Hall of Fame

Here's a look at some alumni who have danced professionally:

Ronelle Russell-Banfield - Ronelle hold the title of our very first professional dancer! Leaving Olympia at the age of 19, Ronelle traveled to Nassau, Bahamas where her 13 year career as a Jazz and Acrobatic dancer began. She dance in several production at the Paradise Island Resort and Casino "Le Cabaret" Theater dancing alongside headliners such as 3 Dog Night, Frank Sinatra Jr., Carrot Top, Merv Griffin and the 5th Dimension. Ronelle married her husband, Patrick, on the beach in the Bahamas and after their second child, moved back to the states where she currently operates “Roni’s Dance Studio” in Greendale, Indiana.

Amy Warren-Genovese - Amy began her career in 1991 dancing at the Horizon Hotel in Lake Tahoe. She moved on to dance in Spellbound in Atlantic City and Harrahs, Las Vegas before joining the yearlong Spellbound World Tour, dancing in 25 German cities, Switzerland, Seoul, Korea and Manila, the Philippines. Amy has visited Japan numerous times; first with the George Lucas Super Live Adventure tour and also as a dancer/choreographer for bi-yearly fashion Industrials. She has been seen as a dancer in the movie The Big Lebowski, on Pam Andersen’s show VIP, and appeared on The Oakride Boys Show on TNN. Amy was a featured dancer on the World’s Greatest Magic TV Special, danced in several Music Videos and did a stint in musical theater with The Will Rogers Follies. She performed in the show Enter the Night before accepting the position of Line Captain at Studio 54 at the MGM Grand Hotel. Amy met her husband, Dave, while dancing in Greece as lead dancer/ dance captain in American Superstars. Her comment? “Thank God I took THAT job!” She currently resides in Las Vegas where she works at the Stratosphere Hotel as dance captain/lead dancer and part time choreographer for the show American Superstars. She continues to dance in and choreograph for various Industrials and Conventions. Amy and Dave recently added baby Warren to their family!

Holly Moss - After obtaining her Associates Degree, Holly moved to Las Vegas and joined the cast of Jubilee! at Ballys Hotel where she remained from 1999 to 2002. Working nights and going to school days, Holly became a Licensed Masseuse and currently works for the Spa at the MGM Grand Hotel. Holly has made her home in Las Vegas with her new husband, Tim Clothier, who works as an illusion designer! She continues to dance on a part time basis in the The New Art of Magic show starring Dirk Arthur at the Plaza Hotel.

Shelley DeBoer - One of our infamous Star Search semi-finalists, Shelley began her professional dance career aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Southward. She moved on to cruise on NCL’s Seaward before accepting a position as a featured acrobatic-dancer with Mystique, a Dick Foster production. Beginning at Harrah’s Hotel in Lake Tahoe and moving on to Atlantic City, Shelley was invited to join the select cast for a six month contract in Auckland, New Zealand! After returning to the states, Shelley did a brief contract as a lead acrobatic dancer for The Follies Bergere at the Tropicana Hotel before being cast as the Principal Dancer at the Luxor Hotel in the show Imagine! A tour followed and upon her arrival back in Las Vegas, Shelley accepted a position in the Siegfried and Roy production at the Mirage. She remained there until Roy’s tragic accident in the fall of 2003, which closed down the show. (She was in the wings when the attack tool place!) Shelley & her husband, Tim, have made their home in Las Vegas & Shelley currently works for Dick Foster Productions at the Rio Hotel.

Chey Smith - After graduating Timberline High in 1990, Chey left for her first dance job on Paradise Island and the Bahamas. Wanting to continue to see the world, Chey joined the cast of Circa Las Vegas for a tour of South America followed by a contract in Arizona with the show Latin Fire! Moving to Las Vegas, Chey has found nonstop work in Industrials, Conventions and showcases, the most notorious being her Janet Jackson Impersonation! Being muli talented, Chey accepted a position at the Hilton Hotel as a back up singer and dancer for Kristine W. She managed to fit in a contract at the MGM Grand with the show EFX performing with David Cassidy and was featured in the Comedy Cabaret. One of her favorite specialty jobs was the Sinbad show at Caesars Palace. During these performing years, Chey managed to attend college studying Hotel Management and graduated in the spring 2005. She currently works as a Conventions & Special Events Coordinator for an independent agency in Las Vegas. Chey continues to be involved in dance as a sought after Master Teacher/Choreographer and Competition Judge throughout the U. S.

Jamie Keating - After graduation in 1994, Jamie moved to Reno, Nevada. Her first professional dance position was at the Horizon Hotel & Casino in Lake Tahoe in the show Phantasy, a magic review. She began to learn the art of illusion and, being petite and gorgeous, has grown to be an accomplished Illusionist Assistant! Moving on to Brett Daniel’s show Magic & Beyond, Jamie has danced in Mississippi and done an extensive tour of China! She has worked as Dance Captain/Choreographer for the show, which is performing in Branson, Missouri. Clips of the show can be se on the website Brett Daniels. Jamie is currently on tour as Company Manager for the Golden Dragon Acrobats. Check them out at Goldendragon Acrobats.com

Kim Murphy - Dancer, actor AND singer, Kim has far too many dance and film credits to list here. Update September 2006! Catch Kim on “Cold Case” in October! The highlights these past 10 years have been acting with Sinbad in Houseguest, starring in the TV series Level 9 as ‘Sosh’, playing an ongoing part in the TV hit Cybill, making two appearances with Kiefer Sutherland on TV’s 24, major roles in the movies The In Crowd and Campfire Tales, playing opposite James Garner in a Rockford Files made-for-TV movie, and an outstanding performance in the Oprah Winfrey presentation of David and Lisa. Kim has also appeared on Melrose Place, Party of Five, L.A. Doctors, Snoops and Boomtown. She appeared as Balford’s daughter in the movie City of Angels and has had bit parts and starring parts in live theatre productions in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas. Kim performs occasionally with the dance troop Fusion, a Los Angeles based group that features a blend of hip hop, acrobatic, African, jazz and belly dancing! Kim currently makes her home in Los Angeles. Her favorite co-actors?...Vanessa Williams and Meg Ryan!

Cherrise Gadd-Pawlak - Cherrise began her professional dance career onboard the Norwegian Majesty. She then went on to perform as a singer/dancer and adagio-dancer with Holland America Cruise Lines onboard the New Amsterdam. After cruising Bermuda, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal, Cherrise returned to the states, moving to Florida. Pursuing free-lance work, Cherrise has been featured as a hip hop dancer in the Nike Corporate Tradeshow, performed over New Years in Nassau Bahamas at the Atlantis Resort and Casino, filmed music videos with Shakira and La Bouche and finds time to teach dance in the Florida area! After signing with Poet productions, Cherrise finds herself even busier working as a dancer, magician’s assistant and duo trapeze artist in the show Luminaire. Cherrise currently lives in Florida with her husband Keith and between performances is pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Business.

Derek Hart - Derek was “discovered” at a local competition his senior year in high school and offere d a job at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, travel expenses paid! (ahh, to be a guy!) He quickly moved to a Dancer/Gymnast position in the Follies Bergere at the Tropicana Hotel. Upon completion of his first contract, Derek accepted a position for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, before returning to the Follies as Lead Gymnast. A devastating car/pedestrian accident in the winter of 2003 left Derek severely injured and unable to dance. A year later he was given the “okay” to perform once again and joined the cast of the brand new ship, Pride of Aloha, for a 6 month contract in the Hawaiian Islands. Derek is currently dancing, once again, in the Follies Bergere at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas.

Melissa Hortin - Melissa has spent 5 years with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines! She has danced on the Sovereign, Grandeur, Voyager, Explorer, Brilliance, Adventure and Navigator of the Seas. Melissa has performed in 16 different full length shows and has been a featured soloist, vocalist and served as Line Captain! Her dance career has taken her to Bahamas, Aruba, Curacao, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Mexico, Grand Caymen, Jamaica, Haiti, Boston, Bar Harbor, Portland, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, England, Scotland, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Russia, Estonia, France, Spain, Indonesia and both coasts of Australia! In her own words- “Phew!” She currently resides in Montreal.

Jaffar Smith - The adorable “baby brother” of Chey, Jaffar is currently making his mark in the Hip Hop scene in L. A. and on tour. Beginning in 1998 as a member of Culture Shock, the infamous Hip Hop ensemble both in Las Vegas and San Diego, Jaffar quickly became a part time choreographer. He danced and choreographed for the all-girl band Groove Kitty, before moving to Los Angeles where he currently resides, dancing with Urban Effex, doing free-lance choreography and teaching Jaffar has danced with Ashanti on the NBA televised special Read to Achieve, danced in a recent Brandy video and is currently on tour as a back up dancer for the Cheetah Girls!!

Meghan Gilstrap - In September 2001, Meghan took her first professional position dancing for Jean Ann Ryan Productions on the Norwegian Star during the Inaugural Season. She worked as a featured gymnast and web performer and, of course, dancer! She then moved to Las Vegas where she worked at the Rio Show in the Sky and became involved in Industrials and Convention work as well. Meghan is now dancing at the Stratosphere in the show American Superstars!

Marisa Kennedy - Marisa graduated June 2004 from the University of Arizona, where she was involved with dance and drama from the start. As a sophomore, she became the stage manager of a performing group, Encore, which is a traveling group of singers & dancers. In addition to performing in Oklahoma, Marisa understudied an Equity production of Blue with the Arizona Theatre Co., where she had the opportunity to work with Leslie Uggams and a member of the NYC cast of Rent! Her second Equity production, A Streetcar Named Desire, played in Phoenix. Marisa’s final college production was Little Shop of Horrors. She most recently spent the summer in the mid-west doing Summer Stock!

Nate Soanka - Nate was in Las Vegas performing in the I love Dance Nationals as a member of the International Sweetheart/Heartthrob Troop when his mother sent a video of him to Norwegian Cruise Lines. He was hired on the spot! (Don’t you just HATE that, girls!) He left for cast rehearsal in North Carolina two weeks after turning 18 and began his dance career aboard The Norwegian Sea, cruising first from Boston to Bermuda And then on to Mexico. That first contract took him to St. Thomas, Aruba, Cancun, Cozumel, Belize and Honduras. Nate then accepted a second contract onboard The Norwegian Spirit, After a brief visit home this past spring 2004, Nate accepted a second contract onboard The Norwegian Spirit, NCL’s newest ship. After rehearsing onboard during the ship’s native voyage from Hong Kong, Nate cruised from Seattle to Alaska! He then did a 6 month contract onboard RCCL's Radiance of the Seas where he studied and became adept at the art of "silks." Nate recently finished touring for the Broadway show Hairspray!

Amanda Sherry - In the year 2000 Amanda began her professional dance career in the Brett Daniels show Journey into the Unknown in Memphis, Tennessee. She was then hired by Greg Thompson Productions for their Laughlin, Nevada show Bewitched. In 2001, Amanda was hired by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a dancer and Line Captain aboard the Monarch of the Seas. She did a follow up contract aboard the Enchantment of the Seas, where she was a featured soloist! Amanda worked for 2 years as Dance Director for the California Elite Sports Center in Orange County. She is currently “at sea” working again for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. She just signed on to tour the Eastern Mediterranean in 2007 dancing onboard the Legend of the Seas! Evenings in Venice, anyone??

Jason Hortin - Jason graduated UnLV 2005 with a degree in dance with a Ballet/Modern dance focus. He performed The Human Show created by Kari Margois of the Marglois-Brown Company summer of 2003 for the Fringe Festival in Scotland. He also performed with the Mink-Colbert Ballet for a week as part of the Festival (the Largest Arts Festival in the world). The summer 2004 Jason performed with "Moving people Dance Theatre" a professional company based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This took him to Keil, Germany for the Dance and Gymnastics Festival where the company performed original works by Richard Havey. In July 2005 Jason joined the company of River North in Chicago, a renowned modern/jazz dance company. In addition to his company duties & touring engagements, Jason is a guest instructor for various dance schools in the Chicago area.

Vy Nguyen - After graduating from Olympia High School, Vy went on to attain her BA in English Literature at WWU. While in college, she danced with the WWU hip-hop dance team and also the Seattle-based hip-hop group, Phyzical GraFFi-T. Shortly after her college graduation, Vy was signed by Van Son Entertainment and moved to Los Angeles where she began to write songs preparing for the 2005 release of her First CD, entitled “my story.”! After her debut show in Tokyo, Vy has performed in Philadelphia, New Orleans, Washington DC, Houston, Japan, Australia, Philippines and Toronto where she wows the crowds with her sassy singing style and hot dance moves! Vy recently performed on the Red Carpet for the release party of CW television network! After a limo entrance, Vy and 6 other dancers showcased their dance style to a brand new song by Fergie! (not to mention being invited to the celebrity party after the show!) and Houston where she wows the crowds with her sassy singing style and hot dance moves!

Travis Gallagher - Travis graduated Timberline High School and SPSCC simultaneously with his diploma & Associates Degree in the spring of 2005. As of September 2006, Travis is beginning his second year of the Ailey Study Program in New York City. Last spring, after an intense audition, he performed a solo of his own choreography for their spring concert, Global Harmony! Travis is currently dancing 20+ hours a week studying Horton-based modern, Graham-based modern and classical ballet.

Lauren Bacon - Lauren has worked as an Assistant Coordinator, Production Coordinator and Production Manager for countless TV commercials, Music Videos, Industry Films, and Feature Television! She began her career in 1998 in Los Angeles, CA where she continues to reside. Lauren has worked with Will Smith, Pharrell, Switchfoot, Anastacia, Cindy Crawford, Backstreet Boys, Marc Anthony, Limp Bizket, and Donna Summer to name but a few! She’s produced commercials for Sears, Macy’s, Foot Locker, MCI, Cheerios, Microsoft, ESPN and more! She currently is working for the third season as Production Coordinator for the mega hit Dancing With the Stars!!

Natalie Walstead - Natalie is our most recent professional! Landing her first job at her very first audition, Natalie holds the record for getting that “magic” phone call. She was offered a contract within 3 days! Natalie will be dancing onboard RCCL’s Monarch of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera. We’ll all miss Natalie as she leaves September ’06 to begin her rehearsals in Fort Lauderdale. She can be looking for Cherrise (see bio) who will be attending her final rehearsals to cheer Natalie on!