2024 MASTER TEACHERS

Expertise. Artistry. Inspiration.

Jackie Sleight

Commercial Jazz Dance

  • Jackie has become one of America’s most prominent dance educators and has earned the reputation of being a “teacher’s teacher”. She has traveled the world sharing her exciting style of jazz and has celebrated over 35 years as a master teacher. Her career as a choreographer and director has crossed into all venues. Jackie choreographed and directed for some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry including Barry Manilow, Paula Abdul, Melissa Manchester, Englebert Hunperdink, Peaches & Herb, Yvonne Elliman, Expose, Stacey Q, Barbara Eden, Barry Bostwick, to name a few; her television choreography boasts several weekly series and her commercial list includes McDonalds, Burger King, Levi’s, Honda, Ford, Polaroid and more. Jackie also became active in the fitness industry just as aerobics was taking off. She was featured in several magazines including New Body and Fit where critics raved about her revolutionary fitness program, FreeDance. She soon became the staff choreographer for the Crystal Light and Reebok Aerobic Championships. The fitness sensation eventually took Jackie to Miami where she wrote and published an exercise manual and system which was used by health clubs all over the country. She worked to usher in what was to become the industry’s hottest craze, “low-impact” aerobics. Jackie’s ever-evolving career includes dancer, choreographer, director, entrepreneur and business owner, including the national dance convention, L.A. DanceMagic. Still, her first love is teaching and she continues to inspire students all over the world. She is forever grateful to her own teachers for sharing their knowledge and passion.

Pat Taylor

Jazz Theatre

  • Pat Taylor (Artistic Director/Choreographer for “Jazz Antiqua”) blends her love of jazz and blues music, visual art and spoken word, with a distinctive historical perspective to create Jazz Antiqua’s own brand of “jazz theatre.”

    Her background in Katherine Dunham and Lester Horton techniques., West African, American vernacular and classic jazz dance, along with a love for the collage nature of improvisation, combine to form her signature style and approach to movement.

    Exploring original music compositions along with the works of Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, John Coltrane and other greats, Jazz Antiqua delves deep into the heart of jazz and the “movement in the music” –from the lineage, legacy and language to the socio-cultural implications and contexts embedded therein. From jazz clubs to concert halls, performing arts centers to schools, museums to festival in the park, Jazz Antiqua shares the art of jazz with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

    The Company has been presented at: Playboy Jazz Festivals (Hollywood Bowl), Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (Music Center of Los Angeles), Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, California African American Museum, The Jazz Bakery, Irvine Barclay Theatre, Ford Amphitheatre, CIAEI Theater (Brazil), Dance Mission Theatre (San Francisco), Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, UCLA Hammer Museum, Watts Towers Jazz Festival, Southern Theatre (Minneapolis), Laney College (Oakland), Mesa Performing Arts Center (Arizona) and many other distinguished venues.

Hama

Jazz Dance

  • Hama, a native of Japan, moved to New York in 1964, where he studied with famed jazz dance instructor, Luigi. Hama’s credits include lead dancer at Radio City Music Hall, as well as various Broadway productions.

    In 1991, Hama opened his dance studio, and has dedicated himself to teaching. He has taught at many universities, and was nominated for the Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring Award at USC.​

    Many of Hama’s students have gone on to become well known dance teachers.

Joey Doucette

Jazz Dance

  • With over 25 years of experience in most areas of the show business industry, Joey Doucette can offer today a widely ranged artistic and professional experience, including but not limited to dance teaching, choreography for stage and television, direction and show production.

    Currently based in Las Vegas and New York City, Joey Doucette wrote and created a variety of production shows throughout United States, Latin America and Europe. He employed his versatile knowledge of different styles of dance while teaching across North and South America as well as many European countries. Joey performed on stage in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, They’re Playing Our Song, Annie, South Pacific, Anything Goes and more. On television he was a lead dancer on many variety shows in Latin America, and Europe, (Siempre en Domingo, En Vivo, Sabado Gigante and a list of others.)

    Joey Doucette is working now to broaden his palette of artistic influence throughout the European and Asian entertainment community. He has performed at the famous Moulin Rouge in Paris and in Korea, where he choreographed and directed an Original production Enigma. Joey worked with Tony Bennett and Regis Philbin, Olga Breeskin of Mexico and a host of other celebrities. Joey has created corporate events that have performed in New York City, Las Vegas and across the country. Mr. Doucette’s work has also been seen in over 44 different countries.

    Joey has trained with the world-famous Luigi of New York City, where he taught at Luigi’s Jazz Centre. Joey is currently the program creator for the new innovation of Luigi’s Jazz technique, Jazz Dance Legacy. Joey has created the Luigi jazz technique teacher certification program launched in July 2019. Joey also was on full scholarship at Joffrey Ballet in New York City. Mr. Doucette has taught throughout the USA, Mexico, Europe Italy, France, Romania, Latvia, Ukraine, Korea, Portugal, and more. Joey also has been a guest teacher at the University of Mexico, UCSD San Diego and at the Virginia School of the Arts under the direction of Petrus Bosman. Plus, he has taught and choreographed a variety of Jazz Ballets for the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA). Joey just recently taught at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, where he taught jazz to the pre-professional division students.

    Known as a energetic and stylized teacher/choreographer, he has enjoyed teaching all levels from 8 yrs of age to professionals. As a former studio owner as well, in Mexico City, Joey understands the needs of studio owners, teachers in the studio environment. Joey has had extensive experience in all aspects of the dance business, both in onstage and backstage. Joey has always looked for new talent, and has hired dancers straight from the dance schools around the country.

Janell Burgess

Baltes Jazz Dance

  • A native Californian, Janell Burgess began dancing at a very young age where she received excellent training from the Ballet Pacifica Conservatory. She has been the recipient of the Tremaine Scholarship, Disneyland Creativity Award, and Giordano Merit Scholarship. She is also an American Legion Award winner for her advocacy in teaching dance in public schools throughout Southern California.

    Janell has performed with well-known companies such as Anaheim Ballet, Ballet Pacifica, Jazz Spectrum, L..A. Contemporary, R.A.D.P. and Mitchel Evan's Mime Project. She has performed for Disney, Universal Studios, and danced on tour with Steve Reid's Dreamscapes as well as concert violinist Bijan Mortezavi.

    Her television and film credits include: Gene Simmons' Family Jewels, The View, 2008 Olympics Basketball opening ceremony, and commercial for Rockin' Body Workout.

    Now a showgirl in Las Vegas, Janell has shared her talents with the cast of Donn Arden's Jubilee! at Ballys hotel and casino. She can now be seen dancing the choreography of Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell at Planet Hollywood in Peepshow.

Jeff Hendrix

Jazz Dance

  • Jeff Hendrix is the producer for Jazz Dance Conference West/Legends and Legacy and the Director of Jazz Dance Alliance. Jeff has an M.F.A. in Dance from U.C. Irvine with a focus on choreography and videography.

    His mentors include Luigi, Rhett Dennis, Stanley Hall and Dennon Rawles. Performance credits include “A Chorus Line”, “Anything Goes”, “Guys and Dolls” and “Oklahoma”. International choreography and teaching includes Luigi’s (NYC), Nat Horn (NYC), New Jersey Ballet , Ballet Russe de Montreal, Columbo (Zurich), Schutz Ballet (Vienna), Okomoto Ballet) (Japan), Maui Academy of Performing Arts, Svetlova Dance Center (Vermont), Bermuda Academy of Ballet and Austin Ballet Theatre.

    Jeff currently teaches dance at California State Dominguez Hills, as well as several community colleges in L.A. and Orange Counties. He frequently choreographs and performs regularly in jazz, tap, salsa and swing pieces.

Jessica Lea Patty

Jazz Dance

  • Jessica is a 7 time Broadway veteran, director & choreographer. She was last seen on Broadway in the Tony Award winning production of Bandstand where she played Jo & understudied & performed the lead role of Julia Trojan. She was also in the Broadway revival of EVITA starring Ricky Martin where she understudied & performed the title role of Eva Peron, as well as staring as the Cassie alternate in the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line. Other Broadway credits include The Boy From Oz starring Hugh Jackman & the original Broadway companies of The People In The Picture, 9 to 5 the musical & The Addams Family. Jessica has numerous regional & NYC stage credits including City Center Encores! & the NY Philharmonic as well as touring nationally w/ Cats & Fosse. Jessica has also made numerous television appearances including five Tony Awards telecasts, Dancing w/ The Stars, The Kennedy Center Honors, The View & Good Morning America.

    ​Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Tony Award winning director/choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton, Bandstand) as both a performer & an associate choreographer. Since appearing in Bandstand on Broadway she has transitioned to directing & choreographing.

    Most recently she co-directed, choreographed & starred in Performing w/ the Pros for the California Schools for the Arts. She directed & choreographed The Addams Family (Broadway.com Regional Award winner for Best musical, direction & choreography) & Hairspray at Florida State University. As well as Sweet Charity at Orange County School of the Arts (Macy Award winner for Best Choreography & Spirit of the Macys). Jessica also choreographed the high school premiere of Jasper in Deadland at OCSA. During the pandemic, she pivoted to the creating virtual theatre! She choreographed a virtual production of The Little Mermaid & directed & choreographed a virtual production of Beauty & the Beast Jr.

    Jessica has taught workshops & masterclasses all over the country, most notably for The Broadway Artists Alliance, Broadway Workshop, University of California Irvine, Florida State & The Performing Arts Project, among many others. She holds a BFA in Music Theatre from Florida State University & hails from Jupiter, Florida. Jessica lived in NYC for 14 years before she & her husband made the cross-country move to sunny LA! With the endless love & support of her family, friends & her rock, Greg, Jessica has followed her life passion to open hearts & minds through storytelling. Most recently she is a new mommy to son Lucas.

José Costas

Ballet / Jazz / Latin

  • José Costas teaches ballet, jazz and Latin dance at Orange Coast College. He began his dance training in his native Puerto Rico, under the direction of Julie Mayoral and Lolita San Miguel. He earned his BS and M. Ed. degrees from Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and his MFA from Tisch School of the Arts, New York University.

    José was a principal dancer with Ballet Hispanico of New York for nine years. During his tenure with Ballet Hispanico, Mr. Costas created lead roles in many ballets and performed throughout the United States, Europe and South America. He has worked extensively as a choreographer, creating productions throughout the country. In 1995, he received a Modern Dance Award given by Puerto Rican Institute of New York.​

    José has taught for educational programs including Ballet Hispanico, City Center and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and master classes in ballet, modern, jazz and ethnic dance styles for universities, dance schools and public schools in the United States and Puerto Rico. He taught at California State University, Dominguez Hills for four years before becoming a full-time faculty member in the Orange Coast College Dance Department in 1999. For several years he was the artistic director of Fiesta Latina, an OCC student dance outreach program focusing on the Latino dance/music traditions. He received an award from OCC in 2008 for his efforts to improve community outreach.

    In 2008 while on a one-year leave of absence from Orange Coast College, Mr. Costas served as the Director of the prestigious Ballet Hispanico School of Dance in New York City. During his tenure as school director Mr. Costas re-designed the school curriculum, created a new outreach performance program and was the choreographer in residence and Artistic Director for the new School Ensemble, Ballet Hispanico II.

Heather Castillo

Lyrical Jazz Dance

  • Heather Castillo is performer, dance-maker, scholar, educator, mom and an associate professor of Performing Arts, Dance at California State University Channel Islands. Heather began her career as a commercial dancer in Los Angeles performing in multiple television specials for Disney, industrial shows for brands such as American Express, and has performed with stars ranging from Andy Williams to Selena Gomez. She returned to school to complete her BFA and MFA in dance and choreography at UC Irvine with the goal of broadening jazz dance practices and research within Higher Education. In 2018 she won CSUCI’s President’s award for Teaching and Learning Innovation for her efforts to decolonize the online Dance History course and for her campus-wide multimedia event Arts Under The Stars that synthesizes the arts with various creative and research projects. In 2020 she and MiRi Park were awarded the Schlundt Lecture in dance from UC Riverside and Faculty Innovation and Leadership Award from the CSU Chancellor’s Office for providing guidance and leadership in the field of dance as it transitioned to online delivery in March 2020. In Summer of 2020 she co-produced with MiRi Park the Readin Series, a reading of W.E.B. DuBois’ Black Reconstruction. She has most recently written a new Dance Studies program for CSUCI launching in 2022-2023.