RASHIDA KAHN
Topic: Rhythm Tap
TIme: 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM
Where: FORUM THEATRE, 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651   View Map

Rashida Khan began dancing at the age of four, and has since trained with such prestigious tap masters as Mark Mendonca, Dormeisha Sumbry, and Derick Grant of “Bring In Da Noise”, Sam Weber, Lynn Dally, Linda Sohl-Donnell, Fred Strickler, and others. She has toured both nationally and internationally with “Rhapsody In Taps” and Jazz Tap Ensemble’s Caravan Project, touring the states, Canada, Japan, and Bali.  Rashida was one of four tap dancers to work with Michael Jackson on his “Rock My World” short film and music video. Other television credits include dance performances for The Rosie O’Donnell Show, a feature role on Disney’s “Out of the Box”, Sea World commercials, Nickelodeon’s “The Big Help” and various KCET Christmas Eve specials.  She has performed tap, hip hop and drumming shows for both Universal Studios (“Boom Operators”) and Disney’s California Adventure (“La Feet”). Stage credits include various tap and hip – hop shows, sharing the stage with such greats as the Nicholas Brothers, Gregory Hines, Buster Brown, Leonard Reed and others.  She recently returned from Russia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, and the Ukraine, where she premiered Parris Mann’s tap show called “Just In Time”.  Rashida is one of an elite group of teachers training the best young talents in Southern California as a staff member at Orange County High School of the Arts. She also currently teaches hip – hop and tap at various studios and choreographs for many different types of groups in the LA and Orange County areas.

MAURA TOWNSEND
Topic: Modern
TIme: 11:30 AM - 12:50 PM
Where: FORUM THEATRE, 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651   View Map

Artistic Director of Project 21 Performing Arts Consortium, studied dance at Inner City Cultural Center in Los Angeles under the late ballet dancer Gerald McCall.  She received her BFA in Dance from United States International University in San Diego, and her MFA in Dance from the University of California Irvine under the mentorship of the legendary dancer/choreographer Donald McKayle. Maura’s choreography is an eclectic blend of Modern (Horton based and contemporary), Ballet and West African dance. Maura has an interest in dance and technology and has created a multimedia piece entitled “Journey by Trane,” which is based on the life of legendary saxophonist John Coltrane.  She has performed with such dance companies as JAZZANTIQUA Dance and Music Ensemble, New Age Dance Workshop, Winifred R. Harris’ Between Lines and Lula Washington Dance Theater.  Her teaching background includes University of California, Irvine, California State University San Bernardino, San Bernardino Valley College, Backstreet Dance Studio in Riverside, CA, Dance Arts Academy in Los Angeles, Conjunctive Point Dance Studios in Culver City, CA, the Webb School of California in Claremont, and Los Angeles Unified School District Conservatory of Fine Arts at Cal State L.A.  Maura has produced several dance concerts, festivals and intensive dance workshops and she was also invited to teach a spring dance workshop in Nevis, West Indies by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.  She recently founded and produced the first Inland Empire Dance Concert Series at Cal State San Bernardino.  She also serves on the San Bernardino Fine Arts Commission.

PHI NGUYEN
Topic: Hip Hop
TIme: 1:00 PM - 2:20 PM
Where: FORUM THEATRE, 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651   View Map

Jeff ‘Phi’ Nguyen comes to you from Phoenix, Arizona. his first started out with freestyling and break dancing, and before long he started to develop his own unique style which can best be described as abstract hip hop. He has become known for his musicality and fluid movement. His first choreographic job was for the Phoenix Suns dance team. In 2001, Phi moved to Los Angeles and has been teaching all over the United States. The past three years, Phi has been a member of the world-renowned BBoy. Freestyle crew called the Jabbawockeez Crew. Although Phi has made quite a career out of teaching, you can also see him dancing on a National Ice Breakers commercial, the Fox Network show “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment,” and for the “Pussycat Dolls.” Phi was honored to be asked to freestyle on the American Billboard Awards for the JAM MASTER JAY TRIBUTE, along side artists such as Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes and Aerosmith.

SEAN GREENE
Topic: Modern
TIme: 2:30 PM - 3:50 PM
Where: FORUM THEATRE, 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651   View Map

At 19, Sean Greene began dancing at Pierce Junior College. Three years later, he joined the Bella Lewitzky Dance Company, where, as Principal Dance and "Master Teacher" he danced and taught all over the world for 19 years. In 1978, he appeared on the cover of Dance magazine and in 1980, received the Pasadena Performing Artist of the Year award. In 1988 Sean left the Bella Lewitzky Dance Company to direct Transitions Dance Company and the Advanced Performance Course at the Laban Centre in London for the next six years. In 1994, he served as Rehearsal Director for the Phoenix Dance Company in Leeds, before returning to the United States. In 2003, Sean was nominated for a Lester Horton Lifetime Teaching Award. In 2004, his duet from “La Famiglia del Inferno” was reconstructed and nominated for a Lester Horton Award. He now teaches at Chapman University.