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Dance

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Our Staff

Brian Drogosch

As a competitive dancer Brian was a member of the 1996 and 1998 National Champions at the American Dance Championships in Myrtle Beach. He then started his career at the prestigious Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles on scholarship under the direction of Joe Malone. He has appeared on the television show “3rd Rock From the Sun.” He has danced at the American Choreography Awards, The Nutcracker in Los Angeles, worked on the movie “These Old Broads” with Debbie Reynolds, Joan Collins, Shirley McClain, and Elizabeth Taylor, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, The set of “Alley McBeal” and Tremaine Dance Conventions. Brian has been teaching for three years, specializing in Lyrical and Ballet. His students have won national recognition and numerous awards from competitions all over the country.

Email: brian@triplethreatpa.com

Bill Langley

Bill is a native of Michigan and moved to the bay area in 2003. Starting out as a competitive dancer he appeared on the nationally televised 1996 American Dance Championships, where his team was crowned national champions. He attended Oakland University, and Wayne State University both on dance scholarships. He has performed with the Oakland Dance Theatre, Bob McGrath of Sesame Street; and on the television show Club Connect. He has choreographed numbers for The Children’s Miracle Network, Jerry Lewis Telethon, 2002 Variety Clubs International Convention in Palm Springs, The Reel Awards at The Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, For the San Jose, Saber Kittens and Numerous NBA half time shows. As a teacher in Michigan and California, Bill’s students have performed on Star Search with Arsenio Hall, So You Think You Can Dance,  the movie “Pixel Perfect” by Disney, High School Musical 3, reoccurring roles on “Even Stevens” and “The Young and The Restless,” “Rent” on Broadway, and Touring casts of “Fosse,” “Movin’ Out” and "Cats" Bill has been teaching dance for 12 years and his students have won numerous high score and top awards at competitions all over the United States.

Email: bill@triplethreatpa.com

Sonya Buitrago-Hardy

Sonya grew up in Livermore and now resides in Tracy. Sonya has been dancing since the young age of 6 years old. She has danced with many different teachers and choreographers. She has also performed in a variety of shows and musicals in the area. This past Fall her choreography was seen in Pleasanton Playhouse’s Singing in the Rain. Sonya is the mother of 4 children, and her love of dance and children has led her into teaching for over 18 years. Sonya is also a judge for national competitions. Many of her dancers have won numerous overall scores and top choreography awards at State and National competitions.

Shawnel Buitrago-Herbst

Shawnel has been involved with dancing since the age of 2 1/2, training with multiple studios and teachers in the Bay Area. She has always aspired to become a teacher and owner herself. During her 6 years as a member of the San Francisco 49er “Gold Rush” cheerleader, she has had the chance to perform in such locations as Canada, Japan, China and Austria. She also has had the opportunity to tour overseas with the USO to Bosnia, Croatia and Hungary to entertain American Troops for Independence Day. She has been involved in community theater for the past 17 years and most recently co-directed/ choreographed Beauty and the Beast for Tri-Valley Rep If you look closely, Shawnel can also be seen in the feature film "Flubber" with Robin Williams. The dedication of Shawnel and her students have led them to many awards and accomplishments.

Adrianne Cherry

Adrianne began dancing when she was six years old, competing and taking classes in Jazz, Tap and Ballet. After high school she began to discover her own style of choreography, dancing and choreographing at Las Positas College. After Las Positas, Adrianne went on to San Jose State to receive her Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism with minors in business and dance. At San Jose State she discovered her love for modern dance and the artistic expression involved in choreography. Eager to pursue her passion for dance, she applied to Mill’s College for a Masters of Fine Arts in Choreography and Performance.

During her time at Mills, Adrianne had the opportunity to work with award winning faculty as well as taking master classes from choreographers from around the world. Upon graduation Adrianne received the E. L. Weigand Foundation Award for Excellence in Choreography and Performance. She has been teaching her own Contemporary Modern choreography to adults for the last ten years, through college and outside projects, and has been teaching kids in studios the last six years in Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, and Lyrical. Adrianne continues to take technique classes and intensives to better improve her own technique and strives to provide an exciting and challenging class for those she teaches.

Shanna de la Torre

Shanna’s love and passion for dance has been present throughout her life.  Starting at the age of 4, competing and training in all types of dance, Shanna knew she had found her calling.  Performing in hip hop troupes such as, Positive Steps, and Culture Shock, Shanna was able to discover her true love of dance, hip hop.  Training in avenues ranging from college, to conventions, and master classes, her main goal was to explore what the world of hip hop meant to her, and she found her answer in teaching.  She has since gone on to choreograph routines that have received awards such as; Best Choreography, Precision, the Showstoppers Essence of Hip Hop Award, and many more. 

Through her dancing and teaching style, Shanna strives to communicate her love and enthusiasm for life and the arts, to all that she is able to work with. 

Email: butterflytat@comcast.net

LangleyKatherine Langley

Advertising/Marketing Director/Office Staff

Katie hails Michigan where she grew up in a dancing family. Along with competitive dance she played basketball, softball, track, and volleyball. Since graduating from Michigan State University in 2010 with a bachelors degree in Creative Advertising. Katherine has excelled in marketing and design, while working in the Marketing Department at Cornerstone Schools in Detroit. She looks forward to getting to know all of the TTPA families while being part of our office staff.  We are so excited to have her join our team!

JuanitaJuanita Montenegro

Juanita starting dancing at the age of 6, and through the years she has had the opportunity to experience different studios in California and Arizona .   She joined a competitive team and began competing at regional competitions throughout Northern California at the age of 9 and has won many showmanship and top awards.  Juanita has also attended and participated in many conventions as a child, and continues to do so as an instructor.
 
Juanita’s first opportunity to teach was offered to her during her junior year in high school, where she began coaching Jr. High and High School Cheerleading squads. In 2001, Juanita began teaching the Bay Area YMCA’s.  Her career as an instructor for recreational and competitive dance began in 2003. Her students have won numerous top awards from competitions all over the area. She has had the privilege to work with well-known choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Joe Tremaine, Gregg Russell, The Tap Dogs and Lisa Thompson from The Fly Girls - In Living Color.
 
Juanita’s drive and passion for dance only continues to grow. She is committed to studying the latest styles, learning new technique, and sharing her knowledge.

JuanitaTamie Slader

A former dance studio owner and director for twenty-three years, Tamie Slader is one of the most sought after dance instructors in the Bay Area. From her specialties in tap and jazz; to contemporary and musical theater, her “clean” choreography and stylized artistry have been influencing young dancers throughout the Bay Area and beyond for decades. Tamie’s meticulous eye and hands-on approach have enabled her dancers to win numerous championships and national titles. Tamie donned her first pair of tap shoes at age three and has been counting steps and choreographing award-winning dances ever since. Her natural talent and love for dance is matched only by her unyielding passion for teaching.

JuanitaKristin Del Sodato

After teaching ballet and pre-school dance in the South Bay for over twenty years and as a teacher in the east bay we are proud to Welcome Kristin to Triple Threat Performing Arts. Kristin has danced at the Los Gatos Academy and the San Jose Dance Theater. Kristin specializes in ballet technique as well as developing creativity and a love for dance. Her years of experience and love for her students make her shine as a teacher. We are so excited to welcome her to our staff at TTPA.

Stacey Stevens

Stacey has been teaching dance for almost 15 years.  She is trained in tap, jazz and ballet.  As an expert in tap, she utilizes many different teaching techniques in order to give her students a better understanding of expressing rhythms with their feet.  Stacey attended the University of California, Riverside, on a tap scholarship, where she performed at various locales throughout her college career.  She was also an original member of the Highlander Girls Dance squad.  

Stacey's choreography has earned her numerous awards, including: Top Teacher, Best Choreography, and the Al Gilbert Tap Award.   Stacey is very excited to be joining the TTPA family and looks forward to sharing her passion and knowledge of tap dance with all of the students.

Tamara Taves

For over 10 years Tamara has received her inspiration for music and movement from the Bay Area students in her classes. With 34 years of dance experience and a passion for bringing out the best in her students, Tamara looks forward to the opportunity to share her knowledge and creativity with your dancer.

 

Tammy Thompson

Tammy is a veteran dance mom. Her first daughter Laura started dancing with S.S. Dance Express in 1992. Tammy has been with the studio ever since with her two other daughters, Lindsey and Lisa, even dancing herself with the mom's groups. Tammy has been working in the banking/finance business for over 25 years and brings her knowledge and experience to Triple Threat. Tammy has been working in the office for over ten years. She enjoys working with the teachers, dancers, and parents at Triple Threat. Tammy's goal is to help all so everyone may enjoy the arts.

Jill Weaver

Jill began her dance training at the age of 5, and soon after joined the competition team at her studio in the dance styles of tap, jazz, and ballet.  By the age of 12 she had realized she was most passionate about ballet, and began to re-direct her focus on training in classical ballet at San Jose Dance Theatre under the direction of Paul E. Curtis and Shawn Stuart.  She later trained at Western Ballet under Alessandra di Pierro and Mark Foehringer, where she performed leading roles in The NutcrackerCinderellaCoppelia, and other various ballet and contemporary pieces. After graduating from high school, Jill was offered a contract to tour with Oakland Ballet Company during their national spring tour of The Secret Garden.  After performing with the company in the Corps de Ballet for two seasons (in such ballets as The NutcrackerRomeo and JulietBeneath the Wake by San Francisco Ballet's Betsy Erickson, Bolero, and Billy the Kid), Jill moved to Jackson, Mississippi and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Ballet from Belhaven University. Since then she has been teaching ballet throughout the Bay Area, and is happy to now be a part of the Triple Threat family.  In addition to teaching, Jill is a company dancer with Anastasis Ballet Company, and mommy to her two sweet boys, Dawson and Evan."

Kiona Webb

Kiona has danced for over 15 years in studios throughout the bay area. She has experience with many different genres of dance from ballet to clogging. She has performed with competitive dance teams and has attended many dance conventions during her dance career. Kiona realizes the importance of having a strong ballet background and appreciates how much ballet technique has helped her develop the proper foundation for all the disciplines of dance. This love of dance has led her to becoming a dance instructor so she can share her passion for the arts with others. In her classes, Kiona will teach confidence, coordination, grace, etiquette and appreciation for dance, while maintaining a fun, creative and interactive learning environment. She looks forward to teaching students of all ages and is excited to be a part their dance experience here at TTPA.

Dance Studio

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