Instructors

Check back frequently for additional instructor bios and pictures!

	Mikelle Bunker Mikelle Bunker is a four-time National Champion of the B.Y.U Cougarettes drill team. More recently she danced with Creative Force Productions Professional Dance Company. Before college Mikelle had fourteen years of training in ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, and gymnastics. She has danced with Dance Impressions (11 years), Clytie Adams School of Ballet (9 years), Bonnie Pierce Modern Dance (3 years), and USA Gymnastics World for (3 years). Mikelle has run and maintained, Inspire, a yearly dancer's workshop based out of Utah. Other career highlights include dancing in an off Broadway production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and in numerous NBA and NFL half-time shows. She has also studied with Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor, the Broadway Dance Center (NY), Backstage Dance Studio, Steps on Broadway, and The Edge Performing Arts Center. Conventions attended: NYC Dance Alliance, Jump, LA Dance Magic, West Coast Dance Explosion, and Urban Jam.
	Robert Rich Growing up in the city of Brotherly Love, Robert Rich was introduced to the performing arts early on in life and developed a strong appreciation for dance. Since he discovered dance, Rich has been perfecting his craft and hasn't stopped. Before graduating with Honors from Hampton University in May of 2006, Rich formed The Oracle dance crew. He became one of the most recognized and sought after choreographers in the Hampton Roads area, heavily involving himself in the growing fashion world amongst college campuses. He became the creative director for the top selling Hampton University fashion shows. Post graduation, Rich relocated to New York City and signed with Clear Talent Group. Since then his career has taken off. Some of his credits include: TV Movies Live: Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Rich&Tone/Flii/Chuck Maldonado), So You Think You Can Dance with Lady Gaga (Laurieann Gibson/Richard Jackson),and choreography for: Chauncey Black, Sammie, Nike Battlegrounds Tour, BET Spring Bling, and Miami Heat Halftime Shows. Since moving to California, he's been teaching Hip Hop classes at Ladera Ranch Dance Academy in Orange County Ca., The Basement Dance Center in N. Hollywood, Ca. and West Coast Dance Academy in Winnetka, Ca. Rich is also a member of LXD, The League of Extraordinary Dancers.
	Marci Tuttle Marci Tuttle is an accomplished dance performer and instructor, as well as an emerging choreographer with numerous degrees and awards. Ms. Tuttle comes to the Ladera Ranch Dance Academy from the University of California, Irvine where she earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance. Originally, Ms. Tuttle is from Utah where she earned her undergraduate degree in Dance Education at Brigham Young University and was actively involved in dance education in the public school systems as well as Utah Valley University as an adjunct faculty member. Ms. Tuttle currently performs with Loretta Livingston and Dancers a contemporary dance ensemble based out of downtown L.A. She recently returned from Seoul, Korea where she collaborated with Korean choreographer Dr .Kim Sam Jin. She has also performed in a wide range of choregraphed pieces with various professional and pre-professional companies including: the Merce Cunningham Dance Project (which resulted in a documentary titled "A Merce Happening in the Making" that aired on KOED); an untitled collaborative improvisation with New York's Corbin Dance at the Laguna Dance Festival; Vacant House with Loretta Livingston and Dancers; Persuasion and Vacant House in the Dance Vision concert at UC Irvine; and the NYU Telematic Performance in New York. While at BYU she danced with the "Dancers'Company", which toured nationally and internationally, and Kinnect a community outreach program that focuses on taking dance to elementary age children. Ms. Tuttle has won numerous awards & scholarships both as a teacher and as a dance student at UC Irvine and BYU including Provo High School Teacher of the Year, a full fellowhsip & teacher assistant at UC Irvine, and BYU's Dance Department scholarship for three consecutive years.
	Danielle Laven Danielle Laven as been dancing since she was little and was trained at a small studio in Livermore California. In her many years of training she has learned form some of the most respected and well educated dance instructors and choreographers such as, Bruce Campbell, Dennis Caspary, Shawnel Herbst, Sonya Hardy, Chris Jacobson, Sean Herrington and many more. In those years she had been awarded many titles such as Miss Broadway Magic, Miss teen KAR and numerous overall group, duet, solo awards. Danielle has been student teaching since the age of 15 and began her own classes by the age of 17. Since then she has taught many award winning solos, duets, trios and groups. Danielle took a break from teaching in the fall of 2002 when she was cast for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line as a Dancer and Performer. She continued on to Disneyland where she performed as a Disney Princess for 3 years (2003-2006). In her time spent at Disney she was privileged enough to travel and perform at many events and live television broadcasts such as Extreme Make over Home Edition, and the 2005 Macy Day Parade in New York City. She also was able to perform in many of the daily parades at Disneyland and California Adventure. Since then Danielle has returned to her true passion, which is teaching young children to dance and she hopes they too will share in her passion for the art. She has been teaching the art of dance in Orange County since 2005 and has been awarded many overall awards for her groups, solos, duets and trios.
	Aimee Molloy Aimee Molloy is a co-founder of the Ladera Ranch Dance Academy and is currently director of public relations for our studio. Her responsibilities vary among the areas of media relations, strategic planning, community relations, and special events. Aimee has a Bachelors of Science degree from Weber State University. Before working with Ladera Ranch Dance Academy she worked as a Registered Dental Hygienist for several years. Aimee is passionate about her faith, family, dancing, and her work. When not involved in these pursuits she enjoys serving in the community and her church.
	Brittany Bentley Brittany has been dancing since the age of six, and has been choreographing since age thirteen. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her dancing and self-choreography. One of her proudest accomplishments is winning the Overall Title award at the Sophisticated Productions dance competition for five consecutive years! She has competed/attended several regional and national dance competitions and conventions, worked at Disney World for two years performing in their Sparkling Christmas Spectacular show when she was just ten and eleven years old, and has had the opportunity to train with some of the dance industries best choreographers/instructors: Dee Casprey, Doug Caldwell, Mia Michaels, Chrissy Whitehead , Jon Engstrom, Trinette Singleton (The Joffery Ballet), Jane Lanier (original Fosse dancer) and Rolann Mitchell. Some other regional and national dance titles include Miss. Nexstar, Miss. Footloose Elite Champion, Miss. Showstopper, Teen Miss. Dance Xplosion and 2 nd runner up to Teen Miss. Dance of Florida. A true triple threat, Brittany graduated in 2006 from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles as a Musical Theater major and is an aspiring actress. (And yes, she is a classically trained singer too!) She can be seen as a ballet dancer in the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (in theaters Nov. 08) and most recently in an episode of the Showtime Network hit series Dexter . Other film and TV credits include Rescue: 911 , Mortal Kombat:Conquest , Kids For Character with Tom Selleck, a few music videos and over sixty commercials. Brittany teaches/choreographs for two dance studios in Boca Raton, Florida; and is excited to share her love and knowledge of dance to her students at LRDA!
	*Beau Smart Casper* (Guest Teacher)** Beau is a natural hip hop dancer. Growing up in Orange County Beau mostly taught himself a variety of hip hop styles. His formal training includes classes from Millennium, Debbie Allan's, and Debbie Reynolds. In 2005 he was discovered by the founder of "Krump", Tommy the Clown, who recognized a unique talent and offered Beau a spot on his performance team. Beau has since traveled the world with Tommy performing for the king of New Zealand to Mercedes Benz's commercial in Italy. Currently Beau is represented by Clear Talent Group and has worked with several artists including; Chris Brown, Sean Paul, Keisha Cole, Channing Tatum, Red 1, Afura.