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.”

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!

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.

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 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.

Johan Casal, who graduated from San Francisco University with degrees in Dance and Cinema, is a multidisciplinary artist based in the Bay Area producing work in film, music, theater, and dance. Most notably, he performed as a lead dancer in Netflix’s production of “The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Live Experience.”  Johan is also the director and producer of “Manalo: The Movie Musical,” an original feature film, highlighting the shared struggles of Filipinx-Americans and the diverse cultures of the Philippines. Currently, Johan is a company member of Alleluia Panis Dance Theatre, under Kularts, the premiere presenter of tribal and contemporary Pilipino Arts. Johan has also been recently recognized at the SF Dance Film Festival where his choreography won in the best student short film category. Johan’s work is a blend of both Modern Contemporary movement with Filipino Folkloric dance influence.

Gerson Lanza has as much rhythm in his little toe as any top percussionist-and we mean that quite literally. Through his vivacious improvisational and chorographical compositions, Gerson demands close attention to his educated feet in music and movement.

Originally from La Ceiba, Honduras, Gerson grew up around a culture of vibrant music and rhythms.  He first encountered tap dance after moving to Harlem, New York City, in 2001.  He immediately fell in love with the dance after his first exposure.

Gerson’s 2023-2024 season has already been a busy one. He just concluded his Masters in Fine Arts and began lecturing at San Francisco State University this Fall, 2024. Gerson forms part of Music From The Sole, a tap dance company led by Leonardo Sandoval and Gregory Richardson,  they recently performed at the Guggenheim Museum Works and Progress Series in Bilbao, Spain, The Joyce Theater, and Whitebird Dance Festival, Vail Dance Festival and Fall For Dance. Gerson has headlined the Kennedy Center Millennium stage and performed at George Mason University with his Jazz Quintet.  Gerson is closing the year by presenting his new work, “To Dance is To be Free,” commissioned by Montgomery College.

Gerson has been privileged to entertain audiences worldwide for the last decade. While continuing a rewarding career as a tap dancer, instructor and educator, Gerson is delighted to continue to inspire new generations to discover dance and music.

Nathaniel Nicolas is a Bay Area native who started dancing in the Berkeley Dance community in high school.

He, eventually, moved to Southern California where he worked as a back-up dancer for Filipina pop star, AC Bonifacio. He was the artistic director of Kaba Modern, a contemporary company based out of U.C. Irvine.

Nathaniel is currently a dancer for the NBA, while also working as a freelance artist around the Bay Area. CVPA students love Nate’s contagious energy and exciting choreography!

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.