Gotta Dance Academy - STAFF
Ben & Joy Alvarez - OWNERS
Ben & Joy took over as the owners of GottaDance Academy in 2004. Although they work hard to keep the studio running together as a team, Joy handles the day-to-day work at GDA. She could not be more proud of what the studio it has become since taking over ownership in 2004. Joy’s history with Gotta Dance started when her daughters, Ashlee, Jenny and Maddy, began dancing at the studio. After 2 years, the previous owner was going to move and dissolve the studio, but the parents and students had developed such a family-style environment that no one wanted to see break up. Joy decided to buy the studio so that all the students and teachers
could remain at GDA and continue to learn dance in the friendly environment that had developed there. As a mother herself, Joy understands the needs of both children and their parents. During the past 12 years as owner, Joy has seen the studio quadruple in size, not only in physical space, but in the number of students attending! She loves nothing more than seeing the numerous ways that GDA has touched and impacted the lives of those who dance there. She is extremely blessed to have the strong support of her entire family. Her husband, Ben, is very passionate about everything the studio is involved in and remains very committed to keeping a family-like environment at GottaDance. Joy previously worked as an office manager for a marketing company. Her many years of experience with business combined with the dance experience of her teachers make for a winning and successful combination. Joy has seen her studio grown in many amazing ways and is looking forward to great experiences in the upcoming years!
Ben & Joy took over as the owners of GottaDance Academy in 2004. Although they work hard to keep the studio running together as a team, Joy handles the day-to-day work at GDA. She could not be more proud of what the studio it has become since taking over ownership in 2004. Joy’s history with Gotta Dance started when her daughters, Ashlee, Jenny and Maddy, began dancing at the studio. After 2 years, the previous owner was going to move and dissolve the studio, but the parents and students had developed such a family-style environment that no one wanted to see break up. Joy decided to buy the studio so that all the students and teachers
could remain at GDA and continue to learn dance in the friendly environment that had developed there. As a mother herself, Joy understands the needs of both children and their parents. During the past 12 years as owner, Joy has seen the studio quadruple in size, not only in physical space, but in the number of students attending! She loves nothing more than seeing the numerous ways that GDA has touched and impacted the lives of those who dance there. She is extremely blessed to have the strong support of her entire family. Her husband, Ben, is very passionate about everything the studio is involved in and remains very committed to keeping a family-like environment at GottaDance. Joy previously worked as an office manager for a marketing company. Her many years of experience with business combined with the dance experience of her teachers make for a winning and successful combination. Joy has seen her studio grown in many amazing ways and is looking forward to great experiences in the upcoming years!
Suzanne Smith - FRONT DESK
Suzanne is everyone’s “right-hand woman!” She does the administrative side and
organizational side of the studio, but has quite the past with GottaDance. Suzanne moved from being lead dress mom at recital to lead team mom to, basically, studio mom. Even with three children of her own (Greg, Alex and Tori), Suzanne has become a mother to just about every dancer who has come through the studio. She does most of the organizational aspects of the work, making sure everyone knows everything from class time changes to who left their dance shoes at the studio last weekend! She is the queen of costumes – from measuring to alterations (even backstage!) to RHINESTONES! Suzanne has the amazing ability to “bling-out” any item, but in a classy way (even if you didn’t think it could be done)! She has a very impressive resume: PTA President at her children’s schools; baseball coach; wife; mother of 3; amazing cook; sewer; cleaner; organizer. She is incredibly supportive of all the students at GDA and does whatever she can to make everyone’s experience awesome. Suzanne has seen amazing growth in the studio, and in her talented daughter,. She is looking forward to an even more successful year and is thrilled to be apart of the studio’s growth and change!
Suzanne is everyone’s “right-hand woman!” She does the administrative side and
organizational side of the studio, but has quite the past with GottaDance. Suzanne moved from being lead dress mom at recital to lead team mom to, basically, studio mom. Even with three children of her own (Greg, Alex and Tori), Suzanne has become a mother to just about every dancer who has come through the studio. She does most of the organizational aspects of the work, making sure everyone knows everything from class time changes to who left their dance shoes at the studio last weekend! She is the queen of costumes – from measuring to alterations (even backstage!) to RHINESTONES! Suzanne has the amazing ability to “bling-out” any item, but in a classy way (even if you didn’t think it could be done)! She has a very impressive resume: PTA President at her children’s schools; baseball coach; wife; mother of 3; amazing cook; sewer; cleaner; organizer. She is incredibly supportive of all the students at GDA and does whatever she can to make everyone’s experience awesome. Suzanne has seen amazing growth in the studio, and in her talented daughter,. She is looking forward to an even more successful year and is thrilled to be apart of the studio’s growth and change!
Eileen Devens - FRONT DESK
Eileen Devens has been working with GottaDance Academy for 14 years, but her
history with the studio spans far past 14 years. She met the previous owner of GDA
when her daughter, Danielle, was only 18 months old. Being that her daughter is now 26, Eileen has seen the studio grow in more ways than most! Eileen loves watching all the dancers grow over the years. She has seen GDA transform from a small recital and novice competition teams to needing TWO recitals and winning DOUBLE PLATINUMS at competitions! By day, she works as a loan administrator at a bank, but by night, Eileen works at the front desk at GDA. You may catch her putting rhinestones on costumes (or sandals, t-shirts, etc.) or hanging out with Suzanne. Either way, she loves spending time at the studio! She has been a great supporter of everything GDA does, and the studio would not be what it is today without Eileen! She is very excited to see all the new things this year of dance has to offer.
Eileen Devens has been working with GottaDance Academy for 14 years, but her
history with the studio spans far past 14 years. She met the previous owner of GDA
when her daughter, Danielle, was only 18 months old. Being that her daughter is now 26, Eileen has seen the studio grow in more ways than most! Eileen loves watching all the dancers grow over the years. She has seen GDA transform from a small recital and novice competition teams to needing TWO recitals and winning DOUBLE PLATINUMS at competitions! By day, she works as a loan administrator at a bank, but by night, Eileen works at the front desk at GDA. You may catch her putting rhinestones on costumes (or sandals, t-shirts, etc.) or hanging out with Suzanne. Either way, she loves spending time at the studio! She has been a great supporter of everything GDA does, and the studio would not be what it is today without Eileen! She is very excited to see all the new things this year of dance has to offer.
Gotta Dance Academy - FACULTY
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Jen Horn
Jen Horn has been dancing since the age of 3. She trained at both Garri Dance Studio in Burbank under Ms. Peggy Garri, and Swayze’s Dancers Studio, under the direction of Ms. Patsy Swayze. Jen studied classical ballet, American jazz, tap, and much more under the strict artistic direction of Ms. Swayze. Jen was lucky enough to assist Ms. Swayze in the master classes she taught during National Tap Dance weekends in Dallas, Texas. Jen began teaching at Swayze’s at age 16. She worked at Royal High School as the head cheerleading coach, as well as the choreography director in the drama department, for 4 years. She has worked on stage shows such as “Footloose,” “42nd Street,” “The Wiz,” and “High School Musical.” Jen has been with Gotta Dance Academy since 2008 teaching classes and competition teams in all styles. Throughout her time at Gotta Dance, she has won national titles, technical excellence awards, and choreographer of the year awards. In addition to working at Gotta Dance, you can find Jen teaching math or organizing a very spirited event at Simi Valley High School, where she has also started a dance team. Jen is very passionate about her GDA family and devotes much of her life to the parents and students at the studio. See all things Jen Horn @ jenchristmanproductions.com 
Danielle Devens
Danielle Devens is one of the original students of Gotta Dance Academy. She started dancing at 18 months old with the former owner of Gotta Dance. Danielle has danced both recreationally and competitively for almost 18 years. Over the years she has been apart of national award winning competition teams, as well as winning overall titles for her solo routines. She continued her training at GDA through her senior year of high school, when she was inducted into the Gotta Dance Academy Hall of Fame for her great achievements as a student at GDA. Danielle then decided to take the next step in her dance career and join our teaching staff. She recently graduated from CSUN with a degree in kinesiology. Danielle is happy to pass her love of dance on to her young students. 
Becca Johnson
Becca started dancing at the age of 3 and received her training with Cheryl Priess-Dickey School of Dance in Lincoln, Nebraska. She danced competitively for eight years under the direction of Cheryl Priess-Dickey and Joy Tonniges. Becca has formal training in jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, tap, hip hop, modern and pom. After high school graduation she studied dance, competed, and choreographed with Just Plain Dancin’ in Riverside, California. Soon after Becca received her BFA in Dance from the University of Arizona, School of Dance where she studied ballet, modern and jazz. Becca was also a member of the University of Arizona’s Pomline. The Pomline performed at football and basketball games, and competed at UDA Nationals. In 2010 she cheered professionally for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and was a member of their traveling Show Team. The Show Team performed in Japan on USO tours, and performed many half time shows, including a performance with the band Life House. Becca was also a member of the NBA’s Clippers Spirit Dance Team for 3 years, performing at sold out games, half time shows, and across seas in Taiwan. Becca has been teaching and choreographing for Gotta Dance Academy for over 5 years. Her choreography has won numerous first overalls, highpoint awards, choreography and specialty awards. She is also a judge on the weekends for Kids Artistic Review and In10sity Dance Competitions. Dance is and will always be her lifelong passion. |
Katie Condidorio
Katie has been avidly involved and passionate about the creative and performing arts since she was three years old. Katie has been awarded numerous awards, accolades and scholarships for her work as an actress, dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Katie attended one of the most reputable, prestigious dance studios in the country, and spent several weeks every year in NYC taking professional level classes at the Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway, where she was introduced to and instructed by several professional dancers and choreographers. After graduating from High School, Katie moved to New York City and received her BFA in Dance and Acting from Pace University in Manhattan. Since graduating, Katie moved to Los Angeles, where she has spent the past 7 years: acting in several TV shows, films, and commercials, choreographing for and dancing in Musical Theater productions, fitness-videos, music videos, and commercials as well as an teaching at elite dance studios, where she’s choreographed award winning routines and had the pleasure of working with some of the best dancers in our country. With over 20 years of dance training, Katie teaches and performs all types of dance; ballet, tap, jazz, technique, hip-hop, musical theater, lyrical, contemporary, tumbling and acro. 
Nicole Harlan
Classical / Contemporary Ballet Nicole Harlan, a native of Northern California, received her advanced training and scholarships from the San Francisco Ballet School and Boston Ballet. She received the Natalie Lauterstein Miller award for excellence while at San Francisco ballet school. She was also a recipient of the Danskin scholarship for the School of American Ballet. Nicole has performed with the San Francisco Ballet where she danced repertoire including Swan Lake, La Fille Ma Garde, Stars and Stripes, Four Temperaments, and Sons of Horus. She then performed with Ballet Metropolitan and Cincinnati Ballet, where she danced featured roles in ballets such as the Nutcracker, Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, John Cranko’s Taming of the Shrew, and Andre Prokovsky’s Love Songs. With the Los Angeles Classical Ballet, Nicole performed as Helena in a Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Ford Amphitheater and as the Dewdrop Fairy in the Nutcracker at the Shrine Auditorium. Under the direction of Placido Domingo, she played the role of Clo Clo in the Los Angeles Opera’s production of The Merry Widow and Orfeo’s Guide in Orfeo ed Euridice. She was faculty on LADF. She teaches internationally and currently teaches at the EDGE Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. Her students have gone on to train, or be accepted, at San Francisco Ballet, ABT, Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, Juliard, Suny Purchase, to name a few. She is also the proud mother of three wonderful children. 
Tori Smith
Tori started dancing at the Parks and Rec Center of Simi Valley at the age of 3. She followed her dance teacher, Miss Traci Cason, as she opened Gotta Dance Academy in 2002. Tori and her mom, Suzanne, have always been involved at the studio. In 2004, Tori was on the first mini competition team at Gotta Dance Academy. Through her 11 years of competing, she was very successful at competitions with her teams, duets, and solos, winning first place overall, scholarships, and national titles. During her junior and senior year of high school, Tori taught her own classes at Gotta Dance Academy. After graduating from Simi Valley High School in 2015, Tori moved to Tucson, Arizona to attend the University of Arizona to study Elementary Education. After two years in Arizona, Tori decided she missed home and her dance studio. She is now attending California Lutheran University to be closer to home and to continue her studies, minoring in Dance and participating in the CLU Dance Team. She is also excited to be teaching at her home studio once again and to share her passion for dance with her students. 
Jesse Johnson
Jesse Johnson started his dance training at the age of 10 in Pittsburgh, PA, at the now famous Abby Lee Dance Company. Shortly after graduating high school, he picked up and moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue his dance career. Since moving to LA, he has appeared in music videos with Katy Perry, Florence + The Machine, and movies such as Ted 2 and Love Struck The Musical. He was also part of the popular TV shows Glee and My Crazy Ex Girlfriend, and has worked for worldwide cosmetic company MAC Cosmetics, touring and promoting their 2016 "Nutcracker Sweet" Holiday ad campaign. You can also catch some of his choreography throughout seasons 1-6 of Lifetime's "Dance Moms." While continuing to grow as a dancer and artist, he has a burning passion for choreographing, teaching, dance and movement, that has inspired him to be the artist he is today. |
Suzie Elias
Suzie Elias was born in Lake Tahoe, Nevada where she started dancing at the age of two. She grew up training everyday in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, and tumbling. She danced competitively for 10+ years and now teaches and choreographs in the competition dance circuit. Her work has competed throughout Northern/Southern California, Nevada, and Virginia. She moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue her professional dance career and is represented by Go 2 Talent Agency. Some of her credits include international/national tours with singer Vidya Vox, the NBA Clippers, LA Sparks, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Joji, and Snoop Dogg. She has shot national commercials for Panda Express and Weinerschnitzel and her film/television credits include Pepsi, Takis, Disney XD, and Lady Dynamite. Her other work in the industry has been as a magician’s assistant for Krendl Magic and she holds the position of dance captain with Karmagraphy Entertainment Company.
Suzie Elias was born in Lake Tahoe, Nevada where she started dancing at the age of two. She grew up training everyday in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, and tumbling. She danced competitively for 10+ years and now teaches and choreographs in the competition dance circuit. Her work has competed throughout Northern/Southern California, Nevada, and Virginia. She moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue her professional dance career and is represented by Go 2 Talent Agency. Some of her credits include international/national tours with singer Vidya Vox, the NBA Clippers, LA Sparks, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Joji, and Snoop Dogg. She has shot national commercials for Panda Express and Weinerschnitzel and her film/television credits include Pepsi, Takis, Disney XD, and Lady Dynamite. Her other work in the industry has been as a magician’s assistant for Krendl Magic and she holds the position of dance captain with Karmagraphy Entertainment Company.