Liz Cantine

Alexis Carra

Alexis Carrra is thrilled to be on faculty at the Norris after choreographing Once Upon a Mattress and The Music Man. Dancing since age 2, Alexis has trained at NYU, Alvin Ailey, Princeton Ballet, and the Broadway Theatre Project with Ann Reinking. Alexis is a graduate of Yale University, and was last seen on Broadway in Boubil and Schonberg’s The Pirate Queen. Her other Broadway credits include: Fosse (1^st National), Wicked, and Sweet Charity (u/s Nickie, Dance Captain). Alexis said a brief “see you later” to Broadway and moved to LA where she has performed in Wicked at the historic Pantages Theatre and recently played Louise in Gypsy at Sacramento Music Circus. Other theatre credits include Fame on 42^nd Street, A Chorus Line, Tea and Sympathy, and her own solo show produced at Yale entitled Still Moving. Alexis can be seen on the new TNT drama, Hawthorne and in the indie film, Convincing Clooney. Choreography credits include West Side Story, Bat Boy, Guys and Dolls, Damn Yankees, Fiddler on the Roof.

 Erin Cottrell

Erin Cottrell is an award winning actress best known for her performance in Michael Landon Jr.'s, Love Comes Softlyseries as well as being the new Caroline Ingalls in Disney/ABC's Little House on the Prairie.She has had an extensive career in film and television including guest lead appearances onE.R., CSI:NY, Cold Case, Medium, Numb3rs, Ed,and Stranger's With Candy, as well as reoccurring characters on All My Children and The Guiding Light. Her film credits include Legally Blonde 2 (as Reese Witherspoon's sorority president) and Faith of My Father's (as John McCain's first wife, Carol). Most recently she was seen along side Jason Alexander and Christopher Lloyd in the NBC mini-series, METEOR. When Erin is not filming she is teaching. Since 2002 she has been a proud teacher for the nonprofit organization, City Hearts: Kids Say Yes to the Arts. She has taught jazz, ballet, modern, hip hop, musical theatre, Shakespeare and acting to the at risk youth of East LA, bringing the arts into otherwise dangerous and vastly under funded areas.

Jon Engstrom

Jon has worked throughout the United States, Europe & Asia.  Locally, Jon has directed and choreographed for most of the southland’s theatres including: Musical Theatre West, CLO of South Bay Cities, Reprise, La Mirada Theatre, Downey CLO, Welk Resort Theatre, San Diego Starlight as well as numerous productions for the Negri Learning Center.  Some of the productions that Jon has directed & choreographed for major venues include: “THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL”, “WHITE CHRISTMAS”, “42ND STREET”, “BYE BYE BIRDIE”, “THE DESERT SONG”,  “MY ONE AND ONLY”, “ANNIE GET YOUR GUN”, “THEY’RE PLAYING OUR SONG”, “DAMN YANKEES”, “WEST SIDE STORY”, “EVITA”, “FIDDLER ON THE ROOF”, “SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN”, “MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS”, “MAME”, “GUYS AND DOLLS”, “THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES”, “HELLO DOLLY”, “MY FAIR LADY”, “NO, NO, NANETTE”, “INTO THE WOODS”, “ANYTHING GOES”, “OLIVER”, “OKLAHOMA”, “SWEET CHARITY”, “CAN-CAN” & “BRIGADOON”.  Jon is currently on staff teaching dance at AMDA (The American Musical and Dramatic Academy) in Los Angeles.  Jon was guest director/choreographer for Pepperdine University’s prestigious fall musical for five years in a row.  Jon is proud to know that many of his former students have achieved successful careers in musical theatre and many have appeared on Broadway. Jon’s own career started with a Ford Foundation Scholarship.  He went on to become a soloist with the San Francisco Ballet.  He was an original member of Eliot Feld’s company and also guest artist with the Lar Lubovitch Company before moving on to “The Great White Way” where he was a featured dancer in five Broadway musicals:  “NO, NO, NANETTE”, “THE PAJAMA GAME”, “VERY GOOD EDDIE”,  “WHOOPIE!” & “42ND STREET” (Dance Captain of the original 1980 Broadway production) & two National Tours: “CHICAGO” & “SEESAW”. Jon has been fortunate to work with such notable director/choreographers as: Gower Champion, Bob Fosse, Michael Bennett, Donald Saddler, Donald McKayle, Alan Johnson & Danny Daniels. Jon is a proud member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Dyan Lopez-Fiamengo

Dyan Lopez-Fiamengo has been teaching dance for over 25 years. She has an extensive background in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip hop. She has a degree in Physical Education with an emphasis on coaching men's sports. Dyan started dancing at the age of 4. She has danced with the Legendary Nicholas Brothers, Cab Calloway, Gregory Hines, etc. She has performed at the White House, toured the U.S. and done TV and music videos with her last one being with Earth, Wind and Fire. She has opened for the Mandrell Sisters, Four Tops, Ink Spots, various celebrity events, etc. Dyan has choreographed numerous Clipper Half time, field, and fashion shows. She had the first all guys dance team for high school where one of her dancers went on to dance with Brittney Spears, Michael Jackson, Prince, etc. She has worked with various children's groups like American Youth Express, where the group was chosen to perform at the Pantages for a 6 month run in the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. She is currently the director and choreographer of Electric Youth Dance Company. She is Co-owner of the professional tap company "The Hot Cotton Candies." Dyan is currently dancing with the Ole Skool Crew at the La Sparks games. The group was featured at two Lakers Games this year and was on Crusin TV. The group will be featured on 7 episodes of Keeping up with the Kardashians. The group was also guest on the Rick Dees in the morning Movin 93.9.

Ann Myers

Ann has choreographed musicals across the country, including many shows for our own Norris Professional Three-Play series. She began dancing at the age of six and has performed at such places as Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland America Cruise Lines. Favorite roles include Lina Lamont in SINGIN IN THE RAIN, Audrey in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Ado Annie in OKLAHOMA and Anytime Annie in 42ND STREET. Miss Myers works for Disney Theatrical Group and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre/Dance Minor from Millikin University. 

Jenny Graham

Jenny received her degree in vocal performance from Central State University and since then has made her living as a singer and vocal coach. Jenny sang for five years with the renowned a capella group the Swingle Singers, recording and touring throughout the world. She has also taken her solo cabaret act on cruise ships worldwide. Since moving to Southern California Jenny has worked as a session singer on over 80 films and television shows from THE SIMPSONS to AVATAR to TANGLED. She also coaches many of the young actors on the television show GLEE.  She loves all styles and all ages!

Linda Hurst

Linda has enjoyed a multi-decade career in music, stage and television. She trained classically in the art of Bel Canto with the director of the Vienna Folksopera; however, she signed with RCA Victor and made a successful living as a pop and musical comedy singer, appearing in productions of BRIGADOON, CAROUSEL and OKLAHOMA. She has taught many Norris students over the last ten years, and is excited to particularly work with younger students who are looking for a solid and healthy technique that will pay benefits no matter what style of music they wish to sing.

Kate Pazakis

A recent West Coast transplant, Kate Pazakis appeared on Broadway in SOUTH PACIFIC, JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA and BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS. She is a regular in concerts of up-and-coming Broadway composers, and is the creator and host of the monthly Broadway Barre cabaret in Hollywood. Kate has developed a comprehensive technique for extending range, strength and stamina, and specializes in creating a healthy belt for contemporary theater and pop/rock. Kate has coached several actresses portraying Elpheba in WICKED to give them the tools to survive an 8-show week! 

Daniel Thomas