Faculty
Center Stage Dance Academy invites you to experience our versatile and qualified faculty dedicated to instilling a lifelong commitment to the love of dance, whether it be for personal enjoyment or to attain the goals of traditionally accepted professional standards.
Georgina Coleman, Director
Georgina Coleman received her early training in London, England and graduated in 1972 from the prestigious Arts Educational Trust. She was invited to join the Iranian National Ballet where she performed from 1972-79 as a soloist and leading dancer, under the name of Georgina Bahramian. Settling in San Jose, California in 1979. She owned and operated a studio, Saratoga Dance, from 1981-86. The City Center Ballet was founded in 1984, and she served as its artistic director. The City Center Ballet was the predecessor to the San Jose Cleveland Ballet now known as Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley. She was on the faculty of the School of Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley from 1997-2000 where she was also active in creating and implementing the children’s syllabus. Georgina was the director for the Branham Dance Center in San Jose from 1992-98 and taught ballet, jazz and tap there from 1986-1998. Georgina Coleman has been a teacher and coach for thirty years. Some of her former students are currently dancing professionally or have previously danced with Major U.S. and European Ballet Companies, including American Ballet Theater, San Francisco Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Her students continue to be accepted into the professional division of major ballet schools universities and college programs across the country. Georgina is an experienced teacher for children, students and adults, and enjoys teaching all ages groups to dance whether they be striving to pursue a professional career or attending classes for the pure enjoyment, fitness and recreational rewards. Through Center Stage Dance Academy of El Dorado Hills she looks forward to continuing her life long work.
Arts Educational School, London
Susan Daughtery, Jr. Jazz Director, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical
Susan Daugherty has taught dance at U.C. Santa Cruz and numerous studios in the San Francisco Bay Area. In her early years, she gained a solid technical background in ballet through her studies with Francisca and Dimitri Romanoff. Modern dance training came from study with the Utah Repertory Dance Theatre and the Bill Evan's company. Jazz training came from study with various instructors including Ben Lokee, Ann Garvin, and Joe Tremane. Susan has performed professionally with the Creative Associates, the Rec Russell Jazz Dance Company and Ballet San Jose. While earning her B.A. at San Jose State University she performed with the SJS Resident Dance Company. Susan continued her professional training with graduate work in dance at SJS University. In order to help develop an appreciation for the arts among grade school students, Susan directed and performed with the Dancing People. This group was funded by the National Endowment for the Arts to bring professional performing arts to the public schools. Susan enjoys sharing her love for dance with all ages, and is pleased to be a part of the team of teachers at CSDA.
Christine Martorana, Sr. & Jr. Tap Director
Christine Martorana received her formal dance training in the areas of Tap and Jazz in the San Francisco Bay Area. She initiated her teaching status with Hamilton Studios of Dance and Music - San Ramon, California - in 1983 and went on to instruct all ages through 1992. Additionally, she was involved in master classes with the Mason/Kahn Studio in San Francisco, Musical Theatre through the Pleasanton Playhouse and Bay Area Children's performing groups. As a choreographer and coordinator for the Showstoppers and Highlights dance troupes, Christine worked with elementary school children under the direction of Mary Lagomarsino, 2000 - 2002, which included performances at Disneyland. Christine is currently an assistant choreographer with the El Dorado Musical Theatre, and loves working with the talented children and young adults from 6 - 18. As a mother of three Christine is a firm believer in the Arts, and the positive impact of exposure to music and dance at all age levels. She is very excited to be "tapping" again with the Center Stage Dance Academy and looks forward to continue to share this experience with her students.
Kelley Saia, Compani Manager, Xtenzionz Director
Kelley comes to CSDA with a BA in Dance from CSU,Sacramento where she studied under the direction of Paul Besaw, Linda Goodrich and Sacramento Ballet instructor, Nolan T'Sani. While at CSUS, Kelley had the opportunity to dance with the Jazzee Dance Company and as an adjudicated dancer at the American College Dance Festival in Scottsdale, AZ and Long Beach, CA in addition to many performances in CSUS's senior and faculty shows. Kelley was an ArtsBridge scholarship recipient, which gave her the opportunity to teach ballet, modern and jazz at Natomas Charter School. Prior to her college experiences, Kelley was a member of the Folsom Lake Civic Ballet Theatre and the competition Jazz Troupe at Hawkins School of Performing Arts. Kelley received Dance Spirit Magazine's Technical Skill Award in 2001 and was invited to dance with KAR Kids in New York City. Kelley recently returned to CSUS where she recieved her secondary teaching creditials in both English and Dance and taught at a charter school in Rocklin until deciding to focus her talents here at CSDA. Kelley is excited and honored to be a part of the CSDA family.
Sequence "Q", Hip-Hop
Sequence ("Q"), a native Californian, has been dancing since the age of five. Discovering that dancing was his forte, he began to study dance formally at the East Bay Center of Performing Arts, where he was introduced to Indian, African, Ballet, Modern, Laotian, and Mexican styles of dance, adding to his already rooted Latin and Hip-Hop skills. Q went on to compete locally and nationally, in such competitions as Broadway Magic, and Headliners. He and his team went on to compete in the International Hip-Hop Competition in Bremen, Germany in 2003. Aside from choreographing for various singing and dance groups in the bay, Q introduces hip-hop movement to all ages from five through adult. He specializes in pinpointing such basics as: spatial awareness, isolations, strength, balance, groove, and technique, as well as some of the popular commercial dances, both new and old school!
Kym Midkiff, Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet/Tap
Kym has been dancing and performing since the age of three. In her early years she trained in ballet, jazz, tap, and baton in Buffalo, New York and Asheville, North Carolina. She has been a certified, franchised Jazzercise instructor since 1991 teaching in Phoenix, Arizona and throughout the Sacramento area. Kym discovered her love of teaching dance to children through dancing with her own two young daughters. Kym holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University in Flint, Michigan.
Sarah Marshall, Jazz, Lyrical, Stretch, Ballet
Ali Llacer, Hip Hop
"B-Boy Prez" James Wakeley, Breakin'
Born in Massachusetts, as far back as James can remember, people would constantly drop quarters in the jukebox to watch him move. The more they wanted to see the more he wanted to do! James never passed-up an opportunity to dance, no matter what the occasion! Tired of the cold weather, he decided it was time to move to California, attending Mira Loma High School and spending most of his lunches working on new moves with many of his friends. James and his friends took this time to prepare for rallies and off-campus demonstrations.
He's had the pleasure of working with Pepper Von to help the community on many occasions, such as "Dream Collectives", "The House" and "Holy City". James also had the opportunity dancing as a Kali Kat Dancer at Cache Creek Casino and have been in shows such as "Let's Stay Together" and "Clara's Nutty Adventures". He's been teaching the art of Breakin' for the past three years and it never seems to get old! There's always something new to learn! "Music drives me, it helps me think, makes me breath, and proves I listen. Music is my life"
Adriana Clark, Ballroom, Salsa, Swing
Adriana completed her training program at The Ballroom of Sacramento focusing on Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Rumba, Cha Cha and East Coast Swing, and began her teaching career. Later she received training in Salsa with the director of the Yemaya Dance Team and taught at Center Stage Dance Academy. She has spent the past two years as a private and group instructor with Showcase Ballroom, where she choreographed numerous wedding routines as well as showcase performance routines. Most recently, Adriana has returned as an instructor with Center Stage Dance and teaches Pre-Teen Ballroom, Salsa and Swing, Teen Latin, Senior Ballroom, and Adult Ballroom, Salsa and Swing. She also offers Private Lessons by appointment.