Katie Freeman
Shooting Stars Dance Company Director & Choreographer, Ballet, Technique
Katie began her dance training at the young age of 5. Early on, her focus was primarily ballet, attending summer workshops with the Atlanta Ballet and Houston Ballet. A highlight
of her young dance career was touring for two holiday seasons with the Texas Ballet as the lead role, Clara, in the Nutcracker. After completing high school at age 17, she moved to
Los Angeles to expand her horizons and training with a year long intensive scholarship program with the legendary Joe Tremaine. She studied under renowned master teachers such as
Jackie Sleight, Doug Caldwell, Marguerite Derricks, Sallie Whalen, Michael Rooney and countless others. She assisted Joe Tremaine and taught the children's program at his professional
studio in Hollywood for several years. Although she loved performing, her true calling was "in the studio"... as a teacher and choreographer! In March 2000, she followed her dreams
and opened her first studio. She is proud to mentor young dancers and provide them the knowledge and support to pursue their dreams.
Nicole Sanchez
Dance Company Asst. Director & Choreographer, Children's Classes, Jazz, Ballet, Technique, & Tap
Born and raised in Alameda, CA, Nicole started dancing at age 8 under the direction of Pamm Drake. Growing up she trained and competed in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, and hip hop.
She was also on a competitive acrobatic team for 5 years. She has performed all over the LA area and has made numerous appearances in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York
City. Nicole has been teaching for 11 years, the last 7 as a member of the Shooting Stars family. After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the California Institute of
the Arts, Nicole decided to use her talents in the classroom, sharing her knowledge, passion and love of dance.
Hillary Temple
Jazz, Hip Hop, Children's Classes, Dance Company Choreographer
Hillary is a dancer and choreographer from Redlands, California. While in high school she competed regularly, winning titles as a soloist and scholarships at LA Dance Magic,
Hollywood Vibe and Celebrity Dance Competition. As a student at UC Irvine, she studied multiple genres of dance with their acclaimed faculty and was a member of the CADC Hip Hop Crew.
Under Hillary's direction, they placed 3rd in the US and 11th in the World and the Hip Hop Internationals in Las Vegas. She is represented by MSA and has performed many live works in
the Carnival Choreographer's Ball in Hollywood and with Boogiezone in Japan. She continues to train as a professional in Los Angeles and has seen success working with the legendary
Paula Abdul and Carrie Underwood.
Justin Deanda
Hip Hop, Dance Company Choreographer
Justin grew up in Northern California and has been immersed in the dance scene since he was 8 years old. While in the Bay Area he competed as a member of the famed Hip Hop
Crews, Culture Shock and Funk Beyond Control. Since moving to Los Angeles after high school, he has appeared regularly on Disney's "Shake It Up" and additionally on Glee, Dancing With
the Stars and in the feature films Camp Rock 2, Honey 2 and Alvin and the Chipmunks. He has danced with artists such as Demi Lovato, Keke Palmer and the Jonas Brothers. He is
currently touring all over the US, Japan, Europe & Mexico with Austin Mahone. When not on the road, you can find Justin teaching and setting his award winning choreography for
Shooting Stars!
Frankie Morgan
Contemporary, Lyrical, Dance Company Choreographer
Frankie grew up in the small town of McAlester, Oklahoma and began dancing when he was 7. At the age of 18 he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a professional dancer and
choreographer. He is well known on the Convention Circuit amasing multiple scholarships and recognitions during his training. Frankie has had the opportunity to assist choreographers
Tyce Diorio and Stacey Tookey on projects like SYTYCD. He was the male swing for the 2013-14 Shaping Sound Dance Company choregraphed by Travis Wall, Teddy Forance, Nick Lazzarini and
Kyle Robinson. He has appeared on television in shows like Two and a Half Men, and in multiple live stage performances, notably with the Festival Ballet Theater's "The Secret Garden"
and "Mixed Repertoire".
Kristi Magpantay
Hip Hop, Dance Company Choreographer
Kristi has been a dance professional and educator for over 16 years. She has performed, competed and choreographed for many award winning dance companies all over the Los Angeles
area. She majored in Dance at Cal State University Northridge and is an accredited Dance teacher for elementary through high school education. Ms. Kristi is known for her edgy,
quirky, fierce and high energy dance style. She strives to build self-confidence, and a sense of community united by the love of dance for all of her students.
Kristen De Paula
Ballet
Kristen first started dancing at the age of three in her hometown of Virginia Beach, VA. She spent many summers training in New York City at Broadway Dance Center and at age 16 spent a summer in Los Angeles on scholarship at the Tremaine Dance Center. She received both her high school diploma and BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, & shortly upon graduating, received a full fellowship to continue her training at The Ailey School in New York City. She has performed with many modern dance companies including The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and she taught at the Ailey School for 12 years. Kristen also danced the role of Austin the Kangaroo for Nickelodeon's Emmy award winning show "The Backyardigans,"danced for Nick Jr's "Bubble Guppies" and most recently Nick Jr's "Shimmer and Shine." Kristen is thrilled to be joining the Shooting Stars family!!
Rebecca Nelson
Tap
Rebecca is an east coast native who has been dancing for as long as she can remember. She received the majority of her formal training in Florida under the direction of Broadway performer John Leggio. She attended the American University in Washington DC, and immersed herself in the dance communities both within and outside the school. She worked with multiple professional companies and music artists in the DC area, and quickly became one of the most sought after choreographers, setting highly acclaimed work at various performing arts schools and theaters. After completing her degree, she decided that the west coast was calling her name, so she made her way out here and has been reaping the rewards of her years of hard work. She is ecstatic to be joining the Shooting Stars dance family, and looks forward to the exciting years ahead!
Carissa Songhorian
Ballet
Carissa is in her last year earning her BFA in Dance and Dance Composition at California Institute of the Arts. She has worked as a dance teacher and dance counselor for the Los Angeles Ballet Academy. She has extensive training in modern and contemporary dance, and has had the privilege of being part of many inspiring choreography and dance projects. Her genuine love and appreciation of the art form, as well as her excitement for spreading the joy and wonder that dance can bring, has made her a welcome addition to our Shooting Stars family.
Bridget Krouse
Technique, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet
Bridget Krouse began training in dance at Art In Motion Dance Studio at the age of five years old in Champaign, IL. During her 13 years at Art In Motion Dance Studio, Bridget also danced competitively all over the United States. She has traveled with choreographer and master teacher, Brooke Pierotti, as her dancing assistant for various conventions in many different cities in 2009 and 2010. Bridget attended the University of Arizona in 2009 and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance in the spring of 2013. Bridget was then casted in the international touring musical of “Barbie Live!” as a dancer and ensemble member in the summer of 2013. She is currently a demonstrator for 24Seven Dance Convention and travels with the company all around the country. Bridget is also currently a member of Royal Flux Dance Company.
Courtney Stark
Children's Classes, Ballet, Jazz
Courtney joins the Shooting Stars family all the way from Florida! She has performed in several ballets with with the Florida Dance Theatre, and most recently appeared in multiple shows and parades at both Disneyworld and Universal Studios in Orlando. She has a degree in Dance from the University of Central Floriday and years of teaching experience. She enjoys watching her students discover and devolop their love of dance.
Alex Youmazzo
Children's Classes - Bio to follow
Lisa Shires
Children's Classes - Bio to follow