Mark Erickson - Studio Director / Owner

Mr. Erickson has divided his time between dance and acting since arriving in California from British Columbia, Canada.  Some of his dance credits include lead roles in Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and a finalist in the International Ballet Competition.  He has taught Master Classes in Canada for the Canadian School of Ballet, for Lines Dance Company in San Francisco and at countless summer dance programs in the United States.  Some of Marks work in television and film include, a supporting role opposite Mel Gibson in The River, with Rod Steiger in American Gothic, a guest appearance on Amazing Stories, and In Living Color, and he co-starred in Star Trek-Deep Space Nine.  After completing an 8 year run in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, in both Los Angeles and San Francisco productions, Mr. Erickson opened The Ballet Studio in the Temecula Valley to train dancers. 

Dana Nelson - Ballet

Miss Dana began her training with Teresa Wells, formerly of Kansas City Ballet and has trained with the California Ballet, San Diego Ballet and Boston Ballet. She began dancing professionally at the age of 16, and has performed soloist and principle roles with Ballet Theatre of Boston, California Ballet, Mirábilé Ballet Company, San Diego Ballet, Spindle City Ballet, Pax Fiat and Island Moving Company-Providence. Dana has training in Pilates, Dance Medicine, Dance Kinesiology and  Conditioning for Dancers. She has been teaching for over 20 years, and has taught for Boston Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Boston, California Ballet, San Diego Ballet and San Diego Dance Centre. Miss Nelson is pleased to be an integral part of teaching and setting ballets at The Ballet Studio here in the Temecula area.

TIFFANY KOEPKE - Ballet

Tiffany Koepke is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and began her ballet training at The Milwaukee Ballet. As a student she received the Schlomer Lichner scholarship for most outstanding and promising dancer. At the age of fourteen, Ms. Koepke was the first student to dance the lead role as Clara in the Milwaukee Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. She also played many roles with the company such as Sleeping Beauty and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Ms. Koepke attended Milwaukee High School of the Arts as a dance major and was given the incredible opportunity to dance in Edinburgh, Scotland at the Fringe Festival.

Ms. Koepke later moved to California and joined The California Ballet Company in San Diego. Her leading roles included four cygnets in Swan Lake, Dewdrop and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, and “Snow White” in Snow White. Other ballets included Spanish Serenade, Sleeping Beauty, Paquita, and Romeo and Juliet.

Ms. Koepke made her first musical debut in Chorus Line when she played the role of “Val”. She has been in various productions with The Ballet Studio such as the annual Nutcracker as “Marie”, in two years of Ballet Rocks, and the production of Sleeping Beauty as the lilac fairy. Presently she enjoys being an instructor at The Ballet Studio and performing as a guest artist throughout Southern Ca. Miss Tiffany was just recently featured in the award winning film "The Making of The Nutcracker" a behind the scenes movie about The Ballet Studio's annual Nutcracker production.

Quincy was born in Manila, Philippines, began his training at the age of 8 under the tutelage of his father, noted teacher and choreographer Eli Jacinto, with the Theatrical Ensemble and Artistic Movement.  On Quincy, the elder Jacinto choreographed roles that gained acclaim from the local dance audience, including Puga (Struggle) and the lead fisherman in Philippine Ballet Theatre's Magdaragat (Seafarer).  He was then accepted to the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida, under a dance and academic scholarship in 1992. From 1990, he would dance as a guest artist with the Philippine Ballet Theatre, always performing principal roles, and was engaged as principal in 1999. He toured nationally and internationally with the company performing leading roles, such as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Basilio in Don Quixote, Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly and Hilarion in Giselle. Quincy was a runner up to the 2003 Best Male Dancer Award, presented by the Beverly Hills Outlook, A Biweekly Review of the Arts and Culture in Southern California. The Ballet Studio welcomes Quincy to our staff!

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Amber Geary - Tots / Pre-Ballet

 

Amber Geary started dancing at the age of two at her mother’s dance studio “And All That Jazz” in San Diego, California. She is a trained competitive dancer, award winning choreographer and has been chosen to dance in television commercials.  She graduated from Humboldt State University where she earned her bachelors in Psychology and was involved with the modern dance company.  While she attended HSU she had the privilege to be the instructor and head coach for the college cheerleading and song team. She truly enjoys teaching dance and loves to share her knowledge of tap, jazz and ballet with her students at The Ballet Studio.

 

 

 

 

  

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Kristin Herron - Ballet

 

Kristin began dancing at the age of 3. Miss Herron graduated from Chapman University in 2007 with a B.S. in Business Marketing and a B.A. in Dance. She has studied under many influential instructors including David Howard. While at Chapman, Kristin performed in various faculty concerts under the direction of Nancy Dickson-Lewis and Dale Merrill. She has taught Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Lyrical to children of all ages at various studios throughout southern California. Upon graduating, Kristin went on to receive her Pilates Certification from Kore Pilates which has led her into the rehabilitation field. In 2008, she began working for Rancho Physical Therapy where she has introduced Pilates to many of their post-op spine patients. Kristin has been performing and choreographing professionally since the age of 18. Some of her works include “American Celebration” and “Fight Night” at the Marconi Museum, where she performed for many major Celebrities. She also played the role of the Snow Queen in the Nutcracker and was a featured dancer under the Direction of Dan Collins performing at many commercial venues. The Ballet Studio welcomes Miss Herron to our faculty.

 

 

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Rachyl Pines / Pre-Ballet  (Assistant)