Our faculty and performing artists have experience across television, film, music videos, and stage productions.

Audry is a New York-based dance arts manager, choreographer, and teaching artist. She began her career as a performer traveling the country by bus in Sesame Street Live, by horse in Dolly Parton’s Stampede, internationally by ship for Norwegian Cruise Lines, and under the big top for Circus Hermanos Vazquez and Cirque Montage. From there she focused her energies on teaching ballroom in New York City classrooms, choreographing for Concordia Conservatory, and spending summers at Stagedoor Manor theatre camp. From high schools to regional theatres she has choreographed several musicals including Cinderella, Grease, HAiR, Aida, and Working. Along the way, Audry has taken several opportunities to step into management positions with roles including dance captain, company manager, experience manager, and now her newest role at Liberate Artists as Company Coordinator and Director of Operations. Today you can find Audry working, traveling, and teaching for Liberate Artists, sharing the love of Sesame Street traveling with Sesame Workshop, and choreographing musicals in her spare time.

Amelia was born & raised in Thousand Oaks, CA. Growing up a competition dancer herself, she was awarded many overall soloist awards & scholarships from competitions & conventions all over California, including a one year scholarship to Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles. Amelia then continued her professional career & training in North Hollywood, CA for many years. Some of her credits include The Hello Kitty Festival National Tour, In The Heights, Chicago 25th Anniversary Event, Peter Pan, Elf The Musical, Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush, Good Morning America, Disney’s 'Camp Rock 2' Promo, FOX ‘Mobbed', Good Day L.A., Rosario Dawson’s ‘Voto Latino’ Campaign, Maya Angelou’s ‘Harlem Hopscotch’ Music Video, & NY Theatre Barn. Amelia is currently on Faculty at the legendary Steps On Broadway in NYC & also is Teaching Artist for Liberate Artists LLC, traveling to teach intensives all over the U.S., Hawaii, & Australia. She is professionally represented by LDC Artist Representation Agency in NYC. Amelia has danced for the famous Choreographers, Galen Hooks, NabbyTabs, Tyce Diorio, Karla Garcia, Matt Cady, Beau Fournier, & Neil Schwartz. She was a featured dancer & one of the assistant production coordinators for the world famous dance show, Choreographers' Carnival in LA. She was a company member & assistant for the popular LA based company, Mischief Makers. They were invited to perform all across Los Angeles, Hawaii, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, & San Francisco. Amelia travels the U.S. judging studio dance competitions for SDA. Over her career, she has taught & choreographed at numerous dance studios, high schools, & Universities all over the country. Amelia resides in NYC, continuing to pursue her professional dance, musical theatre & teaching career.

Elle is a professional dancer and singer in NYC. Her most notable credits include Vicki in A Chorus Line (Off-Broadway) and So You Think You Can Drag as a backup dancer. She currently dances in cabaret shows around the city and teaches at multiple studios in the tri-state area. Elle is a Liberate Artists’ Phoenix Fire Faculty Member.

New York native Eric Lehn received a BFA in Dance Performance from Towson University. At Towson, he was a member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts Advocates. Eric was fortunate enough to work with artists such as Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Runqiao Du, Tim Veach, and Vincent Thomas. He has had the privilege to perform works choreographed by Alvin Ailey, Robert Battle, Troy Powell, Kevin Iega, and Jeff and Frank Chaves. He has received training from the ABT Collegiate program, the Joffrey Ballet School, and was a summer apprentice with River North Dance Chicago. Eric is currently a member of the Bad Boys of Ballet and travels on the road with Liberate Artists Inc.

Eva Igo is a dancer from Minnesota. She trains at the renowned Larkin Dance Studio. Credits include: World of Dance (TV Show) Season 1. 2nd Place overall, 1st place in the junior division, Dance Moms, and Industry Dance Awards 2018 winner of “Most Fierce Dancer under 18”.

Jay Gamboa is originally from Maui, Hawaii and attended AMDA: College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts. He recently choreographed SHOUT the Mod Musical at Mason Street Warehouse for their 2021 season. Jay received an Oscar Wilde award for best choreography in 2019 for his work in IN THE HEIGHTS. Performing credits: the CW’s “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”, the Australian and North American Tour of PJ MASKS LIVE, Hello Kitty Festival National Tour(Dance Captain). Regional theatre credits: MAMMIA MIA! (Mason Street Warehouse and The Engeman Theatre), Squeegie Man in RENT(Gateway Playhouse), Pepe in WEST SIDE STORY(San Diego Musical Theatre), BYE BYE BIRDIE(Cabrillo Music Theatre), THE MUSIC MAN(Musical Theatre West), MARY POPPINS (Cabrillo Music Theatre), BEIJING SPRING (East West Players), WHITE CHRISTMAS(San Diego Musical Theatre). IG: @JayGamboaNYC

Once upon a time there was a 17 year old named Jamal Story. He won the Spotlight Award Scholarship, a prize lauded by all in the land, and balanced a 3.92 GPA, all while training rigorously with Adria Wilson, Oui Geometer Dance Company, and the modern dance godmother Lula Washington. As a teen Mrs. Washington saw the potential for greatness and ushered Jamal into her adult company, the Lula Washington Dance Theatre, where the seeds of integrity were planted into the phenomenal story that is Jamal’s life, love and pursuit of dance.  Continuing to excel under exceptional circumstances—he toiled arduously and prevailed in the second graduating class at the California Academy of Math and Science—Jamal fled to Dallas to earn dual degrees at  Southern Methodist University in Dance Performance and TV/Radio Communications. While there, Dallas Black Dance Theater and Fort Worth/Dallas Ballet opened up their doors for replacements and guest artist gigs.  Never one to leave his roots behind, Jamal continued his close ties to Lula, joining the company for various touring dates. Spellbound by movement, Jamal danced with acclaimed choreographer Donald Byrd/theGroup, Madonna's 2001 Drowned World Tour, Complexions  and with Cher as an aerialist and dancer on  Cher's Living Proof: The Farewell Tour. Immediately thereafter, he was summoned back into the studio with Donald Byrd to help discover the movement for the history-making Broadway show, The Color Purple  where he spent the duration of its run as a dancer and assistant dance captain. Seamlessly transferring from concert dance to Broadway, Jamal continued to defy expectations and broaden his horizons when he published his first novel 12:34 a slice novel.  Enchanted with the close knit Broadway community, he returned its forest as an original cast member yet again in Mr. Berry Gordy's Motown the Musical.  Jamal is a strong advocate for educating young artists about the changing landscape of dance. While on Cher's current Dressed to Kill , he remains active as the co-chair of the National Dance Committee for SAG-AFTRA, and holds a seat on the unions local New York Board. With his company, Schehimazade Productions,  he lives, ever after,  happily choreographing, teaching, writing and consulting as an independent contractor. 

Julie Carter, originally from Alabama, graduated from Point Park University and has worked for Royal Caribbean and Spirit Productions. She has performed works by Jason Sparks, Luam, Mike Esperanza, Jaclyn Buglisi, Merce Cunningham, Lisa Harvie, among others. Julie is on faculty at Steps On Broadway, PMT House of Dance, and Peridance and has also been a guest teacher for Martha Graham School, Beyond The Stars Dance Convention, Liberate Artists, and Yale University. Her works have premiered at Leg Up on Life, Peridance’s APEX, and the Steps Professional Performance Workshop series. She is an adjunct instructor at Sacred Heart University.

Kayla began dancing at the age of 3 at Larkin Dance Studio in Maplewood, MN. She trained recreationally for 8 years before deciding to make a full-time commitment to dance by joining their competitive team. When her younger sister, Eva, began dancing at the age of 3, Kayla immediately fell in love with helping her become the best dancer she could be. One of Kayla’s greatest joys is being involved in the training and improvement of her sister.

After graduating high school, Kayla attended Oklahoma City University to pursue her love for dance at the Ann Lacy School of Dance and Entertainment. During her senior year of college, Kayla began working at Epic Dance Studio where she taught jazz, contemporary, lyrical, musical theatre, ballet, tap, and technique to dancers between the ages of 10-18. She also choreographed numerous competitive solos, duos, and group dances for Epic. Kayla also spent her senior year teaching students between the ages of 3-adult in the Community Dance Center at Oklahoma City University. In May of 2018, Kayla graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dance Pedagogy.

Kayla has taught master classes and choreographed competitive pieces in Minnesota, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Tennessee. She also taught alongside her sister Eva at World of Dance DX in Los Angeles in 2018 and judged the World Of Dance World Championships.

Kayla is excited to embark on what she knows will be a fulfilling and rewarding career in dance as a performer, teacher, and choreographer.

Lauren Froderman’s lifetime of dance training led her to win the seventh season of FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance. She has also danced for the Radio City Rockettes, Big Time Rush, Blake McGrath, and others. Appearing in television performances, music videos, and live shows, she continues to reach for the stars and learn as much as possible. She considers her greatest accomplishment since winning So You Think You Can Dance becoming the first dance athlete for Gatorade and the female dance athlete for the G Series Fit line. Lauren continues her pursuit of other dreams in various dance and performance capacities.

Even before engaging with formal training, Travis Cooper — also known as Santikaro, meaning “peace-bringing ray of light” — has been in love with movement and dance since he was a child. As a kid, he discovered a passion for the choreographic process, creating dances with willing family members. He participated in many years of training in diverse dance techniques and has since become invested in teaching and facilitating dance and movement classes around the country. While Santikaro is grateful for his thorough training and full career in the dance industry as a dancer and choreographer for music videos, tours, commercials, TV shows, films, dance companies, and industrials, he has spent years learning to integrate those formative experiences into the larger tapestry of living a purposeful, meaningful, authentic life. Most recently, he is approaching the dance and movement classes he offers as a way of holding space for people no matter where they are in their journey and seeks to provide a rich experience for all, regardless of whether students are trained in dance or not. Santikaro holds space in a way that is simultaneously firm and gentle, steady and sturdy, and rooted in the belief that, while we are each different beings, we are all part of one larger energy, and so we are inherently complete just as we are in each moment. Travis is inspired by and curious about how all parts of a person inform one another. Santikaro is honored and devoted to serving people by creating a space for people to come home to themselves through the exploration of movement and dance

Sara Perez started dancing at the age of 3 and is well versed in ballet, modern and jazz. While in high school in Plano, Texas, Sara taught ballet, jazz, pre-pointe and pointe classes to dancers ages 3-14. In 2011, Sara graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Pedagogy. She has participated in intensives such as Joffrey San Antonio (2004) and Paul Taylor New York (2010) and in 2011, attended the TAKE Dance (2011) and Lar Lubovitch intensives (2012) in NYC. Perez has worked with a number of companies such as Exit 12 and Community Dance Project, in addition to music videos by TV on the Radio, Tiny Victories, and Sannhet. 

In 2016 Sara started her own private lesson business, teaching students all over NYC.

Beverly is a Filipina-American artist, choreographer, and dance educator whose compassion and joy are fueled by empowering the next generation of artists. She values her experience in the commercial dance industry and recently received a Master’s of Fine Arts in dance at the University of California - Irvine. Beverly is also a passionate and knowledgeable performer who has traveled internationally with recording artists while filming national commercials. In addition to touring, Beverly has performed in music videos, recorded television, live award shows, and hopes to share her experiences with aspiring dancers. Born a Chicago-Native, Beverly majored in dance at Ball State University where she trained in modern, jazz, ballet, musical theater, and post-graduation in hip-hop. With her diverse background in dance, she hopes to inspire dancers through interdisciplinary connections and dance history.

Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer was born in Dallas, Texas and grew up on the Southside of Atlanta. He graduated from Creekside High School in 2008. His preferred styles of dancing include Animation, Popping, and Robotics. His attention to detail and love for teaching proper technique have made him a fan favorite in the dance education world. Cyrus was the runner up on Season 9 of Fox’s hit television show “So You Think You Can Dance.” Since then, he has not stopped working in the industry: performing across the country, shooting commercials and feature films. Movie credits include being cast as “Gauge,” in the most recent installment of the smash hit Step Up franchise, Step Up: All In. Cyrus has returned in recent seasons as an All-Star on SYTYCD and is also part of the Dragon House Hip Hop Crew.

As a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and director, David Lee is most celebrated for his 5 years spent working with The Lab (winners of NBC’s World of Dance Season 2) and more recently working in Artist Development under the mentorship of Shaun Evaristo. David is currently serving his 7th year as the Artistic Director for Culture Shock LA, a non-profit organization that uses Hip-Hop music and dance as a vehicle to enrich the underprivileged youth population in LA. After 6 years of being a resident instructor with STEEZY Studio, David is now focusing his attention as STEEZY’s Instructional Designer and continues to broaden his perspective in dance education.

David is a graduate of UC Irvine with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts. His career has evolved from dancing and teaching domestically and internationally to Artist Development thanks to his multi-disciplinary expertise — both on stage and behind the scenes. David also enjoys mixing music, editing videos, and eating noodles.

Halima captivates on screen and on stage! Her sky-high energy is featured in music videos for DJ Khaled, Justin Bieber, and Jojo, live shows with Danity Kane’s Dawn Richard, and multiple indie and feature films — including Black Is King and The Prom. She is based in Los Angeles but credits her hometown, Miramar, Florida, for her signature style: a fusion of hip hop, technique, and Afro-Caribbean roots. Today, she’s on a mission to help artists express their most authentic selves.

Jeka Jane started dancing at the age of 5. He attended the School of the Arts in San Francisco with a focus on contemporary and ballet. Jeka trained in hip hop with a community team, The Company, out of Northern California. After moving to Los Angeles, Jeka joined forces with Movement Lifestyle and began teaching classes at world-renowned studio Millennium Dance Complex. Recently, Jeka has danced for musical artist Ariana Grande at the Billboard Music Awards, Coachella Music Festival, VMAS and is a principal dancer in her music video “No Tears Left To Cry”. Jeka made his TV debut on the Emmy Award-winning show “Transparent”. Apart from commercial work, he also teaches workshops all over the world including: Japan, Russia, London and more! Jeka teaches all age groups and levels and welcomes every person in class with open arms!

At the age of 10, Kaycee became an overnight sensation after Katy Perry, RuPaul,

and Shangela tweeted her “Werk” hip hop solo. Kaycee quickly became known as

the first viral kid dancer on YouTube. She was featured in YouTube rewind 2013,

appeared on news stations across the US, and was featured in numerous articles.

Kaycee’s career was launched! Since then, Kaycee has performed on the biggest stages in the world: the Superbowl with Katy Perry and Missy Elliot, the Oscars with Pharell Williams, and

the hit series World of Dance with her dance partner Sean Lew. She has also

shared the stage with many top artists including: Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber, Flo

Rida, Charli XCX and many more. Kaycee has also been featured on America’s Got

Talent, The Ellen Show (many times), Hip Hop Honors, Radio Disney Music Awards,

and MTV series Going Off, just to name a few. Kaycee has been in national

commercials and was the lead actress in Disney’s short film “How To Catch A

Ghost”. Additionally, Kaycee was the first kid dancer to be sponsored by Nike, and

at the age of 14, she designed her very own Nike shoe! Kaycee continues to train in dance and acting. She is lucky enough to be mentored by the best the industry has to offer, while teaching her own workshops in the process. Kaycee has branched out into choreography and was honored to be able to choreograph for K-Pop groups including Red Velvet’s “Really Bad Boy”.

She loves to spread her message of kindness, individuality, and positivity to everyone. In her

words, “Being a weirdo doesn’t mean you’re weird, it just means that you embrace

the fact that you are different, and that it’s okay.” In 2020 Kaycee became a certified personal trainer holding a NASM certification. Kaycee has filled herself with knowledge of nutrition and wellness. Kaycee has accomplished more than most at the age of 18, but people that know her are aware that she has so much more ahead of her. The best thing about

Kaycee is that, even after designing her own Nike shoe, partnered with many brands, having a successful Weirdo Apparel clothing line, and a massive social following on many platforms, Kaycee remains humble as ever. Anyone that has the opportunity to work with her, recognizes right away, she is just a super individual that loves life and loves people. Kaycee will continue to be Kaycee, an individual, a Weirdo, and a super talent. She just does what she loves and the world loves her for it.

From stage to screen, Mia Michaels has turned dance into unique works of passion and beauty. Not only is Mia one of the most sought-after innovators in the world of dance, but she is also a figure of inspiration to women around the world. One of Mia’s strongest talents is finding beauty within herself and in others.

In 2015, Mia joined forces with a dream team including Diane Paulus and Barry Weissler for the hugely successful Broadway musical FINDING NEVERLAND. Mia choreographed a preview of the song, “Neverland” for the 68th Tony Awards featuring Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson. Following the Tony Awards, Mia served as guest choreographer for the opening number of the Rockettes Spring Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall and as a guest artist and mentor for Broadway at the White House, hosted by Michelle Obama, Kristen Chenoweth, and Matthew Morrison. Included in Mia’s diverse experience is the critically acclaimed New York-based dance company, RAW, for which she was the founder, artistic director, and choreographer.

On television, Mia has served as an ever-popular judge and contributing choreographer for Fox’s award-winning TV show So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD). Not only has Mia won three Emmy awards for Outstanding Choreography for the television series SYTYCD, but she also made huge contributions towards the show, receiving the “Best Reality TV Show” award at the 2008 Reality TV Show Awards. Additionally, Mia’s fan base in Canada has led her to share her talents on SYTCD Canada as a judge and guest choreographer. Other TV credits include a dream sequence with Hugh Laurie for the hit television show, House MD, entitled “Get Happy.”

Uniting with her SYTYCD judge alumnus, Adam Shankman, Mia and Adam collaborated for the big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, Rock of Ages. Following Rock of Ages, Mia had a co-starring role in Summit Entertainment’s, Step Up 4. Mia directed and choreographed Blake McGrath’s “Relax” video, which was nominated for Video of the Year at the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards. Other work in film includes: “Cool Women” for AMC/DreamWorks Television, award-winning commercials for Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Bacardi, Coldwell Banker, Ziploc, the WNBA, Star TV & VISA. The five-year run of Celine Dion’s show, “A New Day”, which played at Caesars’ Palace in Las Vegas, was raved by The New York Times, stating, “The greatest pleasure was the go-for-broke physicality of the choreography.” The show, featuring a cast of fifty dancers and two hours of pure artistry, was one of Mia’s favorite choreographic experiences. Other shows featuring Mia’s choreography include Celine Dion’s World Tour, Taking Chances, and Cirque du Soleil’s first touring show, Delirium. Mia has also created works for numerous recording artists including Madonna, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Anna Vissi, and Prince.

Mia has had the privilege to hold faculty positions at prestigious institutions of dance around the world including Alvin Ailey and the Joffrey Ballet. Mia continues to teach inspirational master classes worldwide known as Mia Michaels Live (MML). This powerful movement is inspiring dancers world wide to access their inner unicorn and dance from the inside out. 

Mia’s students, peers, and mentors have noted her as a dedicated, live-changing influence of positivity in their lives. Mia has a way of touching each human she encounters with passion, emotional expression, and confidence of self-love.

Mollee is one of the most sought-after and top working dancers in Los Angeles. Her professional and television credits include, SYTYCD Season 6, Shake It Up, X Factor, America’s Got Talent, Ellen, Drop Dead Diva, Big Time Rush, Glee, Victorious, and The Voice. Mollee has also enjoyed performing with artists including Taylor Swift, Snoop Dog, and J-Lo. ​In addition to her live and TV performances, Mollee has enjoyed performing in films such as High School Musical 1, 2 and 3 and MTV’s American Mall, where she was a principal dancer. Most recently, Mollee has been focusing on her acting career where she has found incredible success. Her first big break was as a supporting actress in the Ashton Kutcher film No Strings Attached. Recently children around the world have fallen in love with her acting and dance performance as ‘Giggles' in the hit Disney Channel original movie Teen Beach Movie! While focusing on and continuing to build her own dance and acting career, Mollee has always enjoyed giving back to her dance community by sharing her love and passion for dance through teaching and choreographing.

Phil Wright is executive producer and choreographer of "Disney Fam Jam,” the NEW family dance competition show on The Disney Channel based on his viral sensation, “The Parent Jam™.” Wright founded "The Parent Jam™" in 2017 when he was inspired to bring kids and their families together through dance. Streamed online, his high-energy dance classes are designed to encourage positivity, love, and understanding within families around the world. He has worked with some of the biggest names in music including Lil Nas X, Will Smith, MC Hammer, TLC and G-Eazy and Cardi B.

Broadway: Carousel, Newsies (Astaire Award nom), Matilda, West Side Story (Baby John), Billy Elliot (upcoming: Once Upon A One More Time) Tour: An American In Paris (Jerry Mulligan). 

Other stages: The Music Man (Kennedy Center), A Chorus Line, (NY City Center), The Wild Party (NY City Center), In Your Arms (The Old Globe), Carousel (Houston Grand Opera). Film/TV: FX’s Fosse/Verdon, Girls5Eva, Ted 2, Five Dances, NBC's Peter Pan Live, Smash, most recently Netflix’s I’m Thinking Of Ending Things and Disney +’s Better Nate Than Ever

Will began his formal dance training at the age of 15 in the Baltimore area and within three years was named a finalist for the "Maryland Distinguished Scholar-Talent in the Arts" scholarship. Will went on to receive his BFA in Dance Performance from Towson University, where he worked under Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell (former Ailey principal dancer), Vincent Thomas (VT Dance Director), and Runqiao Du (former Washington Ballet principal dancer). While earning his degree, Bell trained at the prestigious summer programs Ailey School (New York) and Lines Ballet School (San Francisco, CA). He has worked with prestigious industry choreographers such as Jerry Mitchell, Denise Faye, Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Ryan Heffington, Tony Gonzalez, and more. Recently, Will’s choreographic work has been seen in the Virgo Investment Group commercial. He has also choreographed for music artist "Son Of A Bishop". Bell has set work at collegiate institutions such as Towson University, AMDA, and The Studio School. Bell’s work has gone viral, been recognized internationally on many major platforms, and featured in prestigious magazines such as Elle, Nylon, and HuffPost. Will choreographed Pasadena Playhouse's "Little Shop of Horrors" featuring Amber Riley from “Glee”, MJ Rodriguez from “Pose”, and George Salazar from “Be More Chill.”

Ysabelle is a young professional dancer/choreographer who emanates hard work and passion with an edge. Her account is filled with captivating dance routines, fashion, and friends. Her fans are drawn to her whimsical and carefree personality as well as her ability to come off as a relatable young adult trying to live her life to the fullest. 

Professionally, Ysabelle has worked with the likes of Kevin Hart, Bruno Mars, and J. Lo. She can be seen in True Religion and FENTY campaigns but spends much of her time teaching at some of the most popular hip-hop studios and events globally, where she is able to extend her influence and inspire others.