Earned a Tony nomination when she starred in the 35th Anniversary production of Peter Pan on Broadway. Subsequently, her multiple talents have been lauded on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre as the Cat-In-The-Hat in Seussical the Musical. Other National and Regional tours include Annie Get Your Gun, Meet Me In St. Louis, South Pacific, Paint Your Wagon, The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Most recently Cathy Starred in AR Gurneys Silvia, to rave reviews. At the La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts
Some of Rigby's dramatic television movie credits include the "Perfect Body," "Hard To Read," "The Great Wallendas," "Triathlon," and the Emmy-nominated "Peter Pan" for A&E. A two-time Olympic gymnast, Cathy Rigby is the first American woman to win a medal in the World Gymnastics Competition and holds 12 international medals, eight of them gold. Cathy worked with ABC as a gymnastic commentator for 18 years. ABC-TV's venerable "Wide World of Sports" named her one of America's Most Influential Women in Sports. Cathy and her husband, Tom McCoy are Executive Producers of the McCoy Rigby Entertainment Series at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Jill Leatherwood
(Executive Director of the Conservatory of the Arts)
Jill has been the managing director of McCoy Rigby Conservatory of the Arts since it began 2 1/2 years ago. Her love of dance began during her gymnastic training when she was required to take ballet. She has loved dance ever since and has had the opportunity to perform and teach dance and gymnastics for most of her life. Some of her favorite shows as a performer include The Sound Of Music, a touring production of Peter Pan, and a dance-performing group on the Island of Maui. Prior to managing the dance studio, Jill was the General Manager for McCoy Rigby Entertainment. Her involvement with MRE included managing many productions such as the Broadway and national touring productions of Peter Pan as well as the video production of Peter Pan for A&E network, the National Tour Jesus Christ Superstar and many others. Jill has enjoyed her switch to the educational side of the arts and is inspired daily by the hard work and dedication of the McCoy Rigby studio dancers and performers
Brianna Beverage
(Associate Director of the Dance Conservatory/ Instructor) Brianna is a recent graduate of UCLA with a B.A. in Dance as well as B.S. in Psychology. She has also achieved becoming a certified Pilates instructor from the prestigious Long Beach Dance Conditioning.
Brianna's love of dance has brought her many years of competition since she was five years old. She has been on Rosary's High School Dance Team for three years as well as copeting on UCLA's Dance Team in 2004 and again in 2007. In addition, she has trained with Paula Morgan for nearly two years, traveling to Italy with her for a dance intensive program. Brianna is also a dance instructor with United Spirit Association.
Leann Fallow
(Office Manager of the Conservatory of the Arts)
Leann was introduced to the world of dance 13 years ago when she enrolled her daughters into dance classes at a new studio opening in Yorba Linda known as ABDA. As a stay at home mom after sixteen years she was ready to get back out into the real world so she took an office position at the studio and hasn't looked back since. She has seen many changes to the studio over the years with students growing up and becoming teachers, new ownership, new location. Her love of people, children and the Arts makes her job fun and very rewarding.
Michelle has been dancing since the age of four. She has taken classes at the Yorba Linda Community Center, Academy of Ballet and Dance Arts and is currently attending Clifton Dance Project. She was on the tap team at Academy of Ballet and Dance Arts for four years and has studied ballet, jazz and tap. Tap is the style of dance she enjoys the most. Michelle was in a Disney Sing Along video. She attended Rosary High School and was captain on Red and Gold for two years.
Jason Bittner
Jason started his dance training at the school of The Ohio Dance Theatre under the direction of Nancy Brensthl. As a pre-professional scholarship student Jason has preformed in many ballets including The Nutcracker, House in the Woods, The Gathering, Peter and the Wolf... In 2001 Jason received the Promising Artist Award from the University of the Arts. Spending two semesters abroad Jason had the unique opportunity to study with the Paris Opera Ballet and also attended many master classes in Madrid and Paris.
Jason has won many awards for his choreography including the 2005 National Choreography Achievement Award from Star Systems National Finals.
With Universal Entertainment Association, Jason has performed with such recording artists as Aaron Carter, Take 5 and Samantha Mumba. As a master teacher Jason has taught many intensives around the United States and is excited to have a home at McCoy Rigby Conservatory of the Arts. With a concentration in Lyrical, Jazz and Modern, Jason brings excitement, a high level of technique and character involvement to his classes.
Clarissa is so excited to be part of the McCoy Rigby Conservatory of the Arts. Clarissa has been performing in the professional entertainment industry since she was seven years old. Some musicals include: Annie, Gypsy, Les Misarables, Parade and The King and I. She has also starred in numerous USC and UCLA films, a few Fox commercials, a Michael Jackson music video, and has done numerous recordings with the pop group, Knockout. She trained under various instructors: for voice (opera, ProVoce style, musical theater, and pop rock); acting (classical, contemporary, theatrical and film) and dance she trained at: Le Studio, Allegria and Jimmy DeFore's for ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop. She graduated from Orange County High School of the Arts, where her major and passion was musical theater. Clarissa received her BS in Child and Adolescent Development, with a focus in Child Life and Music and Art therapy at Cal State Fullerton in May 2009. She finished completing her Child Life internship at Miller Children's Hospital of Long Beach and is preparing to take her certification exam in June 2010. Clarissa is aspiring to become a Child Life Specialist and eventually a Music and Art Therapist, using her artistic skills in art and music therapy to help support and heal hospitalized children. She loves performing at corporate gigs and concerts in the park with the best high-energy 80's cover band in the OC, Neon Nation and cuddling with her awesome black lab puppy, Jade. Clarissa has a passion for teaching and hopes she can pass on her love for musical theater to her students.
Arin graduated from Chapman College with a B.F.A. in dance. She is a graduate from Esperanza High School where she was captain of the dance team. She received her early training in ballet, jazz, and tap from Carolyn Norris Dance Company in Fullerton, CA. She has choreographed for Los Alamitos, Sonora, Esperanza, and Travis Ranch dance teams. Arin's competitive groups at this studio have won several top awards and her choreography continues to be specially recognized.
Wendy attended Orange Coast College where she studied tap with Linda Sohl-Donnel, founder of Rhapsody in Taps. Her extensive ballet training was under the tutelage of Jonette Swider and Stanley Holden.
Arlene received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Irvine and went on to an extensive professional career. She has performed with Gene Kelly, Harry Blackstone, Jr., and Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Revue. Arlene has choreographed many of the ballets at this studio.
After a four year absence we are pleased to have Michelle Halsband back on staff. Michelle was raised in Buena Park where she received her early ballet training from her mother Norma Hamilton. She went on to dance with San Francisco Ballet Company and Joffrey Ballet Company of New York. Her other professional credits include principle dancer and assistant choreographer for Nevada Dance Theatre and lead dancer with Tropicanas "Folies Bergere" in Las Vegas. Michelle's extensive training and professional experience, as well as her fun-loving personality, make her an especially popular teacher here at McCoy Rigby Conservatory of the Arts.
Carla graduated in 1994 from Los Angeles County High School of the Arts and studied at Fullerton College as a Business Major. Her professional dance credits include Star Search, People's Choice Awards, "TAP" with Gregory Hines and Tribute to Michael Jackson. Carla auditioned and was accepted at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City. Carla has been a lead instructor at USA Jazz Camps for several years, and has studied with renowned master teacher Paula Morgan. She is certified in Pilates instruction and has been coach of the Valencia High School Dance Team.
Chloe has danced since she was 5 years old and has loved every second of it! She has studied all styles of dance including jazz, ballet, tap, lyrical, hip hop, and contemporary. Chloe was the senior captain of the El Dorado dance team after being an officer and junior captain her sophomore and junior years. She has also been teaching and choreographing for McCoy Rigby's dance team since 2007. Chloe's credits include: NBC's televised Macy's Parade where she played "Wendy" from Peter Pan, McCoy Rigby Entertainment's Production of Evita, Redland Bowl performances as "Maize the bird" from Seussical, principle dancer in the Fashion Island Tree Lighting Ceremony, soloist dancer in the concert for Stephen Schwartz, Defying Gravity, and the role of "Wendy" from Peter Pan in the televised Jerry Lewis MDA telethon. Chloe has also assisted choreographers such as Dan Mojica for My Fair Lady auditions, Michelle Lynch for Happy Days auditions, and Dana Solimando for Peter Pan auditions. Chloe's most recent achievement was getting the principle role of "Tiger Lily" in the Broadway production of Peter Pan, in Branson, Missouri in the summer of 2009.
Having spent more than a decade in the entertainment industry working as a professional dancer, Chris has been fortunate enough to have had many profound influences shape him as an artist and performer. While simultaneously studying dance at the Orange County High School of the Arts, Chris was also a member of Generation Next, the second Tremaine teen dance company, under the tutelage of acclaimed film and stage choreographers Marguerite Derricks and Michael Rooney. While pursuing a BA in concert dance at the University of California, Irvine with the esteemed Donald McKayle, garnering the technique of such modern pioneers as Limon and Graham, Chris was also able to attend Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, learning the repertoire of such European choreographers as Jiri Kylian, Ohad Naharin, and Preljocaj. He has also been able to maintain a commercial career, appearing on such shows as Days of Our Lives, Cold Case, Dirty Sexy Money, and the 80th Academy Awards, as well as numerous commercials for Sony, McDonald's, and most recently, SoftBank with Cameron Diaz.
Shea's intensive dance training began in High School, which led to a prestigious dance title in Japan. Since then she has performed in many college productions and was a member of "Rhapsody in Motion" Dance Company. Shea has been teaching dance for 14 years in studios and High Schools around Orange County. Her choreography has been seen at Valencia HS, Fountain Valley HS, Los Alamitos HS, and currently she is coaching the El Dorado dance team. In 2005 she was voted Coach of the Year by the California Association of Dance Team Advisors. Recently Shea began a summer dance program with the Placentia Yorba Linda USD Athletic program for young adults. Her program was very successful and may become part of the regular summer programs. Shea is also a judge for many regional dance competitions in Southern and Northern California. Shea is very active in the dance community and will always find a way to share her passion of dance with her students. Her goal is for each student to leave her class dancing with the heart of a dancer.
In addition to her active schedule teaching dance at local Montessori schools, Maxine also teaches ballet and children's classes at MRCA. She has trained in all areas of dance. Maxine performed for many years at Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Revue. Her professional credits also include Tokyo Disneyland and Radio City Music Hall. She has been dance captain and assistant manager for numerous Disney productions and benefits. Maxine's creativity and strong ballet technique make her classes both challenging and fun.
Jessica Wildish
Jessica began dancing when she was 12 years old. She began her competitive dance career as a two-year member of Academy of Ballet and Dance Arts' dynamic Dance Team. She later went on to compete for Esperanza High School's Dance Team during her junior and senior years. While attending Orange Coast College in 2002, she was a member of their award winning Dance Team taking home the UDA Division 1A National title. She also competed with Coast All Stars, and independent competitive dance team. She has choreographed for the Fullerton College Dance Department as well as the Boys & Girls Club of Huntington Beach. Jessica enjoys teaching children and hopes to instill inspiration and love of dance to all.
Jenna has been
dancing since the age of 3. Her dance training consists of Ballet, Jazz, Tap,
Hip Hop, and Contemporary. She has competed for 10 years in these various types
of dance. She was the Captain of the El Dorado Dance team her senior year and
was an Officer for the prior two years. She then went on to Coach the El Dorado
Dance Team for one year. Jenna has taught at McCoy Rigby since 2008 and loves
every moment of it. Some of Jenna's accomplishments have been, participating in
McCoy Rigby Entertainments production of Evita and dancing in the Steven
Schwartz concert, Defying Gravity. Jenna currently attends California State
University of Fullerton. She is also the wonderful receptionist. Jenna loves
working here at McCoy Rigby and could not imagine her life without it. Dance is
a major part of Jenna's life and she hopes to continue dancing forever!
Shannon was a Los Angeles Laker Girl for 5 years and
recently choreographed the auditions for this year's team.She stays involved with the organization by
doing routines for them throughout the year as well.She is also a choreographer for a children's television
show on Nickelodeon called "Yo Gabba Gabba".She has worked with many high schools and
choreographed several routines that have won national dance team titles.She has many television and film credits as
well as many years of experience teaching all types of dance to all ages.She is really excited to join the McCoy Rigby
team and is looking forward to a great year!
Jamie Kough Jamie Kough is an
artist, arts advocate, teacher and designer. Kough is a professor at
Chapman University, teaches dance and performing arts at various studios,
schools and churches and is creator and director for Arts Fusion (a
multidisciplinary approach to the arts). Kough is also a master teacher at
the Orange County Performing Arts Center, resident artist and set designer for
Yorba Linda Friends church, freelance artist, live painting performer, designer
and set designer for theater and film, head artist and designer for
Humanity Couture, and teaches the visual and performing arts in the
PYLUSD. Kough is married with three children.
