Shooting Stars Dance Faculty Katie Freeman Dance Company Director & Choreographer, Ballet, Technique Katie began her dance training at the young age of 5. Early on, her focus was primarily ballet, attending summer workshops with the Atlanta Ballet and Houston Ballet. A highlight of her young dance career was touring for two holiday seasons with the Texas Ballet as the lead role, Clara, in the Nutcracker. After completing high school at age 17, she moved to Los Angeles to expand her horizons and training with a year long intensive scholarship program with the legendary Joe Tremaine. She studied under renowned master teachers such as Jackie Sleight, Doug Caldwell, Marguerite Derricks, Sallie Whalen, Michael Rooney and countless others. She assisted Joe Tremaine and taught the children's program at his professional studio in Hollywood for several years. Although she loved performing, her true calling was "in the studio"... as a teacher and choreographer! In March 2000, she followed her dreams and opened her first studio. She is proud to mentor young dancers and provide them the knowledge and support to pursue their dreams. Nicole Sanchez Dance Company Asst. Director & Choreographer, Children's Classes, Jazz, Ballet, Technique, & Tap Born and raised in Alameda, CA, Nicole started dancing at age 8 under the direction of Pamm Drake. Growing up she trained and competed in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, and hip hop. She was also on a competitive acrobatic team for 5 years. She has performed all over the LA area and has made numerous appearances in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Nicole has been teaching for 11 years, the last 7 as a member of the Shooting Stars family. After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the California Institute of the Arts, Nicole decided to use her talents in the classroom, sharing her knowledge, passion and love of dance. Hillary Temple Jazz, Hip Hop, Children's Classes, Dance Company Choreographer Hillary is a dancer and choreographer from Redlands, California. While in high school she competed regularly, winning titles as a soloist and scholarships at LA Dance Magic, Hollywood Vibe and Celebrity Dance Competition. As a student at UC Irvine, she studied multiple genres of dance with their acclaimed faculty and was a member of the CADC Hip Hop Crew. Under Hillary's direction, they placed 3rd in the US and 11th in the World and the Hip Hop Internationals in Las Vegas. She is represented by MSA and has performed many live works in the Carnival Choreographer's Ball in Hollywood and with Boogiezone in Japan. She continues to train as a professional in Los Angeles and has seen success working with the legendary Paula Abdul and Carrie Underwood. Justin DeAnda Hip Hop, Dance Company Choreographer Justin grew up in Northern California and has been immersed in the dance scene since he was 8 years old. While in the Bay Area he competed as a member of the famed Hip Hop Crews, Culture Shock and Funk Beyond Control. Since moving to Los Angeles after high school, he has appeared regularly on Disney's "Shake It Up" and additionally on Glee, Dancing With the Stars and in the feature films Camp Rock 2, Honey 2 and Alvin and the Chipmunks. He has danced with artists such as Demi Lovato, Keke Palmer and the Jonas Brothers. He is currently touring all over the US, Japan, Europe & Mexico with Austin Mahone. When not on the road, you can find Justin teaching and setting his award winning choreography for Shooting Stars! Frankie Morgan Contemporary, Lyrical, Dance Company Choreographer Frankie grew up in the small town of McAlester, Oklahoma and began dancing when he was 7. At the age of 18 he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a professional dancer and choreographer. He is well known on the Convention Circuit amasing multiple scholarships and recognitions during his training. Frankie has had the opportunity to assist choreographers Tyce Diorio and Stacey Tookey on projects like SYTYCD. He was the male swing for the 2013-14 Shaping Sound Dance Company choregraphed by Travis Wall, Teddy Forance, Nick Lazzarini and Kyle Robinson. He has appeared on television in shows like Two and a Half Men, and in multiple live stage performances, notably with the Festival Ballet Theater's "The Secret Garden" and "Mixed Repertoire". Kristi Magpantay Hip Hop, Dance Company Choreographer Kristi has been a dance professional and educator for over 16 years. She has performed, competed and choreographed for many award winning dance companies all over the Los Angeles area. She majored in Dance at Cal State University Northridge and is an accredited Dance teacher for elementary through high school education. Ms. Kristi is known for her edgy, quirky, fierce and high energy dance style. She strives to build self- confidence, and a sense of community united by the love of dance for all of her students. Natalie Grina Children's classes, Ballet & Jazz Natalie trained under full scholarship at the Elmhurst School for Dance in England. She was a member of the National Youth Ballet of Great Britain for 3 years, and danced children's roles with the Kirov Ballet and English National Ballet Easter course, and performed for the Royal Academy of Dancing 75th Anniversary Show. She was an award winning soloist at the All England Festival( a UK Nat'l. Dance competition). While Ms. Natalie is most versed in ballet, she also enjoys performing many styles of dance and was a backup dancer in Beyonce's music video "Who Run the World (Girls)." She enjoys passing on her vast knowledge to aspiring dancers young and old! Karen Robbins Children's classes Karen has been an instructor at Shooting Stars for the past 9 years. During high school Karen was a member of the "Mikki Williams Dance Troupe" in Connecticut, where she focused her education on Jazz and Tap techniques. In college she developed a love for Modern Dance and graduated with a Dance Minor from Keene State in New Hampshire. Before moving to CA, Karen continued her training in NYC at Steps on Broadway & Broadway Dance Center. Karen enjoys teaching our youngest dancers in a nurturing, loving manner. Milo McManus Hip Hop, Dance Company Choreographer At his brother's urging, Milo took his first dance class when he was 10 yrs. old and was immediately hooked! By the age of 15 Milo had joined Future Shock San Jose, Cluture Shock Oakland and went on to train with many other notable dance crews - most recently Asylum. He was scouted by the Bloc agency and has worked with Brian Friedman. He is knows for his unique style as a dancer and choreographer. Tabatha Arocho Dance Company Choreographer A New York City native, Tabatha has trained with the best in the business since she took her first class at Broadway Dance Center at age 6. She danced her way to New York's Madison Square Garden where she began her career as a Knicks City Dancer. Her experience in musical theater has lead to many exciting opportunities including Disney, SNL, and staging for local theatre companies. Tabatha prides herself in her versatility as a teacher, performer and choreographer. She has been teaching for 17 years and is proud to have produced numerous award winning competition numbers, including group, production and solo pieces. Alexis Saenz Children's Classes, Jazz, Lyrical & Hip Hop, Dance Company Choreographer Lexie is originally from Denver, Colorado. She is an alumni of Denver School of the Arts, performing arts junior and high school, and Artistic Fusion Competitive Dance Studio. She recently graduated from CalArts with her BFA in Dance. While a student at Cal Arts, she was selected to participate in the exchange program to study dance at Korea National University of the Arts. She began teaching as a teenager and now continues to set choreography for competitive studios in Colorado. She is pursuing a professional dance career in Los Angeles and also enjoys teaching all genres to all ages and abilities, passing on her love of dance! Courtney Stark Children's Classes, Ballet, Jazz Courtney joins the Shooting Stars family all the way from Florida! She has performed in several ballets with with the Florida Dance Theatre, and most recently appeared in multiple shows and parades at both Disneyworld and Universal Studios in Orlando. She has a degree in Dance from the University of Central Florida and years of teaching experience. She enjoys watching her students discover and devolop their love of dance. .