Kari Smith - Founder/Director

A lifelong performer, Kari Smith’s first stage performance was at an early 18 months of age. 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 Superbowl at the SunDevil 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, 50th 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.

Brittany Hanish- Teacher/Contemporary

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 here 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 Angels in 2010. Brittany is currently a full time student at Arizona State University, captain of Hip Hop Coalition at ASU, and dancing with national recording artist Jasmine Hormez. Brittany's main goal is to share her passion for dance to anyone who is willing to learn.

Joseph Nugent- Teacher / Ballet

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.

William Piña- Hip Hop/Musical Theatre
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 Kimberly Lewis School of Dance 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 editting. 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 by 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.

Bree Jones - Teacher

Bree has been dancing for 15 years and is trained in all forms of dance. Bree received her core training at Kimberly Lewis School of Dance and continues to enhance her training at the top dance conventions and dance studios throughout the country. She competed for 6 years as a member of the KLSD senior competition group in solo, duet, trio, and group numbers, winning several first place and top “overall” awards. Most recently, she has taught hip hop at the Kimberly Lewis School of Dance. As a choreographer, her credits include her award-winning hip hop number, “Step” for KLSD as well as several dance numbers for Desert Vista. Bree graduated from Desert Vista High where she was a member of their Senior Dance Company for 4 years and Co- Captain. She was also a member of the Varsity Cheer Squad. Bree was selected to perform at Carnival, the Choreographer’s Ball and performed as a back-up dancer for the “B5 Back to School Bash Concert”. Bree’s vocal talents have also been showcased at several dance productions and community events. She has appeared on the cover of the 2005 KLSD Dance Magazine program. Bree has both danced and modeled at the Capezio Trade Show in Las Vegas. Capezio, in 2005, awarded her the honor of “Outstanding Overall Dancer”. She has danced in Jeremy Miller’s Eclectic Showcase and was selected by producer Peter Sklar to attend his “Beginnings” workshop in New York. Television credits include a hip hop commercial for Channel 45, Good Morning Arizona, and Channel 12 News. In addition to some other theater roles, Bree enjoyed performing as “Clara” in the first Ahwatukee Foothills Nutcracker. Additional lead roles have included the Dew Drop, Spanish Queen, and Lead Flower. In college, Bree is pursuing her degree in Communications while continuing to her dance endeavors.

Alanah Kaiser - Teacher

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 teaching at 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 in Spanish 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!

Nikole Stahl - Master Teacher

Nikole Stahl has been dancing since she was 2 years old in Phoenix, Arizona. Growing up she trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, and Lyrical. She always seemed to be the girl who was trying to step outside the box and be abstract with her movement. She started choreographing her own solos, winning many awards, not just for her performance but for her choreography. In 2003 she set her first piece which won Grand Champion at a Nationals Competition. Nikole found her niche, and continued to work on her choreography in Arizona and became apart of “Automatic Response” dance company. She has opened for Fergie and done many industrial shows. Nikole’s previous training in various styles of dance has propelled her to teach master classes all over Arizona and California. She teaches Jazz, Jazz Funk, Lyrical, Hip-Hop and Contemporary. Currently, she is dancing for a up and
coming artist and continues to push herself in creating new movement and keeping the passion of dance alive.
- to inspire... is to live

NATASHA LOUIS - Guest Master Class

Canadian-born Natasha toured with some of the most popular artists in the world, including Janet Jackson, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Usher, Brian Mcknight, Aaron Carter and others. Her choreographic talents have earned her numerous national awards. Natasha travels extensively throughout the US and Canada teaching master classes and setting choreography. In addition to her directorial duties with Initial Existence, Natasha is also a choreographic assistant with “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” and is a featured performer on television commercials currently promoting the show throughout Canada. Prior to forming Initial Existence, Natasha was the Artistic Director for Dance Motion Performing Company in Phoenix.

Chris Thomas - Guest Master Class

Chris Thomas has been dancing for 6 years. He started teaching and choreographing at his local Church in California and was the co-director of the Hip-Hop Ministry “Step it up.” Since then, Chris has gone on to teach and choreograph at studios throughout Southern California, choreographing numerous award winning pieces, from productions to mini groups. Chris has worked with the Radio Disney group “He and I” on their promotional tour along with “Jessie Malakouti.” He has shot a number of music videos and performed in live events and various venues and has choreographed for Arizona’s own “Automatic Response.” Chris Thomas brings a positive attitude to his teaching; he pushes his dancers to go above and beyond what they believe to be their potential with a charismatic method of teaching and choreographing. Chris strongly believes that the ability to express ones self through movement is an art form, whether in Jazz, ballet, etc. A bit of “soul”, mixed with a touch of “swag”, with a pinch of “Finesse” are all the makings of Chris Thomas.

Nick Gonzalez - Guest

Nick Gonzalez embodies the talent of not only a great performer, but also an innovative choreographer and skilled instructor. His performance abilities have placed Nick in the Top 25 male dancers on Season 1 and 2 of FOX Networks smash hit "So You Think You Can Dance". He has appeared in such music videos as Usher's "Yeah", Recording Artist Tomi in '' Baby Get Down''. Nick's performance credits also include The Ying Yang Twins, Pitbull, Red Man, Fat Joe, Savion Glover and many more. Aside from his busy performance schedule, Nick creates eye opening choreography all over the world for the hottest hip-hop groups and artist. His choreography was most recently seen at such shows as "HYPE",' Move It'' in London England "Best Of The Midwest" in Chicago IL and Dance Carnival 3 in Hanno Japan. His entertaining choreography can also be seen in the latest edition of NBA Ballers II and 3. From London to Tokyo to Korea and Canada. Nick has been teaching dance from all ages in range and has become an international master class instructor. When Nick is not ripping it up on the stage or choreographing mouth-dropping dances, you can find him igniting his passion for dance through his students. Nick currently instructs on Hollywood Vibe Dance Convention, MUSE dance co, Tam Jams in house workshop company and Celebrity Dance Competitions teaching everything from Advanced Hip-Hop to basic Tap. Nick's teaching style has made him a favorite with every student. Because of this Nick has been selected as one of the Lucky 21 hottest up and coming choreographers on Studio Beat Magazine. Whether on television or in the dance studio, Nick's talents in Performance, Choreography and Instruction give a new meaning to the phrase "Triple Threat".

Kate Jablonski - Guest

Kate Jablonski began her professional career training in New York City as a member of Broadway Dance Center's Professional Program. Under the direction of Wes Veldink, this scholarship program allowed Kate to work alongside some of the greatest teachers and choreographers on the east coast. Kate currently teaches and choreographs at the renowned Impact Dance Studio in Countryside, IL. She recently choreographed the 2010 All-State production of Hairspray which debuted at the Krannert Center at the University of Illinois this past January. In 2007, Kate was honored with the Silver Choreography Award at Leo's Competitive Event through Jazz Dance World Congress. Throughout the year, Kate tours with Nexus Dance Convention teaching jazz and lyrical around the country.

Guest

Amanda Wanstreet received her B.S in Kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton in 2007, and is now working on her Master's in Nursing. She has been dancing and performing for 19 years and been teaching since the age of 15. Amanda has won numerous scholarships and awards consisting of excellence in choreography from Orange Coast College in 2003; Leadership scholarship in 2003 from Orange coast college; Tremaine dancer of the year 2002; Charter oak awards for dance in 2000, 2001, 2002; USA Sprit Leaders all star dancer 2002, and was offered a chance to become a part of the USA Spirit Leaders Staff.

In addition to this Amanda has choreographed numerous competitive numbers and her dancers have earned national recognition for their performances, including multiple "Best in Choreographyâ€", "Overall High Scoreâ€" awards and other Entertainment, Technique and Performance awards, "Highest scoring routine out of entire competitionâ€" at Hall of Fame, Bravo, Tremaine, Spotlight and Showstopper Competitions, to name a few.

Amanda was added to the Disney family and performed with the Disneyland Parades in 2006. Amanda has worked under the direction of Chris Dupre, Monie Adamson, Laurie Johnson, Rhonda Kaufman, Jason Bitel, Tyson Garner and many more. Amanda was trained under the direction of Monie Adamson, Mark Meismer, Doug Caldwell, Laurie Johnson, Jason Bitel, Rhonda Kaufman, Tina D' Amato, Rhonda Miller and many more.

Amanda Specialized in teaching Lyrical, Jazz, Hip-hop, Tap, ballet, Musical theater dance, and Technique and turns, and is known for her enthusiasm for teaching with an energetic personality and commitment to each individual student with their goals and dreams for the future.

Gentry Willbanks Guest

Gentry Willbanks teaches musical theater, jazz, lyrical, and tap.

Gentry is a graduate from the University of California Irvine. She currently is a choreographer at Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim, California. She's choreographed numerous shows and events at the Disneyland Resort. A couple of her favorites are the Teacher Awards starring Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Gabrelle from High School Musical, and the Rose Parade for Disney in '07 starring Lisa Tucker. Gentry performed as a Laker Girl on Fox's MAD tv and was a dancer on Holland America Cruise Line. She traveled with the Tremaine tour assisting Charlie McGowen. She's taught dance and choreographed numerous competition routines for the past 17 years!

Shauna Noland - Guest

Shauna is a contemporary dancer from Santa Cruz, California formally trained in jazz, modern, ballet, tap and hip-hop at the Dance Company of San Francisco and No Limits Dance and Performing Arts of Santa Cruz, California. She draws her techniques and dancing style mainly from contemporary dance. daughter of a professional ballerina, she entered the world of dancing at the age of three years old. Shauna appeared as a top 20 finalist on the third season of the Fox network’s reality television show So You Think You Can Dance. Shauna has also performed for Nick Lachey's ABA basketball team Hollywood Fame chearleaders, CBS television show "Dance Revolution", Soul Escape dance company, and currently dances with Unity LA Dance Company.She’s also performed in numerous public functions as a dancer, and plans to continue honing her talent over the years to come. she hopes to be an inspiration and share her passion for dance with everyone.