Instructors
Natalya Vasser
(Ballet, Jazz, and Pilates)
Natalya Vasser started dancing at age 4 with J. Erglis Smatzoff School of Russian Ballet. From there she moved to the American National Academy were she studied ballet, tap, jazz and musical theatre. At age 13 she decided to take a break form dancing and try cheerleading. Then she moved on to Moorpark College to earn her AA degree in Dance. Heavily involved with performing arts at Moorpark College, she performed on stage in over 20 major productions. Besides dancing and cheerleading, she chose to be an active member of the student body and became involved in student government. During her final year at Moorpark College, Natalya was elected to serve as President of the Associated Students. After Moorpark she moved onto San Francisco State University where she received her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and Dance. Natalya is also a certified Pilates instructor.
Wendy Quinn
(Ballet, Pointe, and Pilates)
An Oklahoma native, Wendy Quinn has been teaching dance for 20 years where her early training began at Furman Gray School of Dance in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Wendy was encouraged by her teachers Shirley Fuman to train in the Italian method of ballet known as Cecchetti Developed by Enrco Cecchetti. At the age of 14 Wendy auditioned in Forth Worth Texas with over 200 dancers and received a scholarship for two years in a row to the prestigious San Francisco Ballet School under the tutelage of Richard Cammack, Zola Dishong, and Anatole Vilzak, to name a few. At Ballet Oklahoma, Wendy was trained by Conrad Budlow of the NYCB as well as Edward Villella. At Michigan State University she studied under Brenda Hamlin, a recently retired Ballet Mistress, who dedicated her teaching career to training dancers in the style of Cecchetti at her studio in Italy.
Wendy has danced with Ballet West, Dallas Irving Ballet Company, and San Grancsico Ballet. She moved to California 16 years ago after winning a jazz scholarship in Las Vegas to study with Joe Tremaine in Studio City to broaden her spectrum of dance. She is also a certified Pilates Instructor.
Tatiana Schuman
(Ballet and Pointe)
Tatiana is from Montreal, Canada where she started her ballet training at age 8. In 2001 she moved to St. Petersburg, Russia to study and graduate from the Cantilena Ballet School of the St. Petersburg Conservatory. That year she was also an apprentice and member of the corps de ballet of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory Theater of Opera and Ballet. After graduating from the ballet school she joined the St. Petersburg State Theater of Classical Ballet where she performed in the corps de ballet, coryphées, and as a demi soloist in performances of Swan Lake, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, and Sleeping Beauty. In 2006 Tatiana returned to North America to share her passion with dance enthusiasts and pre-professional of all ages.
Elena Krifuks
(Salsa & Ballroom)
Elena Krifuks has been dancing since she was 5 years old. After 7 years of rhythmic gymnastics and ballet, she started ballroom dancing at the age 10. She competes at the International Latin Championship and has placed 3rd at the Nationals in March 2005. Elena loves teaching as much as competing and knows many styles of dance including the cha-cha, samba, paso doble, jive, salsa, waltz, tango, foxtrot and quickstep.
Jamie Wignall
(Ballet and Pointe)
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jamie Wignall has been dancing since the age of two. By age twelve, she was a member of the Tremaine Teen Company headed by Margureite Derricks and Michael Rooney. While in high school at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA), she performed on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, as well as being in the LACHSA dance ensemble. In 2005, she performed in the 10th Annual American Choreography Awards. During her senior year of college she was invited to be in the UCSB Student Dance Company. Jamie graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a BFA in dance in June 2006, at which time she joined the Regina Klenjoski Dance Company as well at Fusion Dance Theater.
Alfie Lewis
(Hip Hop & Breakin')
Alfie Lewis is originally from LA. He has been a hip hop dancer for 20 years. Alfie has worked with some of the biggest artists such as Janet Jackson, Ginuwine, and Mary J. Blige. He has also appeared as regular on Soul Train for the past 10 years. Alfie enjoys dancing and is excited to share all this talents.
Ashley Valerio
(Jazz)
Ashley Valerio has been a competitive dancer at Dance Connection Too in Arizona for the past 14 years. Dance Spirit magazine ranked this studio number one in the nation. While at this studio I have won numerous awards. I have also worked and assisted with choreographers such as Dee Caspery (director of the shoot), Ray Leaper (Directory of Nuvo convention), John Cruchtman and Allen Shefeid (owners and creators of West Coast Dance explosion), and many more. I have intensively trained in ballet, jazz contemparary, lyrical and hip hop. Just recently made the top 17 girls on the fox hit show So You Think You Can Dance. Not only do I have a passion for dancing but I love teaching and sharing what I learned with my students.
Augie Lopez
(Hip Hop)
Augies comes from a small town in central California where he started dancing at young age. After winning a local dance competition in his town, he became immediately hooked on dancing. His passion for dance drove him to LA where he has done several commercials, videos, and T. V. shows. We are excited to have him here at Dance In Motion so he can share his love of dance!