MAR.30-APR2: ROCKO LUCIANO, WILL ORTEGA, ADRIAN CAUSING & LESLIE HUBILLA

MARCH 30-APRIL 2: ROCKO LUCIANO, WILL ORTEGA, ADRIAN CAUSING & LESLIE HUBILLA

MEET ROCKO LUCIANO
For Rocko, a self-proclaimed nerd, dance is an inescapable passion. In his pursuit to find a new outlet he fatefully found Funkanometry SF Dance Company. In a few short years, he worked from the bottom up, quickly moving from an unsecured training position to company dancer, to principal dancer, and eventually served as the Artistic Director. Rocko prides himself in the ability to lead a company firmly but to still remain a friend. In gaining the respect and trust of his dancers, he feels so accomplished already.

Rocko has explored himself as a choreographer with much success. His pieces are abstract, style-heavy, and always memorable. Peers label him as a great choreographer that is still flying under the radar and he is ready to step into the light. Rocko's other credits include: MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew" (Boxcuttuhz), Boogiezone, and Black Eyed Peas. He feels blessed to be able to share his passion at workshops from LA to NY, from Bogota to Manchester. "It has truly been a dream come true." Rocko has grown up as a dancer and as a person in the tightly knit community. He looks forward to applying all that he has learned when pursuing the industry in the near future.

ROCKO'S VIDEOS:

Funks SF Company Class- Rocko Luciano


MEET WILL ORTEGA
Will Ortega was born in the Philippines. At the age of six years old he started dancing with his older brother doing local television shows in the Philippines. His dance credits includes Formality SD, Future Shock SD, Culture Shock SD, Urban FX, and is now part of the creative team for Funkanometry SD. He was also part of the Van Son world tour. Training under well known dancers and choreographers such as Emerson Aquino, Anna sarao, Sherman Shoate, Tessie Chavez, Miguel Zarate and KJ Gonzales, he moves forward in his passion for dancing.


MEET ADRIAN CAUSING
Adrian Causing began his technical dance training studying Jazz, Modern, and Ballet under the American Repertory Ballets, Princeton Ballet Schools, Kimberly Tam. After a year of tutelage, he earned a position as dance captain in her performance company, the American Dance Theater of New Jersey. While performing and choreographing throughout NJ, Adrian auditioned to become a company member and choreographer for Culture Shock, NY, an international hip-hop dance company with chapters across the US, Canada, and the UK. Most notably, he performed for Culture Shock San Diegos Choreographer Showcase, a prestigious international exhibition. Adrian Causing is currently the Founder and Executive Director of the FR3SH Dance Troupe, LLC (consisting of the FR3SH Dance Company, a professional exhibition company, FR3SH Juniors, a competitive youth team, and the FR3SH Freestyle Crew, a competitive freestyle team). Founded in 2003, Adrian has created one of the most recognized hip-hop dance companies on the east coast. They have one won first place at Culture Shock D.C.s East Coast Dance Competition 2008, exhibited at Funkanometry San Franciscos The Sockhop, and has featured choreography in the famous Carnival: The Choreographers Ball in New York City. With the success of his company, Adrian has become a sought after choreographer and instructor, teaching master classes and workshops throughout the US and Canada, including Boston Universitys Fusion Dance Team, and Canadas Culture Shock Canada. He produced and directed Prelude: East Coast Dance Competition with Americas Best Dance Crews Team Millennia held at the Union County Performing Arts Center in NJ, FUNKy FR3SH, an event held at Touch Night Club in New York City featuring Melissa Reyes from the WBs Search for the Next Pussycat Doll, and is the executive director of The Main Event a national hip hop dance competition held at the Bergen County Performing Arts Center in NJ. Adrian has studied under choreographers from across the nation, such as NYC Broadway Dance Centers, Luam Keflezgy, Jermaine Brown, and Brian Greene, Tucker Barkley and Shaun Evaristo of Millennium Dance Complex(LA, CA), and Teresa Espinosa and J.P. San Pedro from Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio (LA).

MEET LESLIE HUBILLA
FR3SH Dance Company Co-Artistic Director

Leslie Hubilla is an original member of Fr3sh from it's first official season in 2003. During Fr3sh's humble beginnings is when Leslie first began dancing hip hop in "The Dojo" and people's basements. While she started hip hop rather late at the age of 15, she had been studying ballet and modern extensively, at such prestigious schools as The School of American Ballet and The Ailey School in New York City, since the 7th grade. Upon her graduation from the Professional Performing Arts School, Leslie packed up her bags, bid the east coast farewell (more like see ya later) and moved to San Francisco, California to study at the acclaimed school of the LINES BALLET as a member of their Ensemble and Training Program. While residing in the bay area for the next two years, Leslie had the honor of dancing with Culture Shock Oakland and Funkanometry San Francisco. Leslie is currently freelancing and working with various contemporary companies in New York City and is happy to be back with her FR3SH fam. She is excited for what is to come and is honored to be Co-artstic Director! Wee!

WILL & LESLIE'S VIDEOS:

COLLABO

March 23-26: Jacob Patrick, Toybox, and Phillip Geniza

MARCH 23-26: JACOB PATRICK, TOYBOX, AND PHILLIP GENIZA

MEET JACOB PATRICK
AMAGOM...we super heroes in our own right. Three core members of Amagom crew, Jacob Patrick, Lano Medina, and Patrick "D-Rey" De Los Reyes, started dancing together about 2 years ago bringing together a super hero alliance, in hopes to save the universe. A new crew to the scene, they are trying to bring a different style to the table, and do whatever they can to save dancers in distress. Credits include: Miley Cyrus, Colby O'Donnis, Pepsi, Mcdonalds, Infiniti, Zappos etc. No longer keeping their identities hidden to the world, these heroes are going to spread their super powers one dance step at a time...(cue inspirational super hero soundtrack)!!!

JACOB'S VIDEOS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNcI2pW1noc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EFC4r8C0bU


MEET TOYBOX
Jonathan Bronner.. (A.K.A).. Toybox was born in Pomona, California in 1986. He was introduced to raves and underground house music parties at the age of 17. Toybox was inspired by the dancers at these events and fell in love with the music and house dance right away. After a year of practicing only house, Toybox then decided to try something new, choreography. Joining teams such as Groove57(GRV), Common Ground, Mavyn, Chill Factor and Team Millennia, he expanded his knowledge not only in house dance but in staging, performance, teaching and Hip-Hop. From that point on Toybox knew he wanted to take things to another level. After graduating High School, Toybox then spent two years training(developing his style) and choreographing for several teams in the dance community. Toybox's choreography began to stand out at numerous dance shows and could be described as something new/different and refreshing! He now currently dances on Team Millennia as a freshmen and plans to further his dancing skills. Toybox's house-influenced choreography has opened many teaching opportunities for him to pursue his dancing career. TB is eager to help better others as well as himself to become a stronger person as well as a stronger dancer.

TOYBOX'S VIDEOS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GrC98b4Y1Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skZxwebk6WA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCdL8ygSqLc


MEET PHILLIP GENIZA

Phillip Geniza was born and raised in San Diego, CA. Since a very young age, he enjoyed performing for talent shows and basically anyone that wanted to watch. During high school he continued his love for performing at a local high school competition called airbands. Along with the end of high school, came the end of airbands. With his desire to perform still burning, he sought out a new platform and found it. He was invited to FORMALity's private auditions by his good friend Dennis Phermsin. In the fall of 2003 he found a new home under the direction of Erik Saradpon. Since then Phillip continued to train at Culture Shock Dance Center under teachers like Sammath Orm, Sherman Shoate, and the wonder duo Sammie Cross and Julie Dismukes. In 2005 he was named Artistic Director of FORMALity's all-male junior team, fLipside and also directs two other junior groups, RIOT7403 and pg-13.. He is now currently the Artisitic Director for EKetc's co-ed
group, Mass Appeal as well as teaching regularly at Studio429 and Mystic Stepper.

"When auditioning for FORMALity I did not at all expect what was to come. Dance has truly become something I PASSIONATELY eat, sleep, and breath. Everyday that God blesses me with, is another day to continue to improve my craft. I enjoy sharing my gifts and everything that I have learned with other people. I will always be a student and will always continue to push myself for my students, for they are my true inspiration."

March 16-19: Audrey Benson, Jun Quemado, and Darryl Belarmino

MARCH 16-19: AUDREY BENSON, JUN QUEMADO, AND DARRYL BELARMINO

MEET AUDREY BENSON
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 even 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 DDO Artists Agency and is excited to continue staying inspired by doing what she loves most; performing, training,
teaching, traveling and directing. Look out for her piece in Carnival Choreographers Ball this coming May. You can also find her teaching weekly at Team OC and Hype Studios. One of her favorite quotes is, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.”
Live your Dream. BZ for life!

AUDREY'S VIDEOS:

ESSENCE MVMNT - AUDREY


AUDREY AND CANDACE TM WORKSHOP


AUDREY AND RICKY COLE COLLAB



MEET JUN QUEMADO
An Oceanside native, Jun Quemado is a dancer and choreographer on the rise. Currently a member of Culture Shock San Diego, a youth-outreach professional dance company and Assistant Director to Future Shock, another youth-outreach dance company consisting of kids between the ages of 10 to 17. Jun contributes not only his dance ability, but his
breakdance experience as well. He has taught around the states and internationally in California from the Bay to SD, Washington DC, New Jersey, New York, Atlanta, Canada, Switzerland, Munich, and Austria. His choreography credits include Culture Shock and Future Shock San Diego, FORMALity & HI FI, Culture Shock Oakland, Funkanometry San Diego, Second to none, The Effect, Rising Star Dance Company, and Dance Center of Santa Rosa. Currently, Jun teaches class at the Culture Shock Dance Center and Formality dance
academy.

JUN'S VIDEOS:

FUNKS SF CO CLASS


"ALMOST"- JUN QUEMADO




MEET DARRYL BELARMINO

Darryl Belarmino started dancing in 2002 in the Culture shock family, under the youth group Future Shock. After the end of his first season, Darryl became a member of FORMALity, which has been his family ever since. In 2004 he was appointed Assistant Director. FORMALity is the only team to win the four major competitions of southern California: Vibe, Fusion, Ultimate Brawl, and BustaGroove. FORMALity has placed First nationally and Third internationally at the International Hip Hop Championships. His industry credits include: 3LW, Ashley Simpson, Ellen Degeneres Show, KUSI 9, FOX 6, and Paul Mitchell. Along with FORMALity, Darryl also directs a junior team Tru Definition, and shares his love for Hip Hop through youth outreach. “Dance to inspire” is what he lives by and it is his FAITH that drives him.

DARRYL'S VIDEOS:

NEYO-NOBODY


IM SO HOOD

March 09-12: Stephane Charbonneau, Jaffar Smith, and Ellen Kim

MARCH 09-12: STEPHANE CHARBONNEAU, MARY GENTRY, AND ELLEN KIM

MEET STEPHANE CHARBONNEAU
Stephane Charbonneau come to us from Montréal, Canada. He's the founder of the Rockwell Family, a dance studio and a dance company, who currently hold the canadian title for the Hip Hop International. His crew made it to the finals in the last World Hip Hop Championships in Las Vegas. His style is described as intricate with a little smooth touch. His talent brought him to teach in many cities : Quebec, Vancouver, Seattle. His goal is to share his passion with everybody. Come and get inspired.

STEPHANE'S VIDEOS:


http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=70163400902#/video/video.php?v=129013735617
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o61A0g4X5M&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87Ai4W4ZS3E&feature=channel_page



MEET JAFFAR SMITH
Jaffar Smith is originally from Washington State. He began his career as a child actor in “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” He started dancing at a young age studying Tap, Jazz and Gymnastics. After high school, he moved to Las Vegas, NV and began his hip hop training with Culture Shock Las Vegas. After leaving Las Vegas, he moved to San Diego where he contributed to the launch and success of Urban FX (a professional Hip Hop Dance Troupe). Soon after, Jaffar relocated to Los Angeles to pursue the commercial dance industry where he has danced with artists such as: MC Hammer, 3LW, Brandy, Ashanti, JoJo and Mariah Carey.

Beyond his dance credits, Jaffar is a motivating and inspiring instructor. Jaffar’s talent expands to his choreography which is extremely clever in its musicality. He has choreographed for numerous professional hip hop dance companies and most recently EPIC Recording Artist GINUWINE. He currently has a class at Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio (LA) and teaches at the world renowned Millennium Dance Complex.

Along with Tessandra Chavez, he is directing Unity Los Angeles, a branch off company of Unity Dance Ensemble in San Diego, CA. Unity LA, like Unity Dance Ensemble in San Diego focuses on versatility in dance forms such as Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern and Ballet.

His personality, style and personal flare make his choreography and class a treat to both take and watch. His energy and focus on “Having fun while pushing yourself” brings new life to class will have you “Moving faster than you think you can!”


JAFFAR'S VIDEOS:
YUMMY


EKETC


MEET ELLEN KIM
Ellen Kim is a striving dancer and choreographer from the Bay Area, training independently in dancing and choreographing for over 9 years. She began dancing with City Shock SF under the direction of Darnell Carroll when she was a sophomore in high school. After dancing with City Shock for five years, she later became a dance captain and contributing choreographer for the group. Ellen has also danced with other groups such as No Label (Yusef Nasir), Khaotic (David Collier), Culture Shock Oakland (Kim Batiste), Khamai (Leelee Brewster) , and Funkanometry San Francisco (Emerson Aquino). After joining Funkanometry SF in 2004, Ellen's passion for dance, as well as her amazing performance abilities, earned her a spot on the Funks SF Artistic Circle as one of their leading Dance Principals. She has since choreographed many pieces for the company, and continues to inspire and set a high standard for her fellow company members through her leadership and dance talent. In 2008, she was motivated to start her own company with Kyle Hanagami called The Lost Kids. Six individuals from the Bay has come together to use their love for dancing to help out their communities by holding workshops to raise money for different charities.

Ellen Kim has been blessed to share her passion for dancing with people from all parts of the world covering cities from the Bay Area, East Coast, and all the way to Oslo, Norway. These amazing opportunities to share her love for dancing and choreographing keeps her motivated and very inspired. Teaching and spreading her passion for dancing to all different kinds of dancers keeps her going strong!! Being able to share something so fun and special with others is all Ellen wants to do!!! LIVE IT UP!! God Bless!!

ELLEN'S VIDEOS:

IN MY WHITE TEE


URBAN LEGENDS 08 ELLEN KIM

March 02-05: CJ Edwards, Julie Lein & Tu DeVera, and Jose Dingle

MARCH 02-05: CJ EDWARDS, JULIE LIEN & TU DEVERA, AND JOSE DINGLE

MEET CJ "2AUCE" EDWARDS
Mr. “2AUCE” 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 1985. 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. “I used to record videos from the T.V. and copy the dance steps. I would dress up in the costumes and pretend that I was onstage living my dream.” Yet, it wasn’t until high school that his dream became a reality. He joined an after school club named Black Student Union and became a member of the dance and step team and got the opportunity to perform at school and in the local community. Dancing was the priority. “I wanted to be involved in everything that had to do with dance.” His senior year of high school, he was referred to a local dance studio named Dance Time and there assisted and took class from now good friend Cristina Brandt. While looking for colleges to attend where he could still dance, friend Cristina Brandt, found a group named Team Millennia(www.tmdance.org) linked from the Culture Shock San Diego website(www.cultureshockdance.org) , and found out they were based out in Fullerton, Ca which was only an hour away from home in Victorville. “She told me about this team and I went on a campus tour of Cal State Fullerton, and the rest was history.” He danced on Team Millennia from 2003-2005 under the direction of Danny V. Batimana. After Team Millennia, CJ wanted to take it further, so in February of 2005 he auditioned and was signed to Bloc Talent agency (www.blocagency.com). In that same month he became an original member of Mavyn Entertainment (www.mavyn.com). Yet, there was something that would help him in a way that he didn’t expect, but knew he was ready for BREED oc/la under the direction of Elm Pizarro (www.boogiezone.com). This is where CJ stayed and blossomed into the now known personality Mr. “2AUCE” which was given to him by his older brother Stephen “tWitch” Boss. “He told me it represented a person with a lot of flava when they danced, and it was perfect for me.” He danced on Breed as a principle dancer and choreographer from October 2005 all the way until April 2008. While being on Breed, CJ (2AUCE) discovered his passion for choreography and direction. “It was a gift; I fell in love with the idea of putting how I felt into movement and getting lost in the melody of a song.” That love for choreography and direction grew more and more. He started being asked to teach and share that love with such groups as: Common Ground, Chaotic 3, Groovaholics, Culture Shock Oakland, Prophecy, Undeclared, EmanoN, BoofTroop, Blackorea, TM jrs, Sheroes, Breed, Offspring, and many more. That love grew so much that it birthed his well known project turned Professional Company ExpreSSive DoUbt (www.myspace.com/expressivetalents) which is managed by TeeJay Lee, marketed and sponsored by Lucratif Street Clothing (www.lucratifstreet.com).
Currently Mr. 2AUCE is signed to DDO Artists Agency (www.ddoagency.com) as a developing choreographer and dancer. He teaches regularly at Jayvee Dance Center (www.jayveedance.net) in Alhambra, Ca, where he directs the 3 studio competition groups Baby Groov, Junior Groov and Teen Groov. In August 2008 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 coming to the San Francisco area in January 2009 called ExpreSSive DoUbt S.f. (www.myspace.com/expressivedoubtsf). In October 2008 he choreographed his first music video for upcoming artist Andre Mieux. Industry credits include: 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.”
Contact:
Email: DriveNT22@aol.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/MR2AUCE YouTube: www.youtube.com/mrcje


CJ'S VIDEOS:

www.youtube.com/doubt2express
www.youtube.com/2midance
www.youtube.com/mrcje


MEET JULIE LEIN
Due to her mother's influence, Julie's passion for dance started at a young age through Modern, Jazz, Ballet and Chinese Traditional dance. Julie was first exposed to the world of Hip Hop during her freshman year at UCI. She was an integral part of CADC from 2000-2004. From 2003-2008 she continued to explore her love of Hip Hop through Breed OCLA. She is currently dancing with the ladies of Sheroes.

Now as a Breed Forever, she is happy to be back teaching along side her partner in crime-- TU "Ha" DeVera ;)


MEET TU DeVERA

Tu DeVera is currently JAYVEE Dance Center's General Manager. She is a talented dancer, choreographer, teacher, and business woman. With a degree from the University of California, Riverside in Liberal Studies concentrating in Biology with an emphasis in business administration, and extensive training in Hip Hop from some of the hottest studios in Los Angeles, Tu is a talented, intelligent and driven individual that keeps JAYVEE Dance Center up and running. Tu is working with designer Cheryl Koo and is her "RHW" for the The Other Duck assisting her on multiple projects. Tu has studied at multiple studios in Los Angeles including Focus Dance Center, The Edge PAC, Millennium Dance Studio, UC Riverside, Athletic Garage and at JAYVEE Dance Center. She has danced with multiple dance companies and performance groups in the Los Angeles area from the west coast to the east coast to Japan and back. Some of these groups include: "909", Team Boogiezone- Breed, Groovaholix, and ExprSSive Doubt. Tu has performed all over the world with various artists including "Dolla Bill" and Taiwanese Pop Star "Richie" as well as in the hottest night clubs in LA and other various dance showcases such as Maxt Out, Vibe, Ultimate Brawl, BustaGroove, World of Dance, Project Hip Hop, Fusion, and Body Rock. Tu has choreographed for an equally impressive number of performance groups and competition teams including Groovaholix, Teen Groov, Junior Groov, "909", and Baldwin Park High School Dance and Drill Team. She has also danced with the Ladyhawks cheerleaders for the semi-professional minor league football team, the Inglewood Blackhawks. Tu is currently working on a new project with Joanna "JV" Vargas producing "STREETease", a dance based fitness DVD for the ladies!

MEET JOSE DINGLE
Joselito Cardenas Dingle aka Johng aka Jayce aka Tito Jong...or just Jose, was Born in the Phillipines and was raised in Pasadena CA and Honolulu HI. He moved to Seattle when he turned 21 and now resides in West LA. He's been dancing and performing since he was 6 but only started taking Hip Hop Classes back in 2001 (Shout out to Daniel Cruz). Jose's creative and into various forms of art but, he has to say that nothing beats DANCE! He LOVES BEING ON STAGE and is the happiest person when he performs. Dance to him is very spiritual that takes control of his whole body. He is grateful and blessed to have such talent in dance, he wouldn't know how he could live without it. Although many other things can make him happy... nothing can top dancing it's his passion, his heart. When his wheelchair days come and take toll of his body... don't be surprise to see him twirling his chair-bopping his head in the middle of the dance floor! Some of his credits include Tribe 2001-2003, Cruz Control 2001-2003, kaSAma 2001-FO LYFE, and BREED 2003 (1st wave)-4VR.