Dance
Country line and belly dance instructor Vicki Deriso has been actively involved in both community and private dance instruction throughout the San Diego area for more than ten years. Previous experience also includes professional dancing, dance aerobics and Hip Hop/Salsa/Country. She is certified by UCSD to teach in community college. With experience ranging from formal classes to one-on-one, Vicki is well-qualified for both group and individual instruction.
Christy Johnson has 30 years' experience as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. She received her training from master teachers in Boston and New York City. More than 10,000 students from all ages and skill levels have been instructed by her in settings ranging from private lessons to dance camp to college classroom. She has taught a wide variety of social dance styles including Ballroom, Swing, Latin, Country Western, Night Club Dance, Line Dance and Tango. Her teaching methods, developed over the course of her career, make learning easy, entertaining and non-competitive.
Ballet dancer and instructor Candice Kaal-Jack has performed professionally across the country and internationally. She has taught ballet and jazz at various Southern California schools and training programs for more than ten years. Under her instruction she assures students a strong foundation and development in dance. To all her students, whether youth or adults, award winners in competitive career dance or handicapped children, she offers the enhancement to mind, body and spirit which comes through the joy of dance.
Early childhood
Marla Elliott is dedicated to supporting children and their families. As an early childhood educator, trainer and parent coach with a B.A. in child development and more than 30 years experience, she is highly skilled in designing creative children’s classes as well as practical classes for parents/caretakers. She is ready to address parents’ tough questions with answers which are positive and empowering. Children are engaged to develop in all areas-social, mental, physical and cognitive-through music, games and other fun, hands-on activities. Marla demonstrates her professional expertise and commitment in every class she teaches.
Fitness
Michelle Szames is a certified personal trainer and sports nutritionist. In addition to her expertise, she brings to her classes a positive, responsive, approachable teaching style that motivates students to achieve their fitness goals in a fun and friendly environment.
Flexibility, balance, strength and grace, achieved through a totally natural system of self-development—this is what certified yoga instructor Cynthia Collier offers her students. As an experienced teacher whose forte is introducing yoga to beginners, she designs her class to provide a gentle but challenging workout in an encouraging atmosphere. She is certified by the Ananda Yoga Fellowship and is a member of the California Yoga Teacher’s Association.
Frances Walter’s inspiration to teach aerobic dancing came from her own teacher, Jacki Sorensen, the originator of this combined dance and fitness form. In addition to her certification in aerobic dancing, Frances has a B.S. in kinesiology, the science of human muscular movement. She choreographs dance routines for her classes, which are safe and effective for both the dancer and the non-dancer, encouraging students to proceed at their own pace. As a result, the learning environment she creates promotes both fitness and fun.
Susan Stewart’s professional experience in the field of fitness is long and impressive. As personal trainer her expertise extends from general fitness and nutrition to a wide range of health needs including cerebral palsy, stroke and hip replacement. Throughout her many years of teaching she has conducted numerous group trainings in disciplines such as pilates, pi-yo, aerobics, body conditioning, adaptive therapy and arthroswim. In addition, she remains current on the latest techniques and safety issues of the profession through a variety of professional trainings. Susan is well-qualified to satisfy the unique fitness requirements of each student.
Martial Arts
John Page, who has years of experience and training in the martial arts, specializes in the Wu style of Tai Chi. His emphasis is on tai chi as a healing exercise program through which one gains muscle tone, balance and stress relief. It is this which he offers his students. Tai Chi became for him a harmony of life and a method for obtaining both mental and physical balance. The program structure of his class is designed to include those who may have difficulty with walking, balance or stress. He has developed his proficiency under the teaching of a Doctor of oriental medicine (also a Tai Chi instructor) as well as a Wu style Honor of Master with whom he co-authored a booklet of exercises for the American Arthritis Foundation.
Ted Mason has been actively involved in the martial arts for many years. He is an experienced teacher in Tang Soo Do, Soo Bakh Do Karate and Kendo, working with both beginning and advanced students. After attaining a first degree rank in Tang Soo Do he opened his own studio and has continued to teach the art in various capacities. His commitment to the martial arts is demonstrated also in his promotion of self-defense in the community. He has a lifetime California Credential in Self Defense, has taught collegiate programs and developed a rape prevention program for State of California employees.
Performing Arts
Lisa Megrditchian combines her gift of music with her love of children to produce programs which nurture both body and mind. As a music teacher with B.A. degrees in psychology and sociology, she is uniquely qualified for this task. She brings her energy and creativity to the classroom. Believing that young children develop their brains as well as their bodies by moving to music, she prepares explorative, fun activities which can bring out the musician in every child.
Specialty Classes
It’s never too early to learn good manners. Throughout her career Kristen Kirschenmann has been utilizing her extensive experience and knowledge of etiquette and manners to further the appreciation of the social graces, giving particular attention to instructing children. She is a creative teacher who can make learning fun. Whether it is telephone etiquette, table manners, respect for elders, writing thank-you notes or any of the many other important social skills, she instructs her students not only through presentation, but participation and practice. Both beginning students needing a good foundation and advanced students needing polish are in expert hands with Kristen.
Naomi Bobby Tardiff prides herself on her special gift of communication with dogs which she says she shares with her entire family. They have all been in the dog care and training business for many years. Bobby herself is a certified dog trainer who has trained hundreds of dogs. Having worked almost exclusively in Southern California over the years, she has not seen a dog which could not be trained or rehabilitated. She understands how dogs learn, demonstrating this as she instructs dog owners who come to her classes with a desire to improve their relationships with their canine friends.
Julie Simpson knows good food and its preparation. She also knows kids. A teacher and home economist with broad experience, not only in schools but with businesses, she is ready for the challenge of introducing healthy eating and cooking to kids of all ages. Breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks, her recipes are fun, age appropriate and healthy.
Steve Alan holds a Bachelor of Arts from SUNY at Albany. He studied in Germany and with renowned watercolorists such as Toney Couch. He instructed “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” and Watercolor painting for Cal State San Marcos, and has taught for Montessori Schools, YMCA, The United States Marine Corps, Boys and Girls Clubs, after-school enrichment programs, Vista Unified School District, assisted living facilities, Carlsbad Inn Resort and numerous private schools and institution, as well as children with special learning disabilities.
In addition, he has taught, recorded and performed for more than 30 years in Europe, United States and Canada. He was taught drums and vibraphone by Ray Alexander, a member of the famous jazz pianist George Shearing’s legendary band. Born into a family of all drummers, Steve started lessons at age nine on drums and was performing by age 13. He performs and teaches jazz, rock, Big Band, swing, blues and ethnic-Latin rhythms. He held the staff drummer position at Seaside Center for Spiritual Living in Encinitas for 17 years, and worked as a musical therapist with young children in New York.
Sports
Frank Fleming currently a staff instructor for the Bobby Riggs Tennis Club has years of experience in both competitive tennis and tennis instruction. His proficiency as a trainer has come from thousands of hours teaching and coaching in a variety of contexts including kids’ camps, clinics, group and private instruction. Having worked with students at all age and skill levels, he can easily customize his teaching method to accommodate both experienced players and beginners.
Marcie Germani is a highly skilled and widely experienced gymnastic teacher who brings to her classes a background in instructing children of all ages. In addition to this she creates training programs, organizes gymnastic events, has coached a high school girls’ team and trained participants for Special Olympics. Regardless of age and skill level, learning takes place in a challenging, but non-competitive environment consistent with Marcie’s teaching philosophy: Every child is a winner!