castro valley performing arts staff

janet nordgren-taddie

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.

gia solari

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.”

kristina dresen sanders

Ever since Kristina eagerly slipped her feet into her first pair of ballet slippers at the tender age of five, it has been difficult to keep her out of them! Kristina has studied at three different dance studios in Castro Valley, but CVPA was always been the place that felt most like home to her. After being a passionate student at CVPA, Kristina was inspired to give back to the community and spread the love of dance to children of a variety of ages. She dabbled in choreographing and teaching for Douglas Morrison’s theater camps and has been teaching at CVPA since 2007. Helping to foster positivity, creativity and self-confidence in children is her number one passion in life. She currently has a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts with a minor in childhood studies and a multiple subject teaching credential for grades K-6. While she is not dancing her heart away at CVPA, she can be found molding the young and eager minds at Stanton Elementary where she teaches Kindergarten. Kristina’s dance classes are both fun and challenging. She has a large following of tiny dancers who adore her – appropriately calling her the “the little old lady who lives in the shoe” – tap shoe that is!

amanda marquez

Amanda is a versatile Performer, Instructor and Choreographer in multiple dance styles including Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet and Latin Dance.  She specializes in Latin Jazz and NY Style Salsa On 2, otherwise known as Mambo.

Amanda has been an instructor at some of the most prestigious dance institutions in NYC including The Joffrey Ballet School, Ballet Hispanico, Alvin Ailey, Broadway Dance Center, and Peridance.

In 2012 Amanda signed with MSA Talent Agency in NY and worked closely with Latin Choreographers Sekou McMiller and Maria Torres.  Performance credits include Broadway Bares Equity Fights Aids at the Hammerstein Ballroom, The Latin Billboard Awards, where she danced for pop star Don Omar, The New York Knicks Latin Family Night at Madison Square Garden, The 33rd New York Salsa Festival at the Barclays Center,  featuring Willie Colon, Grupo Niche, Eddie Palmieri, Frankie Negron, Eddie Santiago and Jerry Rivera, multiple benefits for The Latino Commission Against Aids, The Latin Nutcracker, television appearances on Telemundo, Univision, The BBC Vancouver and The Fox Upfronts featuring Terry Bradshaw and Regis Philbin at the Marquis Theater.

Amanda is a certified Yoga Instructor through Greenpath Yoga in San Francisco and holds her BA in Sociology with a concentration in Family Studies from San Jose State University.

kimberley pereira satele

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!

michelle tara lynch

Michelle Tara Lynch hails from Los Alamos, New Mexico. She earned a BA in Environmental Studies and a BFA in Dance from the University of California Santa Barbara.  While at UCSB, she received the Patricia Sparrow Dance Scholarship, the Tonia Shimin Award for Excellence and Promise in the Field of Dance, and graduated with honors after creating a full-length evening work, entitled Roots. After graduating, Michelle was asked to reset one of her works, Through the Valles,  for the UCSB Freshman Company.  Michelle moved to New York City in 2012, where she became a company member and instructor with Jennifer Muller/ The Works. While with JMTW, she had the privilege of touring throughout the United States, as well as internationally in China, and Italy.  During her time with JMTW, Michelle worked as a teaching assistant to Jennifer Muller, also assisting Ms. Muller with residencies at the University of California Irvine, Cal State Fullerton,and Jacksonville University.  Michelle taught regular technique classes to  JMTW company members, scholarship students,and apprentices. She also coordinated programs for young choreographers, and taught creative workshops for elementary schools.  Outside of her work with JMTW, Michelle presented her own choreography in California at the HH11 Festival in Santa Barbara, as well as in New York at Greenspace, Hatch Series, and Columbia University.

Michelle recently relocated to the Bay Area, and is thrilled to be teaching and performing on the west coast again. In her classes, Michelle emphasizes the importance of proper alignment, specificity of detail within choreography, and the importance of individuality. Each student receives direct attention, as she believes that every dancer has a unique and tremendous ability to perform.

melissa dykstra

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

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.

cassidy stoker

Cassidy began her classical ballet training under the direction of Laura Gurdus Dolid of Sudbroook Arts Centre and Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Pre-professionally, she trained with Ballet Internationale and Indianapolis Ballet under the guidance of Elda Aliev of Kirov (Mariinsky) Theatre.  She received her BFA from the Conservatory of Dance at State University of New York at Purchase (SUNY Purchase). Cassidy’s professional career began in her junior year at SUNY Purchase while completing her undergraduate degree. She had the honor and privilege of working under the direction of legendary Martha Graham dancer, Kazuko Hirabayashi, in her original full-length production of Faust, which premiered in Mexico City, Mexico. She was also granted the opportunity to perform with Take (Tahkeh) Dance Company at the International Choreographic Competition in Spain as well as a company residency at Kaatsbaan, New York. During her final semester she was invited to perform George Balanchine’s Western Symphony as an apprentice with Tulsa Ballet Company.

Upon graduation, Cassidy accepted a full-time position with Tania Perez- Salas Compania de Danza in Mexico City, Mexico. Cassidy has graced stages from the quaint, contemporary, and historic across the globe. Some of her favorites include Stadttheater Furth in Germany, Shanghia Grand Theater in China, and Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center in Israel. Cassidy later continued as a traveling solo artist, during which time she also discovered her passion and success as a ballet instructor and private coach.

Cassidy’s primary goal as a classical ballet instructor is to assist her students with the development of strength and agility, self-discipline, and passion, as well as to apply classical ballet technique correctly. Having had versatile training herself. Cassidy understands the importance of cross-training and injury prevention. Her classes are versatile in dynamics and musicality, and include a blend of methods of ballet technique. She makes it a point to speak about the variances of methods and encourages her students to explore the differences for themselves.

Cassidy proudly joins the faculty at CVPA!!

Erica Hartono

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.

cat reyes

Cat Reyes found her love of dance in high school. Since then, she’s been training in the styles of jazz, modern, hip hop, contemporary, and belly dancing throughout the Bay Area, including studying at Diablo Valley College and San Francisco State University. Cat is a seasoned performer in Bay Area theatre.  Favorite credits: West Side Story, In the Heights, Grease, and Tarzan.  In addition to performing, Cat has choreographed many stage productions including The Little Mermaid, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre and High School Musical, Wish Upon A Star, and In The Heights with the Peter Pan Foundation.  For over a decade, she has taught technique at various studios and choreographed many national award-winning groups and solos. Cat had the honor of choreographing for the Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre troupe, as well as touring as a featured entertainer/teaching artist.  Her overall goal is to share her love of the arts with her students in hopes that it fills their souls as it has done for her.

dallas martin

Born in to a family that owned their own dance studio, Dallas has been dancing since she could walk. Dallas began her dance studies at her family’s dance studio. Upon its closing, she joined Castro Valley Performing Arts. Throughout her teenage years, she studied tap, ballet, jazz and hip-hop at CVPA where she quickly became known as the girl with the “fast-talking feet.” While in college, Dallas continue studying tap dancing with an emphasis on “rhythm tap”. Dallas is now the “rhythm tap” specialist at Castro Valley Performing Arts. In addition to her teaching at CVPA, Dallas is also a first grade teacher in the Dublin Unified School District where she can often be caught tapping down the hallways of Frederiksen Elementary School!