castro valley performing arts staff

With over twenty-five years of experience in the entertainment industry, Janet has toured with such names as the Temptations, JoAnn Castle, Bob Hope and Dorothy LaMour. She also spent several years performing aboard Princess Cruise Lines (The Love Boat) singing and dancing in their nightly musical productions. Her television credits include “Dick Clark’s Special of the Year Show” and various commercials for Princess Cruises and American Express. Her choreography credits include a dance fitness television pilot featuring Joanie Greggins, Billy Hufsy from FAME and MC Hammer; The Teen Miss California Pageant; Miss CA Pageant; Outstanding Teen of California Pageant; Ohlone College Summerfest theater productions of “Grease” and “A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to The Forum;” and numerous industrials throughout the state of CA. She also served as dance director of the syndicated television program “Morning Stretch.” Prior to opening Castro Valley Performing Arts, Janet was the director of The Academy for the Performing Arts in Fremont and Newark and a member of the faculty in the drama department at Ohlone College in Fremont.

As a director, choreographer, educator and administrator, Gia has been involved with performing arts production for over twenty-five years.  Creative credits include Legally Blonde, The Musical (Dir./Chor. – Diablo Theatre Company), Sweet Charity (Dir./Chor. – American Conservatory Theater MFA3 Series), Dreamgirls (Assistant Dir. – West Coast Tour), Little Shop of Horrors (Assistant Dir./Chor. – AMTSJ), Evita (National Youth Theater Award, Best Choreography – CMTSJ), national projects for the Golden State Warrior Girls Dance Team, America’s Junior Miss, Universal Dance Association, regional work with American Musical Theatre of San José, Diablo Theatre Company, Center Repertory Company, Willows Theatre Company, Theatre on San Pedro Square, Pocket Opera, Children’s Musical Theatre of San José, among others. A member of Actors’ Equity, Gia’s favorite performing adventures include national tours of Evita (25^th Anniversary Tour / Dance Captain, Dir. Harold Prince) and The Hot Mikado (Dance Captain), twelve shows with American Musical Theatre of San José, Royal Caribbean, Disney and Nickelodeon. An adjunct faculty member at California State University, East Bay and Notre Dame de Namur University, she has taught for the Universal Dance Association, Mills College, U.C. Davis Experimental College and Music Theatre Conservatory. She proudly served as Artistic Associate for American Musical Theatre of San José and Producing Director for Diablo Theatre Company and was a member of the Castro Valley Arts Foundation Board of Directors from 2009-2012. She holds a Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in Health and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance with an emphasis in Choreography and Performance. Gia’s MFA thesis is entitled “Curriculum Implementation in Dance Education: How Benchmarks and Goal Setting Affect Student Learning Experiences and Outcomes.”

Sofia Barrientos is a versatile dancer and choreographer from the Bay Area, California. With a passion for movement and a diverse skill set, she trained extensively at Yoko’s Dance and Performing Arts Academy and was a member of the Presentation High School Dance Team. Sofia went on to graduate from Chapman University with a BFA in Dance Performance and a Minor in Entrepreneurship, further honing her craft in both commercial and concert dance styles.

Throughout her time at Chapman, Sofia developed a wide-ranging dance portfolio, exploring various genres and performance techniques. Her dance training also expanded into the realms of movement direction for film and social media marketing, where she cultivated a creative approach to visual storytelling.

Sofia’s professional career has allowed her to work with respected choreographers in the industry, including Brian Nicholson, Will Johnston, Azuki Umeda, Steven Sofia, Alicia Benneche, Wilson Mendieta, and Zachary Gronewold. These collaborations have enhanced her artistic depth, shaping her unique approach to choreograpy and performance.

Sofia continues to work as a professional dancer and choreographer while also sharing her passion by teaching at local dance studios. Her work is marked by a blend of technical precision, creativity, and a strong connection to the communities she works with.

Kimberley’s dance training began at the age of four from various dance studios and companies throughout the Bay Area. During her teen years, she attended many conventions throughout the United States. Through these conventions, she was awarded numerous scholarships which provided her with extraordinary training opportunities which included the opportunity to travel to New York City to study with notable dancers such as Mia Michaels, Brian Freidman, Laurieann Gibson, Dave Scott, Christ Judd, Wade Robson and Gil Duldulao. Kimberley also studied on scholarship at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles. Kimberley was featured in Trendy Trends’ Dance Catalog. She and her dance partner were also semi-finalists in the CBS television show, “Dance Revolution”.

Kimberley has been a member of two renowned Bay Area Dance Companies: “Independent Dance Company”, based out of San Jose and “APT” (aka Apprentice), directed by members from “The Company” based in Daly City.

Kim joins the CVPA faculty, where she teaches hip-hop and contemporary classes. Kim’s classes are very popular.  She prides herself in always providing a fun and welcoming dance environment for both advanced dancers and beginning dancers alike! CVPA is excited to have Kimberley join our faculty this year!

Originally from northeast Ohio, Melissa grew up practicing gymnastics, ballet, and playing the organ.  She trained and performed pre-professionally with Cleveland City Dance, BalletMet, Cleveland Ballet, and Hartford Ballet schools.  Melissa began her studies of Dance Education at Ohio State University, where she graduated with Honors and Distinction with her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance.  While based in Ohio, she taught and choreographed for ballet, lyrical, and creative dance students of all ages at NorthPointe Dance Academy, and Leap of Faith Dance Studio.  Melissa also practiced massage therapy for 15 years with her license from the Ohio State Medical Board.  Upon moving to California, she expanded her professional life by studying early childhood Music Education.  Since then, Melissa has taught music and movement classes throughout Bay Area community and school settings, including as a docent with Music for Minors II, a dance educator with Alonzo King LINES Ballet’s HeART with LINES program, and currently as a Music Educator with Music for Minors.

Melissa is an ongoing student of music, dance, yoga and dance education.  She has attended Dance Teacher Training with the National Ballet of Canada , Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Finis Jhung, Rhee Gold, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Luna Dance Institute, Anne Green Gilbert, and 92NY Dance Education Laboratory.  In addition to teaching, Melissa enjoys hiking, bicycling, and traveling with her husband and two sons. She is excited to bring experiences with dance, music and somatics to the students of Castro Valley Performing Arts!

Erin Yarbrough-Powell was born and raised in Fresno, CA, where she received her dance training under Diane K. Mosier.  She then went on to study at the Interlochen Arts Academy.

After graduating high school, Ms. Yarbrough-Powell danced with the Oakland Ballet for five years, during which time she was awarded the Isadora Duncan Dance Award for her portrayal of Giselle.

In 2003 she joined the Smuin Ballet, where over the course of 17 years she enjoyed performing leading roles in the works of Amy Seiwert, Helen Pickett, Val Caniparoli, Stanton Welch, Trey McIntyre, Jiri Kylian, and of course Michael Smuin, among many others.

In addition to performing professionally, Ms. Yarbrough-Powell has been teaching dance for over 20 years.

Brittany Boole has been teaching and choreographing for over two decades, earning widespread recognition, and Industry Dance Nominations for her innovative and visually striking work. Known for her orginality in storytelling and production quality, her choreography has left a lasting mark on the competitive dance world.

She is the founder of Elevate Dance Academy in Portland,Oregon, and has also directed and coached successful programs at Saint Joesph High School and Wilson High School, helping dancers and teams achieve excellence on stage and in competition.

As a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, Brittany’s performance career began at age ten and has spanned television, commercials, live entertainment, and international tours. She has appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Oprah, Mad TV, and Live with Regis and Kelly, along with national campaigns for Pepsi, Nickelodeon, Barbie, and JCPenney, to name a few. She has performed at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, danced two seasons as a Laker Girl with the Los Angles Lakers, and toured the world as a principal and Dance Captain for Holland America Cruise Lines. Her career also took her to Tokyo Disney, where she performed as a face character at both Tokyo Disney and DisneySea.

Brittany is widely respected for her ability to motivate and empower dancers at all levels. Her passion, discpline, and dedication to her craft inspire students to aim higher, work harder, and dream bigger.

Erica Hartono received her early dance training at the San Francisco Ballet School, Ballet Arts, and Berkeley Ballet Theater while spending her summers at the schools of Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and Richmond Ballet. She went on to receive her BFA in Ballet from the University of Utah with a departmental scholarship.

Performing highlights include: Oakland Ballet, Peninsula Ballet Theater, the 40th Anniversary Tour of Fiddler on the Roof (Chava), Wonderful Town (1st National Tour), CATS (Rumpleteaser), Promises, Promises (Turkey Lurkey Trio) and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

She has been on the faculty of The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center, NYU’s  Musical Theater Program (CAP21), The Harkness Dance Center (NYC), Art of Dance (NJ), Berkeley Ballet Theater, The East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, Civic Arts (in affiliation with Diablo Ballet), Cazadero Family Performing Arts Camp, and The College Preparatory School.

In 2000 she co-founded COUNTERPOINTe, a dance company that fosters collaboration on new works between local professional SF Bay Area choreographers, composers and dancers.

Erica has completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive and is both ABT Certified and ABT Affiliate Teacher. What Erica loves the most about teaching dance is sharing her love and passion for movement with dancers of all ages and levels.

Rachel Kuczynski grew up in Northern California and started her training as a competitive gymnast and track athlete, earning statewide awards in both disciplines. She extensively studied Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Tap at the Academy of Performing Arts in Tracy, Ca. With that she has received many awards for her Jazz, Contemporary and Musical Theater pieces in multiple competitions. She went on to continue her training at California State University of Long Beach on a Track and Field scholarship, majoring in and acquiring a B.A. in Dance.

After college, she moved to New York to pursue her dance career. Rachel has also studied with the Long Beach Ballet Academy, Atlanta School of Ballet and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She has performed works by Martha Graham, Susan Mclain, “Grusin Suite” by Frank Chavez, “Table of Silence” and “Requiem” with the Buglisi Dance Theatre in NYC. Her most recent works include dancing and touring with The Modarts Dance Collective Company, based in New York, traveling with the off-Broadway show,”Dancing Queen,” by Spirit Productions and performing in the Musical Theater piece “Love Re-Routed” for the Capezio A.C.E Awards. She continues to travel in the U.S judging dance competitions. Rachel is excited to join the CVPA Faculty.

Tian Tan started his professional dance career in China at Guang Dong State Professional Dance School between the years 2000-2004. In 2005, Tian immigrated to the United States, where he continued training on full scholarship with Marat Daukayev Ballet Academy, Milwaukee Ballet and Miami City Ballet. Tian joined the Los Angeles Ballet under directors Colleen Neary and Thordal Christensen, working with the Balanchine Trust Repetiteur. Tian has been a principal soloist in many productions throughout Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Tian danced the role of Cavalier Prince in the Pacific Ballet Academy’s Nutcracker . Tian is also performing the role of the Prince in Sleeping Beauty at Benicia Ballet Theatre. CVPA is happy to welcome Tian to our faculty.

Celine Carvalho has been passionate about dance since the age of two, she began her journey learning jazz and hip hop. Her dedication led her to competitive cheerleading for eight years where, she honed her skills and developed a love for  performance. Celine transitioned to ballroom dancing and teaching. She spent three years sharing her knowledge and fell in love with Latin dance, pursuing it for another two years. Celine is thrilled to continue her passion for Latin dance with Castro Valley Performing Arts, where she hopes to inspire others through the art of dance.