Kim Lavagnino's passion is classical ballet. Her personal goal is to instill in young girls a passion for dance and a belief that they are strong and healthy and with hard work, can accomplish great things….only one of which is becoming a beautiful dancer. She has studied ballet since 1999 and has been teaching since 2001. She specializes in working with the youngest dancers. When she opened San Benito Dance Academy in September of 2005, it was with much excitement and a desire to create a family atmosphere and give the finest in classical ballet instruction. She has performed for 3 years in the Pacific Ballet Academy's annual production of the Nutcracker. Kim rekindled her theatre dream when she began choreographing for San Benito Stage Company. She was the choreographer for "Oliver" (Summer 2004). "Pocahantas" (Spring 2005), "South Pacific" (Summer 2005), "Beauty and the Beast" (Summer 2007) and "The Wizard of OZ" (Summer 2008). She was awarded the Member's Choice Award for best choreographer for "Oliver" and "Beauty and the Beast". With the annual production of The Nutcracker, she was able to combine her love of live theatre and dance. "I feel incredibly blessed to be able to devote my time and energy to my passion for ballet".

Stephanie has more than 30 years of classical ballet experience and was a member of the Central Valley Civic Ballet Company. She has been teaching for the San Benito Dance Academy for the past 4 years. Stephanie has choreographed many stage productions for the San Benito Stage Company and enjoys being involved in the arts for our community. She is currently the Executive Director for the San Benito County Arts Council and is married with 2 children.

Sara Kimmich started ballet training with Patricia Rose of New York and continued under Kerry Burcham of Northern California. Additional training was received at the Marin Civic Ballet School and the Sacramento Ballet. Sara has studied dance at several junior colleges enjoying jazz, modern, aerobics and of course, ballet.

Holly has enjoyed ballet ever since she was very small. While taking ballet in Danville as a little girl, she enjoyed classical music and attending ballet performances in San Francisco. Her interest in ballet continued through college. As a mother, she found herself surrounded by ballet again. Being an instructor is a joy and very fufilling. Sharing the love of ballet with young girls and boys is very rewarding. She enjoys sharing that love with a younger generation and bringing them an appreciation such a beautiful art. SHe hasbeen teaching with San Benito Dance Academy since 2007. Holly specializes in the Petite and Ballet I levels.

Chloe Lavagnino has been a student of classical ballet for 8 years. She comes to us with 4 years of teaching experience. She received training from SBDA's Stephanie Hicks who provided her first pointe instruction. She has had world class instruction at Pacific Ballet Academy for 4 years under Marion Chaeff, Rima Chaeff who danced with San Francisco Ballet and ABT. Lawrence Peck who dances as a principle with the San Francisco Ballet and is a choreographer/instructor with ABT. Anton Pankervich, who has danced with the New York City Ballet, the Dutch National Ballet and the Royal Ballet. Amanda Ban danced with San Francisco Ballet before becoming a full time instructor at PBA. Another instructor was Lisa Sundstrom from NYC Ballet. Kim Bowman who was trained at Boston's Walnut Hill. Chloe auditioned for and was accepted into American Ballet Theatre's summer intensive program in Detroit, Michigan. Some of her instructors were Alaine Haubert, who was a principle dancer with ABT until a back injury ended her dancing career, but continues on as an instructor with ABT. Ted Kivitt was a principle dancer with ABT for 20+ years was another instructor at ABT's Summer Intensive. Chloe instructs all levels at San Benito Dance Academy.

Nants Foley is our adult Classical Ballet instructor. Nants Foley fell in love with dance at age 6. In her training she received the best of Cecchetti, Russian, Royal and Bourneville. She began training under Olga Ziceva. Most of her training was under the direction of Richard Gibson, a former member of both the Joffrey Ballet and the San Francisco ballet who later became Company Teacher and Principal Teacher for the Joffrey Ballet and Joffrey School. He was artistic director of the Peninsula Ballet Theatre (formerly Ziceva Ballet Studio then Dick Ford Dance Center) during Nants' 12 years of intensive study. Though she chose college over a professional dance career, she has continued to dance as a form of expression, exercise and relaxation. Her tremendous sense of humor and passion for dance always spill into her classes which tone the body and nurture the soul.

Kristi Haas came to SBDA back in the Fall of 2005 when the studio first opened it’s doors, hopeful to share her girlhood and teenage passion for dance with her own tiny dancer. When the opportunity arose, she was among the first to enroll in the adult ballet classes at the studio and continues to attend as many classes each month as she can.

A former elementary school teacher, Kristi is thrilled to have the opportunity to merge her love of ballet and teaching. She is currently working with our petite dancers. “I love SBDA because it not only gives me an opportunity to grow as a dancer and teacher, but allows me to use the joy of ballet to impart bigger life lessons to our students, such as perseverance, team work and dedication.”

Karin just happened to walk into a yoga class one day in 2003 and fell in love with the feeling of peace, lightness and joy that stayed with her. Realizing that yoga was more than just a physical activity, she craved more knowledge. Searching out more classes and reading everything she could, she embarked on a lifelong journey.

In 2006, she took the 200 hour Advanced Studies and Teacher Training at Yoga High Studio in Salinas, intending to deepen her own practice, not to teach. But, after repeatedly being asked to teach, she began. Now, she can’t imagine not sharing the beauty of yoga. Her classes are a celebration of life, kindness and self-acceptance.

She continues to further her knowledge by attending many yoga conferences and workshops from a variety of gifted teachers and yoga styles. In addition to her adult classes, she enjoys introducing children to the fun of yoga.

Jennifer Laine is a modern dancer with training in Cunningham, Limón and release technique. Originally from Hollister, Jennifer first discovered modern dance as a college student at UC Santa Cruz. Since then, she has studied modern, jazz, hip hop and ballet throughout the Bay Area, as well as internationally. From 1998-2000 she was a member of the Mel Wong Dance Company, and in 2001 she performed a solo piece in Japan. She holds a BA in Art History from UCSC and a MA in Global Studies from the University of Leipzig, Germany.

Alexa Stevens has garnered much national attention as a performer, receiving recognition awards and numerous scholarships to study with master instructors around the country. She recently won top honors in the 2010 Monterey Emerging Choreographer’s Showcase, and was awarded International Choreographer of the Year-under 21 Division for her piece, “Amazing Grace.” Performing, teaching, and studying various dance styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre and contemporary, Alexa has enjoyed over 12 years of exploring many facets of the art of dance. Teaching ballet, tap, and jazz technique for the last 3 years, Alexa loves to work with children to share her passion for dance as a form of personal and physical expression as well as a creative and healthful outlet for stress and excess energy.

Deborah Muscari is a certified Yoga and Pilates instructor who also holds a Master’s degree in Education. She teaches a fast-paced, challenging, and unique style which promises to tone and work the Core while burning fat and increasing muscle. Her belief is that total fitness is a mixture of balance, flexibility, and strength. Having been a fitness instructor at various gyms for the past 30 years, Deborah is currently on faculty in the Kinesiology Department at Gavilan College, where she has taught mind-body exercise for the past 11 years.