MEET
OUR TEAM
Our faculty is composed of some of the best dance and theatre educators in the Bay Area and beyond. These teachers and role models are here to guide your child so they can have a fulfilling and successful journey with our school. Get to know our amazing and dedicated teaching staff!
WSPA DIRECTORS
BALLET DEPARTMENT
MALU RIVERA- PEOPLES
BALLET PROGRAM DIRECTOR
__________
BALLET MISTRESS
CHOREOGRAPHER & COACH
__________
COMPANY/APPRENTICE PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
JOSEPH
PHILLIPS
BALLET MASTER
CHOREOGRAPHER & COACH
__________
SENIOR PRE-PROFESSIONAL
& PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
CRISTINA FARGAS-NEWELL
BALLET MISTRESS
CHOREOGRAPHER & COACH
__________
SENIOR & JUNIOR PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM
DENISE PARUNGAO PHILLIPS
BALLET MISTRESS
CHOREOGRAPHER & COACH
__________
SENIOR & JUNIOR PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM & PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
JESSICA MANALO ANGELES
BALLET MISTRESS
CHOREOGRAPHER & COACH
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2001
__________
JUNIOR PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
REINA
VICTORIA
BALLET
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2004
__________
GENERAL SCHOOL PROGRAM
ANGELA
JACOBS
BALLET & TAP
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2001
__________
GENERAL SCHOOL PROGRAM
MAYA
ANDREWS
BALLET & TAP
STUDENT-TEACHER
COMPANY BALLET MEMBER
__________
GENERAL SCHOOL PROGRAM
CONTEMPORARY DEPARTMENT
ALEXIS NICHOLE-PINEDA
CONTEMPORARY PROGRAM
CO-DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2016
__________
PRE-PROFESSIONAL & PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
KIRA
FARGAS
CONTEMPORARY PROGRAM
CO-DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2014
__________
PRE-PROFESSIONAL & PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
HADASSAH
PERRY
CONTEMPORARY PROGRAM
CO-DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
__________
PRE-PROFESSIONAL & PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
TAP DEPARTMENT
LOREE
KENAGY
TAP PROGRAM DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM & GENERAL SCHOOL
JAZZ DEPARTMENT
ALEXIS
NICHOLE-PINEDA
JAZZ PROGRAM DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2016
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM & GENERAL SCHOOL PROGRAM
MUSICAL THEATRE DEPARTMENT
KATIE
KERWIN-GIELNIAK
MUSICAL THEATRE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
__________
CHOREOGRAPHER & VOCAL COACH
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 1993
__________
PRE-PROFESSIONAL & PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
SAMANTHA
BAKER
MUSICAL THEATRE
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2015
__________
GENERAL SCHOOL PROGRAM
HIP HOP DEPARTMENT
PATRICK
RIVERA-CRUZ
HIP HOP PROGRAM DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2004
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
MELISSA
BATESTING
HIP HOP THE COMPANY & APT
CO-DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2010
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
ADVANCED PROGRAM &
GENERAL SCHOOL PROGRAM
JOLO
CABRERA
HIP HOP THE COMPANY
CO-DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2011
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
MATTHEW
MONTENEGRO
HIP HOP APT
CO-DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2007
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
JESSIE
MUÑOZ
HIP HOP TRAINING GROUND,
APT & JR.APT CO-DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2012
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
ADVANCED PROGRAM &
GENERAL SCHOOL PROGRAM
MARINA
COTTON
HIP HOP JR.APT & JUNIORS
CO-DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2017
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
SAM YOSHIKAWA III
HIP HOP JUNIORS
CO-DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
ALFRED
REMULLA
HIP HOP TRAINING GROUND
CO-DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2014
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
& ADVANCED PROGRAM
AGNES
LOYOLA
HIP HOP TRAINING GROUND
CO-DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2006
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
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NIKIYA
RIVERA-PEOPLES
HIP HOP
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2014
__________
GENERAL SCHOOL PROGRAM
MICHAIAH
BAUTISTA
HIP HOP
STUDENT-TEACHER
HIP HOP APT MEMBER
__________
GENERAL SCHOOL PROGRAM
SOPHIA
VALEN
HIP HOP
STUDENT-TEACHER
HIP HOP APT MEMBER
__________
GENERAL SCHOOL PROGRAM
POLYNESIAN DEPARTMENT
ANTHONY
WAIPA MANOIS
POLYNESIAN PROGRAM
DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER, CHOREOGRAPHER, MUSICIAN & COMPOSER
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
JESSICA
MANALO ANGELES
POLYNESIAN PROGRAM
ASSISTANT-DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2001
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
MORGAN CHANG-JIMENEZ
POLYNESIAN PROGRAM
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
__________
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2008
__________
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
REINA
VICTORIA
POLYNESIAN
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER
WSPA ALUMNI CLASS 2004
__________
GENERAL SCHOOL PROGRAM
EXECUTIVE &
ADMINSTRATIVE
MALU RIVERA-PEOPLES
School Director
PATRICK RIVERA-CRUZ
Assistant School Director
& Director of Operations
PAUL E. PEOPLES
Executive Director
DEBBIE KNUTSON
Office Manager
& Assistant Executive Director
NIKIYA RIVERA-PEOPLES
Marketing Director
MELISSA BATESTING
Administrative Assistant & Webmaster
ALEXIS-NICHOLE PINEDA
Administrative Assistant
JESSICA MANALO ANGELES
Event Director
FRONT DESK
ASHLEY TORRES
Office Staff
BARBARA ROZZANO-KEEFE
Office Staff
CHARA PEREZ
Office Staff
CHRISTINA SOTO
Office Staff
NORALYN SANGALANG
Office Staff
TRUDY MAR
Office Staff
MEDIA & DESIGN
LEM ABDON
Resident Photographer
MARINA COTTON
Resident Photographer
LEM MANALO
Resident Graphic Designer
CATHERINE BELARDO
Resident Graphic Designer
JESS GOMEZ & VIBRVNCY
Resident Videographers
VIBRVNCY
Resident Videographers
ARTIST'S IN MOTION
BAY AREA
DANIELLE CHIANG
President
CHARLENE AVILA
Vice President
BERNADETTE ALVARES
Treasurer
CATHERINE TOSCANO
Secretary
ASHLEY TORRES & CHARA PEREZ
Parent Liasion
NICOLE MARTINEZ
Marketing