Jim Kolb holds a master’s degree in dance education from California State University, Long Beach. He has been the director of the Commercial Dance Conservatory since 1998. Formerly a principal dancer with the Gus Giordano Dance Company in Chicago, he also served on the board of directors for the World Jazz Dance Congress. Mr. Kolb was also a special segment producer for the 1996 Fosse Awards Show and has performed in many movies, including: New York, New York, 1941, Pennies from Heaven, and Tap. He toured with many stars, such as Ann Margaret, Connie Stevens, and Suzanne Sommers. His television credits include the MTV Awards and three years on the Academy Awards, as well as various special presentations with George Burns, Charro, and Stevie Wonder. 

A Commercial Dance Conservatory alumna, Tawny Chapman holds a bachelor’s degree in dance performance from Chapman University. She worked for more than a decade as an accomplished performer, innovative choreographer, and influential educator. In addition to performing and teaching, Ms. Chapman’s unique and award-winning choreography is rapidly garnering respect throughout the industry. Serving as the resident choreographer and artistic director of Leverage Dance, her works have been performed at the Pasadena Dance Festival, Backhausdance’s Platform, Encore Dance Festival, Studio A Dance’s DanceSpot, Hart Pulse Dance’s MixMatch Dance Festival, The Core Collective, and beyond.

Rochelle Mapes received a scholarship to California State University, Long Beach, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in dance and is currently working on an master’s degree in dance as well. She teaches jazz and is a facilitator for the Commercial Dance Conservatory. Ms. Mapes also choreographs extensively throughout the country for nationally ranked dance teams, college dance departments, and studios. In 2012, she had the honor of being the Texas All-State Dance Team choreographer.

Andrea Brache was granted a scholarship and earned two bachelor degrees in dance performance and advertising from Chapman University. She was first introduced to modern dance at Chapman University and trained with Sean Greene and Jennifer Backhaus. Ms. Brache continued her ballet training under the direction of Kristen Olson Potts, with whom she worked as a guest artist during seasonal performances. During her tenure at Chapman University, she received many awards and had several opportunities to perform at the esteemed Orange County Performing Arts Center and the world famous Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She has been teaching ballet, modern, contemporary ballet, and pointe in Orange County since 2000.

Aaron Chavarria is a member of the touring tap company, Rhapsody in Taps. His performing credits include Dodger in Oliver, Roger in Grease, Asher in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Rooster in Annie, John Darling in Peter Pan, Curt Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, and a featured dancer in Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, among others with the On Stage Theatre Company.

Robert Duran’s creative style and passion for dance makes him a highly sought after master teacher for many national and international dance conventions. Mr. Duran is a member of the American Guild of Variety Artists and has been a featured dancer in many projects for the Walt Disney Company. Mr. Duran is the founder of The Dance Place, established in 1993. 

Michel Gervais, a native of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, started dancing at the age of 11. He studied with the Ida Sauvé Dance Studios, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal and the National Ballet School of Canada. Mr. Gervais has worked extensively as a performer, assistant and ballet master for choreographers David Allan and Juan Antonio.

Jia Huang graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a bachelor’s degree in dance. While there, she studied with renowned faculty members, such as Donald McKayle, Israel Gabriel, and David Allen. She also joined Kaba Modern, which is considered one of Southern California's most cutting edge hip-hop groups. After two years performing with the group, she became the director and it was then that she discovered her passion for choreography. Ms. Huang has appeared on the television shows Dirty Dancing and America’s Best Dance Crew with other members of the Kaba Modern group. Ms. Huang performed in The Circus Tour, starring Britney Spears as one of the four female principal dancers.

Joshua King holds a bachelor’s degree in dance from the California State University, Long Beach. He is currently a company member with both Backhausdance and Anaheim Ballet. His dancing career took off when he competed at the New York City finals of Youth America Grand Prix and was awarded a fellowship to the school at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. There, he was a member of the student performance group and performed works by Robert Battle, Christopher Huggins, Camille A. Brown, Sidra Bell, and Earl Mosley. 

Erin Brothers Longhofer (’97) holds a bachelor’s degree in ballet from Texas Cristian University and a bachelor’s degree in modern dance from California State University, Long Beach, where she also earned an master’s degree in performance and choreography. She has taught and danced throughout the southern California area. Ms. Longhofer has worked with the Anaheim Ballet both as a teacher and as a principal dancer for more than a decade.

Kristina Marquez (CMD '08) was a member of the National Championship Dance Team at Orange Coast College, which allowed her the opportunity to travel the country, while competing in collegiate level competitions and performing on ESPN. Ms. Marquez has worked for the Disneyland Resort since 2010 as a performer, stage manager, and talent-casting assistant. She has also coached and choreographed for high school and collegiate level dance teams, beauty pageants, and musical theater productions throughout Orange and LA Counties.

Chadd Moreau has been teaching, studying, and choreographing hip-hop all over the southern California region for the past six years. He has worked with such artists as Raven Symone and Jessica Simpson, among others. From 2005 to 2007, Chadd was a member of Team Millenia, which was made famous on the hit TV show America’s Best Dance Crew.

Chalatorn Ujamras graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a bachelor’s degree in dance. She is trained in jazz, lyrical, modern, ballet, tap, hip-hop, and contemporary dancing, studying under many top choreographers. She attended Orange County School of the Arts and trained with the West Coast School of the Arts and the Dance Company of San Francisco, under the direction of Chris Jacobsen. Ms. Chalatorn has traveled throughout the United States as an assistant to Tina D’Amato Sidoni, assisting with dance instruction and choreography. In 2004, she also traveled as an assistant on LA Dance Magic Conventions, under the direction of Jackie Sleight and Dave Carter.