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OWNERS:
RitaMatthews
Retired as a professional dancer, choreographer,
director, and costume designer, Rita has been teaching and
training for over 30 years. She has studied extensively in
Tap, Ballet and Jazz from Age 4 in Northern California,
New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Rita is very fortunate
to have been trained in tap by LaVerne Krei and carries on
her legacy. She was trained in Jazz by Dolores Terry in Los
Angeles and Charles Kelly in New York. She studied in
Ballet in San Francisco, Sacramento, and New York also.
Throughout her professional career, she performed in Shows
internationally in Canada, Japan, South America and the
Dominican Republic. In the USA she has performed in Las
Vegas and Los Angeles. She has taught for Dance Educators
of America, Dance Caravan, and at various Studios in New
York, New Jersey, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Rita
was Owner/Director of Krei-Matthews School of Performing
Arts in Carmichael for over 15 years and has now relocated
in Citrus Heights. Many of her students have received top
awards at DEA, I Love Dance and Spotlight, both at Regional
Competitions as well as National. Rita has received many
Choreography Awards at these Dance Competitions and was
nominated for her choreography of, “A Chorus Line” for
Oakmont High School. Rita has several students who have
gone on to professional careers in Las Vegas, on Cruise
Lines, in New York on Broadway, and in Touring Broadway
shows. One particular student, Kate Levering, was nominated
for a Tony Award for her performance in a lead role in “42nd
Street”.
In
2003, Rita received the DEA “Teacher of the Year” Award.
Rita
believes in teaching a student with individual
corrections and placement adjustment. Rita ‘s professional
dance career encompasses her versatility in tap and jazz
which prepares a student for his or her dedication toward
professional work.
Bea Swearingen
Trained and performed with the Phoenix Ballet Theater and
Phoenix Musical Theater. Continued education with
Cecchetti Teacher's forum, and Dance Caravan. Ms. Bea
started teaching with LaVerne Krei in 1974 at the Carmichael
School of Performing Arts. With over
30 years of teachers experience, she is an expert in
Kinesiology and stretch for proper physical development.
She is also the director/choreographer for the K/M Dance
Company.
LaVerne Krei, Founder
Had a distinguished professional background starting at
age 8 on a weekly radio show where she tap danced, sang, and
acted. She was one of the first dancers to be honored by
the National Tap Dance Association in their hall of fame.
She trained and turned out professional dancers for 40 years.
Teachers at Krei/Matthews dance studio were trained by the
late LaVerne Krei and continue to carry out her technique and
style.
STAFF:
Ruthie Oggins
Ruthie started performing at the age of three with her
family in the annual Christmas Pageant in Stockton, CA. She
has trained in Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Modern, and
Dunham Technique, and has danced professionally in shows at
Great America Theme Park and with Terry Productions in shows
at prestigious resort hotels in Japan.
Ruthie earned a B.A. in
Dance with an emphasis in Choreography and Performance from
San Francisco State University (SFSU). She performed with
the university’s dance company EMBAJE, had pieces invited to
be showcased in the University’s dance concerts, and was the
recipient of the Dance Department’s “Service Award” for hard
work and dedication. In her last year at SFSU, she became
Assistant to the Director, Susie Whipp, and was given the
opportunity to restage a Modern Jazz piece originally
choreographed by Dr. Albirda Rose.
Ruthie has been teaching
dance to children and adults for more than 20 years at
studios in the Central Valley and in the Bay Area. She has
also choreographed musicals for many elementary and high
school productions. In 2006, Ruthie won several
choreography awards, including Most Artistic Choreography,
High Score of the Day at DEA, and the Director’s Award for
Choreography at the Deane Dance Center’s annual Ballet
competition.
Ruthie loves to share her
knowledge of dance and to help her students realize their
potential.
Katy Rose
Katy has been a student at Krei-Matthews and now KM Dance
Arts Studio since she was 5 years old. Katy has been one of
our top performers and had received the Sacramento Area
Dance Alliance $1,000 Dance Scholarship in Age 12-14 group
and again in Age 15 and up group. She was an I Love Dance
Sweetheart and has received several high score awards in
local and national competitions. Katy has been through our
full teacher’s training program and has developed into an
outstanding Teacher/Choreographer. She has won awards in
Choreography at both DEA and I Love Dance Competitions.
Katy teaches Creative Dance, Tap, Ballet, Jazz and Lyrical.
She is the Director of our Summer Theatre Camp Program and
is the Assistant Director/Choreographer for our KM
Performing Company.
Ana Schexnayder
Moved to Sacramento from Louisiana. She has performed
in several theatre productions such as Guys and
Dolls, Wizard of Oz, and Anything Goes, to
name a few. Ana also performed as a dancer in Six
Flags New Orleans Entertainment and Walt Disney
World-Fantasyland. She has had over 15 years of dance
training in Latin Folklore, Jazz, and Lyrical for the
beginner to advanced dancer. She teaches Jazz Salsa
and Latin Tap in all levels.
Norine Brown - ARAD, AISTD, LCUSA
Norine Brown received her early training in Vancouver,
Canada, and furthered her education at the Hammond School of
Dancing in Chester England. Here she attained her diplomas
in Modern, National, RAD Ballet, Imperial Ballet, anatomy,
and ballroom.
Having joined a French company, she traveled extensively
throughout Europe, and settled in Vancouver and started
teaching, ballet.
In
1986 Norine and husband Jeff, moved to the Sacramento area
and settled down. Here over the past 16 years, Norine has
undergone rigorous training in the Cecchetti method and
currently resides on the board of CUSA and is an active West
Coast Committee member.
Some
of her former students are currently dancing
professionally throughout Europe and several different
American companies. Norine enjoys teaching all age groups to
dance whether they desire a professional career or are
attending classes for pure enjoyment.
Anne Atwell-Zoll
Anne Atwell-Zoll was trained by Danish ballerina
Marika Raju, and went on to dance for such companies as
American Ballet Theatre, Stuttgart Ballet, and Fort Worth
Ballet. Well known in the rock music world, Ms. Atwell-Zoll
has worked with a variety of noted musical artists from
David Bowie to Marilyn Manson. Her credits in the film and
television industry include the films Valmont and
The Obsidian Tower. Ms. Atwell-Zoll has directed her
own company, Ballet 21st Century on the West
Coast, and has set ballets throughout the U.S. and Europe.
She won the Vanguard Award for Choreography and the Award
for Excellence from Women in Film. Her students can be
found in such companies as the Paris Opera, Bejart’s Ballet
of the 20th Century, and Elliot Feld Ballet. KM
Dance Arts is delighted to have Ms. Anne join our KM family.
Sarah Ewert
Candace Clark
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