Innerlight Dance

	Kari Smith Founder/Artistic Director A lifelong performer, Kari Smith’s first stage performance was at an early 18 months of age. She was formally trained at New York City Broadway Dance Center as well as the Los Angeles Edge Performing Arts Center. Kari performed with Diana Ross at the 1996 Super Bowl at the Sun Devil Stadium; in 2001, she toured the US with Dance Olympus. In addition to her 24 years of dance experience, Kari has won many choreography awards, recently she was a choreographer on many Disneyland Shows including 2004 Disney’s Christmas Parade, Mickey’s Magic Cavalcade, 2005 CELEBRATIONS, Disney’s Electrical Parade, 50^th Anniversary Block Party Bash. Kari has choreographed for many competitive studio’s including, Irvine Dance Academy & Focus Dance Center, she is an advanced dancer and choreographer in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tumbling and Musical Theater.
	Joseph Nugent Ballet/Company Joseph Nugent was trained at Pennsylvania Ballet School and the North Carolina School of the Arts, both on full scholarship. He danced professionally with Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet Arizona, and the Fort-Worth Dallas Ballet, where he was a principal dancer. Mr. Nugent had a wide range as a dancer, easily moving from character to contemporary and pure classical variation. He has gained national recognition for his award winning choreography and staging
	Matt Kazmierczak Contemporary Matthew Kazmierczak is 20 years old and was born in Phoenix Arizona. He has danced for just about four years. Matthew began his training at Spisak’s Dance Academy, and later moved to Tempe dance academy followed by Initial Existence at Master Ballet Academy. He has competed and won multiple awards with conventions such as Jump, Nuvo, and New York City Dance Alliance, and The Pulse. He has worked with renowned choreographers such as Dee Caspary, Mandy Moore, Dana Metz, Natasha Louis, Travis Wall, Justin Jiles, Jaci Royal, Kim Mcswain, Katy Spreadbury, and Doug Caldwell. Matt has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to teach at studios all over Arizona and out of state. He has taught and done choreography at many studios such as Dance Connection, Club Dance, Royal Dance Works, Gotta Dance Co., Initial Existence, Devney’s Dance Academy, Kimberly Lewis School of Dance, and Bunker’s Dance Academy in Las Vegas Nevada. He has also choreographed award winning pieces for Dance Connection and Gotta Dance Co. Now he is traveling with The Pulse Dance Convention as an elite protégé for the 2010 – 2011 tour. Alanah Kaiser Jazz/Hip-Hop/Lyrical/Company Alanah is a very accomplished dancer with experience as both a teacher and choreographer. She has been dancing for 16 years and as a competitive dancer for 9 years has won many Regional and National Titles and innumerable scholarships. Trained in all forms of advanced dance including jazz, lyrical jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, pointe, tap, modern and tumbling, Alanah began assistant teachingat age 11 and was substitute teaching by age 14. She was a teacher on staff at a local studio for the past year. Her passion for dance and performing has taken her around the country in order to continue her extensive training and performing opportunities. Alanah's training includes 16 years of studio classes, Steps on Broadway in New York City, The Edge Performing Arts Center and Millenium Dance Center in Los Angeles, School of Ballet Arizona in Phoenix and many conventions, workshops, and Master classes around the nation. She was formerly employed by Radio Disney as a member of their Radio Frequency Performance Group. Alanah has performed in the Ahwatukee Foothills Nutcracker Ballet for 9 years in many roles including dancing the lead role of Clara for 2 years, Sugar Plum Fairy for the past 2 years and created as well as performed the role of Mouse Queen last season. Most recently Alanah can be seen in the Hip Hop instructional DVD "Blueprints to a New Society" produced, directed and choreographed by Master teacher/Choreographer Nick Gonzales. As a 4-year member of the Senior Dance Company at Desert Vista High School, Alanah had the opportunity to choreograph a number of exceptional pieces with contemporary being one of her favorite dance genres. She served as Captain for the team in her senior year and received 3 Athletic Letters for dance as well as being awarded Best Overall Dancer of the DVHS Dance Program for 2 years and Best Senior Dance Company Dancer for 3 years. Alanah is a former member of the Pure Contemporary Dance Company choreographed primarily by Natasha Louis and Dana Metz. She is currently a member of the 2010-2010 Arizona State University Dance Team and the ASU Competition Dance Team. Additionally she is a student in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Program at ASU with dual concentration inSpanish and Communications. Alanah is very excited to bring her deep passion and life-long dedication to the art of dance to the staff of this innovative dance program!
	William Piña Hip-Hop/Jazz/Company Ever since William (Willie) was a little boy, he would consistently dance all around the living room with the MTV music videos of Janet Jackson and EnVogue playing in the background. Growing up, Willie always had an appreciation for dance. Willie started his training at the age of 10 where he learned the basic styles of Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz Funk, Ballet, and Tap. For 4 years, Willie has competed all over the state of Arizona and most of the West Coast winning many top overall awards and national titles, along with personal awards such as “Mr. Teen Dance Explosion”,“Mr. Teen Elite Dancer” and “Mr. Encore Elite Dancer.” During his duration in High School, Willie has been an active member of the Desert Vista High School Dance Program and has been a part of Desert Vista Senior Dance Company for three years. Willie was proudly awarded Captain of the Desert Vista Dance Company on his senior year of High School where his duties included choreography and music editing. His choreography has won the honorary title of “Overall Best Choreography” for two years straight in the dance program. Along with Dance Company, He also participated in the Desert Vista Salsa Club for three years and the Desert Vista Step Team for one year where his choreography took an active part into the souls of each club on campus. Willie continues to expand his dance education by attending state dance conventions and master classes around the valley. He currently teaches Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Musical Theatre. For a few years, Willie has been living his life by the simple words of one of the most influential women of his generation, Lady GaGa, “…just dance!” Willie is truly, madly, deeply excited to be a part of the IDC family and given the opportunity to share his love and passion that is the art of dance.
	fakeFCKRemovefakeFCKRemove Brittany Hanish Contemporary/Hip-Hop/Jazz/Company Brittany Hanish started dancing at the age of 7. She is trained in ballet, hip hop, jazz, modern, tap, musical theater, jazz funk, and contemporary. Over the years Brittany has won many local scholarships and national awards. In high school, Brittany was president of Hamilton Dance Company where one of their main duties was choreography. Brittany's choreography won first in state in 2009. Her senior year, Brittany was voted best dancer by her peers and graduated in the National Honors Society of Dance. She was chosen to perform in the Dance Teacher's Summit in New York City in 2009 and in Carnival a Choreographers Ball in Los Angeles in 2010. Brittany is currently a full time student at Arizona State University, captain of Hip Hop Coalition at ASU, and dances with national recording artist Jasmine Hormez. Brittany's main goal is to share her passion for dance to anyone who is willing to learn.
	fakeFCKRemove Melissa Snow Tap Melissa began her career at the age of 6. She filmed and performed in many T.V. shows, including "Family Ties" and "Rags to Riches". While under contract with the Disney Company, Melissa did print work, filmed television specials, and commercials, and was a principal dancer in several Disney parades and stage shows. Melissa studied under some of the most admired dance teachers in L.A. before moving to Phoenix. She has taught here in the Valley at some of the top rated dance studios as well as numerous master classes in Arizona and across the country. Melissa is proud to be on staff with Hollywood Dance Experience convention where she is able to pass on her experience to students throughout the United States. Melissa currently choreographs and directs for Ahwatukee Children's Theatre.
	Kirsten Massa Tap/Tumbling/Jazz Bio Coming Soon! Jennifer Stanley Tot-Combo Bio Coming Soon! KerryLee Stewart Lyrical/Tot-Combo Mrs. Stewart has been teaching dance for more than twenty years and is well respected by parents, teachers and judges for her natural ability to teach students age two through adult all levels and subjects with discipline, technique, passion and age appropriate routines and costumes. KerryLee has studied with Nationally renowned instructors in Massachusetts as well as at the Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York City and at the Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. Mrs. Stewart's choreography has been locally and nationally recognized throughout New England and Arizona, winning numerous awards and accolades. These accomplishments at competition are very rewarding, however she is most proud of the profesional carreers her former students are living. Past students of Mrs. Stewarts have danced in national and world tours, on Broadway, in Tokyo, at Disney, Busch Gardens, Cruise Ships and many shows in Los Angeles and New York City. KerryLee has enjoyed bringing the art of dance to competitive gymnasts, high school musical productions, and after school programs for inner-city children. As well as, autistic, mentally and physically challenged children and adults. Mrs. Stewart is very excited to be a part of the Innerlight faculty and looking forward to sharing her love of dance with all of the talented Innerlight dancers.