Meet Our Culture Shock Training Academy Instructors

Alex

ALEXANDER

Alexander (they, she, he) is a Filipinx genderqueer artist with a diverse set of experiences in varying dance forms. They received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from UCSD. She has had the opportunities to perform in San Diego with organizations such as Culture Shock San Diego, SeaWorld San Diego, and San Diego Dance Theater’s Trolley Dances. He is committed to using community programs and politically informed art as a vehicle to advance the exploration and advocacy of movement history and culture.



Anna

ANNA

Anna Okeith, who hails from Japan, has been dancing for 23 years and teaching for 10 years. She is a seasoned choreographer with exceptional teaching ability and patience working with students of diverse ages and abilities. Anna has trained in multiple techniques of dance including hip-hop, freestyle, popping, locking, and krumping. Outstanding success developing students’ love of dance and building revenues through class growth. Skilled Choreographer talented managing instruction and support for multiple dancers. Proficient in posture, technique, rhythm and steps. Friendly and upbeat communicator with passion for helping dancers to build a solid foundation of skillful technique. Credits include: Panasonic commercial: (2003) J-Pop Music artist, Exile Music Video: Choo Choo Train (2003). Also, WDC World Dance Coliseum Jr. Competition: Runner up (2007).

AmeliaS

AMELIA

Amelia Scurio is a native of San Diego who started dancing at Culture Shock Dance Center in 2013. She joined Future Shock San Diego in 2017 and currently is a member of ILL Habits SD. Amelia is looking forward to teaching and sharing her creativity with the next generation of dancers.

ArtBell

ART

When it comes to dancing with Art, you can expect fun grooves, great energy, and some puns just to throw you off your game. Dancing with Culture Shock San Diego & Super Galactic Beat Manipulators has helped Art become more open and grounded in his foundation. He also has good control on his movement and textures. “Dancing Art” and “non-dancing Art” are like two different people. Either way, you’re in for a fun time!

BriannaB

BRIANNA

Brianna Brosnan’s dance journey began at age 4. She started in a studio setting and attended Ruth Asawa School of the Arts. In high school, she joined APT, The Company’s competitive junior team. Through her 17 years of dancing, she trained in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, contemporary, hip hop, and choreography. Brianna’s dance studies continued into college, and she recently earned her B.F.A. in Dance from CSU Long Beach. There she received extensive training in contemporary, modern, ballet, and jazz. In school, Brianna learned about her interest in teaching and choreographing. While in college Brianna joined 220: Second to None, immersing her into the San Diego Dance Community. She also trained on Voyage under Sorah Yang and Halima Dodo. Post college, Brianna continues to be a member of 220: Second to None and has recently become a director of their junior team 110. Brianna teaches all levels and ages of dance and her love for teaching stems from her positive dance experiences throughout her life. Dance has always been a creative outlet for her, and she hopes to provide others with this same outlet.

CarinaY

CARINA

Carina York has been dancing for as long as she can remember. Tap has always been her favorite style and she spent hours as a child pressing play, pause, and rewind on the VCR trying to learn combinations from classic movie musicals. In her teens, she toured as a Caravan Kid with Hoctor’s Dance Caravan, and later had her first taste of hip hop as a member of Jam Pac’d at Stanford. She tapped in the Bay Area with Rosie and The Radiators, which included a tour with her movie musical favorite Donald O’Connor. In San Diego, she furthered her rhythm tap training with Christiane Villescaz. She continues her tap education by spending her vacations at tap festivals.

JacobS

JACOB

Jacob Soble’s passion for choreography is evident the moment he begins to create. His musicality and style have been described as captivating, inspiring and breathtaking. Having developed many of his skills on his own, Jacob’s love for dance led him to start choreographing at the age of 15. In 2016, he began teaching in numerous studios. During that time, he also started a 501(c)(3) non-profit outreach program called ‘Love 2 Dance Inc.,’ donating his time teaching underprivileged students. Jacob’s choreography has been recognized and Showcased in The San Diego Fringe Festival, San Diego Dance Theatre Young Choreographers Showcase and Prize 2018 & 2019, as well as receiving awards at national dance competitions for his dances and/or dancers. Now, Jacob choreographs for Companies and teaches dance to all ages and levels in studios throughout the greater San Diego area.

JordanB

JORDAN B.

Jordan Bautista started dancing at age 12 and has been on various teams in the San Diego Community, such as iLL Habits, 220, DREAMERS and Tha Most. Along with being a part of the SD dance community, he has also participated in shows such as Carnival and Club Jete, competed on NBC World of Dance, performed at various Insomniac Events like EDC, and toured with artists based in Vietnam. He is a co-director for Brickhouse dance productions, a talent agency in San Diego specializing in performing for large corporate events and gigs all over the US. Dance has helped him a lot through the past 10 years and is his main passion he wished to pursue as a career. He is always growing as a dancer and an individual and is constantly reinventing himself so that he can achieve all of his dreams.

ChristianLumba

LUMBA

Christian Lumba started dancing in 2007 as a push from his mom to break out of his shyness. Like slowly turned to love and a new hobby became a genuine passion in no time. He spent his middle/high school dance days on a junior team called IDK and joined 220 (competitive adult team) fresh out of high school while attending UCSD. Christian (a.k.a. Lumba) stayed on 220 for 9 years, 5 in which he co-directed. He also co-directed their junior team (110) for 3 years. Lumba has been fortunate enough to teach and travel a handful of times outside of San Diego and is currently working on his Masters/teaching credential. He is grateful and more than willing to provide whatever he can for the community that raised him. Above all, Lumba is a lover of movement, music, and connecting with others in the classroom.

LovelynR.2

LOVELYN

Lovelyn Redfearn currently teaches her own dance & fitness classes 4 times a week. She trained, performed & directed on Culture Shock San Diego from 2003-2017. In 2012, Lovelyn spent time living in Wenzhou, China as a professional dancer. She has also starred in Flo-Rida’s music video remix to his hit “Wild Ones”. Lovelyn danced for SeaWorld San Diego from 2005-2008, and again from 2013-2015 for productions RIPTIDE and Club Atlantis. She has taught for The Facility Dance Studio, and has since launched her own dance & fitness brand, LR DOT Dance & Fitness. She’s had the honor of teaching for corporations such as Curology, TikTok, Hyatt, & the Crohns Foundation. Lovelyn enjoys sharing her craft with people of all walks! Her mission is to create an environment where students can feel empowered and build confidence while burning serious calories! Lovelyn believes dance should be enjoyed not feared!

MarilenT

MARILEN

Marilen Tran was introduced to Culture Shock by taking a hip hop class at Mesa College with Angie Bunch, amongst a few of the first Culture Shock troupe dancers. Life steered her away from dance, but she found her way back to Culture Shock in 2008. After creating a dance project for her HTMMA students there, Marilen reconnected with Angie and was encouraged to audition for Afta Shock San Diego. She started dancing with the team, but stopped as she was pregnant with her twin boys. When they were about one and a half, Marilen took them to Culture Shock to take Catalina Shoate’s Shorty N’ Me class and restarted taking classes at this time. Marilen rejoined Afta Shock for two more seasons, became one of Culture Shock’s main photographers, became a Shorty N’ Me instructor, and danced with Shock Army. She is excited for this chapter with Culture Shock San Diego and is ready to make new memories with her dance family.

MoanaR.2

MOANA

Fijian, Samoan, and Chinese, Moana Rakanace is a mother, dance educator, and coach. She has been dancing for 21 years, starting at 8 in Seattle, Washington with tap, jazz, ballet, and Polynesian. She started Hip Hop in 2006 when she joined her high school’s dance team “Universal Motion Dance Company”. Her sophomore year, she joined “iDK”, dancing with them from 2008-2010. She went on to join Super Galactic Beat Manipulators, becoming a Captain, and later the Artistic/Executive Director in her 9 years with them. Moana has danced with ThaMost, Brickhouse Dance Productions, and Bloc LA. She currently teaches weekly classes, directs two junior competitive dance teams, recently started entering battles, and travels the U.S. to teach and perform. Her passion is instilling her knowledge in those hungry to grow and helping them reach their full dance potential. Dance not only saved her life, it IS her life and everything in between.

Paul.1

PAUL R 

Paul Reed has danced for over 25 years as a student, performer, instructor, and choreographer. Paul got his start in musical theater but, in 1998, took his first hip hop class from Angie Bunch and started on a new path. He became Angie’s teaching assistant at both Mesa and Grossmont College for a short time. In summer 2000, Paul was a finalist on MTV’s Sisqo Shakedown. He became a member of Culture Shock San Diego in 2001. He went on to teach, choreograph, and perform all over San Diego, including choreographing and performing for local Gospel/Hip-Hop artist Tonex for his Out The Box concert and live DVD in 2003. Paul has taught classes and workshops spanning every age and level of dance, working with multiple youth and after school programs with various organizations around San Diego including The Old Globe. Most recently, Paul directed the Baby Bots for Robotix Dance Family for 3 years and danced with the Alpha Bots adult team.

Sean

SEAN

For over 20 years, Sean Memije has been a part of the San Diego dance community. His love for dance has kept him motivated to continue to teach, perform, direct, and share the knowledge he received from his teachers and mentors. Sean has danced with various San Diego based teams such as FORMALity, 220, The Rejects, SGBM, FrameWork, and Frenemies. He has also been fortunate enough to use his knowledge and experience at SeaWorld San Diego as a performer and show director/choreographer. Currently, Sean is the Artistic Director of Culture Shock San Diego. He has been working with Culture Shock since 2004 and considers the organization his second family. Sean continues to be a humble student of the art of dance.

TonyQ

TONY

Tony Quintero has been part of the dance community for 14 years, training in a variety of styles within the Hip-Hop genre. He has participated in numerous competitions and performances with teams such as Mighty Shock, Future Shock, and Supremacy Dance Fam. Now, Tony helps train the youth as an assistant director for Supremacy Dance Fam and teaches in multiple studios, hoping to inspire many to continue with their dance journey.

VereniceMeza

VERE

Verenice Meza was raised in Calexico, CA and moved to San Diego in 2013. Since her time here she has completed an Associates/Teaching Certificate at Grossmont College in Dance. Vere is currently on Culture Shock San Diego (5th year), and has a current job at SeaWorld San Diego as an entertainer. Her favorite styles of dance include: Hip-Hop, Burlesque, Modern and Island Fusion. Verenice’s goal is to learn as much knowledge from the dance community as possible and create awareness of it in rural areas it cannot reach.