashville, TN. (Opryland/ Gaylord Productions). Shaun toured for two seasons with The Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes. He danced back up for Deborah Gibson at the renowned GLAAD Awards. Shaun also toured internationally through China, Spain, France and Hong Kong with the show LUMA, a theatrical production bringing light from the dark through dance and the use of props. LUMA was also featured on America’s Got Talent.  TV credits include Days of Our Lives, MAD TV, General Hospital and several national commercials.

Shaun’s teaching experience spans over 17 years and he is passionate about continuing to instill proper technique and appreciation of this creative art form in dancers of all ages.

Our Faculty

Calabasas Academy of Dance prides itself on engaging the most talented and experienced professionals to teach our students. The faculty consists of highly trained individuals who have performed professionally in ballet companies, on Broadway, on TV shows, and in motion pictures. Each brings with them a unique skill and teaching style that focuses on enriching each student’s dance experience.

 

*To see our teaching staff please visit our full site on desktop version.*

Emily Chamberlain
Mariah Chandler
Aaliyah
Renee
Carly
Jenny
Natalie

Emily Chamberlain was born and raised in Omaha Nebraska, Emily started entertaining at the age of three. After training hard majority of her adolescent life, She moved to Los Angeles at the age of 19 to pursue a career in dance. Signed with world renowned agency Clear Talent Group for Speciality/Dance, and Wunderlife Talent Agency for Television/ Film and Commercial and Print. You have seen Emily in commercials such as; NutriNinja, Heineken, PNC Bank, XL Energy Drink, Zalando Spring Launch, Xenadrine. Performing behind artist such as Starley, Olly Murs, One Direction, Jesse McCartney, The Braves, Knee High Fox, among others. Also recently worked under direction of Steven Spielberg for his recent film “Ready Player One” where she contributed movement to the lead actors in the film. Alongside her professional career, she also has a devoted love to teaching. Emily is extremely passionate about leaving students with more than just sore muscles but a different way of approaching dance. To be proud of the gift of dance, and to soak up all the happiness and joy this art form brings the community. Her style of teaching involves drills, appropriate warms up with a ballet-yoga emphasis. She doesn’t like to focus on one style in particular but finds it more important to be a well rounded dancer, with the music as the main instructor as opposed to the guidelines of “style”.

Mariah Chandler started training as a dancer at the age of 5 years old in Metro Detroit, Michigan.  She is trained in a wide variety of styles including ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and stiletto high-heels.  Mariah attended Oakland University’s dance program where she danced on scholarship for four years. She earned her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Dance with high honors, and moved out to Los Angeles to pursue her career.  Mariah has been teaching since a very young age, and is very passionate about seeing her students grow.

Aaliyah Cota-Griffin is a recent Graduate of Cal State Fullerton receiving her BS in Kinesiology.  The combination of her years of training and her knowledge of the body have helped her develop into a teacher focusing on proper technique and safety for her dancers. Over the past years, she has studied from such notable teachers as Becky Cota, Stephanie Santiago, Mackenzie Crosley, David Slaney, G Madison, Krista Miller, and many more. Additionally, her choreography has won numerous accolades throughout Southern and Northern California. Above all, Aaliyah believes that if you put integrity into what you do, you will achieve.  You also have to let go of your expectations and be present and not be fearful of making mistakes. Just be who you are and that is enough. Aaliyah is a Dance Instructor / Choreographer recognized for her artistry and musicality. She comes with 20 years of dance training in all styles. For the past 4 years, she created and developed a successful contemporary program at a studio in Orange County. Beginning with one class working into multiple classes and levels. She has trained dancers of all levels and ages at various studios in contemporary, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, technique and more.

Renee Melkonian started dancing at four years old in Los Angeles, California. She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, salsa, house, chicago footwork, and popping. Renee trained in the Debbie Reynold’s Scholarship Program session five. She has taught all ages of competitive dance and has been the dance team coach for Granada Hills Charter High School since 2017. Her favorite performance has been dancing for Snoop Dogg at a live music charity event. Renee aspires to maximize each of her students’ abilities and share her love of dance with them.

Carly Johnson is originally from Maryland and was a nationally ranked Rhythmic Gymnast when she discovered her love for dance. She attended Point Park University, earning her B.F.A. in modern dance and has trained and performed in New York, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C, Montreal, Tel Aviv, and Berlin. Carly is an award winning choreographer and has professional certifications from USA gymnastics in Rhythmic and acro. Carly is thrilled to be a part of Calabasas Academy of Dance faculty.

Jenny Mullaney started dancing at age four in San Diego, CA. She has trained in hip-hop, tap, ballet, jazz, and lyrical. As a teen she competed, winning top honors with Dance Unlimited, in Oceanside, CA. She attended UC Berkeley while dancing for Culture Shock Oakland. She furthered her modern and contemporary repertoire through the UC Berkeley dance department and local studios. She has a B.A. in Psychology, and now resides in Calabasas, as a professional dancer, actress, and teacher. Jenny trains with master teachers at the EDGE and Debbie Reynolds. She feels honored to have had the opportunity to work with AKON, Emminem, Unwritten Law, Nikkole, Los Einstein, and Printz Board. She’s danced for choreographers such as Jillian Laub, Shirlene Quigley, Dante7, and Kevin/Marcel Williams. Jenny hopes her own passion for dance inspires her students to keep dancing towards their own dreams.

Natalie Lyons is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia and holds a  degree from University of Toronto. She’s been dancing since she was 3 years old. She trained in the ITP program at Halifax Dance in Nova Scotia, Canada and then in Toronto, Canada with Luther Brown and Do Dat Entertainment. Specializing in Hip Hop, some of her performing credits include; So You Think You Can Dance Canada Season 2, Beyonce Super Bowl 2013, American Idol with Montell Jordan and Katy Perry ‘This is how we do it’, Janelle Monae ‘Yoga’ on American Idol, Maluma and Fifth Harmony on Latin Grammy’s, Fergi ‘LA Love’ on American Music Awards and Dick Clark’s New Years Eve, Chris Brown 2015 BET Awards and Pharrell’s ‘Freedom’ on The Voice. She’s also been featured in the music videos of Chris Brown ‘Loyal’, Ozuna ‘Baile Baile Baile’, Jennifer Lopez ‘Ain’t yo mama’, Gwen Stefani ‘Baby Don’t lie’ to name a few. Natalie loves watching the progress of her students and seeing them light up with joy when they dance.