Congrats to Our Graduating Seniors!
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Alexis Monroe
Alexis Monroe
Years at ND&MA: 5 years
Favorite Classes: Ballet
Favorite Dance Memory: Sing along classes with Ms. Diane & recitals
My Next Journey: Moorpark College - Animal Care Program to hopefully become a vet :)
Major or Focus: Animal Science
Advice for Young Dancers: It’s never too late to start dancing, and always carry your love of dance with you no matter where you are in your journey.
Amaya Castillo
Amaya Castillo
Audrey Sutton
Audrey Sutton
Years at ND&MA: 15 years
Favorite Classes: Hip Hop, Jazz, Funk, & Contemporary
Favorite Dance Memory: My first ever Jazz class with Ms. Lyndsay
My Next Journey: San Diego State University
Major or Focus: Liberal Studies (Focus on Special Education)
Advice for Young Dancers: Your journey is your own. No matter where you end up going or how you end up getting there, you can’t compare your journey to someone else’s. But you control it so “don’t talk about it, be about it!”
Bailey Coriell
Bailey Coriell
Years at ND&MA: 14 years
Favorite Classes: Ballet
Favorite Dance Memory: Performing as Community Cast in Sleeping Beauty as a fairy and deciding to join Ballet Repertoire.
My Next Journey: This summer I will be participating in the Gala de Danza in London.
Major or Focus: Biology/Molecular Biology at San Diego State University
Advice for Young Dancers: Dance is an opportunity to discover who you are, test your limits and express yourself.
Embrace every moment!
Cameron Bingley
Cameron Bingley
Years at ND&MA: 13 years
Favorite style: Jazz and Contemporary
Favorite memory at ND&MA: Dancing on the competitive team, being able to spend all my weekends at the studio and making some of my best friends!
Plans after graduation: University of California Irvine
Major: English
Advice for young dancers: Always dance because you love it, and be kind to everyone, including yourself!
Daphne Woodford
Daphne Woodford
Years at ND&MA: 10 years
Favorite Classes: Tap
Favorite Dance Memory: When my class was learning triple time steps back in Tap 2. For some reason, I was having a lot of trouble with them, but they finally clicked for me after I had practiced them. It was very satisfying to go back the next week, knowing I could do it.
My Next Journey: University of California, San Diego
Major or Focus: Chemical Engineer Major
Advice for Young Dancers: Not to let frustration stop them. There's going to be something they won't understand, especially in a technical genre, and it's okay to feel upset, but if they let those feelings stop them, then they'll never overcome that barrier and master it.
Dominick Guzman
Dominick Guzman
Years at ND&MA: 2 years
Favorite style: Hip Hop & Contemporary
Favorite memory at ND&MA: Every funk class, something fun always happens!
Plans after graduation: Pursue a career as a professional dancer.
Major: Dance/Performance Arts
Advice for young dancers: Enjoy the process.
Nobody is like you, and that's what makes you special. Believe in yourself, and everything will be possible.
Fiona Tess De La Cruz
Fiona Tess De La Cruz
Years at ND&MA: 15 years
Favorite Classes: Contemporary Dance & Cello
Favorite Dance Memory: As a kid, I remember being a little baby mouse in The Nutcracker Ballet.
My Next Journey: Chapman University
Major or Focus: Animation & Visual Effects
Advice for Young Dancers: Life is limitless. You’re never too young or too old to try something new. Experiment with whatever catches your eye. That is the only way you’ll find out who you really are and what you really love.
Frida Garcia
Frida Garcia
Years at ND&MA: 3 years
Favorite Classes: Hip Hop
Favorite Dance Memory: Getting to perform for the first time at the San Diego Civic Theatre with my friends & taking classes with Ms. Shanna every week.
My Next Journey: San Diego State University
Major or Focus: Public Health
Advice for Young Dancers: Don’t be afraid to try new things & step outside of your comfort zone because it can open the door to so many opportunities.
Jaxie Russell
Jaxie Russell
Years at ND&MA: 16 years
Favorite Classes: Contemporary, Hip Hop, & Jazz
Favorite Dance Memory: I really enjoyed being on the competition team and getting to dance and compete with all of my friends. I also loved having those long Saturday rehearsals at the studio while having a fun time with our teammates.
My Next Journey: Cal State University of Long Beach
Major or Focus: Dance
Advice for Young Dancers: Always remember why you love to dance and use that drive and passion to let you keep doing what you do. Dance for yourself and no one else because you will enjoy it so much more. Never put too much pressure on yourself when you don’t get something you wanted to achieve because those challenges are what make you a better dancer and person overall. :)
Katie Churchill
Katie Churchill
Years at ND&MA: 15 years
Favorite Classes: Ballet
Favorite Dance Memory: Performing in The Nutcracker
When I was with CVB, I took on many different roles and it was always a fun challenge. My favorite roles were the Spanish variation and Columbine. Overall, The Nutcracker was such a special experience for me and it’s a memory I’ll always cherish.
My Next Journey: San Diego State University
Major or Focus: Psychology, with an emphasis in Neuroscience
Advice for Young Dancers: “Paint the walls” - My advice for young dancers is to remember that ballet should be fun. It's easy to get caught up in perfectionism or overthinking, but it's important to focus on enjoying the process. Don’t stress too much about getting everything perfect—just find the joy in dancing and let that be your motivation. Keep pushing yourself, but also make sure you’re having fun along the way.
Lizzy Churchill
Lizzy Churchill
Years at ND&MA: 15 years
Favorite Classes: Ballet & Lyrical
Favorite Dance Memory: Getting to step up and perform as an understudy for my final show with Chula Vista Ballet company.
My Next Journey: Seton Hall - Go Pirates!
Major or Focus: Physical Therapy / Pre-Med
Advice for Young Dancers: Your style and heart and love for dance will always surpass any kind of title or technique. Dance doesn’t define you, you define dance!
Lucy Aring
Lucy Aring
Years at ND&MA: 13 years
Favorite Classes: Jazz & Contemporary
Favorite Dance Memory: Annually attending DancInspiration & making connections/friends with other dancers.
My Next Journey: Attending CLI conservatory
Advice for Young Dancers: Never give up, always keep your goals and dreams in mind, and focus on making progress rather than looking for perfection.
Madison Cartier
Madison Cartier
Years at ND&MA: 15 years
Favorite Classes: Contemporary
Favorite Dance Memory: Being on the competition team and getting the opportunity to be introduced to the competition atmosphere at such a young age. Another one of my fondest memories is taking class with Ms. Lyndsay and Shanna and learning super fun combos that never failed to make me remember why I love to dance.
My Next Journey: San Diego State University
Major or Focus: Public Health
Advice for Young Dancers: Dance because you truly love it, not because you feel the need to prove anything to anyone. It’s easy to feel discouraged in a competitive environment, but always remember that your love for dance is far more powerful than any competition.
Mckenzie Sumner-LaRussa
Mckenzie Sumner-LaRussa
Years at ND&MA: 15 years
Favorite Classes: Hip Hop
Favorite Dance Memory: Practicing the choreography for recital dances in class and then having my family watch me perform on recital day.
My Next Journey: Attend a 4 year college on the West Coast
Major or Focus: Journalism
Advice for Young Dancers: Never be afraid to be unique & take up space.
Niko Kuhn
Niko Kuhn
Years at ND&MA: 10 years
Favorite Classes: Classical Guitar
Favorite Memory: Playing the Suite del Recuerdo at my latest recital is my favorite memory—I absolutely love that piece and was very happy to share it with the audience.
My Next Journey: I will be attending San Diego State University and hope to be accepted into their music program.
Major or Focus: Engineering with a minor in Music
Advice for Young Artists: Music has transformed my life — whether playing music, listening to musicians, watching live music, or mixing for artists. Music is the ultimate form of expression and is the basis of so many other art forms, including dance. I am extremely grateful to all the amazing instructors I have had at Neisha’s Dance & Music Academy—from Mr. Miguel to Mr. David to Ms. Randa to Mr. Cesar to Mr. Jose. Each instructor has taken me to the next level and has inspired me to make music a lifetime endeavor.
I am also very grateful to Ms. Neisha and the entire staff at Neisha’s Dance & Music Academy for everything they did to support the arts and my musical journey.
Noor Esmailpour
Noor Esmailpour
Years at ND&MA:
Favorite style:
Favorite memory at ND&MA:
Plans after graduation:
Major:
Advice for young dancers:
Samantha Gavino
Samantha Gavino
Years at ND&MA: 1
Favorite style: Hip Hop
Favorite memory at ND&MA: Laughing with dance mates while trying to figure out the routine steps.
Plans after graduation: Southwestern College and then transfer to a 4-year University
Major: Television, Film and New Media
Advice for young dancers: In life and in dance, let the music in your heart and body guide your steps.
Vanessa Vargas
Vanessa Vargas
Years at ND&MA: 4 years
Favorite Classes: Hip Hop, Jazz, & Ballet
Favorite Dance Memory: Joining CVB & going on Pointe.
My Next Journey: Attend a community college, then transfer to a University.
Major or Focus: Nursing
Advice for Young Dancers: Don’t strive for perfection, strive to consistently improve on yourself! Don’t compare yourself to others & allow their judgement to stop you from doing what you love! Always dance with passion & from the heart!
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