Ann looks forward to treating you to a superior dance experience and is proud to present the 8th annual Dance North Workshop!

A veteran performer, choreographer, teacher and recent producer. Ann’s choreography has been well received on stages around the world, including Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall and her work received two standing ovations at Carnegie Hall, where Ann recently presented “the Menhattans ™ - her all male line of entertainers to rave reviews. Ann has the honor of being a 14 year Radio City Rockette having choreographed for the troupe, been an assistant and dance captain, staging televised & theatrical events (Oprah & The Today Show) throughout her Rockette career. Ann is the Assistant Creative Director for R-Family vacations, and enjoyed another fantastic week with Rosie O’Donnell on the R-Family Broadway Cruise. She is Supervising Associate for the current national tour of The Producers and recently began as an associate director and choreographer at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Other theatre credits include: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sacramento M.C. (Panacea, Assoc. Choreo), The Will Rogers Follies national tour (Assoc. Choreo.-Dance Captain), Victor Victoria! (1st national tour, Dance Captain). National tour choreography: 42nd Street (US national tour) and ASIA tour (dance captain). Assist. Choreography: Singin’ in the Rain (Assoc. Choreo.), Carnival! w/ Graciella Danielle, Guys and Dolls w/ Thommie Walsh, Nothing Like a Dame, The Tony Awards w/ Hugh Jackman, Michael Buble’ at Radio City, The Olympic Torch Arrival in NYC w/ Jerry Mitchell, An Evening at the Copa, City Rhythm and Broadway Bares. Ann is a certified “Artist in the Classroom” through the New York Public Schools and a certified Pilates instructor trainer for the Pilates Academy International.

She is thrilled to have you take part in dance north this week, have a great 4 days!

Jo is an accomplished teacher and choreographer. She has a Master’s Degree in dance from The University of Michigan and has university training at MSU, WMU and Butler University. She was owner and director of the Tecumseh Dance Workshop for 25 years, before moving permanently to Northern Michigan 9 years ago. Jo has taught at the college level for several years and continues to teach in northern Michigan.

She was designated a Movement Specialist for the Dancers in the Schools Project sponsored by the Michigan Council for the Arts and has worked extensively in the classroom with elementary and middle school students. She has choreographed numerous community and youth theatre productions as well as pageants and creative movement master classes. She received a master teacher certification in jazz dance from the Broadway Dance Center in New York. Jo is co-director of North Coast Productions and the Dance North Summer Dance Intensive.

Josh grew up in San Jose, California where he attended Abraham Lincoln High School of the Performing Arts. He worked extensively in the Los Angeles area at Disneyland and The El Capitan Theater, and appeared on television shows, including 3rd Rock from the Sun and Saved by the Bell. Josh moved to New York in 2004 and performed at Radio City with The Christmas Spectacular and the World Famous Rockettes for 4 years. Other credits include Guys and Dolls, Beauty and the Beast and most recently as Assistant Director/Choreographer for Cathy Rigby's production of Peter Pan in Branson Missouri. This will be Josh's 6th year at Dance North and he is thrilled to be a part of it again.

Ali is a professional dance performer, choreographer, and professor based in Detroit, Michigan. She is currently Visiting Assistant Full Time Professor of Dance at Oakland University. Ali received her MA in Fine Arts from The University of Michigan and her Bachelor of Performing Arts from Oklahoma City University's School of Dance and Arts Management. Throughout her diverse career within both commercial (performing as a Radio City Rockette for six years) and contemporary mediums, Ali has performed and taught all over the world. She has taught and had her work performed at the American College Dance Festival, is on the Editorial Board and writes for the Journal of Dance Education, and recently performed her own work at the Music Hall for the Performing Arts, Detroit, in National City's Stars of Ballet and Broadway. Ali has set choreography for various companies both nationally and internationally. She is the founder and producer of the event, "Happenings," a collaborative event for all Detroit artists. This past June, Ali made her New York City choreographic debut at the Alvin Ailey Theatre.

This is Michael's second year with the Dance North Intensive and is very excited to be here. Michael danced professionally all over the world. Working as a swing in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Disney Productions, Tokyo Disney, Chrysler, Gap, and Nike to name a few. He has also worked with the artists such as Enrique Iglesias, Christina Milan, Shaggy, Jagged Edge, Bow Wow, and She Daisy.

Over the last four years Michael has decided to get behind the scenes more and has worked on One Super Bowl, three Orange Bowl Half Time Shows, two NFL Hall of Fame Game Halkf Time shows, one Gator Bowl Half Time show and the new years day Half Time show for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has also worked with the touring companies of the Broadway shows Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, and Hairspray. Directing Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids Benefit concerts. He has also choreographed for the Detroit Pistons Automotion Dance Team, the Indianapolis Pacemates, and the Detroit Ignition Dance Team, The Spark. Now Michael spends a lot of his time teaching at Juliana's Academy of Dance in Madison Heights, MI and traveling all over the country teaching for different dance conventions and studios.

We are thrilled to have Lori teach some of our Junior and Intermediate level classes this year as she has been involved with Dance North since the very beginning! She is the proud owner and Artistic Director of the Center Stage Dance Company in Oxford Michigan and has been teaching and dancing for over 25 years. Along with several Regional and National titles Lori has performed with such acts as the Trendels, BB King and Aretha Franklin. She has been seen at Disney World, the Citrus Bowl and on the Chesaning Showboat as part of the television series "Tap for Exercise." Lori's passion for teaching has landed her students numerous awards taking them to New York, Las Vegas and LA. She organizes and directs charity performances throughout the year for The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Toys for Tots, and Kids Day America.

Dylan holds a BA in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College. He has performed across the globe with credits including the Japan and North American Tours of 42nd Street, Jubilee! at Bally’s Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and as a principal dancer with Holland America Cruise Line. He has also been seen in regional theatre, industrials, film, and as a dancer for Hershey Park and on MTV. Dylan has taught, choreographed and adjudicated for countless studios and competitions across the US including Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Starpower, Dancers Inc. and Beyond the Stars. His choreography and students have won numerous titles and high scores on both the regional and national levels.

Vincent Ortega, of NYC, was born, raised, and trained in LA. His career started at Disneyland as the original Aladdin chosen by Michael Eisner, head of Disney, himself. His specialty is working in the world of Pop Music Dance. He has performed professionally as a dancer behind Ricky Martin, Britany Spears, Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, Miley Cyrus, and Usher to name a few. Film and Television credits include choreography for Shake It Up on the Disney Channel and commercials for WEtv. He has performed on Broadway in Mamma Mia and The Wedding Singer. His own choreographic credits include the Michael Jackson Tribute, Janelle Monae, The Pussycat Dolls, Lady Gaga and Beyonce. Vinent has been an assistant in many projects with choreographers like Tina Landon, Mia Michaels, Ann Cooley, and Lori Anne Gibson. He comes to Dance North to share his fabulously fun love of dance and skill with young dancers. We are so privileged to be able to offer a teaching spot on our faculty this summer to Vinnie.