Florencia Abergel
BALLET
Florencia, originally from Argentina, began her dance training at the age of eight with Toni Carrion at Village Dance Arts. She continued her dance studies while attending Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Florencia has studied Creative Dance and Movement and has continued to pass on her love of dance to young children. She continues her Royal Academy of Dance studies through the Royal Academy teacher training program. She also shares her love of Ballet and Modern dance with adults who know (or wish to learn) how wonderful it feels to dance.
Miki Amen
TAP, TAIKO DRUMMING
Miki graduated with Honors while majoring in Dance and Choreography at the University of California, Riverside, with a Chancellor’s Performance Scholarship in Dance. For two years, Miki toured with live stage shows “Sesame Street Live,” and “Dragon Tales Live” under VEE Corporation. Some of Miki’s film and television credits include “187” starring Samuel L. Jackson, “Gilmore Girls,” “Seventh Heaven,” and the “O.C.” She is also a member of the Taiko Center of Los Angeles, a Japanese drumming ensemble. She has united tap and taiko at such venues as the Hollywood Bowl, Ford Theatre, Japan American Theatre, and in Japan and Singapore. Miki is currently pursuing the art of teaching both dance and taiko and has been teaching since the age of 15 at various institutions such as the University of Redlands, Jane Addams Middle School in Lawndale and the Claremont Colleges. She thoroughly enjoys spreading the love of dance and taiko to students of all ages.
Denise Donovan
VDA Artistic Director, Royal Academy of Dance Life Registered Teacher, Practical Teaching Supervisor for the RAD
BALLET, TAP, JAZZ, MODERN, TUMBLING, TAIKO DRUMMING
Denise is a Certified Instructor for the Royal Academy of Dance, as well as a Practical Teaching Supervisor for the Western Region of the U.S. Denise received her BA at the University of California, Riverside, in choreography. At UCR she danced with the Gluck Tap Troupe under the direction of Fred Strickler. At Village Dance Arts, Denise is the Artistic Director and teaches ballet, tap, jazz, modern, tumbling and taiko. Denise has taught at several academic institutions including Redlands University, Riverside City College, Cal State Long Beach for the Summer School Program of the Royal Academy of Dance, and AB Miller High Dance Conservatory. During her ten years as Co-director of Riverside City College Dance Touring ensemble, Denise received the honor of Adjunct Teacher of the Year. In addition to teaching taiko (Japanese drumming), she has performed with the Taiko Center of Los Angeles, dancing in Italy, France and Japan.
Anthony Loa
JAZZ, ZUMBA
Anthony is currently the resident Jazz Dance Instructor and Assistant Director for the Dance Conservatory at AB Miller High School in Fontana. He began his dance training at Defore Dance Center in Costa Mesa and Riverside Community College where he was a member of the Dance Touring Ensemble. He later graduated from the University of California, Riverside, where he received a BA in Dance/ Choreography and was a member of the Gluck Modern Dance Ensemble. During his career, Anthony has danced with and choreographed for numerous cheer/dance teams, show choirs, formal dance concerts and musical theater productions. Anthony is also a certified Zumba instructor at Village Dance Arts and various fitness locations in the Inland Empire.
Jeanna Shelton
BALLET, MODERN
Jeanna began her dance training in Riverside, CA, with Jo Dierdorff and continued her studies with many masters including Susan Rose, Stephanie Gilliland, Rebecca Wright, George de la Pena and Pat Hon. Jeanna received her BA in Dance from the University of California, Riverside, where she was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Performance Award and the Maxwell H. Gluck Dance Fellowship. While at UCR, she began performing professionally with Susan Rose and Dancers and continued with the company for five years. Jeanna was a member of the dance faculty at Riverside City College for 10 years prior to teaching ballet and modern at Village Dance Arts.
