AERIN HOLT

Artistic Director, Choreographer, Dance Educator, Founder

(Classical & Contemporary Ballet, Modern Dance & Motion Alignment Therapy)

Aerin Holt is the Founder and Artistic Director of California DanceArts. Since 1987, her passion for dance has been marked by the development of her school’s progressive programs that proudly features the advancement of her students, many of whom have gone onto professional careers.   Ms. Holt is the visionary choreographer and the Artistic Director of California Contemporary Ballet, one of Southern California’s burgeoning dance companies that features Holt’s unique choreographic blend of classical, contemporary and modern ballet. She leads her Company with the creation of several innovative, original works and full-length original ballets presented each season.

Aerin has been fortunate to study and perform with a variety of companies and has worked with choreographers from the Martha Graham Dance Company, Joffrey Ballet, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Utah Repertory Company and Momentum Dance Company, to name a few. She has been seen in broadcasts for commercial and educational television, and is an award-winning choreographer of theatrical events, stage productions, competitions and ballets.

​

Aerin Holt is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.

Read more...

LYNN BRYSON PITTENGER

Ballet Instructor

(Classical Ballet Tech, Pointe & Variations for Student & Career Divisions)

Ms. Pittenger was the recipient of two Ford Foundation Scholarships, one to study with San Francisco Ballet Company and the other personally awarded by Mr. George Balanchine to attend the School of American Ballet in New York City. It was while attending the New York school that Maria Tallchief selected her to perform in lecture demonstrations throughout New York and eastern colleges.

After two years of study at the School of American Ballet, Lynn was invited by

Mr. Balanchine to join the company of New York City Ballet where her professional career began.

​

In addition to a successful performing career, Ms. Pittenger directed a very extensive program for over 250 children in the course of 23 years and ran her own school of ballet for over seven years, making Ms. Pittenger uniquely and exceptionally qualified to prepare our students at California DanceArts for the world of dance.

NICHELLE BANE

Ballet Instructor

Levels 3 and 4

As a dancer, Nichelle was a member & soloist with the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo by the age of 14. In 1990 she left San Luis Obispo to become a line captain & featured dancer on Princess Cruise Line. Since moving to Los Angeles Nichelle studied under, and became an assistant to Doug Caldwell. “The Godfather of Lyrical” she assisted Doug in class and choreography for over 15 years. Nichelle co-choreographed the Trading Spaces commercial staring Paige Davis. Friends, Clueless, Austin Powers 2, Totally Blonde, Divine Design, and Her Last Chance MOW. She has appeared in commercials for Mervyns, McDonalds, Bacardi, and NBC. Nichelle has worked with the likes of Marguerite Derricks, Mia Michaels, & Vincent Paterson. 

As the founder and artistic director of the LA based Reflections Dance Company, Nichelle has been bringing inspiration to the stage through all genres of dance. In 2012, Nichelle was brought on as resident choreographer for Astra Dance Theater where she helped bring unique dance shows to the stage.

ALEXIS ASH

Ballet Instructor

(Classical Ballet for Children's Division)

Alexis Ash has been a dedicated and loyal student of California Dance Arts for the past 12 years.  As a valued member of the California Contemporary Ballet Company, she has performed in numerous Company productions. In 2017 she performed the starring role, as Gerda, in the Company’s signature ballet, The Snow Queen.  She has also gained experience as a valued show Dance Captain assisting in the teaching of the show’s choreography. For the last several years, Alexis has dedicated herself to teacher training under the direct supervision of Ms. Holt and achieved Apprentice status and then Teacher for the Children's Division (Pre-Ballet through Primary C). Just recently, Alexis returned from New York City where she successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive and is now a Certified Teacher for Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. 

Alexis is also a very talented Aerialist, Gymnast and Modern Dancer. She is currently completing a degree at the Woodbury University’s School of Business. A favorite teacher at California DanceArts, she is a gifted, encouraging instructor that connects with young children.

LYDIA MARIE MCDONALD

Ballet Instructor

Levels 1 thru 3, contemporary dance and modern

Lydia Marie McDonald is originally from Longwood Florida and spent most of her childhood in Arlington Texas. She began her dance training at the age of 12 and has been heavily involved in dance ever since. She has trained in styles such as ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, African, hip hop, tap, musical theatre, improvisation, and more. Lydia received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with an emphasis in performance from the University of North Texas in August 2018 and spent two seasons dancing as a company member of imPULSE Dance Project during her college training. Additionally, she has performed and trained with a variety of company’s such as Zion Dance Project, Noble Motion, Doug Varone and Dancers, Arcos Dance, and more. Immediately after graduating college, she became a company member of Ad Deum Dance Company’s 2nd company for 2 seasons. Lydia is currently living in Los Angeles where she is a company member of Benita Bike’s Dance Art and Geometry 2. Lydia intends to continue to pursue a professional dance career for many years to come through her passions for performance, teaching, and choreography. 

MALINDA FARRINGTON

Dance Instructor

(Broadway Jazz for Adult Division)

Malinda Farrington began her dance education with the Montgomery Civic Ballet where she danced the role of Cinderella in Cinderella. She then received a dance scholarship to Southern Methodist University where she danced with the company for 2 years. Her next move was to NYC where she received a full scholarship to Alvin Ailey School of Dance and at that time danced with The Richard Levi Dance Company.

Here Malinda began her Musical Theater career. Malinda has performed in 5 Broadway Shows, the last of which was Chita Rivera, The Dancer’s Life. It was an honor to dance with a living legend. She has also understudied greats like Bebe Newirth and studied with Fosse right hand men like Chet Walker and even learned Steam Heat from the infamous Gwen Verdon!