Meet Our Staff...
Julie Hamill~Director
Julie Hamill has taught dance in the Orange County area for over 35 years. She is the founder and director of Fine Arts Academy of Dance. Established in 1979, Fine Arts Academy of Dance was the first dance school in Diamond Bar. Growing up in Orange County she was able to study with L.A.'s and Orange County's finest teachers including Linda Sohl-Ellison, Leann Alduenda, L.A's classics such as Jimmie DeFore, Stefan Wenta, Roland Dupree, Gus Giordano, Stanley Holden, and Joe Tremaine. Professionally Julie has appeared in many theatrical productions she was a principal dancer with the Orange County Dance Company in which she performed roles in Swan Lake, West Side Story, Oklahoma, and The Nutcracker. Of the thousands of students that have come through Julie's classes, many have gone on to professional careers and have appeared in all facets of the business. Her students have appeared in music videos with Usher and Justin Bieber, danced in the Macy's Parade, Pro Bowl, and Super Bowl, appeared on The Emmy Awards, and The Oscar Awards, danced in Balley's Jubilee in Las Vegas, have appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, danced in films Man in the Moon with Jim Carrey, and What Women Want with Mel Gibson, the television show Kids Incorporated, and national Barbie commercials. Specializing in the area of Tap dance, Julie has been an award-winning choreographer, Julie's own choreography has been performed in the Pro Bowl, Hula Bowl and Macy's Day Parade and has won high honors on the state and national levels.
Jana Faustino-Watkins~Ballet Director
Jana Faustino-Watkins is a native of Brazil where she studied extensively with Luis Nogueira of the Ballet Municipal of Rio De Janeiro, and taught at the Mariana Natal Academy in Sao Paulo. She also appeared in numerous stage and television shows and movies as a member of the Corpo Companhia. After immigrating to the United States she studied with Lois Ellyn and Stefan Wenta, and joined Lois Ellyn's ballet company, Noveau Chamber Ballet where she appears as a principal ballerina and choreographer. Jana's students have appeared in film and television including the hit movie The Princess Diaries. We at Fine Arts are very proud of the fact her students have been accepted to the one of the worlds most prestigious performing Arts Conservatories Juilliard in New York. Each year many of her students are accepted into the schools of the Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Milwaukee Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and Houston Ballet. Jana is currently the artistic director of Fine Arts Academy of Dance's nationally award winning ballet program.
Michael Van Patten
Michael Van Patten has been teaching in the Southern California area for 20 years. His teaching credits include Jimmie DeFore Dance Center, Tremaine Dance Center (North Hollywood), University of California, Irvine, University of Northern Colorado(Guest Artist), Synthesis Dance Studio (North Hollywood), Spector Dance(Marina, Ca.), Greeley Conservatory of Dance(Greeley. CO.), the Orange County High School of the Arts (Los Alamitos), he is currently on staff at Santa Ana College. Michael has run a nationally award winning jazz dance program here at Fine Arts Academy of Dance since 1992. His professional credits include Star Search (CBS TV), Orpheus in the Underworld with the Los Angeles Opera, Disney's Motor Car Mania, Bon Voyage show at the Queen Mary/Spruce Goose Complex, and local dinner theater productions of Mame, and Cabaret, the dance companies Marla Bingham Contemporary Ballet(Principal), Impulse(Director and Choreographer), Noveau Chamber Ballet(Guest), Jazz Spectrum(Guest),Pat Carney and Company, and his own MVP dance project. Many of his former students have gone on to successful careers in the dance industry and have appeared in the films Man on the Moon with Jim Carrey, and What Women Want with Mel Gibson, world wide cruises, theme parks, Las Vegas Revues, Britney Spears video (Crazy), national tours with Smokey Robinson and Shanice Wilson to name a few. He has choreographed for the Los Angeles Laker Girls and Los Angeles Clipper Girls. After twenty years in the dance industry Michael returned to school and has earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from UCLA.
Michelle Clow
Michelle Clow, originally from San Jose, California, has been dancing since the age of three and is proficient in Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet and Tap. After graduating with a certificate in Massage Therapy/Sports massage, Michelle decided to put her focus into the two things she loves the most, teaching and performing. She has appeared as a dancer and actress on stage and television. Her professional credits include commercials for Burger King, Rembrandt toothpaste, Ford and Cadillac just to name a few. Michelle has appeared on television shows Boston Public, American Dreams as well as the MTV Music Awards. She has appeared in several music videos with NSYNC, O-town, Gwen Stefani, Billy Crogan, and Angie Stone. Her stage experience consists of such Classics as Alice In Wonderland, West Side Story, and Jesus Christ Superstar. As well as coaching many high school and studio dance teams, she has also been a member of various college and professional dance teams throughout California, such as the San Jose Sabercats, "SaberKittens", the Los Angeles Avengers "A" dance team, and the NBA Anaheim Arsenal "A List Girls". Michelle is currently a part of the "ALL STAR GIRLS" directed by Denise Jerome. Michelle has studied under Benny Smith, Barbara Bengford, Carol McCallum, Jane Carter, Robert Shultz, Dante 7, Jayson Wright, and Kevin Maher just to name a few. This versatile performer teaches and directs nationally ranked competitive Hip Hop, Jazz and Lyrical Teams for both Fine Arts Academy as well as High School Dance teams in California. Michelle currently teaches all disciplines of dance at Fine Arts Academy of Dance.
Kristin Parkhurst
Kristin Parkhurst studied dance at Fine Arts Academy of Dance for sixteen years. She was twice the captain of Troy H.S. national champion dance team (USA), and was crowned Miss Dance/Drill Team Southern California in 2003. She was also a principal dancer with Fine Arts nationally award winning competition company. Among Kristin's performing credits are Super Bowl XXXVII with Santana, Beyonce, Michelle Branch, No Doubt, and Shania Twain, the 2002 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the American Ballet Academy. Kristin was a member of the five time National Championship dance team at California State University, Fullerton and has earned her B.S. Degree in Kinesiology from CSUF, and is currently working on her Masters .
Meghan Guzman
Meghan Guzman has been training at Fine Arts Academy of Dance since the age of six, and is a graduate of the Los Angeles County High School of the Arts. She was a principal dancer in Fine Arts nationally recognized Competition Company. She has been teaching at Fine Arts Academy of Dance since 2002.
Lauren Snook
Lauren Snook is a member of Fine Art's staff since 2003. She has trained at Fine Arts since the age of three, studying all styles of dance. Lauren has studied with Julie Hamill, Jana Faustino-Watkins, Michael Van Patten, Lisa Smith, Joanna Vargas, and Carlee Puffer, and has attended many dance conventions and master classes including the Tremaine, and LA Danceforce conventions. In addition to being a four year song leader at Diamond Bar H.S., she has competed extensively on Fine Arts competitive dance teams and worked with cheer/dance Company US Spiritleaders. As a college freshman Lauren was a member of Cal State Long Beach's Dance Team, now a Senior at Long Beach State,she is currently part of the the Pac Modern Hip-Hop troupe and is working on her dance degree. Lauren teaches jazz, hip-hop, and combo classes here at Fine Arts Academy of Dance.
Cassie Sutterfield
Cassie was trained at the Academy since age 3, and was a part of Fine Arts Award winning Competition Groups, in all styles, Jazz, Tap, and Ballet. Cassie has studied under Julie Hamill, Jana Faustino-Watkins and Michael Van Patten. Cassie was a member of the award winning Taurian Company Dancers at Diamond Bar High School. After receiving her B.S. Degree from the University of Arizona she has returned to Fine Arts to teach Ballet, Jazz and Tap. Cassie earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Azusa Pacific University in 2007.
Julie Giovannoni
Julie joined The Fine Arts teaching staff in 2004. Julie has danced at Fine Arts since age 3. Julie is a Senior attending Cal State Fullerton working on her Bachelors Degree in Child Adolescent Studies. She is teaching in both Orange County and L.A. County in Jazz and Children's Tap Combo. Julie was a principal dancer in Fine Arts National Award winning Jazz and Tap troupes. She was a member of the team that went on to win honors in dancing in The Macy's Day Parade and the Hula Bowl. Julie was also an award winning Cheer Leader in 2000 competing in Orange County. She has studied with Jana Watkins, Michael Van Patten, Julie Hamill, Lisa Smith, Linda Simmons.
Charlotte Beadle
Charlotte Beadle is another of our distinguished faculty at Fine Arts Academy of Dance, now teaching tap and jazz. Charlotte specialty is children’s classes and high level tap, Charlotte has studied with Julie Hamill, LJ Tashiro Nafarette, Jana Faustino-Watkins, Michelle Clow, Michael Van Patten, Dana Dalpiaz, Marie De La Palme, Elizabeth Parkinson, Jose Costas, and Linda Sohl-Ellison, here at Fine Arts Academy of Dance, and also Jimmie DeFore Dance Center, and Orange Coast College. Her music and vocal training has been with Jan Dayne, Robert Olinger, Bill Hamill, and Theresa DeJong Pombo. Charlotte’s performing credits include roles with the Biola Theater and Southern California Youth Theater, in productions of When You Wish Upon a Star, Beauty and the Beast, Annie Get Your Gun, The Wizard of Oz, Annie, Hello Dolly, and Honk. Charlotte currently attends Orange Coast College, where she is working towards a degree in dance with a minor in musical theater.
Briezy Rodriguez
Briezy Rodriguez has danced at Fine Arts Academy of Dance for 14 years and has also studied at The Edge and Urban Legends in Los Angeles. Briezy has studied with Brim, Michael Van Patten, Michelle Clow, Randy Bernal, Brianna Evigan, Nico, Jada Odom, Nick Z, Phlex, Chuck, Dante 7, Elle Young, Super Dave, Kristin Parkhurst, Julie Hamill, and Jana Watkins. Briezy specializes in Hip Hop, Childrens Tap, and Jazz. Briezy was accepted to The American Ballet Theater and The Joffrey Ballet summer intensive programs, spending several weeks in 2008 studying at the top Schools in New York in order to further her knowledge and pass on this experience to her students. Briezy has performed for the Asian American Expo, Relay for Life, and many dance concerts for Diamond Bar High School. She is also a model appearing in Teen Vogue and has represented O'Neil surf wear. Fine Arts Academy is very excited about Briezy joining our staff in 2009. She will be teaching Hip Hop, Childrens Movement and Jazz classes. Briezy will be attending college in the fall of 2010 to obtain her B.F.A. in Dance.
Office Manager/Assistant to Director
Margaret Hamill.
Call Margaret for all class times and policies and general information.
909.594.4583 Mon-Thurs. 3pm-8:30pm Fri. 3pm-6:30pm and Saturdays 8:30am-1pm
Leave message on voice mail if not available.
Assistant Manager
Julie Giovannoni
FINE ARTS ACADEMY OF DANCE • 3205 SOUTH BREA CANYON ROAD DIAMOND BAR, CALIFORNIA 91765 • 909-594-4583
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