West Coast School of the Arts

IRVINE DANCE ACADEMY ARTICLES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

3 NEW ARTICLES

Article #1

IRVINE DANCE ACADEMY/WEST COAST SCHOOL OF THE ARTS ACHIEVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION DURING 2004 COMPETITION SEASON

Dancers Continue to Earn Top Honors with Award-Winning

Performances at Three Venues

IRVINE , Calif. , August 9, 2004 – Irvine Dance Academy/West Coast School of the Arts, a nonprofit organization committed to providing quality dance instruction for children, ages 3-18, today announced that it has earned national recognition for top dance performances during the 2004 competition season. Well-known in competition circles for its award-winning faculty and students, the school extended its winning streak into 2004 by bringing home nearly 18 trophies for outstanding performances at the 2004 Showstoppers, Showbiz and Starpower dance competitions.

At Showstoppers National Competition held during July in Anaheim , Calif. Irvine Dance/West Coast earned the following trophies:

• 1 st Overall Senior Small Group – “My Kind of Guy”

• 1 st Overall Junior Small Group – “Can't Turn You Loose”

• 1 st Overall Senior Large Group – “Women”

During the Showstoppers Finals Competition, also held in July in Anaheim , Calif. , the following trophies were awarded to Irvine Dance/West Coast:

• Top Senior Soloist – Clarisse Takemoto

• 2 nd Overall Senior Soloist – Sara Escalante

• 3 rd Overall Senior Soloist – Kristen Pitera

• 3 rd Overall Teen Soloist – Taylor Felix

• Top Junior Large Group – “Can't Turn You Loose”

• 2 nd Overall Senior Small Group – “Fields of Gold”

• 3 rd Overall Senior Small Group – “The Agent” & “My Kind of Guy” (tie)

• 2 nd Overall Teen Duet & Trio – “Love Cats”

• 2 nd Overall Senior Duet & Trio – “Take Me or Leave Me”

In June, Irvine Dance/West Coast competed in the Showbiz Finals in Las Vegas , and brought home the following trophies:

• Grand Champions Senior Group – “Bolero”

• 1 st Overall Junior Large Group – “Can't Turn You Loose

• Miss Showbiz Runner-Up – Cheri Avalos

In addition, at the Showbiz Finals, five out of the top 10 senior soloists, and four of the top 10 senior duets and trios were from Irvine Dance/West Coast.

Finally, during July Irvine Dance/West Coast student Cooper Zamorano was awarded “Mr. Teen Starpower” and was a technique winner at the Starpower Finals held in Las Vegas .

“We would like to congratulate all of our award winning students and faculty for an outstanding 2004 competition season,” said Ralph Opacic, president of Irvine Dance Academy/West Coast School of the Arts. “We are very proud of their accomplishments, and we are confident that with the support of our students, faculty and the surrounding community, Irvine Dance/West Coast will continue to become Orange County 's premier dance training and competition facility.”

About Irvine Dance Academy/West Coast School of the Arts

Founded in 1972, Irvine Dance Academy has been a part of the Irvine community for more than 30 years. In 2003, the school merged with West Coast School of the Arts, a nationally recognized dance competition school, which relocated to Irvine from Cypress , Calif.

Irvine Dance Academy/West Coast School of the Arts provides its student with a broad range of instructional dance classes and workshops including ballet, hip-hop, jazz, tap, lyrical and Pointe; a competition track for students serious about a career in dance; and one of the region's leading dance instructional programs for toddlers.

Irvine Dance Academy/West Coast School of the Arts is located at 15435 Jeffrey Road in Irvine . Instruction takes place during the day, after school, evenings and on the weekend. For more information, please call (949) 551-3507 or visit our Website at www.irvinedance.com.

Article #2

Carlee Puffer Appointed Director of Teen Dance Programs

In March 2004, Irvine Dance/West Coast appointed Carlee Puffer as Director of Teen Dance Programs. In this role, Carlee will oversee curriculum development and the instruction of teens, ages 13-18, who are preparing for a professional career in dance. She will also assist in promoting the continued growth and expansion of the program to serve a greater number of talented young dancers from Irvine and surrounding areas. Carlee has been a faculty member at Irvine Dance/West Coast since 1997.

“Carlee's success as a dancer, model and actress is an inspiration to our students who aspire toward a career in the entertainment industry,” said Ralph Opacic, president of Irvine Dance Academy/West Coast School of the Arts. “Students from all over Southern California come to Irvine Dance/West Coast to receive dance instruction from Carlee, and we are pleased that she has accepted the role as director of our teen dance programs.”

With more than 20 years of experience as a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher, Carlee is accomplished in ballet, gymnastics, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop and tap. Extensive training in the United States and internationally has provided the basis for Carlee's outstanding performances in commercials, industrials, videos, television and on stage, as well as award winning choreography that has been recognized on local and national levels.

Carlee's credits include Saban Entertainment, Skechers, City of Hope , “Michael Barrymore Show,” and “Avante Garde.” Carlee has also appeared in productions of “Annie,” “Steppin' Out,” “Winnie the Pooh,” and “The Nutcracker.” In 1996, Carlee received the “Showbiz Dancer” award while working with choreographer Ray Leeper, and in 2002 she was awarded the Capezio Choreography award. Carlee has trained with Tage Wendt, ballet master of the Royal Danish Ballet and studied with the prestigious dance department at the University of California , Irvine .

“As an educator, I am dedicated to helping those that are serious about pursuing a career in dance, achieve those objectives while promoting positive character traits including integrity, respect, responsibility, fairness, compassion, good citizenship and leadership,” said Puffer. “At Irvine Dance/West Coast, our teen dance programs are not only about helping our students achieve their professional goals, but also teaching them to use artistic and creative expression to build and develop self-esteem, discipline, perseverance, courage and a sense of continued accomplishment.”

Carlee holds a bachelor of arts in Liberal Studies for Elementary Education, with emphasis in Visual and Performing Arts from California State University , Long Beach .

Many of Carlee's students currently work in the entertainment industry with companies including Disney, Mattel, Skechers, ABC and Nickelodeon. Her students have also appeared in numerous music videos for artists including Paula Abdul, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

Article #3

IRVINE DANCE ACADEMY/WEST COAST SCHOOL OF THE ARTS APPOINTS DANIELLE DODDS-STEWART AS DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS

IRVINE , Calif. , January 12, 2004 – Irvine Dance Academy/West Coast School of the Arts, a nonprofit organization committed to providing quality dance instruction for children, ages 3-18, today announced the appointment of Danielle Dodds-Stewart as Director of Children's Programs. In this role, Danielle will oversee curriculum development and the instruction of children just beginning their dance training, as well as the continued growth and expansion of the program to serve more students from Irvine and surrounding areas. Danielle has been a faculty member at Irvine Dance Academy since 1984.

“Danielle's ability to inspire young children, and instill a passion for dance at such an early age has made her instrumental in helping Irvine Dance/West Coast to develop one of the most dynamic children's dance programs in Orange County,” said Ralph Opacic, president of Irvine Dance Academy/West Coast School of the Arts. “We are thrilled that Danielle has accepted the role as director of our children's programs, and we are confident that under her leadership, the program will continue to remain one of the region's leading dance instructional programs for toddlers and young children.”

An accomplished professional choreographer, dancer, actress and model in New York, Los Angeles and Europe, Danielle's diverse career has given her a number of opportunities ranging from modeling for international magazine advertisements in Vogue and Glamour , to appearing in national films, commercials, television shows and music videos with artists including Bob Fosse in “Chicago”; John Travolta in “Stayin' Alive”; Prince; and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Danielle received her dance training at Great Britain 's Royal Academy and the American Ballet Theatre, studying with ballet and jazz masters including Anthony Tudor, Eugene Loring, Edward Villella, Olga Maynard, Luigi, Gus Giordano and Tremaine.

Danielle earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts, in dance and theatre from the University of California , Irvine . During her career she has also taught at University of California, Irvine; Orange County High School of the Arts (OCHSA); Rancho Santiago, Orange Coast, and Coastline Community Colleges.

“As an educator, I am dedicated to developing and strengthening core ethical values that shape the attitudes and habits of children, while consciously and competently reinforcing positive character traits including integrity, respect, responsibility, fairness, compassion, good citizenship and leadership,” said Dodds-Stewart. “At

Irvine Dance/West Coast, our children's programs are not about developing the strength, flexibility and grace needed to win. Instead, our goal is to use artistic and creative expression through dance to give our young students endless opportunities to build and develop self-esteem, discipline, perseverance, courage and a sense of continued accomplishment.”

Irvine Dance Academy is well-know in the Irvine area for its children's programs which include “Mommy and Me” – a class for toddlers ages 2-3 that combines movement and exploration of rhyme, rhythm and song; “Creative Ballet” – an introduction to ballet positions for feet and arms for children ages 3-4; and “Fairyland Ballet,” a fun introduction for children ages 4-5 to music movement, basic ballet terminology and ballet combinations using ballet dances including “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty.” “Coppelia,” and “ Swan Lake .” Other children's classes include pre-ballet, ballet/tap and pre-dance for children ages 4-6.

About Irvine Dance Academy/West Coast School of the Arts

Founded in 1972, Irvine Dance Academy has been a part of the Irvine community for more than 30 years. In August 2003, the school merged with West Coast School of the Arts, a nationally recognized dance competition school, which relocated to Irvine from Cypress , Calif.