Instructors

Jenny Baron began her professional career at the age of 19 and has danced for ballet companies in Florida, New York, and California. Currently she is a member of the California Ballet Company and has performed in numerous ballets including Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Giselle and many other creative works. In 2005 she received the honor of Dancer of the Year.

Throughout her career as a dancer, Jenny has also been teaching ballet to students of all ages and has developed a great passion for helping young dancers grow and achieve their dreams. Her enthusiasm for ballet, combined with her experience from performing professionally gives her the ability to work with her students in a highly knowledgeable, disciplined manner. Jenny will begin her sixth year with The Royal Dance Academy and looks forward to working with her students, from the tiny tots to the teens, and watching them progress and grow as dancers, young adults, and well balanced students.

Claire is from South Africa where she has been involved in the dance world since the age of 3. She received her degree in Musical Theatre in 2003 and is trained in RAD ballet, jazz, hip hop and tap. After performing and teaching in South Africa, Claire moved to London where jazz, lyrical and Hip Hop Dance taught for 2 years. She is a qualified Pilates and Pure Barre teacher which she teachers part time. Claire immigrated to the USA in 2009 and is thrilled to call San Diego home. Claire feels lucky to have found Francine and the Royal Dance Academy family and is honored to share her passion for dance and love for children with the Royal Dance Academy.

Gabriella has been dancing since she was three years old and began competing at the age of five winning numerous awards and scholarships. When she turned eleven years old she joined a Traveling dance group based out of Las Angels and was part of many performances throughout the states including Radio City Music Hall and Disney World. Gabriella has been in a number of professional stage plays and Musicals including, Annie, Safety Kids, Wizard of Oz, 42nd street, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and many more.

She began teaching back in 2001 starting with Adults in Ballroom and eventually found he specialty working with children teaching many different styles of dance. Gabriella has won many choreography awards and has prepared dance troupes to perform all over including, Cruise ships, Disney land, New York, and opening up for the Radio City Rockettes here in San Diego. She teaches all levels from beginning students to the more competitive. Over the years Gabriella has studied and taught Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Acrobats, Ballroom and enjoys sharing her knowledge with people who also share the love of dance.

Ms. Karen has been teaching at The Royal Dance Academy since 2005. She is the mother of 3 young girls who all study dance at the studio. Before teaching at The Royal Dance Academy, Ms. Karen was a performer in New York City and across the country in many shows. After performing for many years, she had the wonderful opportunity to work on Broadway with children and learned her true passions: dance and children. She worked on Tommy, The King and I, Miss Saigon and lastly The Lion King, which earned a Tony for Best Musical. Working at the Royal Dance Academy has been a dream come true for Ms. Karen.

A big thank you to Francine for this experience! She gets to teach dance, watch the beautiful students grow up into fantastic dancers and, best of all, wonderful young ladies. She can't wait to return to NYC one day and watch some of the students from Royal Dance perform on Broadway. There is nothing better than turning up the music, turning down the lights, and dancing! Ms. Karen is a proud member of AEA

“Teaching is a gift, I feel like I was born to teach and inspire children.” Francine began dancing at an early age and at the age of 14 won a scholarship to the prestigious Legat Russian Ballet School in southern England. She then continued her training at the Northern Ballet College where she graduated as a dancer and qualified dance teacher gaining honors in her examinations. Francine worked along side some of the most respected dancers and choreographers in the business. Francine danced professionally and continued her love for dance by opening her own studio in Manchester England. In 2001 the next challenge on Francine’s dance journey was opening the Royal Dance Academy in San Diego.

Her move to the U.S. allowed her to share her expertise, knowledge and love for dance with children in San Diego. Her nurturing, caring attitude is viewed as a major factor in her success. Her dancers adore her and she is very proud that she has created an intimate, creative and homely environment to dance for children of all ages and abilities. Francine ensures that every child at R.D.A. is cared for. Francine is like a “second mom” to her students and works consistently to ensure that the R.D.A. continually evolves and stays at the forefront of the dance world providing many wonderful opportunities for young dancers.

Francine has been happily married to her husband Billy since 1995 and have 4 beautiful children Billy, Bobbie, Frankie and Charlie.

Cody has just recently moved back to San Diego from the Bay Area this last year. She has studied dance since the age of 5. She loves all expressions of movement but her true love and passion is ballet and the study of physical artistic integrity. Cody has trained and danced professionally with Ballet San Jose, University of Utah’s Ballet Dept. San Jose Youth Ballet, California Ballet, Peninsula Ballet as well as a range of other independent Contemporary projects in the S.F Bay Area.

Cody also has been teaching for the last 6 years. She is a firm believer in teaching by understanding not by imitation. This influence is what she is excited to help give her students along with the love and understanding of the art. Cody is excited to be here in SD where she is now taking the next steps in her life. She is expecting her first child this year. She is grateful for the chance to take these steps while still incorporating dance in her life.

Valerie Harden was born and educated in UK and danced professionally with European Opera Ballet companies before becoming a dance educator. She became Director of a Bachelor of Arts degree program in Dance at the American College of Athens, Greece, where she held a professorship and Directed a Dance Company.

She was invited to the prestigious Board of Examiners of the Royal Academy of Dance in 1994 and since that time has travelled internationally, examining students and teachers for Vocational level examinations.

She enjoys teaching and choreographing and hopes to share her passion for dance with as many students as possible. She loves her association with the staff and students at the Royal Dance Academy.

Carol is a producer and director of acclaimed musical theatre shows and stage plays. She has just completed 2 television shows and is working on a major feature film. She is considered one of the top acting coaches in England with children and teenagers appearing in multiple TV commercials, TV shows, Feature Films and Musical Theatre tours including London's West End. Carol also has students at top British Universities and Colleges and heads a successful management company in the UK. She has also produced and managed an award winning teen band. Carol has successful students working in England, Hollywood, Australia, Canada and Europe. Appearing in films, television, radio, theatre, and as recording artists.

Carol has been involved in show business from the age of 5. She studied at RADA and qualified with the world renowned London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She has 100% pass rate with the highest grades, for her LAMDA students. She has produced shows at such prestigious venues as The Royal Albert Hall, Saddlers Wells, and Her Majesty's in London's West End, the Directors Guild on Sunset Blvd Hollywood, and various stadiums in Beijing, China.

Christina has trained with various ballet schools in California, Virginia, and Rhode Island. Most notably, she trained under Melinda Cordell who was a former Soloist for the American Ballet Company. In 2003, she moved to London, England and began dancing at the Royal Academy of Dance. She trained under June Mitchell and in 2005 was accepted to the RAD ballet education program. Whilst studying in London, she trained with renowned ballet instructors and performed in annual ballet shows.

Along with classical ballet technique, she has educational experience in repertoire, choreography, notation and dance analysis. In 2008, Christina graduated from the Royal Academy of Dance earning a BA in Ballet Education with honors. Additionally, she earned distinction in her final teaching exam and is certified to teach all levels of the RAD syllabus. In the summer of 2008, Christina moved to San Diego and began teaching at the Royal Dance Academy. Possessing an infectious enthusiasm for dance, she is dedicated to every student and strives to teach disciplined dance within an enjoyable and rewarding atmosphere.

Katie began dancing at the age of three and dance has been a huge part of her life ever since. She trained at various studios in San Diego and Los Angeles, and in addition to her studio training, began dancing full time at Palomar College at the age of 13, where she had the opportunity to train intensely in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, and musical theater. She performed in their shows twice annually for the next five years developing a very well rounded dance background and a true love for the art form.

Katie also began competing in competitions when she was 12 years old and continued until she was 18, winning many high point awards both for group numbers and as a soloist. She has had the opportunity to train with many wonderful choreographers such as Joe Lanteri, Joe Tremaine, Frank Hatchet, Patty Obey, Nicole Harlan, Adam Parsons, Malaya, Susie Taylor, Bob Boross, Israel 'El' Gabriel, and Tom Hanson.

When Katie graduated high school she was excepted into the dance program at University of California, Irvine. After a year of school, Katie discovered something unexpected... her love for teaching dance. She fell in love with it immediately, and school got put on hold while Katie and her now husband, Michael Langford, opened up their own dance studio so that they could share their love for teaching with the world. Having their own studio was a wonderful experience and after 5 years of success and training countless dancers and running a business, Katie and Mike decided to close their studio and go back to just doing what they love... teaching. Katie is thrilled to now be a teacher at Royal Dance Academy and loves working with all of her students. Katie is also currently back at school majoring in Nursing. Katie hopes to continue sharing her love of dance with students for many years to come. She believes that dancing not only gives children a creative outlet and a means to express themselves, but that it also teaches self respect, discipline, and build confidence.

Michael Langford is an incredibly versatile performer and visionary. He has worked in entrainment industry all his life in both concert and commercial venues. As a choreographer/ Instructor, he has choreographed several nationally ranking pieces for teams all over the country including Elite Dance in New Mexico, Carlsbad High School's Lancer Dancers and Xcalibur dance teams that ranked first place at UDA Nationals. He is currently the proud coach of the Torrey Pines High School Dance Team who are currently ranked second in the Nation.

Michael's formal dance studio training did not actually begin until the age of 16. Before that time, Michael was a street dancer. All of his training had come from battles with other break dancers, poppers, housers and ravers that he would meet anywhere that there was music. "In the battles, you would react to what the other dancer would do in front of you. We would learn so many new moves and ideas. It was basically like trading secrets."

Ellen Hummel, of Shadowridge Dance Center, offered Michael a job teaching hip hop classes after he caused a disruption in a freestyles session to battle a teacher that was auditioning for a spot on the faculty. Michael accepted the opportunity and was given a full scholarship the studio and competition teams. Ellen payed for to Michael attended various competitions and conventions where he would win several scholarships that gave free admission to those conventions and EDGE PAC in Los Angeles, CA. He would win so many scholarships, that for over 3 years Michael would train with some the best in the dance industry without paying any tuition. Some of the choreographers included Chantal Robson, Malaya, Doug Caldwell, Teresa Espinosa, Tabitha and Napoleon, Phi Nguyen, Tovaris Wilson.

These connections led to a commercial career with Disney and DDO Artist Agency. Since then, Michael has worked on projects such as Disney’s “That’s So Raven” and "Grazin' in the Grass" music video featured on Disney's Lion King 1.5 DVD. He has worked with top directors and choreographers in the industry such as Debbie Allen and top choreographer for the late Michael Jackson: Courtney Miller.

In 2005, Michael and his wife Katie Langford opened On The Edge Dance Company. Their passion teaching eager dancers led their studio to be a success. They won several competitions and train many dancers that would work in the commercial dance industry, notable dance companies and university dance programs. In 2010, Mike and Katie would decide to close to studio to enable them to give more attention to the teaching aspects of their careers.

Now at Royal Dance Academy in Carmel Valley, Michael teaches Jazz and Hip-Hop. He is also the choreographer and instructor of several of Royal award winning competition teams for the new and very exciting competition program. Michael feels blessed everyday that he is around such talented individuals and is happy to be a part of the Royal Dance Academy faculty.

Raina has a background in Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Hip-Hop, and Ballet. She danced all throughout high school at Danceology studio and Rancho Bernardo High school, where she choreographed dances for the bi-annual dance performances. She has gained experience performing in multiple shows and competitions in San Diego.

Raina received degrees in both Dance and Communications from California State University, Fullerton. She trained with highly accredited dance professors and even served as a teacher assistant for some of them. Her performances at CSUF include the Dance Concerts, Choreographer Showcases, and the 2009 American College Theatre Festival. Recently, she performed at Celebrate Dance 2011 with Visions Dance Theatre.

Raina is grateful to be able to share her passion and love for dance with her students at Royal Dance Academy. She is also a qualified Pure Barre teacher and a member of the San Diego Enforcer Girls dance team.

Sarah has been on faculty with Royal Dance Academy for 5 years. She received her formal dance training on scholarship with the Tremaine Dance Academy of North Hollywood in 1998, and aaworkstudy with Morolandis Millennium of North Hollywood in 1999. She has performed works by, and studied closely under such greats as Joe Tremaine, Malaya Ho, Eddie Garcia, Joaquin Escamilla and SivGaustad.

Her choreography has received national awards, and her works have been featured in the World's Championship of Performing Arts in Burbank, CA, department reperatoire performances at Colorado State University, Teikyo Loretta Heights University of Denver CO, and The Lincoln Center of Ft. Collins, CO. Sarah’s passion for teaching and choreography has led her to construct dynamic and energetic classes, which push her students to grow both technically and artistically. -“The greatest joy for me as a teacher is seeing my students connect with the light that resides within each of them.”

Trained in the Royal Academy of Dance style since the age of 7, Noreen has enjoyed an extensive dance career. Her Juliet was described as “supple, fully expressive, her dancing characterized by fluidity….” Noreen has performed various soloist and principal roles in companies like the Philippine Ballet Theatre, Connecticut Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Ballet New York and toured internationally. In 1991, she was the lone representative of the Philippines in the 5th Concourse Internationale Ballet in Paris, France. While a student of the RAD, Noreen finished with Honors in her Intermediate Level Exams. She learned the Russian Vaganova style from Alexancer Bykov and legendary, Mikhail Kukharev. She has also been privileged to hone her skills with mentors like Mme. Darvash (who trained former soloist Judy Fugate of the New York City Ballet), Laura Alonso, Gener Caringal, Tony Fabella, Felicitas Radaic and Sonia Domingo.

Noreen has been teaching at the Royal Dance Academy since 2005 and enjoys teaching the art of Dance and the importance of exercise which can enrich students of young and old.

She holds a BA in Communications and has worked as a newscaster for RPN News in the Philippines.

Shocka began performing professionally at the age of 15 in her home state of Oklahoma. While performing in musicals and plays she studied at the Tulsa School of Ballet, home of Tulsa Ballet Theatre and June Runyon School of Ballet, home of Tulsa Dance Theatre. She became a performing member of Tulsa Dance Theatre and Myers Company Dancers, as well as working both with and in three local theatre companies ranging from children’s theatre to 18th century drawing room comedies.

Wanting to be a strong triple threat, she moved to Los Angeles in 1994 where she was awarded a professional scholarship at the prestigious Retter’s Academy of Dance and became an original member of the R&B Dance Company. During her 12 years in LA she worked in film, television and live shows with talents such as Queen Latifah, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Dreyfuss, Mario Lopez, and many more. She toured the country with Linda Bernabei-Retter and Marcea Lane on the Tremaine National Convention Tour, performing and teaching for thousands. She also spent 3 seasons choreographing and performing in the Moorpark Civic Ballet’s Nutcracker.

For over 20 years she has taught toddlers to adults in dance, drama and gymnastics along with specialty character performances for children’s camps and instructional videos. Be it ballet, pointe, tap, jazz or hip hop, singing, acting or tumbling- she does it all. Since moving to San Diego and joining the esteemed Royal Dance Academy faculty in 2006, she has continued to perform and choreograph locally and in LA. She remains a perpetual student working to make her knowledge grow so she may pass it onto her students.

“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles with it.” -Winston Churchill

Angela was born in Johannesburg, South Africa; and started her ballet training at the age of 4yrs., thereafter successfully passing all the Royal Academy of Dance Examinations, culminating in the Advanced II. She then joined the University of Cape Town’s Ballet Faculty, dancing professionally with the Company for 3 years: and at the same time attaining her University Diploma in the Teaching Methodology of Classical Ballet and related subjects, with Distinction.

Angela also studied various other styles of dance such as Spanish, Modern Dance, Historical Dance, and Ballroom.

In 1966 she opened her own Dance Academy, entering students successfully in all the Examination levels of the Royal Academy of Dance. She also produced and directed numerous ballet performances.

In 1990, after successfully completing her training in London, she was invited to join the prestigious Board of International Examiners of the Royal Academy of Dance; and has continued examining extensively in many countries around the world.

In 2000 Angela, with her husband and family immigrated to the USA, settling in Irvine, and continued to teach in a Freelance capacity. She started teaching for the Royal Dance Academy in 2006; and is extremely happy to be associated with this fine Dance Academy.

Madeline Wilson is a Mother of six children who was a “stay at home” Mum for several years. She returned to full-time college after her youngest child was in school to pursue her career in the secretarial field, and become certified with A.M.S.P.A.R. (Association of Medical Secretaries, Professional Administrators/Receptionists).

In 1992 she immigrated to the United States (NJ) with her family and continued to work as Medical Staff Coordinator for the Meridian Health System, NJ. Madeline became certified through the Physical Mind Institute. She is also AAAI certified through “Powerhouse Pilates” as well as CPR Certified through the American Heart Association. Madeline loves to stay in shape and considers Pilates one of the best ways to exercise. She enjoys building relationships with her students that are centered around Pilates and healthy living.

Sandy is from the windy city of Chicago, where she took ballet, jazz and tap lessons until her sophomore year of high school. She later moved to Denver, where she received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Denver, then off to San Francisco before settling down most recently in San Diego. Sandy became a RDA regular when her two daughters began taking lessons the year it opened. She has been a part of the staff for 5 years. Though she hasn't taken a lesson in a few years, she often shows off her kick-ball-change.

Maxim Tchernychev born in Russia, at age of ten he began his training at the Novosibirsk Ballet Academy. In 1989 he graduated and was invited to join the Bolshoi Ballet under the direction of Yuri Grigorovich where he trained with such distinguished teachers and coaches as Asaf Messerer, Mikhail Lavrovsky, Yuri Vladimirov, Boris Akimov and Shamil Yagudin. Mr. Tchernychev toured throughout Russia, England, France, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Hong-Kong, Korea, Japan and the US. In 1993 Mr. Tchernychev was chosen to perform a piece from the ballet “Golden Age” before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Dominion Theatre in London. In December of 1994 after touring the US Mr. Tchernychev decided to stay. He has performed as a principal dancer and as a guest artist with several ballet and opera companies in Russia and the US, he also has staged and coached ballets and taught master classes in ballet schools and companies throughout the US.

His principal roles include Swan Lake, Giselle Don Quixote, Coppelia, Paquita, The Nutcracker, Serenade, Carmina Burana and others. Critics have praised his dancing for its energy and “thrillingly masculine style”.

At the Youth America Grand Prix Competition In 2005 Mr. Tchernychev received “Outstanding Choreography” award for the “Prkofiev Variation.” In 2009,2011 “Oustanding Teacher” award.

Mr. Tchernychev teaches Vaganova method with an emphasis on the precise technique.