Shannon Humphries
Ballet Technique, Pointe
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Shannon began dancing when she was just 4 years old as part of her recovery
from a debilitating muscle disease. Through these circumstances, she developed an intense passion for ballet and continued her training with David Wilcox at the Long Beach Ballet Theater. During her time with the company she performed numerous roles on stages around the country and internationally.

Shannon has trained with the Houston Ballet Academy, Ballet Austin Academy,
and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School. While in Pittsburgh she performed with both the school
and the company which then fostered an interest in choreography.

She has since had pieces performed in the Youth America Grand Prix as well as in the Reqional Dance America Conferences. Shannon was also the assistant choreographer for the “The Glory of Christmas” production at the Crystal Cathedral for 4 years and teaches master classes all over the Southern California region.

Andrew Pearson
Modern Technique
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Andrew Pearson, originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, studied and trained at
the University of California, Irvine where he received his BFA's in dance performance
and choreography. As a performer, Andrew has worked with Headwaters Dance Company in
Montana, Loretta Livingston and Dancers, California Riverside Ballet, BodyTraffic,
Lineage Dance Company, and is a current member of Nickerson-Rossi Dance.

Through these companies and throughout his training he has had the privilege of
working with such renowned choreographers as Loretta Livingston, David Allan, Jodie Gates,
Donald McKayle, John Jasperse, Jane Comfort, and Barak Marshall. As a choreographer,
Andrew's work has been seen at The Hayworth Theater as part of collaborations with the former
Ahimsa Collective (now cARTel : Collaborative Arts LA), The Pasadena Dance Festival's Emerging
Choreogrphers Showcase, and at various southern California high schools and dance schools.

Julie Shulman Friedrich
Ballet Technique, Pointe
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Julie Rose Shulman grew up in Los Angeles, California. She received her training from Meredith Baylis and the Los Angeles County High School for the Performing Arts. She began her professional career under the direction of Septime Webre at American Repertory Ballet. Julie was then invited by Lawrence Rhodes to join Les Grands Ballets Canadians. During her time there, she danced works by Nacho Duato, Ohad Naharin and various European choreographers, as well as the classics by Balanchine and Tudor. She spent the next four years working in Europe.

The first two years were in Switzerland where she developed her contemporary style with the Orma Dance Company under the direction of Enrico Musmeci. The following two years, she worked in Sicily with Compagnia Zappala Danza, and the dance theatre company MotoMimetico. From March 2005 through May 2005, Julie was fortunate enough to be invited to Bari to dance with the Compagnia Niccolo Piccini.

Angel Ginn
Hip-Hop, Jazz-Funk
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Angel comes to NUEVO having worked with major artists such as Rihanna, Willow Smith, BBD,
Neyo and Ashanti. She has been a back-up dancer for the 2011 Grammy's with Rihanna,
Neyo at the 2009 BET Awards, Dick Clark's Rockin Eve for Willow Smith and with the
Essence Image Awards.

In addition to being one of the lead dancers for Chaka Khan's concert tour, she has danced for
Artistry in Motion in MTV's America's Best Dance Crew Season 4, and also for America's Got Talent.

Angel has also worked in music videos for Lou Bega's Mambo #5, Harlem World, Lil Soldiers,
and Kid Songs.

Teresa Avina
Lyrical, Contemporary
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Originally from Salinas California, Teresa Avina has been a student of dance since age four. Teresa began her professional dance and teaching career in Southern California fifteen years ago. Before completing her Bachelors degree in Dance at the University of California, Irvine Ms. Avina was a company member with Jazz Spectrum Dance Company, where she performed at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Arizona and Chicago. Teresa has performed at numerous premier venues throughout LA and Orange County including The Performing Arts Center, the Irvine Barclay Theatre, the Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater, the House of Blues and The Walt Disney Concert Hall.

In addition, Ms. Avina spent two years, including the inaugural year, as a principal company member for BARE Dance Company. As an undergraduate, Teresa had the opportunity to work with legendary choreographer Donald McKayle and the UC Irvine Etude Ensemble were she performed in venues across California and in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

Brittany Keife
Junior Faculty
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Brittany Keife has been training in the styles of Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre,
Tap, and Hip Hop since the age of 8. She has been competing in studio competitions for over 10 years
while receiving numerous honors along the way. Brittany graduated from Santiago High School as
valedictorian where she also was the captain of their nationally ranked dance team.

Brittany also won numerous titles with Santiago's Dance Team such as the 1st runner up at the
USA National Finals. She began training with Mr. Francisco Gella at the age of 16. Since then,
Brittany has been assisting Francisco at conventions, intensives and workshops across the nation
and throughout Canada.

She has performed at L.A. Fashion Week, Bienestar Fashion show, and at theYAGP Finals
in New York with the Nuevo Pre-Professional Company. Brittany is currently attending school at
Cal State University Fullerton where she is majoring in Business Accounting. She hopes to keep dance
in her life forever and continue to do what she loves most - to train and inspire young dancers!

Andy Lawson
Junior Faculty
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Andy Lawson started dancing at the age of 4 and has never stopped. His training includes classical ballet, tap, lyrical modern, jazz, hip hop, and musical theater. Andy's amateur credits include Reindeer and Gypsy (Snow Queen), Oliver Twist (Oliver), Nightmare Before Christmas (Jack Frost), Cinderella (the Prince's Aide), and others.

For the month of August, 2010, Andy performed at the Fringe Festival in Scotland, U.K. with the Gallimaufry Performing Arts Group in Ray Bradbury's 2116 (Green Hip-Hop bot and vocal soloist).

Andy has also competed in numerous amateur competitions performing in groups, as well as, duets and solos winning many top awards. He has spent three summers training at the American Ballet Theater's intensives at UCI, has attended the Limon intensive at CSUF, attended the summer 2011 Backhaus Intensive with Jennifer Backhaus, winter 2010 O'Callaghan Ballet Intensive with Colleen O-Callaghan, and spent the summer of 2007 performing with Team Rave San Diego, managed by Liz Ferri.

Jeffrey Hoffman
Executive Director
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Jeffrey has spent his entire 20-year career as an educator and administrator. Following three years as
Assistant Director of Admissions at my alma mater, Eastern Mennonite University, he enrolled
in the Student Affairs in Higher Education graduate program at
Colorado State University earning my Master's degree.

From 1996-2000 Jeffrey served as a program coordinator with the Union Board, a nearly
100 year old student-led organization, at Indiana University. His responsibilities included providing
leadership development mentoring for student leaders, coordinating on campus program planning
with the students, and serving in a variety of management roles within the Indiana Memorial Union.

Beginning in 2000 through 2006 he served as the Director of Programs and Marketing for the
Associated Students, Inc. at Cal Poly Pomona responsible for oversight of recreational sports,
a full-service marketing and communications department, student programming,
an alumni relations program, and a student art exhibit program.

jeffreyalanhoffman@nuevodance.com

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