Meet Our Dedicated Staff
Our team is committed to nurturing your passion for dance and helping you achieve your fullest potential.
ELIZABETH KINNEY MARCO
Executive Director
Elizabeth Kinney started her dance journey at the age of five, later performing with the Michigan Ballet Theater and earning a summer scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago at the age of twelve. She attended the High School for the Performing Arts in Houston and studied dance at the University of Texas and Point Park College. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin with a minor in dance choreography and a Master's from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a member of The National Dance Education Organization.
SHARON BEEMAN KINNEY
Artistic Director
Sharon Kinney has been in the industry more than 65 years. Miss Sharon did not start out in ballet as most people think, she started out as a tap dancer and singer. Her father was a self-taught tapper and he passed that on to his daughter. She was already a weekly performer on the live television show "make way for talent" singing and tapping at 8 years old, when she started her ballet training. She was Miss Michigan Water Wonderland and Miss Hot Jazz which gave her the opportunity to travel all summer to the many jazz Festivals throughout the United States with such jazz greats as Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie, Al Hurt and the Four Ladds, to name a few. At 16 she was chosen to tour Europe to train and perform with the Bolshoi Ballet and Warsaw Opera house.
In 1964 she traveled the United States as the Chrysler Imperial LeBaron spokesperson. For over 20 years she graced the box of Mr. Bubble. Besides her professional Ballet experience she has performed in musicals like Kiss Me Kate, Oklahoma, Desdemona in Orthello, Sound of Music, West Side Story and Showboat.
She opened her first dance studio in conjunction with a modelling agency in Lansing, Michigan. She was selected to host a TV show that focused on community events, fashion and health. Sears was the sponsor for the show and Miss Elizabeth, at age 3 was the little Sears girl in 1968.
She has taught at The University of Houston's dance department. Sharon's children's dance program earned the "Award of Excellence." by the International Dance Teachers Association. She's judged national dance competitions and is affiliated with The National Dance Education Organization.
LAURA FLYNN
Head Coach/Dance Instructor
Laura Flynn started dancing at age four at the Ballet Conservatory of Saddleback Valley, studying various dance styles. She also trained at studios like Jimmie DeFore Dance Center, South Coast Freestyle, Edge Dance Studio, and Millennium Dance Complex. In high school, she was a four-year member and captain of the Aliso Niguel High School Dance Team, winning multiple national titles. Laura holds a third-place title from the Festival of Champions for her solo performance. She's used her dance talent for charity fundraising at Disneyland and the Beverly Hills Hilton. Laura has trained with renowned choreographers like Alex Wong, Lauren Froderman, Dominic Sandoval, and more at the Hollywood Convention. She received the "All-Star" scholarship at the CADTD California State Competition and is currently studying business economics and cognitive psychology at UCI. Miss Laura teaches preschool dance and hip-hop.
ANTHONY TUASON
Dance Instructor/Team Coach
Anthony Tuason, with nearly 10 years of teaching and choreography experience, has also been dancing and performing for almost 15 years. Some notable credits include "Chino" in West Side Story, "Ching Ho" in Thoroughly Modern Millie, "Audrey II" in Little Shop of Horrors, and "The Cowardly Lion" in The Wizard of Oz. He has also appeared in various productions such as "Chicago," "Shrek," "Music Man," and more. Anthony has performed at Disneyland, choreographed award-winning shows at Saddleback College, and coached nationally-ranked competition teams. He has been a guest choreographer at San Juan Hill High School, Aliso Niguel High School, and Saddleback College. Anthony's philosophy is to inspire his students to achieve their best through positivity and hard work.
JASMINE DIDEBAN
Dance Instructor/Team Coach
Jasmine Dideban began her dance journey at a musical theater studio in La Habra, CA, at age 10. She honed her skills at OCSA, a performing arts school in Santa Ana, and later earned her BFA in dance from Cal State Long Beach on a scholarship. Jasmine's training encompasses modern, jazz, lyrical, ballet, and contemporary under the guidance of renowned instructors and choreographers. She has also participated in intensives with BODYTRAFFIC, Danielle Agami's Gaga workshop, and L.A. Contemporary Dance Company, further deepening her exploration of contemporary dance.
ISABELLA FUSON
Dance Instructor
Isabella Fuson is from Cincinnati, Ohio. On her journey to creating her own imprint in the dance community, Isabella studied dance heavily at American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), a College of the Performing Arts, in LA and NY. Isabella has obtained her Bachelors of Fine Arts, a BFA focused in the Dance Theater Program. While at AMDA, Isabella trained under many instructors. Some include Jason Gorman, Donyelle Jones, Hector Guerrero, Stephanie Landwehr, Lyrik Cruz, Karine Thomas, Tracy Silver, Dasha Tertova, and Katherin Torkaz Dyson. She is proficient in contemporary, contemporary ballet, ballet, broadway, ballroom, jazz, and latin styles of dance. The aspect Isabella loves most about dancing is that she gets to expand her mind to different people’s personal styles within different genres of dance. Isabella stands out because of her unique, kind, caring personality. As a dancer, it’s her elongated lines, fluidity, technical aspects, and dynamics. She has a soft and traditional approach that can be open to new ways of moving and exploring a different side of herself through her artistry. Isabella is a versatile dancer, trained in many styles with a strong technical background. Her objective is to convey a story and to make the audience experience a true feeling.
Look for Isabella on our Summer 2025 and Fall 2025 schedule
Brooke McNamara
Dance Instructor
Meet Miss Brooke – "MamaB"
We’re thrilled to introduce our newest hip-hop teacher, Miss Brooke—affectionately known as "MamaB" by her dancers! Brooke’s dance journey began at the age of four in Los Angeles at a studio much like CDA, called Ciara, where she trained until high school graduation. She started in a tap and ballet combo class, just like CDA’s preschool program, and quickly fell in love with all styles of dance, including lyrical, jazz, modern, funk, and—of course—hip-hop!
During high school, Brooke was a dedicated member of both the dance and cheer teams, competing at the national level in both disciplines. She also trained at the renowned Millennium Dance Complex in the heart of LA, where she participated in workshops, auditions, and summer intensives.
Brooke continued dancing throughout college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she was part of the Street Heat dance studio and choreographed award-winning Lip Sync performances for Greek Week all four years.
With a deep passion for dance and the joy it brings, Brooke is beyond excited to share her knowledge, creativity, and love for movement with CDA’s young dancers. She is honored to be part of a studio that feels like home and looks forward to inspiring the next generation—one beat at a time!
TESSA BELLA
Dance Instructor
Tessa Bella has 10+ years of experience working in the television, commercial and live performance industry. She grew up training in all styles of dance and is most recently as an NBA Dancer in Los Angeles, CA and commercial actor. Tessa’s extensive dance training includes west coast competitive programs, Pulse on Tour, and LA based Hip Hop Crews. Her professional credits include LA Clippers Spirit, Justin Bieber, Lil Mama, Pharell Williams, ABC Mouse, Nickelodeon, Disney, Mattel, Sea World, ABC, KCA, KCSA and BET!
Tessa is respected throughout the entertainment industry and known for her work ethic, professionalism, and positive mindset. She enjoys teaching and is an inspiration to all.
Tessa looks forward to sharing her passion for dance and life with you all soon!
SUZIE POETSCH
Dance Instructor
Suzie Poetsch began dance training at age 5. She developed a strong foundation in the Chechetti method, emphasizing safety and proper technique. Suzie earned a full scholarship to Stanley Holden's Dance Center, where she mastered the RAD method. She also trained with the San Francisco Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet on full scholarships for two consecutive summers. Suzie danced professionally with Ballet Pacifica for a decade under Molly Lynch, working with esteemed teachers such as David Allen, Charles Maple, and Diane Deifenderfer. Inspired by this, she became a certified Pilates instructor through the Physical Mind Institute in 2001 while dancing with David Taylor Dance Theater in Denver, Colorado. Suzie also performed and taught for the Los Angeles Chamber Ballet and Ormao Dance Co. She shares her love of dance through ballet classes on Saturdays.
