MEET OUR AMAZING GUEST ARTISTS
DANCERS
MYRNA KAMARA
Ms.Kamara received her early ballet training with Ellen Gniadowska and Peggy Lynne in Baltimore, Maryland. After studying one year at the Washington Ballet School in D.C., she pursued her studies at the School of American Ballet in New York.
From 1984 to 1989, Ms. Kamara was a member of the New York City Ballet where she danced roles in ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, Eliot Feld and Lar Lubovitch. During the 1989-90 season Ms. Kamara danced in Bonn, Germany under director Youri Vamos, where the role of the Nubiana from Spartacus was created for her.
In 1990, Ms Kamara joined Miami City Ballet working with director Edward Villella. Subsequently, she was promoted to principal ballerina. There she received critical acclaim for her performances in the Balanchine repertoire including the Arabian solo from the Nutcracker, the siren in Prodigal Son, Calliope in Apollo, the solo tall girl in Rubies, the Russian girl in Serenade, Allegro Brillante, Who Cares, Bugaku, Agon, Four Temperaments, and many more.
Her final company contract was with Maurice Bejart from 1996-1999 in Switzerland. During this period she performed several of his ballets, including the renowned Bhakti, Sacre du Printemps, Le Mandarin Merveilleux, L'oiseau de Feu, and Ballet for Life (Le Presbytere).
Miss Kamara has appeared as a guest artist throughout the United States and Europe. Some of her well-known performances were at the Arena di Verona for more than two decades for her notable and distinguishing performances in Aida, working with Placido Domingo for his Gala evening of “Carmen” and performances of “Aida” in Japan, performing Franco Zeffirelli’s “Aida” in Teatro alla Scala ( Choregraphy Vladimir Vassiliev ), an evening event for Bulgari at Terme di Caracalla in Rome with Roberto Bolle and Andrea Volpintesta, Gala des Ètoiles in Luxembourg (where she performed two Balanchine pas de deux’s licensed from the Balanchine Trust), and performing for the last two closing night galas on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the “Miami International Ballet Festival”.
Other tours included the Spoleto Festival, the Edinburgh Festival, the Leonide Massine Festival, South Africa, Portugal, Japan, and the Kennedy Center, to mention a few.
Myrna is a guest teacher ( Basel Ballet School, Tanz Academie Zurich, San Francisco Ballet School, School of American Ballet, New York City Ballet , Greek National Opera, Architanz, Ashkenazy Ballet Center, Orsolina 28, Art Studio Danza, Mimarsinan Fine Art and State Konservatory, Istanbul,Turkey) and coaches dancers and competition ice skaters to help improve their artistic performance qualities.
Recently Myrna was a jury member for the Prix de Lausanne 2021 and 2022 for the Miami International Ballet Competition.
In addition to all of this, Ms Kamara is the founder and performer of balletXtreme dance company, a strong neoclassical contemporary ballet company performing works from diverse internationally renowned choreographers (www.balletxtreme.com )
LUCIA LACARRA
Lucia Lacarra, born in Zumaia, knew from earliest childhood that she was born to be a ballerina. Whenever she saw pictures of the ballet school in Monte Carlo, sponsored by Grace Kelly, she cried because she still had no chance to dance.
It was only when in her small Basque hometown a studio was opened that she was able to begin with lessons. She was ten at that time. Soon she was sent to a summer course directed by Rosella Hightower. There Lucia's mother was strongly advised to support her daughter's obvious talent. So she was sent to San Sebastián to Mentxu Medel who worked with Lucia for three years in a completely unselfish way to prepare her for the audition to Victor Ullate's school in Madrid. Already in her second year there she was given a contract to the Ballet de Victor Ullate. She was just fifteen when she danced Balanchine's Allegro Brillante. In the course of four seasons this was followed by Concerto Barocco, Fokine's Les Sylphides, four works by Hans van Manen, Nils Christe's Before Nightfall as well as four pieces by her mentor Ullate who gave her the necessary self- confidence.
In 1994, she joined Roland Petit's Ballets de Marseille as a Principal. Petit immediately entrusted her with the role of Esmeralda, with Patrick Dupont as her partner, in Notre Dame de Paris, replacing Dominique Khalfouni. From Roland Petit she
learned above all to always be emotionally present on stage and she felt that in this company everything was danced in a somewhat more classical style. Within three years she danced the leading roles in seven ballets by Roland Petit, four of which were created on her, most notably Angélique in Le Guépard and, as partner of Nicolas Le Riche, in the famous Le Jeune homme et la Mort.
In her pursuit of classicism she then decided to join the San Francisco Ballet. Under the direction of Helgi Tomasson she could dance Giselle, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty for the first time, i.e. some of the classical roles that a young ballerina has to master. The Cage, In the Night and Dances at a Gathering by Jerome Robbins became part of her repertoire, as well as six Balanchine ballets, from Serenade to Jewels, and Victor Gsovsky's Grand Pas Classique, three ballets by Helgi Tomasson, MacMillian's The Invitation, van Manen's Black Cake, Nacho Duato's Without Words, Roland Petit's L'Arlésienne and Desdemona in Lar Lubovitch's contemporary Othello.
Lucia Lacarra has joined the Bayerisches Staatsballett with the 2002/2003 season in order to return towards the leading European choreographers. In the course of the first three months in Munich she danced Raymonda, Tatjana and Odette/Odile as well as the third pas de deux of In the Night, always together with her partner for many years, Cyril Pierre, who has also joined the company as a Principal. Together they were guests in the big theatres around the world. She also danced in Portrait John Neumeier in Jupiter Symphony and In the Blue Garden. In autumn 2003, she danced Louise in John Neumeier's The Nutcracker as well as Titania/Hippolyta in his A Midsummer Night's Dream and the title role in Ivan Liška's new production of Sleeping Beauty.
Lucia Lacarra was awarded with the Prix Nijinsky in Monte Carlo in December 2002, followed by the Prix Benois de la Danse which she won in Moscow in April 2003.
She was nominated in 2004 and 2005 for the Merkur Theaterpreis in Munich. In November 2005 she was awarded with the Spanish Premio Nacional de Danza 2005. This prize, endowed with 30.000,- Euro is one of the highest awards the Spanish government gives out. In 2007 she was announced honorary citizen and cultural messenger of her home town San Sebastián.
In 2008, she was awarded the honorary title 'Kammertänzerin' by the Bavarian Ministry of Culture. In 2011, at the World Ballet Stars Gala in St Petersburg, she was named the Dancer of the Decade.
In 2016 she left Munich and joined Ballett Dortmund as a permanent guest star.
Together with Matthew Golding she founded GOLDENLAC Productions. In September 2020 they Premiered their first show called FORDLANDIA, created and produced by both of them. For this show she was nominated for a Max Award l, as Best Female Dancer.
In October 2021 again together with Matthew Golding they premiered their second show IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT. And this time she Won the Max Award as best Female dancer for it.
MATTHEW GOLDING
Matthew Golding studied in Washington DC at The Universal Ballet School, formerly known as Kirov Academy and further went on to graduate with Honors from The Royal Ballet School of London.
Matthew won the Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition and the Prix de Lausanne in 2002 and then joined American Ballet Theatre in 2003.
He was promoted to Principal Dancer at Dutch National Ballet of Holland in 2010 and then became a Principal dancer with The Royal Ballet from 2014-2017.
He has guest performed with Bavarian State Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin, The National Ballet of Canada, English National Ballet, Universal Ballet of Korea, Ukraine National Theatre of Kiev and currently with Hong Kong Ballet.
Golding’s classical principal repertoire includes Manon, Onegin, Anna Karenina, The Dream, Romeo and Juliet, La Bayadère, Giselle, Don Quixote, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, among others.
His accolades include the Dutch Zwaan Award in 2010 for creation by Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon choreography called "Short time together."
He was nominated for the Prix Benois de la Danse in 2012/13, for roles in Nutcracker and Cinderella.
Together with Lucia Lacarra he founded GOLDENLAC Productions. In September 2020 they Premiered their first show called FORDLANDIA, created and produced by both of them.
In October 2021 they Premiered the second show called IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT. Matthew is also the Choreographer of the piece.
ACTORS
MATTHEW MOORE
Matthew Moore is an award-winning actor, comedian, and improviser based in Los Angeles. In 2008, he founded Improv for the People, the improvisation studio in LA that is home to thriving improv classes, side-splitting improv shows, dynamic corporate trainings and events, and so much more. Instagram: MatthewIsMoore, ImprovForThePeople
DENISE MOSES
DENISE MOSES, character actress, has an extensive performing background which includes Off-B’way’s groundbreaking “Tony n Tina’s Wedding,” and the critically acclaimed National Tour of “I Love Lucy Live On Stage.” She has performed her one-woman multi-character comedy shows nation-wide, and The New York Post said about her solo work: “…Moses is a versatile actress … comparable to the most well-known character comedienne, Lily Tomlin…”
Pasadena Civic Ballet appearances: “The Wizard of Oz” (Wicked Witch); “Giselle” (Giselle’s Mother); “Cinderella” (Stepmother); PCB/ArtistsPlus Production of “Little Women” (Aunt March).
Favorite commercial roles: Wicked Witch of the West, hopscotching factory worker, Bear Naked hiker, school cafeteria lady, spontaneously combusting cat lady, Mona Lisa. She has appeared in a handful of indie films & TV shows.
LIAM CLANCY
Liam is a comedian, improviser and clown originally from the San Francisco bay area. Liam is a part of the Improv for the People (IFTP) Main Company, the UCB murder mystery team “Pinot Noir”, the Westside Comedy theater resident team “The Park”, and the long form narrative team “Syndicated Broadcast.” He has been a part of numerous productions at comedy theaters across Los Angeles including The UCB Franklin theater, The Santa Monica Playhouse, The Pico Playhouse, The Broadwater Mainstage, The Westside Comedy Theater, and many others. Liam graduated from the University of Southern California with degrees in Neuroscience and Economics.
JAYMIE PARKKINEN
Jaymie Parkkinen is a visual and performing artist who has been teaching and performing theatrical clown, improvisation, and physical acting in Los Angeles for more than a decade. He is a member of the Main Company at Improv for the People (IFTP) and one-half of the improv duo, The Park. He is also the founder of Clown Cardio, a fitness studio that uses physical theater games to create playful and unique workouts.
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MUSICIANS
CATHY MILLER
Pianist Catherine Miller is the Artistic Director for the Pasadena Vocal Competition, a member of the music staff at San Diego Opera, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and an in-demand collaborative pianist and coach. Recent engagements include principal pianist for Die Walküre Act 3 at the Hollywood Bowl under the direction of Maestro Gustavo Dudamel. During the ’22-’23 season at San Diego Opera, Catherine served as principal pianist for Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi under the baton of Maestro Yves Abel. Future engagements include serving as as principal pianist on Puccini’s Madama Butterfly for San Diego Opera and for the L.A. Phil’s production of Beethoven’sFidelio with Maestro Dudamel and the Deaf West Theater.
Recent recital collaborations include with tenor Arnold Geis for Songs My Mother Taught Me at Ventura College and with Mr. Geis and soprano Oriana Falla for Laguna Live!, with tenor Nathan Granner and soprano Jamie Chamberlin for Opera Orlando’s Opera in the Park Concert Series, LA Made at the LA Public Library with Long Beach Opera, and with tenor Xavier Prado in Zipper Hall of the Colburn School. She has also appeared in recital with renowned soprano, Angel Blue at iconic venues such as The Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall and The Ravinia Festival.
YAO WANG
A cellist from Xinjiang, China, Yao began playing the cello at the age of five under the guidance of his father. He studied at the Shanghai Conservatory in China and obtained a Performer’s Certificate at La Sierra University in Riverside, CA, where he was mentored by Professor Pin Fei Tang. Mr. Wang’s exceptional skills caught the attention of the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance with distinction, thanks to a distinguished full scholarship. He earned his master’s degree in music performance in 2013 at Azusa Pacific University, under the mentorship of Dr. Marek Szpakiewicz. Yao won several prestigious awards, including the second prize in the National Competition in 2000 and the top prize in the Central Conservatory String Competition in China. In 2002, he was awarded a full scholarship to the Itzhak Perlman Music Program.
Yao holds the esteemed position of principal cellist in the Dream Orchestra since 2015. Simultaneously, he shoulders the responsibilities of Associate Director of the Young Artists Orchestra of Los Angeles since 2013, further solidifying his commitment to nurturing the next generation of musical talents. Commencing in 2023, he undertakes the role of instructing Music Theory A at the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA).
ANDRE KWON
Praised for his bold, no-compromise style of playing, Andrew Dae Yun Kwon has captivated audiences worldwide with his virtuosity and charismatic stage presence. Born into a musical family, he studied violin in Korea with his father, a choir and orchestra director. At the age of 10, Andrew made his Carnegie Hall solo recital debut. Since then, he has appeared in concert halls across the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, and China, all while secretly disappointing his parents’ aspirations for him to become a doctor.
Andrew’s exceptional musical diversity has made him a highly sought-after collaborator, working with artists from a broad range of genres, including Emmanuel Ax, Yo- Yo Ma, Boyz II Men, The Eagles, and many more. He has played with orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. His violin playing can be heard on productions streaming on Netflix and Disney Plus, as well as in albums released by Sony Classical, Columbia Records, Naxos, and Audiomachine.
As a founding member of wholesoul, an R&B/Hip-Hop/Soul string quartet based in Los Angeles, Andrew is at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of string quartets in the 21st century. They also collaborated on albums with Hozier, Australian pop/soul sensation grentperez, and the electronic producer/artist Bad Snacks.
When he’s not busy trying to break the stereotype that musicians don’t make any money, Andrew enjoys obliterating noobs in online video games, lifting weights heavier than himself, and yelling at the TV while watching his favorite teams: the Lakers and the Dodgers. He is a member of the Santa Barbara Symphony and Hawaii Symphony Orchestra.
DAE KWON
A highly accomplished violinist and violist with over a decade of experience in the music industry, Dae’s recent achievements include winning coveted positions as a tutti violist with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in September 2023, further solidifying his reputation as a sought-after talent in Norway. He also secured the principal violist role with the Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in Gent, Belgium, following his accolade as a tutti violist with the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra in October 2022.
Based in Los Angeles, Dae has left an indelible mark in the industry, collaborating extensively with major studios such as Fox, Warner Brothers, and Hollywood Scoring.
His musical expertise has graced numerous film and television projects, including recording for Edouard Brenneisen's limited pressing and contributing to the score of Fox TV's "Sexpectation."
Dae's impressive journey also includes serving as a session musician for Hollywood Scoring and contributing to the premiere recording and performance of Anthony Davis' opera, Central Park 5. Dae holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he studied under the renowned Herbert Greenberg. He furthered his expertise at the Peabody Institute, earning a Master of Music and Graduate Performance Diploma in Violin and Viola Performance under the tutelage of CJ Chang.
ANGELA LIU
Angela Liu was born and raised in Taiwan and loved music from a very young age.
She learned to play the piano at the age of 8, and viola at 12, and started to accompany the local church choir.
Angela studied music at Taiwan Soochow University and Tainan Women's College of Art and Technology and received viola and piano degrees. After graduation, she was admitted as a violist playing in the Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), also known as the Taiwan Philharmonic. During her 23-year tenure with NSO, she played numerous major orchestral masterpieces performed all over the world and shared the same stage with distinguished musicians. Ms. Liu often performs with the Artesian Quartet and the Chamber Symphony Orchestra of Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena and freelances as a violist in Socal. She is the viola coach at Arcadia High School. She is also the piano accompanist for the Merry Singers Vocal Workshop.
Ms. Liu is a member of the Music Teachers Association of California and the National Federation of Music Clubs.
CHOREOGRAPHERS
ANDRÉ MEGERDICHIAN
André is a Dancer, Choreographer, and Movement Specialist who danced professionally for some of the most reputable companies and choreographers in the world: Limón Dance Company, Janis Brenner and Dancers, Dance Kaleidoscope, The Mary Anthony Dance Theatre, Soundance Repertory Company, Reidel Dance Theatre, Daniel Charon, and Seán Curran.
An Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina he has also served as a faculty member at the Duncan Center Conservatory in Prague Czech, Republic, The Limón Institute in New York City, and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, among others.
André regularly teaches workshops and master classes throughout the United States, Europe and China.
His work has been commissioned by numerous universities, festivals, and dance institutions throughout the United States, including the Cincinnati Ballet, Hollywood Ballet, Dance Kaleidoscope, Columbia City Ballet, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Daedalus Project, and the Palm Spring International Dance Festival.
Of his most recent work for Dance Kaleidoscope, Rita Kohn of Nuvo Newsweekly wrote, “...allows us to see ourselves in a hero/heroine journey... a civics lesson for our time... beautifully rendered...”.
Internationally, André collaborated with Czech physical theatre director Petr Hudecek and co-choreographer / performer Jennifer Deckert, in the creation of the evening length duet, Kiss Romeo Bang! Juliet, which premiered at the Alta Theatre in Prague, Czech Republic. He was also commissioned by the Painted Lights Dance Project to create Moving Light, an evening length work premiered at the Statkino Theatre in Salzburg, Austria.
With composer Fahad Siadat, André co-founded The Resonance Collective, creating and presenting interdisciplinary works that explore themes of mystical transformation, while cross-pollinating the aesthetic, formalistic, creative, and performative aspects of multiple genres. Offbroadway.com said of their first evening length work, Saharava-a ritualized dance-opera – “Megerdichian’s precise and inventive dances evoke wonder, desire, and terror in us...”.
In addition to creating evening length works they have been presented by such institutions as the New York International Fringe Festival, the Xing Hai Conservatory of Music Dance Ensemble, California Institute of the Arts, the Monmouth University Pollak Gallery with visual artist Lucy Kalian, along with performances throughout the NYC and Los Angeles area. Their newest evening length work, created in collaboration with poet Sholeh Wolpé, The Conference of the Birds, based on her translation of Attar’s 11thcentury Sufi text (of the same name) was presented by the Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Jeff Slayton of the Los Angeles Dance Chronicle called it “An extraordinary theater experience that bordered on being a spiritual journey” and Mark Swed of the Los Angeles Times noted: “Elegantly staged and choreographed by André Megerdichian”.
André is a Functional Range Conditioning movement specialist (FRCms), certified yoga instructor, and CPT through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He has presented research in dance science for the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science conferences (IADMS), and the Dance Science and Somatics Educators conference. He also serves on the IADMS Dance Educators Committee. Raised in Beirut Lebanon, Athens Greece, and Geneva Switzerland, André started dancing during his senior year at Fishburne Military School. He holds a BFA from Butler University, and an MFA in Choreography from the California Institute of the Arts.
JENNIFER DECKERT
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Jennifer began her training with Alexandra Zaharias. She graduated with a BFA in ballet performance from University of Utah, performing with Character Dance Ensemble, Eastern Arts Ensemble, and Utah Ballet. Jennifer continued to perform for Utah Ballet as she received her MFA in ballet teaching, choreography, and research. She was then invited to join Roxey Ballet, under the direction of Mark Roxey. During her performance career she held lead roles as Myrtha in Giselle, Dew Drop and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Prelude in Les Sylphides, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the principle role in Paquita. She was invited to perform in Charles Weidman’s The Unicorn in the Garden and was coached by modern dance pioneer Mary Anthony.
In 2014, she choreographed and performed in the evening length duet, Kiss Romeo Bang! Juliet, created in collaboration with Czech physical theatre director Petr Hudecek and co-choreographer André Megerdichian, presented in Prague, Czech Republic.
In 2015 she was invited to present work at the 3rd Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition in Beijing, China.
In 2016, she worked with Pablo Francisco Ruvalcaba in his reconstruction of José Limón’s The Winged, which was then invited to the Kennedy Center and performed as part of the American College Dance Association’s National Festival.
Prior to her appointment at University of South Carolina, Jennifer was on Dance Faculty at the University of Wyoming where she established a BFA in Dance Science Program. Jennifer is also an active member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS), where she co-chairs the Dance Educators’ Committee. Her research interests include dynamic alignment, the effects of fatigue, and the integration of wellness-based training into the classroom and University environment.
www.jenniferdeckert.com
LEAH MCCALL
Leah McCall is a professional dancer and choreographer based in Los Angeles, California. She embarked on her dance journey by training at the National Ballet Academy of Denver, followed by studying year-round at Miami City Ballet School in 2011 and Boston Ballet School in 2013. From 2009 to 2012, Leah attended formative summer intensives and professional development workshops with esteemed institutions such as Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and the School of American Ballet.
Leah's versatility and artistic voice as a dancer and choreographer blossomed during her time as a trainee with the Boston Ballet from 2013-2016. Seeking new experiences, she joined the Los Angeles Ballet in 2016 as a member of the Corps de Ballet. Since then, she has performed in various productions, showcasing her talent in a variety of roles. Notable performances include: George Balanchine's ‘Agon’, ’The Four Temperaments’, and ‘Concerto Barocco’, Aszure Barton's ‘Untouched’, and ‘Les Chambres de Jacques’, Alejandro Cerrudo's ‘Lickety Split’, and Christopher Wheeldon’s ‘Ghost’, amongst others. Additionally, Leah has made appearances in commercial projects including Jennifer Lopez's Vax Live Global Concert, FIDM’s Virtual Fashion Show, The Masked Singer Season 6, and Kevin Hart's 'What The Fit’. She recently had the opportunity to perform live at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA, during The Driver Era's 2023 tour.
While attending the Boston Ballet Trainee program, Leah was instrumental in developing the inaugural Trainee Choreographic Showcase. Through this experience, Leah was inspired to continue to develop her choreographic voice in a variety of venues. In 2020 Leah co-founded LA Grooves, a dance company that expanded her artistic involvement through choreographing for productions incorporating dance on film. This allowed her to explore creative production and cinematography.
Leah's educational background includes a degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University.
