Jodi Shilling
Artistic Director/Owner
Dance Instructor: Tap, Broadway, Ballet
Acting Instructor

Jodi is a Dance Performance graduate from Oklahoma City University.  In November 2007 she received a Distinguished Alumni Award from OCU.  Her dance credits include: Dancer for Natalie Cole Live tour, Resident Choreographer for Timber Lake Playhouse (1999), Choreographer and instructor for numerous dance studios, promotional events, competitions and theatre companies in New York and Los Angeles areas.

On television, Jodi has been seen as:  Tiffany on Disney’s That’s So Raven (2005-2006), Robin on Disney's Hannah Montana (2008), Jessica on Comedy Central’s Laughs4Life with Steve Carell (2003) and Stephen Colbert (2004), Kessler on TV Land’s I Did Not Know That with Harry Shearer, and will appear on HBO's upcoming series 12 Miles of Bad Road.
Film credits include: The Man in the Silo with Ernie Hudson, A New Tomorrow with Orlando Jones, and a family race car film called Short Track. Jodi has done numerous commercials, radio spots, animated voices, industrials, and over 50 stage-productions in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

Jodi served as Artistic Director and Co-Founder of an Off-Broadway theatre company, Little Artistic Value (2000-2002).

Jodi is now excited to help nurture the entertainers of tomorrow through Relevé!

Shon Little
Technical Director/Owner
Acting and Improv Instructor

Shon has been a professional actor and improvisor for over 20 years.  He is best known for his recurring role on the hit series “Everybody Hates Chris” based on the childhood of Chris Rock.  Shon also had a short stint as Chef Heimlick on several episodes of the popular Disney Channel series, “That’s So Raven”.  Other television appearances include “Two And A Half Men”, “Boston Legal”, “Carpoolers” and "House".  Shon has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theatre from the University of Nebraska. He is also a graduate of the Second City Conservatory in Chicago where he studied with Martin DeMatt, James Sherman and Steve Carell. In addition he has trained at The Groundlings and Players Workshop. As an improvisor, Shon was a founding member and assistant director of ComedySportz of Chicago for 9 years.  He has also been a part of the sketch and improv groups Punch The Kitty, Dogs On Fire, Bang Bang, ImProphets and Jet City Improv. In New York City, he was as a founder and Executive Director of Little Artistic Value Productions, an Off-Broadway theatre company that sought to bring new works with commercial appeal to smaller venues.

Catherine Gaffney
Managing Director
Private Acting Coach
Acting Instructor

While obtaining her BA in Theatre from San Francisco State University, Catherine played Berdine in Psycho Beach Party at the Zephyr Theatre, marking the beginning of a 15 year career as a professional actress and voice over artist.

Catherine has extensive experience touring educational theatre throughout Northern California with Kaiser Permanente, and around the Pacific Northwest with Taproot Theatre Company (Seattle, WA). As a member of Taproot Theatre, she appeared in over 20 mainstage and 15 touring productions.

Her commercial and voice over clients include Microsoft, Discovery Health Channel, Caltech, Value Village and Milgard Windows. Favorite stage roles include Kathleen Scott in Terra Nova, Bella in Lost In Yonkers , Sarah in Beau Jest, and Essie in You Can't Take It With You.

Catherine is a proud member of SAG and AFTRA. She currently resides in sunny Burbank with her writer husband, Sean.

Allyson Turner Wilkerson
Musical Director
Voice and Piano Instructor
Dance Instructor: Tap

Allyson comes to Relevé directly from New York City! During her 8 years in New York, Allyson’s professional performing career ranged from musical theater and concert stages to studio recording, film, print and industrial work. She made her Broadway debut in the 2002 company of the Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of The Boys From Syracuse, followed by another Broadway appearance in the original company of The Look of Love, choreographed by Ann Reinking. Allyson also performed throughout the country in the National touring companies of Sunset Boulevard and Guys and Dolls. Other credits include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the 2004 film remake of The Stepford Wives, soloist with The Oklahoma City Philharmonic, regional tours of Oklahoma! and South Pacific and numerous productions with Casa Manana in Fort Worth, Texas. Originally from Dallas, Allyson received her Bachelor of Music in Musical Theater from Oklahoma City University. She began teaching privately and in Dallas-area dance studios over 15 years ago and has taught and choreographed many styles of dance as well as voice and piano. Allyson is excited to share her love of “song and dance” with the students at Releve!

Brianne Del Bene
Dance Instructor: Hip Hop, Jazz

Ms. Bri, grew up in Michigan and has been dancing for 21 years. She has trained extensively at Broadway Dance Center in New York as well as Edge PAC, Millennium Dance Complex, and Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio in Los Angeles. She founded and directed an award winning competition program and hip hop program at a major studio in her hometown. Brianne graduated from Oakland University with a bachelor’s degree in business management.

After that, Brianne moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dance career and signed for representation in the dance department at DDO Artists Agency. Since then she continues with her dance training, has done a video with Sean Kingston, performed in the Hollywood Choreographer’s Carnival Ball, assisted master classes with Celine Dion’s dancers at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, and toured the country assisting on Adrenaline Dance Convention. She currently works for Urban Legends Hip Hop Workshop, has a full time as an accounting manager, and is now part of the amazing faculty at Releve Dance Studios! She is passionate about teaching children and helping to make them well rounded dancers. Brianne looks forward to many exciting dance seasons at Relevé!

Candice Cross
Dance Instructor: Pilates, Modern

Candice Cross received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of California, Irvine. She has performed professionally throughout Los Angeles and Orange County as well as abroad. Currently she studies Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Ballroom, and Yoga. Ms. Cross is also a certified Pilates instructor and teaches her students the importance of mind to body connectivity through centering, balance, and control. She works to continually grow as an artist through performance, instruction, and collaboration.

Chantal Parrett
Dance Instructor: Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop

Chantal holds her BFA in Dance Performance for the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She has studied with some of the best teachers in the industry in Philadelphia, New York, and Los Angeles. Performing over 20 years, Chantal has had the opportunity to travel and appear in many shows and promotional events, recently including Carnival: The Choreographers Ball.

Chantal has been teaching dance for the past 7 years. She has taken numerous award -winning groups to regional and national competition all over the country. She is excited to be joining the Relevé team!

Elena Krifuks
Dance Instructor: Ballroom, Latin styles

Elena has trained in ballroom for over 8 years and has experience in gymnastics and ballet for 7 years. She has professionaly trained with world famous coaches and choreographers. Elena is a national finalist in competitive ballroom dancing. She has done shows for red carpet events such as "Mega TV" , "Americana Show at Brand" and "Fashion Shows Half Time Parties." Elena teaches ballroom styles such as Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive, Salsa, Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep and Swing. Elena love teaching people of all ages and levels. She is available for group and private lessons. Elena is also proud to be involved in such a studio that is a positive environment for everyone! She is very honored that Relevé and the staff allows her to share this beautiful and unique style of dance.

Felicia Martinez
Dance Instructor: Barre Workout, Ballet, Jazz
Felicia has been performing for over 22 years.  She has trained with many of the top choreographers in the industry performing at many of the well-known shows, such as Carnival (Choreographer’s Ball), and the Millennium Showcase.  She has a well-established level of ability and knowledge in various styles, from classical ballet to hip-hop.

She has performed in various parts of the world from London to Japan, and recently completed an eight-month contract with Carnival Cruise Lines.  In addition to her position as a dancer with Carnival Cruise Lines, Felicia worked as an assistant and dancer for The Alex Rominav Magic Show.  Felicia was a two time all-star cheerleader for UCA and USA, and has coached several all-star squads.

Felicia has been teaching dance to students between the ages of 2 - professional adults for the past six years.  She has recently completed her B.S. in Accountancy, and is really excited to join the team at Relevé Studios and share her passion for dance with the students.

Ferly Prado
Dance Instructor: Flamenco, Jazz, Ballet, Broadway

Ferly Prado was born is Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she began dancing at the age of 3 at her mother's academy, Academia de Musica e Ballet Elza Prado. She then attended the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C., under the direction of Oleg Vinogradov, learning the Vaganova System, Court Dance and Character Dance. In 2000 she moved to Orlando, FL, where she joined the Southern Ballet Theatre school under the direction of Fernando Bujones. Ferly had the opportunity of performing with the SBT Company and with Mr. Bujones. In 2001 she was invited by Debbie Allen to join her brand new Academy in Los Angeles, CA, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. At 18 Ferly began performing as a professional dancer. Ferly's Performance Credits include: World Tour with Tina Turner 2008-2009, "Latin Explosion" with Latin artist CHARO, US Tour as back-up singer/dancer for JoJo (formal lead singer of Rick James' "Mary Jane Girls"), Lead Dancer in Martha Coolidge's "Zorro", Principal Dancer in Marshal Dance Company's "Dunham in Me" hosted by Alec Baldwin, "Tease, a Musical Comedy" choreographed by Eddie Garcia and Cris Judd. Ferly's TV Credits include: NBC's "Singing Bee" hosted by Joey Fatone, NBC's "Today Show", CBS' "Secret Talent of the Stars" choreographed by Dave Scott, MTV3's "Karlifornia"- A.B.D.C. Episode.

Joel McCrary
Improv Instructor

Joel McCrary is a founding member of the critically acclaimed improv group Houseful of Honkeys. He is a founding member of The SAK Theater Comedy Lab in Orlando, Florida. He has improvised for director Christopher Guest in over a dozen commercials, and two of his movies. Joel is the co-writer, director and producer of Fellowship! The Musical (winner of L.A. Weekly's Best Musical of 2005 and Best Comedy Ensemble). He also wrote and directed live events for MTV and Nickelodeon.

As an actor, Joel's work spans TV, film and animation. You've heard his voice in Over The Hedge, Howl's Moving Castle, Charlotte's Web and as the current voice of Baloo The Bear (from Disney's Jungle Book.) He has appeared in such films as The Princess Diaries (1 & 2), American Beauty, Supermarket, Mystery Men, Best In Show, and Cheaper By The Dozen. Television credits include "Boston Legal", "Cold Caes", "Judging Amy", "Seinfeld", "The Bernie Mac Show", "Malcolm In The Middle" plus 11 network pilots.

Joey Thao
Dance Instructor: Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Partnering

Joey started dancing in his high school dance company at age of 15 and has trained throughout the Northern California region. He started dancing in hip-hop and has teared into all styles such as jazz, contemporary, tap, lyrical, jazz funk, modern, and ballet. In 2009, he graduated from the Edge Performing Arts Center Scholarship program under the directions of Bill Prudich, Randy Allaire, & Carol Conners. He is currently pursuing a professional dance career in Los Angeles and his credits include Nickelodeon's Victorious, Lifehouse's Halfway Gone, Freakdance, and Heart's Showgirl & The Clown. His choreography has won numerous awards from many competitions, galas and nationals. In the future, Joey would like to pursue directing and choreography.

Julie Mitchell
Dance Instructor: Ballet, Tap, Parent & Me, Cardio-Dance/Stretch & Tone
Acting Instructor

Julie has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas Tech University. She is a working actress who has taught children’s theater and dance for over ten years and runs summer performing arts camps in Texas and Virginia. As captain of a seventy-five member dance team, Julie began choreographing and teaching dance in high school. Her most recent choreography has been for sketches performed at the Groundlings Theater. She performs improv and sketch comedy at several well known theaters in Los Angeles.

Karen Whipple
Vocal Instructor

Karen Whipple has been a professional singer and vocal teacher for over 15 years. She has a bachelor of music degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a concentration in Vocal Performance and has enjoyed further training from such other respected vocal teachers as Dr. Earl Compton of the prestigious Eastman School of Music.

Karen has performed as a vocal session singer for such films as X-Men 3, Spiderman, and Evan Almighty . She is also a featured soloist in Ice Age, the Meltdown. As a classical soprano soloist Karen has performed Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Vespers, Rutter’s Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Bach Magnificat, Schubert’s Mass in G, and Rutter’s Gloria throughout the country.  As an ensemble vocalist she has performed with the Palm Beach Opera, the world renown Voices of Liberty, Disneyworld and Disneyland as well as several vocal jazz and acappella pop groups.

Karen’s most recent accomplishments include being selected for the respected Los Angeles Master Chorale  (resident vocalists of the Walt Disney Concert Hall), various performances at the Falcon Theater in Toluca Lake with Gary Marshall as executive producer and she is currently featured as the soloist for the latest Suave television commercial campaign.

Kim Harmon
Piano Instructor

Kim Harmon is an accomplished pianist playing for over 23 years. She studied Music Theory and Composition at Miami University and has done further training at UCLA for Music Scoring. She has composed, arranged, orchestrated and produced for various projects and companies. On a weekly basis she is active playing piano/keys for different artists at live venues ranging from the Hotel Café to the Hollywood Bowl or working as a studio musician. Kim has taught piano for over 11 years. She has found through teaching, the main concentration is tailoring her program to each student’s specific goals and passion for music versus following a one-way approach to learning the piano.

Laurie Hayball
Dance Instructor: Hawaiian

Laurie began her hula education at ten years old. She learned under Kumu Naomi Kalama in Santa Clara, California and participated in Tahiti Fete in San Jose. Laurie spent several summers living with a family in Kaimuki, Oahu, Hawaii where she continued to pursue her studies in all types of Polynesian dance. Most recently she has been studying under Elaine Henry-Tavares in Chatsworth, California and has attended workshops given by Kumu Hula Patty Kealohalani Wright (Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii) and Kumu Hula Etua Lopes (Kona, Hawaii). She has been teaching hula to students of all ages since 2005.

Mandy Kerr
Dance Instructor: Jazz, Hip Hop, Broadway Jazz

Mandy began dancing, singing and acting at the age of three in her hometown of Edmonton, AB, Canada. After moving with her family to San Diego, CA and graduating high school she then moved to New York City where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College and began her professional career. Since her move to the United States she has worked and performed with some of today’s top musical artists such as Michael Jackson, Cher, *N Sync, Nick Cannon and the 2004 United States Olympic Gymnastic team. Some of her television appearances include "Desperate Housewives", "Sex And The City", "Sesame Street", and VH1’s "Big in ’05 Awards" with Def Leppard. She has also worked with such companies as AFLAC and T.J. Maxx and can currently be seen in commercials for both Progressive and Mac iPod Shuffle. As well as dancing professionally she can currently be found choreographing and teaching both nationaly and world wide at multiple conventions, workshops, studios, and intensives. Mandy most recently was asked to choreograph for Adidas Asia Pacific on both Pre-Olympic events and a series of Hip Hop DVDs. Mandy has been teaching Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical/Contemporary, and Musical Theater for almost a decade and loves to inspire and share her passion for dance to anyone who wants to listen!

Matthew Tayao
Dance Instructor: Hip Hop

Matthew Tayao is originally from the Bay Area, California, where he began his dance career. Throughout the years he's learned several styles such as Street/Old School Hip Hop, Popping, Gliding, and Commercial Hip Hop, which have enabled him to develop his own unique, energetic, linear style. Performance credits include: Crunkfest 2008, DVRT Tour, NIKE Industrial, JoJo Jam 2007, CLEAR CHANNEL Annual Event, "Max of a Million Dreams Cancer Foundation" Benefit Event, and others. Choreography credits include: Jojo Jam 2007, CLEAR CHANNEL Annual Event, Westlake High School Dance Team (National Champions), Madd House (new upcoming artists), "Max of a Million Dreams Cancer Foundation" Benefit Show and Musicians Institute Hip Hop Shows (Hollywood, CA).

Noah Needleman
Guitar Instructor
Vocal Instructor
Music Theory & Composition

Between gigging, writing, and recording, Noah Needleman teaches guitar, songwriting, and voice from a place of passion and experience. In addition to playing guitar for national touring acts, (Sara Haze & Matt Hopper, and others) Noah is a Singer/Songwriter performing in clubs and colleges all over the West Coast.

He majored in Music Theory & Composition, studying theory with Dr. Richard Fisk, a student of the late Nadia Boulanger, and voice with Donald Brinegar, renowned Educator, Choral Director, and Vocal Coach. All his years of classical music, however, only brought Noah back to his roots; writing, singing, and playing, Pop music.

Noah teaches Contemporary Guitar and Vocal Technique, Songwriting, and Bass. He is currently Director of Contemporary Worship at First Pres., Santa Monica.

Raymond Schnurr
Choral Director
Composer

Raymond Schnurr holds a BA in Theory and Composition from Palm Beach Atlantic University. Further training includes Film Scoring at UCLA where he studied under accomplished composers such as Lee Sanders (”Amazing Race”) and Robert Drasnin (“Twilight Zone” - original series). Raymond also studied orchestration with Steven Scott Smalley, award winning orchestrator for “Batman”, “Mission Impossible” and other well known movies. In 2002 Raymond formed his own production company, Sonic Edge Productions, through which raymond has composed, arranged and orchestrated music for companies such as Endemol, Principato/Young and The Department of Homeland Security. Raymond is experienced in all styles of music, with a specialization in classical music. He is also a gifted orchestrator and arranger, having worked for such organizations as Bel Air Presbyterian Church, Janen Music and Falcon Theatre (Garry Marshall, Executive Producer). Ray was a the music director at Duncan Middle School and has 15 years experience as a worship arts director. In addition to composition, Ray has extensive experience in choral conducting and musical productions. Ray is currently serving as Director of Worship at Bel Air Presbyterian Church.

Trixie Arya
Fitness Instructor: Bootcamp, Six-Pack Attack

Trixie is an AFAA certified personal trainer with over 10 years experience. She has also earned a 2nd degree Black Belt in Hapkido. Her martial arts knowledge has contributed to her understanding of the human body. She enjoys making workouts fun while focusing on cardiovascular and strength training.

Trixie works with clients in a one on one environment to provide proper attention to all levels of health enthusiasts. She also trains semi-private and "bootcamp" type classes in a fun and challenging training environment.

Trixie is a trainer who never tires of learning new health and exercise disciplines. She finds new ways to improve her own personal fitness though her continuing education in fitness. Trixie also continues her martial arts training and also tries new fitness challenges.

Wiyatta Fahnbulleh
Fitness Instructor: Bootcamp, Afro-Fuse, Zumba

Wiyatta has been in the fitness industry for over five years. She enjoys teaching all styles of classes from dance to strength training. Her passion for watching peoples’ bodies change as they challenge themselves and her caring and individualized approach to teaching is evident in her structurized program. Wiyatta is constantly striving to find new methods and techniques to make her classes unique and fun.

Wiyatta has a passion for body sculpting and discovering new ways to challenge the muscles through weight training. She teaches On the Ball, Strength Training, Boxing, Mat Pilates and several styles of dance & movement classes at several major Los Angeles fitness centers. She is really looking forward to teaching at Relevé Studios too!