Barb Miks Barbara Miks has been working in dance fitness, and early childhood education for 25 years. On staff at APA since 2000, she is excited about introducing our newest pupils to the art of dance.
She has studied at the Benny Smith Academy of Dance, Tude's School of Dance, and Dance Masters of America's Teachers Training School at the University of Buffalo. Partnering her love of movement with her passion for physical well being, she has certification with the American Council of Exercise, the American Sports and Fitness Association, and worked for 10 years as a certified Jazzercise Inc. instructor and franchise owner. While employed with Kindercare for 5 years as a teacher and assistant director, she did extensive coursework on the development of the preschool age student and applies that knowledge to her classes at APA today.
In her spare time Barbara enjoys being a wife and mother of three. Her hobbies include travel and gardening. Her teaching style consists of acceptance, encouragement, and structure in the classroom to build confident and successful students.
Holly Quesada Holly Quesada is a multi-talented dancer, teacher and choreographer. She has been dancing for over thirty years, nine of which were under the direction of APA’s own, Ms. Deborah Skinner. While she was a featured dancer in numerous regional and national competitions, pageants, parades, festivals, musicals and productions, she was gravitated to her true love of choreography and teaching. Mrs. Quesada has been sharing her passion of dance with her students for nearly 20 years, specializing in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, and acrobatics. Her award winning choreography for numerous competitions, productions, dance teams, and musicals have been seen throughout the central valley and bay area. After becoming a member of Dance Masters of California, Inc. Chapter #13 in 1995, she went on to serve on the board of directors and past president of this non-profit organization for the last 12 years. She currently serves as the Solo Title Scholarship Competition Director of this 127 year old National Organization. Holly has also been in partnership with many local public Elementary schools in her area bringing the art and passion of all forms of dance to local children for the past ten years. As well as being the mother of three children, Joey, Jillian, and Jenna, she has been married for sixteen years. She strives to continually teach by the philosophy of the legendary Martha Graham, “Great dancers are not great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion” making her classes positive, inspiring and invigorating.
Ally Vigil Ally Vigil has been dancing at Academy of performing Arts since 2008 taking classes in ballet, pointe, jazz, acro and modern. She began teaching her own class last year and really enjoys it. In addition to teaching at APA for the past year and a half. she has been teaching dance as a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club of Tracy. This past July, she attended the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet summer intensive in New York City, where she studied ballet, drama, and character dancing under the artistic direction of former ABT ballerina Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov. This dance intensive was open through audition only. Ally is a very technical proficient and artistic teacher. She fully realizes that technical understanding is the foundation of all dance education. She has a large knowledge base and a great sense of humor. Her classes are dynamic and always fun! In the future she hopes to pursue dance in college and beyond.
Charles Williams
Charles Williams has been dancing since the age of eight. He began training at the age of 17, in Milpitas high school’s intermediate dance class and at Jensen’s school for the performing arts. He has gotten basic training in ballet, tap, jazz, and choreography. His most skilled genres of dance are hip hop dance and afro cuban. He currently attends San Joaquin Delta College and is studying jazz and choreography and was recently a part of the San Joaquin Delta Dance Company. He is transitioning to double major at San Jose State University in Digital Media and Dance.
Elyssa
Elyssa has been a student at APA since she was four-years old. As she got older she was given the opportunity to assist in ballet classes and realized how much she loved teaching as well as dancing. She also works with special needs children at APA and she loves it. Their accomplishments make her ver proud. She is now pursuing her love of teaching as a student at Delta College and Las Positas. She hopes to inspire children for generations to come.
Michelle
Michelle Wolfe, began dancing at two years of age, (and continues to dance); Ballet has been her passion! Starting in Ronn Guidi’s “baby class” at the Oakland Ballet School, she traveled to Dance Dana in the Midwest, visited Ballet Magnificant in Mississippi and acquired her Bachelor’s of Art in Dance at San Jose State University 2007. She has extensive experience in ballet, but is also well versed in pointe, modern, jazz, partnering and tap. Michelle Wolfe’s love for dance goes hand-in-hand with her love for teaching. She loves to see how young minds grow and mature. Wolfe, was invited by Deborah Skinner/Director of APA, to begin teaching at the Academy of Performing in 2005 till present. Michelle Wolfe, through APA has been given the opportunity to be a guest choreographer for Children’s Dance Company (CDT) 2007-2009; and even dancing the role of the “Peppermint Queen” as a guest artist. Michelle Wolfe “dancing highlights” would be taking class from numerous modern teachers i.e. Gary Masters- Limon technique, company class with Taylor II as well as summer intensive with Janice Garret local San Francisco choreographer. Michele coached the Kimball High Dance Team 2009-2010, but retired early do to a higher calling…to be a mom!! In 2010, Natania, Michelle Wolfe’s second child was born. Michelle Wolfe resides in Downtown Tracy with husband, Levi her “Knight in Shining Armor” and two princess ballerinas Priel and Natania.
Jennie
Bio to come
Addie
Bio to come
Diana
Bio to come
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