HYPE STUDIOS, Owner / Artistic Director
Tricia Gomez is the owner of HYPE Studios. Her professional stage credits include LA Laker Girls, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyfest Aisa to name a few. She was the head judge on CBS's "Dance Revolution" and has choreographed award winning parades for guest talent at Disneyland & Disney World. Tricia has also choreographed for the LA Laker Girls, LA Clipper Girls &TV shows "Saved by the Bell" and Malibu CA. Her dance experience has led her to create the industry renound product "Hip Hop In a Box" that has been featured as editor's picks in just about every dance magazine possible. She was even featured on the Dr. Phil Show as their Dance Expert where she led groups through teamwork exercises with Hip Hop In a Box. When Tricia is not working at the studio, she can be found sleeping!
HYPE STUDIOS - Staff
Quami Adams, from Brooklyn, NY, has performed and entertained for the masses at a very young age. From street performances to the Off Broadway Show, "Stomp", Quami has toured nationally as well as internationally as a professional dancer, choreographer, music producer, actor, comedian, voice-over artist, vocalist and arranger. Dance and commercial credits include Stomp(touring company), Propel Water commercial, Fox Sports commercial, NAACP Image Awards, National Geographic Network, Savion Glover, Quincy Jones, Bobby Brown, Omarion, Lil Tommy the Clown, Christina Agullaira, Columbus Short(Stomp the Yard, Stomp, ER and Disneys, That s So Raven). Just recently in 2006, Quami and his wife Katisha Adams were Horton Award nominated, best choreography, for their works entitled, "Blue Pepper". Quami currently teaches commercial dance, production and choreographs at El Camino College and College of the Canyons while conducting local and international master classes. In addition, Mr. Adams has just currently been casted as the leading role of Jedi Master for the stage show of George Lucas master piece film, "Star Wars", at Disneys Resort Theme Park also recent voice-over credits can be heard on the latest,"And 1 Mixed Tape", video game for Playstion I and II, X-Box, and PSP. Quami, also known as Njin, is also very involved in the youth ministry at his home church, musically and in visual and fine arts.
Audrey Benson has been dancing since the age of 5 in many styles such as jazz, lyrical, ballet, tap, modern and hip hop. President of her High School dance team "One Image" she got to explore her creative side through choreography. She realized after graduating at 17 that her original plan at Arizona State University was going to be changed to moving to California to pursue her career as a dancer and choreographer. She is thankful for that wonderful opportunity which has allowed more to flow in her life. While being in California she has danced for Team Millennia and is currently Directors Assistant for Breed OCLA, member of Essence Dance Company, and is Artistic Director for Boogiezone's Jr. Exhibition company "Offspring." Audrey has recently taught workshops in Hawaii, Canada and throughout the US. She is represented by MSA and is excited to continue staying inspired by doing what she loves, performing, training, teaching, traveling and directing. One of her favorite quotes is, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right."
Kere Blair has been performing belly dance professionally for over 4 years. Kere began her dance career as a gymnast and then studied ballet, tap, modern and jazz. Kere received her bachelors of science, degree from the University of Miami, in Psychology and Dance. Kere then spent some time in New York City studying modern and ballet at Martha Grahm and Alvin Ailey studios. When Kere moved to Los Angles she discovered the art of Belly Dance. Kere was intrigued by the beauty, skill and freedom of the art form. Kere has travelled and performed with many of Los Angeles top Belly dance and Persian dance companies. Kere Blair has been teaching Belly Dance at HYPE studios for over three years. In addition to being a professional performer, Kere is also a Marriage and Family Therapist intern with her Masters in Clinical Psychology. Kere is currently pursuing her alternate route towards her dance therapist license. Dance Movement Therapists must receive a Masters in Dance Therapy or a related field in addition to required classes and an internship. Dance Therapy is recognized by the National Board of Certified Counselors and is covered by some health insurance companies. Research in Dance therapy has shown that Belly dance can be a positive treatment for improving a person’s mind body connection and body image. Belly Dance is commonly used in treating low self-esteem, eating disorders and improving overall health and fitness. Belly Dance is also used to help bond and empower the female and human spirit. Kere teaches belly dance at 8 pm on Wednesdays at HYPE.
Danielle Clement “danidanidani” brings her “Bay Area Flavor” to Los Angeles as a professional dancer, choreographer, and spokesperson. A Life Member of the International Hip Hop Dance Company Culture Shock, she directed the Future Shock Oakland youth outreach program for 5 years. Including Co. Coaching the gold medal winning USA and World Hip Hop Championship team of MINI SHOCK. She also works with Hip Hop Dance Companies such as, Boogieszone, Maxt Out, Urban Jamm Dance Convention, Elite Beat and Dance in a Box. A favorite of northern and southern california dance teams, Dani has choreographed hundreds of memorable dance routines giving back to the communities and companies she considers her “Family of Dancers”. She Danced and Choreographed for the NBA's Golden State Warrior Girls and Junior Jamm Squad and just became NEW Dance Director and Choreographer of the SparKIDS WNBA dance team. Her Movie Credits include, The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, Illusion, "Dulhan" Made in America and various indie films. Various Variety shows and reality appearances with most exciting being featured on 15 episodes of Dance 360. She has worked Live on Stage as well as music videos with Music Artist, LL Cool J, Amiere, E40, Mario, Frankie Vallie, 4Deep, and Dol Rae, and Sub Pop Label Artists.
Kristen Clement A.K.A Miss Krissi, has been teaching Children's Ballet/Tap at Hype Studios for four years. Her class has been frequently described as, "magical". Miss Krissi is most definatly a child at heart. She hopes to become a positive role model, and creates a fun, imaginative learning environment for her students. Krissi recieved most of her dance training in the San Fransisco Bay Area. Growing up in a competition based studio she recieved training in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical and hip hop. Kristen was also a proud member of the Bay Area's favorite youth dance company Future Shock Oakland. She later grew into their adult dance company Culture Shock Oakland. With her Shock Family she became a 2004 World Hip Hop Champion at Hip Hop International. Kristen recieved theatrical training from A.C.T's Trina Oliver, Cal State Fullerton, and acting for film instruction with Brian Reise. Her favorite acting experience was working with Michael Goorjian in 'Illusion', starring Kirk Douglas. Inspired by the magic of Disney, and Jim Henson's creations and ideals, Miss Krissi strives to educate children through the power of imagination.
Joey Cooper is a native of Washington State having over a decade of experience in the dance Industry. He started his training in classical disciplines such as Ballet, Jazz and Tap, while simultaneously developing his own style of Hip Hop. Influenced heavily by the work of Janet Jackson, it was through her team of choreographers would he first be introduced to stylizied Hip Hop, or what is now considered main stream/commercial Hip Hop. He spent years from the age of 8 years old until 18 simply learning her choreography from watching what he recorded through broadcast television. When he began dance instructing at the age of 18, he had already had major roles in all of his dance related endeavors serving as Co-Creator of his Junior High Step/Dance Team, Co-Creator of his High School Step/Dance Team, and finally upon graduating High School his award winning own dance company, The Heat. Having directed shows for his own company, as a unit the company ventured out to do shows in different cities, one city in particular changed his life---Vancouver Canada. It would be there that after a chance meeting with one of Janet's choreographers, and dancers whom Joey proudly calls friends he took thier advice and became a resident of Southern California. Joey has had the pleasure of dancing and auditioning for Janet several times and to this very day is still greatly impacted by her work. Currently he is a dance company member of Team Boogiezone Breed, serving as Artistic Director, as well as Director of 2wisted Elegance L.A. Joey presently teaches the Jackson Hour of Power, a class dedicated soley musically to the impacts of the two most famous musical siblings Michael and Janet Jackson. Joey being an incredibly large fan of Janet's predominantly teaches a great deal of her catalog of choreography from 1986 and forward, from the video's you love, to the live performances you've seen. If there is a dance you're dying to learn, Rock With You, If, All For You, I Get Lonely, Together Again, So Excited...the list going on and on, you'll be in excellent hands, for not only does he know them all, but has had the pleasure of learning them from a great many of the choreographers, and dancers for Janet herself. A class you won't want to miss! Check your class schedule for dates and times.
Arthur L. Crenshaw, A self taught Hip Hop dancer straight from Los Angeles California. "Dancing has been a part of my whole life and was inspired to do so by a variety of artists. My passion is to succeed as a well known entertainer involving dancing and other categories. I will like to take it as far as I can take it and will accept the ups and downs that will come along with it. I have a straight focus, a mind of a leader, self motivated and creative. I'm great with communicating and connecting with others. Most of all respectful and self handled."
Maria Crawford was born and raised in Houston,Texas. She moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue a career in dancing and choreography. She has over 20 years experience as a dancer, instructor and choreographer. She owns a choreography company, L.A. Groove, and works with different high school dance and cheer teams throughout California and Texas. Maria has also been a cheerleading coach for over 12 years, 8 of those at a local high school in Manhattan Beach. She has choreographed many nationally ranked competition routines over the past years. As a 44 year-old mother of two, Maria hopes to inspire others to always dance and stay active.
Sarah Davis, started dancing when she was 2 years old in Torrance, CA. Starting off with ballet as the basics, and soon branched out into many other genres of dance. Studying mainly at The Dance Center, The South Bay Conservatory, and through out high school competitions, she studied in everything from Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Modern, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and even Ballroom. "Dancing is so passionate and let's one express every kind of emotion possible. Dancing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. " Now at 22 years of age, she hopes to be a mentor to others along their dance journey, to not only build self-esteem, but to let loose and have fun!
Mr. "2AUCE" pronounced Sauce aka Christopher Jordan (CJ) Edwards was born and raised in the small town of Victorville, California, to parents Joseph and Dolores Edwards on June 18th . As a little boy he took a profound love to music and movement. "I knew I wanted to be a superstar!" Idolizing such people as Michael /Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Aaliyah, he knew that the stage was for him, one way or another. The now known personality Mr. "2AUCE" a name given to him by his "play" older brother Stephen "tWitch" Boss has become the driving force behind his success. "He told me it represented a person with a lot of flava/style when they danced, and it just grew on me." In 2008 he founded ExpreSSive DoUbt Los Angeles a professional 21 and over dance company, later that year he co-founded the Fre2H new group entitled MaiN InGredient (www.myspace.com/2midance) with Brother Chris "Kidd" Nguyen. He also has an extension of ExpreSSive DoUbt in the San Francisco area that was formed January 2009 called ExpreSSive DoUbt S.f. (www.myspace.com/expressivedoubtsf). He now is the CEO of 2D.EnT (2Driven EnTertainMenT) which umbrellas all of his dance crews. Industry credits include: Andre Mieux, Omarion and DMK's Choreographers Carnival. "I live by this anthem: "Ready to do it, no looking back, face my fears, make change and do it for me. I can and I will! Believe it or not. Accept it, because it's true I AM NUMBER 1, yet will never forget I was once NUMBER 2."
Lita Gratrix began training in Aerial Arts after she moved to the LA area from Seattle 4 years ago. She has trained under some internationally recognized aerial teachers, including Maximilliano Torandrell, Tania Peirce, Sagiv Ben-Binyamin, and Michael Lipiari. She performs on Tissu (fabric), Hoop, Rope, and Chain around the South Bay and began teaching Tissu and Hoop at Hype Studios in Torrance a year and a half ago. She's honored to have the priviledge of performing for you today!
Frank Kagiyama says dancing, is like breathing. He will break on the streets, practice in parking lot structures, and even pop during his sleep. But the truth is the majority of the dancers are like that. When he was a young boy he admired Arnold Schwarznegger, Bruce Lee and all the famous actors. He wanted to become an action movie star. After he knew that was not going too well, dance seemed to answer all of his physical agility and the passion to get better. Frank aka. TKO is growing to become better at all aspects of dance: hip hop, breakin, lockin, poppin, contemporary, jazz, and all other styles. He is currently in a dance competition team called Main Ingredient and is also a dancer for Josh Yu's project called The Next Chapter. He has battled at various jams and wishes to one day win a jam with the crew Diamond's In The Rough. He has performed at World of Dance, LA County Fair, various music videos such as "Beggin" by Frankie Valli and Briana Evigan's "I Don't Think When I Dance". He is blessed to be a part of this wonderful community where everyone teaches and learns from one another. Frank's inspirations are many but he would like to give a shout out to Poe One, Josh Yu, CJ2auce, Nonsense, Nibbles, Tricia, Isa-chan, and my family for raising me as a dancer!
Rose Laolagi was raised in Hawaii, Samoa and California. She received her dance training at a very early age from both her mother, Diane Fa'agata Asuega and grandmother, Anna Fa'asese Pa'ahana, who were also dancers, and continued her training with Rose Joshua in Honolulu. In California, she performed with various groups like Pride of Polynesia, Polynesian Tradition and with her aunt's group, Nonosina. She also went on a dance tour to Canada during those years. She then started teaching Polynesian dancing at her home and throughout the South Bay, thus, giving birth to "Nualanis Polynesia." As an active member of her community, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Pacific Islander Community Council, as the Entertainment Coordinator for Aloha Days Surf Festival in Hermosa Beach, and as a member of the Samoan Heritage Festival Committee in Carson. She has also written several articles for publication relating to Polynesian people and their culture, and was often invited to speak or participate in several conferences relating to Polynesia. Today, Rose feels blessed with the continued success of Nualanis Polynesia. With the love and support of her husband, Bill, and their four children, Candace, Billy, Isa and Philip, they look forward to many more years of spreading the Aloha.
Jackie Solorzano grew up listening and dancing to latin rhythms. She finds much joy in sharing her passion for dance as well as her love of latin music with everyone. Jackie brings a unique "fitness-party" environment to her classes. Her energy and commitment to her students is driven by one sole purpose and that is to help each and every one of them lead a healthy and happy lifestyle.
Kelly Valignota, A Chicago native, received her training at Chicago Ballet Arts, the Joffrey Ballet, Giordano Dance Center, Lou Conte Dance Studio (home of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago), Ruth Page Center for the Arts, the Edge Performing Arts Center, and Broadway Dance Center, in addition to summer studies at American Ballet Theatre where she performed as a soloist in the student showcase. She received her BA from Northwestern University where she performed and choreographed numerous works with the Graffiti Dancers. Kelly has been seen in regional productions of Miss Saigon (Mimi/Gigi) throughout the Chicagoland area and has also appeared with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lima Lama Polynesian Dance Company, and Philippine Performing Arts of Chicago. Kelly is delighted to Hype Studios as a faculty member, and as an active member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science, she emphasizes the use of proper biomechanics and injury prevention/conditioning while nurturing the artistic potential of each individual dancer.
Maria Crawford, born and raised in Houston, Texas, moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue a career in dancing and choreography. She has over 20 years experience as a dancer, instructor and choreographer. She owns a choreography company, L.A. Groove, and works with different high school dance and cheer teams throughout California and Texas. Maria has also been a cheerleading coach for over 12 years, 8 of those at a local high school in Manhattan Beach. She has choreographed many nationally ranked competition routines over the past years. As a 44 year-old mother of two, Maria hopes to inspire others to always dance and stay active.
Regine Costello brings a wealth of dance experience to Hype Studios. Dancing since she was 2 years old, Regine is a teacher and avid performer of the ancient arts of Cabaret Belly Dance, Tribal Belly Dance, Flamenco, Mexican Dance, and Polynesian Dance, and she often fuses one or more of these dances into her distinctive style. For more than 20 years, she has had the pleasure and privilege to bring the joy of ethnic/world dance to adults, children and mentally disabled people in the South Bay and the greater Los Angeles Area, and she has toured as a performer across the United States in several productions. Regine is Egyptian master-trained in Cabaret Belly Dance, and she is a graduate of the Fat Chance Belly Dance general skills certification in American Tribal Style Belly Dance (ATS) and certified as an ATS Instructor by the founder of ATS, Carolena Nericcio. For her work as a teacher and choreographer, Regine was awarded the California State Assembly Arts Excellence Award in 2001 and the Excellence in Arts Award in the Dance category of the City of Torrance. As a performer, she has placed two times in the Veil Belly Dance category of the prestigious Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition in Long Beach, and with her belly dance company, Babylon Mood, Regine garnered a trophy in the 2005 Group category. Regine loves to teach dance and to interact with students, but above all, she firmly believes that there is a dancer in each and every person regardless of age, body shape, or prior experience. Let her help you discover and develop the dancer in you!!
Jenn Tamera is a certified hatha yoga instructor, her past experiences include the styles of Vinyasa Flow, Hatha and Iyengar. Jenn incorporates a gentle, soothing flow that allows students to become more in touch with their bodies no matter what their ability level. Jenn's classes tend to be a relaxing gentle flow, with focus on alignment and strength building. Being a Certified Massage Therapist, she becomes effortlessly in tune with her students' bodies and energy in order to guide her students in a class that is suited for them. On an individual aspect, she discusses difficult areas for the individual and finds ways of strengthening, tuning and healing those areas. Jenn is also the owner of a holistic healing arts business, Breathe Bodyworks, a massage/energy work studio. Breathe Bodyworks is located within Hype Studios, so stop in for a massage or energetic work. Her other passion lies in dance, and as a Holistic Healing Artist she hopes to combine her fine skills into movement therapy in the future. "You are invited to join Jenn as we practice, study, investigate, question, experiment, transform and blossom." www.breathebodyworks.net
Callie Threadgill started her dance career in 1998 with Centenary College's dance company Escaped Images. It was there under the direction of Ginger Flomer that Callie cultivated her great love of Tap! Callie has been with Hype Studios for three years. She combines her classical training with contemporary flair to present a hands on class where students young and old get exposed to performing, choreography and tap theory. Callie has a knack for breaking down tap so that dancers of all abilities can quickly learn and enjoy the art. Even beginning dancers will shuffle out of their first class feeling like a true tapper. Callie uses a wide variety of music in her classes to appeal to the wide variety of dancers in her classes. It isn’t uncommon to dance to Queen, the White Stripes, Harry Conick Jr., and Jack Johnson in the same hour.
Laura Vera
Katisha Adams
Krystle Bueno
Jasmine Burgos
Kiersten Brown
Kazumi Fuijita
Erika Strong
Richard Schaffer
Steven DeGuzman
John Edwards with advancing age, knew he must keep active, but wanted it to be fun, so he began taking Salsa lessons at the Spectrum Gym in Palos Verdes. Soon after that a hip hop class was offered and John took it under the influence of his daughter, and also because the rhythm inspired him. John found DHQ (who also teaches at Hype) and followed him wherever he taught, soaking up his style. Based on a tip from friends he made in dance class, he auditioned for an ABC show called Dance Machine, and to his own amazement not only got on the show, but won it! This propelled John into new dancing goals. He attended Boogiezone events at Hype taught by Rino Nakasone, and was blown away. He started attending her classes in addition to DHQ and is now resolved to learn the dances of James Brown, Michael Jackson, Rino, Samba, Krump and more of DHQ. John loves hip hop and enjoys sharing what he has learned with others. He also loves the relaxed and "dance family" feel of Hype, and now teaches an Over 50 Hip Hop Class here.