Ariel Lopez
Director/ Instructor/ Choreographer
Ariel Lopez began her dance training at the age of six with Grace Ann Etcheberria at Carlsbad Recreation Center. After four years, she seriously pursued Ballet with Margarete Neumann for eight years at Shadowridge Dance. Ariel also took private Tap lessons with Margie Thibodo for six years and began teaching Ballet and Tap in Mrs. Thibodo’s private studio in 1993 with Natalie Hicks.
After Natalie relocated, Ariel quickly outgrew the small studio and moved to Courthouse Fitness with Judy Ritter in 1996. After graduation from Tri-City Christian in 1996, Ariel attended Palomar College and studied dance with several notable teachers. She has studied Ballet, Modern Dance, Jazz, Tap, Choreography and Pilates with Currie Pederson, Faith Ismay-Jensen, Sue Gilson, Tom Hansen and Patriceann Mead. Ariel has performed with Palomar College in Christmas and Spring concerts and various student choreography shows. She has also performed at many local schools for dance education programs.
In 1996, Ariel began dancing with Miriam, a Christian dance company led by Kori Weed. She then started By Faith Dance Company, a junior liturgical company, in 1998. They continue to perform throughout San Diego and share their gift of dance.
Ariel participated in the Jazz World Congress in 1998 and attends the L.A. Dance Force on a yearly basis. She continues her education as a dancer and instructor by attending various workshops throughout the year. She has taken classes with Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchett, Joe Tremaine, Patty Obey, Keith Clifton and Mia Michaels, just to name a few. Ariel studied Tap with Pam Thompson and danced with the California Rhythm Projects Company for two years. Ariel continues to take classes from Dave Massey at Mira Costa College.
Ariel was a dance instructor at Calvary Christian School from 1999 through 2002. In 2003, Ariel established the dance program at Tri-City Christian School. She was director and lead instructor for this popular and highly successful program for six years. In 2010, ADS started after-school programs at South O Elementary School and joined the PREP program at Palmquist Elementary. A dance class is now being offered at El Camino Preschool also.
Ariel is celebrating her twelfth year of opening Ariel’s Dance Studio in Oceanside. She is so blessed by ADS and honored to be celebrating 19 years of dance!! And beyond all of this, there is life at home with her husband and children… Frank and Ariel have been married for eleven years. Frank and Ariel have 3 children: Silas, Alivia, and Scarlett.
Caitlin Davis
Instructor/ Choreographer
Caitlin was born in McAllen Texas and has been dancing for 16 years. In the summer of 2000 she moved to California and was introduced to hip-hop and contemporary dance. In high school, Caitlin was on the Xcalibur dance team at Carlsbad for three years and captain for two. For both summers of 2007 and 2008 she attended the California State Summer School for the Arts in Valencia California. Last summer in 2010, she attended Duke University for six weeks to participate in the the American College Dance festival in North Carolina. Today, Caitlin is involved in the Mira Costa College Touring Dance ensemble, a hip-hop team known an Breakthrough out of Studio 429 in Encinitas, and is enjoying being back at ADS where she was once a student and happy to work with all the amazing dancers!
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Cassie Heckel
Instructor/ Choreographer
Cassandra Heckel was born in San Diego and has lived in Encinitas her entire life. She began her dance training at the age of four. She took classes such as Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and Hip Hop locally in Carlsbad. At age 13 she started dancing at a competitive level. From an early age, Cassie loved assisting her dance teacher with classes such as Ballet, Jazz and Tap. She later was selected as a student-teacher at Carlsbad Premier Dance Academy when she was 14. It was then she tauqht and choreagraphed her first piece for a class of fifteen, ages 8 to 10. At the aqe of 15 she joined a well-known competitive dance team "The Element Dance Center" in La Mesa. The next year she began dancing competitively in an all-Hip Hop team at Studio 429. The same year she went back to dancing competitively with Carlsbad Premier Dance Academy. During her competitive career she performed as a soloist and in group routines at a regional and national level. She was the recipient of numerous dance scholarships to performinq art centers such as the Retter Academy of Dance and the Edge Performing Art Center in LA. Throuqhout her training Cassie participated in annual dance conventions and workshops with companies such as Tremaines, the Professional Dance Association and Dance Olympus. In 2007, after five years of competitive dance, Cassie began her career as a dance Instructor/choreographer with the La Costa Dance Competitive Team in Encinitas. In the fall of 2009, she auditioned and was accepted onto the Mira Costa Dance Ensemble, with whom she performed at various venues and events.
For the last two years, along with pursuing her undergraduate education and teachinq at Ariel's Dance Studio. Cassie was and still is a youth qroup leader at Seaside Presbyterian Church. In the fall, she will be attending Biola University where she will pursue a degree in Sociology.
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Krista Ann
Instructor/ Choreographer
Miss Ann's life's passion is dance. Being born into a dancing family, Krista has embraced many forms of dance starting from the young age of three. She has extensively studied the art of Argentine Tango in Italy, Buenos Aires, Detroit, Chicago, Miami, & New York City .
Krista has studied many styles of Tango including Salon, Milonguero, Vals, Milonga, Milonga Trazpie, & Nuevo. Studying under many tango greats such as Juan Carlos Copes, Jorge Firpo, Gustavo Naveira & Giselle Anne, Guillimina Quiqua, & Lori Burton of Argentine Tango Detroit.
Ann's studies have not been limited to Tango. She has also extensively studied American Ballroom dancing.
Using an unique, adjustable teaching style, Krista has been teaching dance to individuals and groups of all ages for over 5 years
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Lindsay Marks
Instructor/ Choreographer
Lindsay Marks received her B.A. Interpersonal and Organizational Communication from California State University, Long Beach in May 2005.
She has continued her lifelong training and love for dance from childhood into adulthood. In 2004, Lindsay began teaching dance for consecutive semesters to children at the Los Angeles Music & Art School. During her time there she became the director of the dance department for the summer sessions where she was able to choreograph for their city wide Disney productions.
In September 2005, Lindsay moved to Carlsbad where she continued teaching and choreographing in multiple Tap, Ballet, Jazz, and Hip Hop classes. In May 2006 she joined Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre where she has enjoyed dancing Modern with them throughout Los Angeles and on their tours to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Since joining the company she has furthered her styles of dance by having the privilege to train with Murray Lewis, Alberto Dei Saz, Kay Anderson, Jean Isaacs, and Cheryl Chaddick. In July 2006, she became a full time instructor for Ariel's Dance Studio and has been teaching ever since off and on throughout the years. She has a connection with the students and has put her value and effort into them allowing them to grow into great dancers. In January 2007, Lindsay joined Hop Star where she has extended dancing professionally in both jazz and hip Hop under the direction of Jeremy Lamont. She was also privileged to perform in Barcelona with Sustaita Dance Company. In 2009 she became a member of the up and coming dance company called Olio, she featured her wide array of talents, including Jazz, Tap and even burlesque. In 2011 she ventured back into the hip hop world and joined Afta Shock home of Culture Shock dance studio. Thus far she has been privileged to train under Trina Lyons. Here she has been able to expand her knowledge and training of the Hip Hop Culture. Lindsay is embracing every aspect in the world of dance and is so thankful for the opportunities that have been presented to her.
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Mary Mylet
Instructor/ Choreographer
My name is Mary Mylet and I am the owner and founder of The Yoga Body Oceanside. I started the original Yoga Body here in Oceanside in 1999 on Vista Way. I then taught classes at Ariel's Dance Studio for a period of 2 years. We are now located at 222 Wisconsin Ave. I am married to Damion Mylet and have 3 grown daughters, Jessica Mull, Kelly Heit and Jordan Mylet. I also have 2 incredible grandsons Townsend and Jack!
I have been practicing yoga for 20 plus years and have been teaching regularly since 1999. I have studied and trained in several styles such as Iyengar, Ashtanga and Power Yoga, and over the years have combined these yoga styles together in a Vinyasa Flow.
I am really excited to return to Ariel's Dance Studio to offer yoga to moms interested in the yoga practice and benefits it will bring them in their daily lives. To combine it during a time that their children are in dance is a win/win for both mom and child. For information on this new class contact Ariel or call Mary at 760 271-5783
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Olivia Jewell Oleson
Instructor/ Choreographer
Olivia Jewell Oleson was born and raised in Oceanside, California. In 2009, she achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis. She graduated with a double major in English and Communications and a minor in Sociology. Her academic studies and research have sparked her interest in journalism, public speaking, editing, and content writing.
Olivia began her dance training at the age of two. She danced for fourteen years at Carlsbad Dance Centre studying various dance styles including Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Clogging and Hip Hop. With Carlsbad Dance Centre, she danced competitively in the styles of Tap, Jazz and Clogging at multiple dance conventions and competitions throughout California. During high school, Olivia was a part of the Oceanside High School Dance Team where she performed and competed at various athletic events and competitions.
Olivia began choreographing and instructing Tap, Jazz and Ballet at Ariel’s Dance Studio during the fall of 2003. Upon her return from UC Davis, she blithely began teaching for Ariel’s Dance Studio once again. In her spare time, Olivia delights in playing the piano, spending time with her family, reading and playing tennis. She has also discovered a newfound passion for the mental and physical disciplines of Yoga and Pilates. Dancing has always been a part of Olivia’s life and to share her enthusiasm for dance with others is incredibly rewarding.
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Sara Leibelshon
Instructor/ Choreographer
Sara Leibelshon is originally from Buffalo, NY, where she trained in tap, jazz and ballet at the David DeMarie Dance studios. Throughout high school and college she was involved in theater and dance, including national competitions as well as roles as a featured dancer. She is thrilled to bring Zumba to Ariel’s-ditch the workout, join the party!
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Yulia Maluta
Instructor/ Choreographer
Yulia Maluta is a brilliant and highly accomplished professional dancer who has been teaching and inspiring dance students for 18 years. Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, she has won numerous dance competitions in Latin and Ballroom in both Russia and the USA.
Yulia thrives in teaching Salsa and all the Ballroom dances. Her current passion is the fascinating, elegant, playful and uninhibited artistry of the Argentine Tango. She brings to her students the notable techniques and genius of the masters she has studied with, including Pablo Veron, Virginia Laur Porrino and Cristian Cisneros of Buenos Aires.
Her genuine love for her students and her own passionate modeling of fun and fearlessness, invite dancers to circumvent their minds (which tend to stifle, constrict and demand perfection) and dare to express themselves freely and with abandon.
Awed by her breathtaking dancing, students thrill in her ability to ignite their own life-force. In the light of Yulia's authenticity, remarkable skill and contagious spontaneous humor, students return year after year eager to meet their full potential. Yulia offers private, semi-private and group instruction in Salsa, Argentine Tango, Ballroom and wedding dance.
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Aida Ryder
Office Manager
Aida was involved in musical theatre during high school and college. She earned her B.S. Biology from the University of Oregon and began a career in biotechnology. When her youngest was born in 2003, she became a “retired chemist” and life focused on her children.
Aida started with ADS when her daughter Christina started dance lessons in 2003. She was inspired to take Tap dance and continues to take various dance classes. Her youngest daughter joined the studio in 2007. In 2008, Aida became the studio’s office manager. She and her husband, Martin have 3 children: William, Christina, and Julianna. Aida also has also been a coach with the Soccer Club of Oceanside since 2005.
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