Lifehouse Summer Camp 2015

Dear Parents and Students,

This year’s summer camp will be held August 10-15, 2015. I’m so excited to tell you about it. We have some amazing guest instructors and some wonderful activities planned. It is going to be an incredible experience! The summer camp is mandatory for company students, but open to anyone interested in participating. As a reminder the 5 and 6 year old students will be doing the Cinderella Camp Monday-Thursday from 9 am-11:30. 7 and 8 year old students will be at the studio from 9 am-12:30 pm Monday-Friday and students 9 and older from 9 am-5 pm Monday-Friday. Some eight year old students will be invited to register for a higher level of camp that goes all day.

Camp Fees are as follows: (Please attend everyday if possible. If you cannot attend the entire camp, day rates are provided.)

Session 1, 2, 3 and 4 $175 or $45 a day

Session 5 & 6 $150 or $35 a day

Session 7 & 8 $105 or $25 a day

Cinderella camp for 5 & 6 year old company students $105

Students will be receiving essential training to prepare them for a successful year at Lifehouse. We will be doing team building activities to help unite the students as a Company. Students willget to know their dance mentors for the year. We will also have seminars and discussions on topics critical to the mission of Lifehouse to help establish life-changing principles and ideas that guide the culture that we have at the studio.

Students will be divided into smaller groups across age ranges with an older student serving as a mentor. Each morning we will meet for a group warm up and some get to know you activities. We want to encourage students to reach out and get to know one another across classes and age groups. During the seminars we will be discussing topics such as:

What makes us valuable in dance? Is value something we earn? Is our value as a dancer/company member determined by what we can do? How do we challenge ourselves to develop our talents to the best of our ability while still acknowledging and seeing that we are valuable beyond measure because we just are.

Striving for excellence vs. perfectionism—how do we learn to talk to ourselves in a positive and healthy way where we are striving to be our best without the pressure of being perfect. We will explore the difference between shame “I am bad, I’m not good

669 N. 250 E. Salem, UT 84653 | (801)423-7899 | lifehouseacademy@gmail.com | www.lifehouseacademy.com

enough” vs. being truthful with ourselves in a loving way, “I can see that I made a mistake, I will try to make things right and do better next time”, “Today in class I didn’t give it my best effort. Next time, I will try a little harder.”

Success vs. significance—Doing our best for the world vs. being the best in the world.

Loving our bodies—wanting to take care of our bodies because we are grateful for them—avoiding the traps of eating disorders and being overly body conscious.

The importance of self awareness and personal accountability.

We will also do a few fun team building adventures such as an Amazing Race for dancers, a Let’sDance video game tournament, and a secret dancer activity.

After our audition on July 31st, you will be e-mailed which session of camp to register for along with your schedule. Please register by August 6th so we can make mentor assignments.

Some important things to bring with you to camp:

1. A lunch and healthy snacks.

2. WATER!

3. A towel or wet wipes to freshen up between classes.

4. All of your dance shoes.

5. Make sure you have proper dance attire for your classes each day. If you have hip hop, you should wear a fun outfit (shorts and a tank top, etc.) and athletic shoes. Ballet classes should be in uniform with hair in a bun, etc.

6. A cover up to put over your dance clothes in between classes (t-shirt and shorts).

7. Deodorant for older students.

8. A three ring 1” binder with a plastic covering to allow for a cover page. Get a good quality binder, the students will be using them all year in classes.

Now meet your guest artists! We are so excited for them to work with our great students and for you to learn and be inspired.

Shani Robison, Associate Professor of Dance at Brigham Young University, earned her B.A. in Dance in 1995 and her M.A. in Dance with a Performance/Choreography emphasis in 1999 from

669 N. 250 E. Salem, UT 84653 | (801)423-7899 | lifehouseacademy@gmail.com | www.lifehouseacademy.com

Brigham Young University. Shani is the Ballet Area Administrator and in her eighth year as the Artistic Director of BYU Theatre Ballet, the university’s top ballet performing company. Shani has presented ballet pedagogical research and choreography at professional conferences in Toronto, Canada, Ohio, Texas, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New York. Three of Shani’s contemporary ballet works, African Winds in 2008, Concealed in 2009, and Interrupted Impulse in 2012 were given the distinct honor of being selected to be performed in the Gala Concert at the American College Dance Festival Northwest Region with Interrupted Impulse selected as an alternate for the national festival. Shani was also chosen as one of two professional choreographers to set a new work on Utah Regional Ballet as part of the 2010 Choreographic Design Project. In addition to contemporary and shorter classical works, Shani has choreographed original ballets including Romeo and Juliet (2009) and Cinderella (2011) as well as the choreographic collaboration of The Snow Queen (2012) for BYU Theatre Ballet. She has also restaged The Sleeping Beauty (2013) and Swan Lake (2014) for BYU Theatre Ballet. Shani has choreographed for five BYU opera productions: La Traviata (2001), The Magic Flute (2010), The Globolinks (2011), Amahl and the Night Visitors (2011), Phantom of the Opera (2013), and Hansel and Gretel (2015).

Nathan Balser teaches Contemporary Dance and Music Dance Theatre at Brigham Young University. He also is the Artistic Director for the Contemporary Dance Theatre group at BYU, which performed at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA), in Beijing, China with Balser's 2013 show, Encounters. Nathan graduated from BYU with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation, after which he completed a master's degree in Fine Arts at the University of Utah. Upon receipt of his masters, Balser began performing on Broadway, where his credits include Legally Blond: The Musical, Cats and Mamma Mia! He teaches his students that the most important lesson he learned on Broadway was the importance of professionalism. Balser choreographs locally in Utah. In 2012, Balser and three other choreographers presented, Provo Sites, a show of new dance works presented by, Love Dance More. In 2013, Balser choreographed the Sundance Resort rendition of Annie Get Your Gun. The same year, he participated in the Buckaroo: Cowboy Poetry in Motion Project at BYU, which was funded by a grant from the Laycock Center for Creative Collaboration in the Arts. The project brought together student musicians, poets, and choreographers, as well as professional cowboy poets, to produce an evening length themed dance concert. For the program, Balser choreographed "Cowboy 101," "Cottonwood," and "Commutin'." In 2015, Balser provided the choreography forthe BYU production, and US premiere, of The Count of Monte Cristo.

Aimee Lohner’s background includes featured performances in industrials for Q Lube and Health Rider, at the Comedy Circuit, and LA Dance Magic. Her choreography credits include the

669 N. 250 E. Salem, UT 84653 | (801)423-7899 | lifehouseacademy@gmail.com | www.lifehouseacademy.com

Disney Channel feature film, “Wish Upon a Star,” Starlight Productions National Finals Distinguished Performers, and the Tanzsommer Dance Festival in Innsbruck, Austria. Teaching all over the world, including Studio 225 in Zurich, Switzerland, at Chicago National Dance Masters, and National Dance Camp with Jackie Sleight and Tony Coppola, Aimee has earned herreputation as a master teacher. Her passion for motivating students and dancers to be the best they can be has made her a favorite among dancers and teachers alike.

Justine Sheedy-Kramer received her BFA and MFA degrees from the University of Utah Ballet Department, with emphases in Teaching, Choreography, Performance, and Character Dance. She also studied and performed with Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Washington Academy of Performing Arts, Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Utah Contemporary Ballet, Exit 12 Dance Company, Ballet Theatre Company, and CONNetic Dance. Justine toured nationally and internationally with Character Dance Ensemble and Eastern Artists, including performances as both a dancer and choreographer in Beijing, London, Los Angeles, New York City, St. Petersburg, and Vancouver. She is currently a Lecturer at Utah Valley University, where she teaches Ballet, Pointe, Character Dance, and Music for Ballet Dancers. She has greatly enjoyed the opportunities to teach and choreograph for the University of Utah, Character Dance Ensemble, Eastern Arts, Saint Mary’s Hall, Salt Lake City Ballet, and various dance studios and arts programs.

Born and raised in Boston, Jeffrey Louizia discovered his love for dance at Boston Arts Academy. Proficient in many styles of dance, Jeffrey has studied extensively in ballet, tap, modern jazz, modern, hip hop, krump as well as traditional Haitian Folk dance. He has studied with such dance masters as Dianne Walker of "Black & Blue", Mark Morris, Bill T. Jones, and Mandy Moore. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance from Dean College. Mr. Louizia’s performances have taken him all across New England up and down the Eastern US seaboard, West Coast, and into Canada. His strong base in choreography has led him to choreograph for MC Hammer and direct for his family based dance company Arc en Ciel Dance Troupe Inc, a Haitian folkloric dance co. Jeffrey is also the Director and founder of Lovolution A worldwide movement where love and self-worth are brought to awareness through dance. Since moving to Los Angeles he has been in many music videos and industrials including Sketchers, Black Eyed Peas “Rock Your Body,” Taio Cruz “Dirty Picture,” Ace Hood ft lil Wayne and rick ross "Hustle" and American Idol winner Alexandra Burke’s “Start Without You.” Jeffrey Louizia is currently dancing with Odyssey Dance Teater performing in productions such as Thriller and Romeo and Juliet, in Salt Lake City, Utah and touring Europe. He is also a featured dancer in the movie, “Dear Dumb Diary.”. Jeffrey Louizia loves to teach, motivate and inspire aswell as being inspired by all who share his love for dance. He truly believes that in being your true self and living to your fullest you must walk in love.

Colleen West has taught dance at BYU since she was an undergraduate student in 1980-1984, then as an adjunct faculty member until 1993, when she was officially hired as full-time faculty.

669 N. 250 E. Salem, UT 84653 | (801)423-7899 | lifehouseacademy@gmail.com | www.lifehouseacademy.com

In 1998, West was presented with the Teaching Excellence Award from the College of Health and Human Performance. In 2005, she received the Presidential Citation Award from the National Dance Association for outstanding service to the Association and to the field of dance. In 2008, she was awarded the Outstanding Creativity Award from the Faculty Women's Association at BYU. West currently serves as a World Dance Division Administrator, the Tap Dance Program Coordinator, the Ethnic Dance Program Coordinator. She is the advisor to the BYU Tap Dance Club and the former director of BYU’s Annual Rhythm Tap Dance Workshop. In 2013, in conjunction with the Education in Zion exhibit on campus, West taught pioneer dances at BYU's "Old Nauvoo Dance" and also taught line and round dances to 4,500 freshman students at Freshman Orientation Week in 2012 and 2013. West's 2014 piece, Ukrainian Hutsulka, was presented at President Worthen’s Inauguration Luncheon and also at BYU’s Dance Department’s concert, Evidance. West graduated from BYU with a bachelor's degree in professional dance in 1983. While a student, West was mentored by Cathy Black, Susanne Johnson Davis and Mary Bee Jensen in teaching, choreographing, and performing. Dancing withthe International Folk Dance Ensemble and Ballroom Dance Company provided international experiences both on and off stage. In 1985, she completed her master's degree at BYU in dance.Because of her direct Ukranian heritage and passion for the Ukrainian Culture, West chose to focus her graduate research on Ukrainian folk dance and costume. Her thesis was titled, A Study of Selected Staged Ukrainian Folk Dances.

Kim Yandow Smith is a wife, mother and grandmother. She is also an accomplished director, performer, author and certified Yoga instructor. An America’s Junior Miss 1981 from North Carolina, Kim began her professional performing career, with the help of her scholarship winnings, at the age of 17 in New York City. She studied with the Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey and Paul Taylor dance schools. She performed on Broadway in Marvin Hamlisch’s Smile, in the film A Chorus Line, and in numerous TV and commercial productions; including, The Academy Awards. Kim attended the University of Utah before joining the faculty of Brigham Young University where she taught contemporary dance for ten years. After teaching at BYU she founded and directed Deseret Dance Theater. Kim has staged and directed numerous theatrical productions, including Innovators II: Keepers of the Flame for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and Woman in the Wind for the Salt Lake City Conference Center Theater. For six years she served as an artistic director for The Hill Cumorah Pageant in upstate New York—the largest outdoor theatrical production in the United States. In 2005, Kim founded SimpleSpaces, Inc: a company dedicated to helping people simplify their spaces and free-up their lives. As President, she travels nationally presenting this message and sharing her book, SimpleSpaces. Kim and her husband Chris are the parents together of ten children and the grandparents of two, with two on the way! Family is her greatest joy.

669 N. 250 E. Salem, UT 84653 | (801)423-7899 | lifehouseacademy@gmail.com | www.lifehouseacademy.com

Eliza Lanham danced professionally with Utah Regional Ballet and attended UVU on full dance scholarship for a year. She is currently a senior at Julliard in New York City where she is majoring in dance. She is excited to share her knowledge with the students of Lifehouse.

Reanna Shay Holt was born and raised in South Jordan, Utah. Dancing has been her passion since the young age of 3. She is trained in all styles and has competed and won many awards and scholarships. She trained in Expansion a pre professional company under the direction of Bonnie Story. Moving to Los Angeles at 19 years old to pursue her passion further. She is currently represented by Go 2 Talent Agency, a dancer for Soul Fresh Fam under the direction of Ricky Cole and signed with Dance On Network. An alumni of Gigi Torres Establish Your Empire program, and the multifaceted RAW artist performing artist. Performing and showcasing work in some of LA's most prestigious dance shows. She hopes to share her love and passion of dance with everyone she comes in contact with.

Heather Watkins completed her undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University. While there, she performed with the Dancers' Company and was the recipient of The Dancers' Company Merit Award, The Up and Coming Performers Award, (2008-2010). Upon receiving her Bachelors Degree from BYU in Dance Education, Heather began teaching at Mountain RidgeJunior High in Alpine School District where she found joy in teaching 7th, 8th, and 9th grade dance (2010-2014). In addition, Heather has also been a dance instructor at BYU for the Children's Creative Dance Program, Orem Dance Theater studio, and Children's Visions Dance Program. She has performed in various parts of the United States and abroad including Mexico, China, and the Czech Republic. She has also performed as a guest dancer with BodyLogic and has been a member of the Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company (2013), the BYU - Idaho Contemporary Dance Theater Company and the Dance Alliance Tour Company(2005-2007). While dance has always been one of her strong passions, Heather also enjoys spending time with her husband, Sean and 16 month old daughter, Halle. She resides with her family in Spanish Fork.

McKenna Jurgens, originally from Salem, trained at the Lifehouse Performing Arts Academy for 11 years where she studied various styles of dance. She had the opportunity to perform principle roles in various ballets such as The Nutcracker, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. In high school she performed with the Salem Hills DanceCompany for two years. In 2012, she was awarded the Dance Talent Award at BYU. McKenna is currently a member of the 15-time National Champion BYU Cougarettes. As a Cougarette she has been named Top Gun Leaper at NDA camp for two consecutive years. McKenna is currently an instructor for Precision Dance Camps and has been teaching for the company for three years. She has developed a deep appreciation and passion for dance, and loves to help others establish their love and talent for dance as

669 N. 250 E. Salem, UT 84653 | (801)423-7899 | lifehouseacademy@gmail.com | www.lifehouseacademy.com

well. She has a fun, bubbly, and lively personality; as well as a hard-working, dedicated mentality.

Shanae Sainsbury began dancing at the age of four. The majority of her dance training took place at Lifehouse Performing Arts Academy where she was trained extensively in ballet, contemporary ballet, contemporary, Horton technique, modern, jazz, tap, and hip hop. During her time at Lifehouse she performed many leading roles in the production of the Nutcracker, including Clara, Sugarplum Fairy (twice), Flower Soloist, and “Popcorn” by Connie Burton. She also had the opportunity to perform leading roles in Paquita and had parts in small versions of Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. In 2014-2015 Shanae had the opportunity to perform with BYU’s Theatre Ballet Company. She performed many solo roles from Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella while touring with the company all around the Midwest. This coming year Shanae will be dancing with the BYU Cougarettes. Shanae enjoys learning and growing in all genres of dance. She believes that lessons one learns through dance can be applied through all aspects oflife. She is excited to further her education in dance and all the opportunities that await her.

I hope you are as excited as I am! I’m looking forward to a wonderful year of dance, growth and learning.

Warmest regards,

Nesha WoodhouseDirectorLifehouse Performing Arts Academy

669 N. 250 E. Salem, UT 84653 | (801)423-7899 | lifehouseacademy@gmail.com | www.lifehouseacademy.com