STAFF
We take pride in our staff. All of Dance Connections Staff are professional instructors.
They all have college degrees and have performed professionally or are currently performing professionally.
Cherilyn
Beanan:Owner/Studio Director brings
more then 30 years of experience working with professionals and 20 years
of professional experience herself. Born in Las Vegas and raised in California,
Cherilyn received her BA in Theater Arts/Dance from San Jose State University
and her Drama Teaching Certificate for Ca. from National University.
As a professional dancer, Cherilyn has graced the stages with companies
such as Paramount Productions, Princess Cruise Lines, Disney/ABC, Crest,
NBC, Kings Entertainment, KQED/PBS, American Musical Theater, San Jose
Opera, San Jose Ballet, and Solid Gold Industrial Productions.
Cherilyn’s unique theatrical style
has landed her many choreography and director positions. Some of her credits
include NBC Television, Horizon Awards, Fairmont Fashion Shows, DeAnza
College, Foothill College, West Valley Light Opera, SJ Children’s
Musical Theater and Presentation High School. She has trained and danced
with such greats as Joe Tremaine, Carol Conners, Bill Prudich, Marie Stinnett,
Keith Banks, Pam East, and Tom Hanson.
Cherilyn is a dedicated and gifted teacher/choreographer,
she has won numerous awards for her entertaining choreography including
AMT’s Honor Awards for Best Musical Choreography “Jesus Christ
Superstar” Many of her students have gone on to dance professionally
in New York and Hollywood. Cherilyn wishes to teach Dance Connection students
a sense of professionalism, a respect for the art, and a respect for themselves.
She believes her students will apply what they learn at Dance Connection
to life; including a sense of accomplishment, self-esteem, health, and
self-respect. Cherilyn is a proud wife and mother of two beautiful children.
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Marcella Carey began dancing age 3 and has been involved in dance ever since. She received her BA in dance from Butler University. Marcella has performed with the Indianapolis Ballet Theatre in Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, Raymonda, and the Nutcracker. She has also had the privilege to perform with Pittsburgh Ballet, and Starlight Musical Productions. Marcella also toured with the 42nd Street National Tour. Some of her film and television credits include; Leaving Las Vegas, Indecent Proposal, Hearts are Wild, 42nd Street, HBO, Entertainment Tonight, Bob Hope and Bob Newhart Specials. Here in Las Vegas, Marcella has worked with many productions, trade shows and industrials. Marcella is also involved with Las Vegas' Musical Actors Theatre inc. In addition to her passion for dance and theater, Marcella is also a licensed realtor, and a mother of 2 teenagers. She enjoys reading, decorating, and designing. Marcella has been teaching in the Las Vegas valley for many years. She is a well respected artist. We are pleased to add Marcella Carey to our professional staff at Dance Connection.
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Ashley Collingwood received her training in Ft. Lauderdale, FL at Encore Dance Theatre. She has appeared in Sister2Sister's music video "Too Many Times" for Columbia Records and was a "Laugh on the Beach" dancer at Ft. Lauderdale's Beach place. Ashley has done print work for dancewear catalogs such as Class Act. She finished her B.A. in Dance (concentrations in modern and jazz) from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA, in 2005. Ashley was a company member of Pillow Project Dance Company. After graduation she moved back to Florida where she taught jazz, ballet, tap, and lyrical at three different Dance studios. In the fall of 2006, Ashley moved to Las Vegas, NV to further her dance career. She performed in the “Can, Can Cabaret” at the Paris Hotel and Casino and the “Show in the Sky” at the Rio. She also judges for dance competetitions such as Stage One Productions and Starquest. Ashley is currently performing at the Stratosphere, and with the "Lost Vegas Crew". Ashley is also writing for the online dance magazine Ascending Star Dance. Ashley is happy to teach again at Dance Connection!
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Adel
Rivera Adel has studied many forms of dance including hip hop, jazz, jazz funk, ballet and contemporary which have helped her to develop a very unique individual style. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2006 with a Bachlor's Degree of the Arts in Dance. Her resume includes working as a Goddess for the former Las Vegas Gladiators Arena Football Team, UNLV, and various acts around town. She currently teaches hip hop at local studios and is a nightclub promoter and hostess for the Light Group. Adel also enjoys theatre tech, singing, cheerleading, photography, and being a professional hair model! We are pleased to have her at Dance Connection
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Christy Rube Heaton an Arizona native, has been dancing professionally for 15 years. Her training includes ballet and pointe at such noted schools as the School of the Cleveland Ballet, BalletMet Dance Academy, the Deane Dance Centre in Sacramento and San Francisco Dance Center. She has danced with several ballet and modern companies, including the James Sewell Ballet in Minneapolis, Minnesota Dance Theatre, Sacramento Ballet and Ricardo Peralto Danza Performa in Tijuana, Mexico. Locally, Ms. Rube has been a dancer in “Jubilee.” She has also recently been a singer/dancer with the “Legends in Concert” show in Seattle. Her teaching and directing experience include instruction in ballet, pointe, modern, variations and conditioning. She has directed the “Nutcracker”, “Twelve Dancing Princesses” and several modern pieces for the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet where she taught previously. She is very excited to share her love of dance with the students here at Dance Connection!
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Abbie Taylor has been dancing for 21 years. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Abbie has a BA in Dance from the University of Akron where she was both a Cheerleader and a member of the Dance Team. Abbie has extensive training in jazz, ballet, lyrical, tap, modern, tumbling, and hip-hop and has trained at multiple locations including Steps and the Broadway Dance Center. Abbie has been teaching and choreographing for 7 years and has received numerous awards from multiple competitions (including Best Dance and Best Choreography). Abbie is pursuing a career in the dancing field and is currently working as a fitness model in Las Vegas. Abbie dances at the Rio and also dances in the Dirk Arthur XTreme Magic Show at the Tropicana Hotel. She is very pleased to be part of the Dance Connection family
GUEST TEACHERS
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Mic Thompson has dazzled us by his outstanding dance! Mic Thomson began dancing at age 10 and at 15 he was named the U.S Ballroom Latin Champion. His career took off as he danced with his favorite recording artists including Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Paula Abdul, Wynona Judd, Vanessa Williams, Tracey Ullman and Jennifer Lopez. Principle dancer of Michael Jackson for 9 Years Choreographer of MJ tribute show “The Ultimate Thriller”. His Musical Theatre experience climaxed with a NAACP Best Choreography nomination in USA for SWINGING ON A STAR. He was selected as Choreographer Of The Month for the special Millennium Issue of DANCE SPIRIT MAGAZINE. The Walt Disney organization has long been a supporter of his choreography career : HERBIE-FULLY LOADED, SANTA CLAUSE 2, MONSTERS INC., and THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE, RATATOUILLE. In Las Vegas he has choreographed BITE, SOPRANO’S LAST SUPPER, THE MAGIC OF RICK THOMAS and WORLD CHAMPION BALLROOM DANCE TEAM. On Broadway he has choreographed Broadway musical WESTSIDE STORY, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2, GOSPEL, GREASE, FOOTLOOSE, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER and the X-TREME COUNTRY show. He also choreographed the new spectacular “BONHEUR” at the LIDO DE PARIS on the infamous CHAMPS ELYSEES.
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Mario Ferreira is the King of Novelty Entertainment. He bursts on stage in a blast of energy, mesmerizing audiences with his many talents including juggling, tapping, dancing, and making you laugh. Mario comes by his flair for entertaining audiences naturally. Born in Lisbon, Portugal, raised in the USA, Mario represents the 7th generation of entertaining Ferreira’s. The Ferreira’s have been in the spotlight in some of the most beautiful theaters in the world for years. Young 8 year old Mario began rehearsing the Tight Wire act like his father, but started fooling around with juggling and drumming and loved it and soon became a pro at it. He picked up the craft, teaching himself while watching others, becoming the only person to juggle 3 Live Running Chainsaws. Mario longed for bigger stars and brighter lights, so he took his act to Las Vegas at 19, where he starred in his first show, Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Girls of Rock and Roll. Since then he has headlined in almost every hotel on the strip and had the pleasure of working with such stars and legends as Sammy Davis Jr. and Gregory Hines (who he does tributes to), Bob Hope, Michael Jackson, Steve Schrippa, Marion Jones, Clarence Carter, and the Nelson Brothers. Mario was the star performer in STORM as the main act solo Percussionist and performed the Cube of Death-ON FIRE, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. He was also a choreographer and lead for the Seattle STOMP tour. After appearances on televisions Roseanne, E! Entertainment, Real TV, Nike Superbowl and NBA commercial, Sabado Gigante and highly acclaimed T.V. shows in Germany, Portugal, and Istanbul, Mario has returned to the stage to entertain LIVE audiences where he creates his own show with his partner and wife Jenny. Most recently she and her husband together toured China as Headliners of the show Iron Beats, Rick Thomas Korea Tour, as well as headlined at the Hilton, Fiesta and Mandalay Bay, Sin City Circus, Beacher’s Madhouse, Royal Caribbean Int, NCL, and Holland America, in a show they wrote, directed, choreographed and produced entitled, COMEDY-VARIETY with a TWIST. Mario brings a unique style and tons of energy to everything he does and is happy to be part of Dance Connection Family
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Jennifer Romas Ferreira started out as a spitfire gymnast who became the USGF Minnesota State Floor Champion. Coaches thought it would be a good idea to take dance to improve her gymnastics ability, it was whole new beginning from there. With huge support from her parents, she left Minnesota for a scholarship to the deep theatre jazz roots of Chicago. She would later tour and teach with world renowned Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago Dance Company. She was fortunate to play Snow White for Disney’s Pocahontas at the Shubert Theatre and The Lopa De Vega in Spain. After her last concert performance at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, for former Pres. Bill Clinton, she decided to make a move to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas. While in Vegas she has worked with such stars as recording artist Kristine W, KC & the Sunshine Band, Sinbad, Charo, Olga Breeskin and mastered her LIZA MINNELLI impression. She was a dancer in many Las Vegas Shows, including SPLASH, X-Treme Scene, Golden Rainbow Aids benefits and performed with Cirque de Soleil. She has choreographed for SPLASH, Stars in Concert, Legends of Rock & Roll, Femme Magique, shows in Japan and a Broadway Celebration Tribute with the cast of Rent and Chicago. When not dancing, you may have seen her modeling for Harley Davidson, Toyota, Reebok, Redkin, or releasing a new 7-UP jingle and can. She was also the dance instructor for televisions VH-1 LAS VEGAS SHOWGIRL BOOTCAMP. She enjoys guest teaching and judging National Dance Competitions for the up & coming little stars of today along side such inspirations as, Gregg Russell, John Crutchmen, and Alan Sherfield. Most recently she and her husband together have toured China as Headliners of the show Iron Beats, Rick Thomas Korea Tour, as well as headlined at the Hilton, Fiesta, Mandalay Bay, Sin City Circus, BEACHER’s Madhouse, Royal Caribbean Int., NCL, and Holland America, in a show they wrote, directed, choreographed and produced entitled, COMEDY-VARIETY with a TWIST. She is very excited to be on board with Dance Connection this year, and hopes to pass her love and passion for dance on to others, dance is truly the most beautiful art in the world.
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