Faculty Department - ��ֱ��

Michelle Katz

Keely Mikkelsen — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:29:26 +0000

Michelle Katz is a TV Producer, author, and podcast host with more than two decades of experience in film and television. Her credits include Co-Executive Producer of Netflix’s Trial 4, Producer on the award-winning documentary Waiting for “Superman”, Line Producer on Project Runway, and Vice President of Production at Ovation TV.

Katz is the author of Awakening in an Age of Metals, her debut spiritual memoir, and creator and host of Broken and Healed, a podcast exploring healing, consciousness, and transformation.

She earned her B.A. in Political Science from Brandeis University and completed her graduate studies in Film and Dramatic Writing at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study.

Katz is also the creator of Story Is Medicine, a writing methodology blending storytelling, neuroscience, and metaphysics to explore how we can use story to heal. A multidisciplinary artist, Katz is also a painter and songwriter.

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Maryn McGaw

Keely Mikkelsen — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:07:19 +0000

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Francesca Brown

bjones@idyllwildarts.org — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:01:50 +0000

Francesca originally began her education studying music, dance, and acting in New York City. After relocating to Los Angeles, she quickly fell in love with playing the guitar and writing her own songs. Francesca’s roots run deep through American music. A prolific creator with hundreds of original songs to her name, she has built a sharp gift for narrative that shines through in her music. She has grown into a premier live act, bringing high energy to stages and authentic grit to honky-tonks throughout the country. Her music has garnered praise from American Songwriter, Guitar Girl Magazine, and Americana UK, while her 2025 release, Stolen Land and Broken Dreams, charted in the Top 100 for the the Americana Music Charts.

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Robert Gomez

Keely Mikkelsen — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 17:48:40 +0000

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Gibb Mandish

Keely Mikkelsen — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:00:55 +0000

Drums Instructor and percussionist Gibb Mandish joins the Music Department bringing a passion for Jazz stemming from the likes of Elvin Jones and Art Blakey, and a dynamic versatility that is sure to inspire both our Jazz and Contemporary drummers. A graduate of the University of Arizona and the Frost School of Music, Gibb has had the opportunity to perform in a variety of settings alongside musicians like bassist Dave Holland, guitarist John Hart, and vocalist Kurt Elling and has recorded with a number of artists that include guitarists Jackson Potter, Diego Melgar, and Jordan Rattner. His teaching methodology centers both around technique and helping young artists amplify their unique voices, and has taught everything from drumlines and rock ensembles to adjudicating and performing at prestigious jazz competitions.

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Chadwick Gaspard

Keely Mikkelsen — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 22:55:20 +0000

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Chadwick began his training in the underground hip hop/breaking scene. He earned his BFA from the University of Florida, where he was able to train in various styles such as Ballet, modern, and contemporary. After graduation, Chadwick relocated to Los Angeles, where he has the opportunity to work for dance companies such as JacobJonas the company and Diavolo Architecture in Motion, performing both locally and internationally. Chad has also been able to work commercially for artists/brands like Sia, Elton John, Mastercard, adidas, etc. Currently, Chadwick’s main focus is on community engagement through hosting dance sessions as well as imparting knowledge through teaching. He is always looking for ways to foster inclusivity and growth wherever he sets foot.

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Haihua Cheung

Keely Mikkelsen — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 22:50:20 +0000

Haihua Chiang Cheung (she/her) is a Taiwanese-born dancer, choreographer, and educator who earned her MFA in Dance from the University of California, Irvine and her BFA from California State University, Long Beach. Her work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, LA Dance Chronicle, and OC Weekly, where she has been recognized for her expressive precision, emotional depth, and stage presence. Her performance career includes appearances at the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and festivals in Atlanta, Detroit, Tempe, and Salt Lake City. She has taught and choreographed at Citrus College and currently co-directs the pre-professional Evolution Dance Company at the Valverde School of Performing Arts. Haihua’s work reflects her cross-cultural perspective and explores movement, identity, and artistic expression.

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Marlon Pelayo

Keely Mikkelsen — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 22:46:42 +0000

Marlon Pelayo is a Los Angeles-based dancer and choreographer who teaches from a simple philosophy: Technique in service of curiosity, musicality, and individual voice. In class, dancers build strength and clarity while exploring texture, groove, and grounded floor work, finding artistry through disciplined practice. Trained across ballet, jazz, hip hop, Gaga, and traditional Greek forms, he’s a scholarship alum of EDGE Performing Arts Center and a longtime member of Hysterica Dance, with performance and credits spanning stage, film, and TV, including collaborations with artists from Cher to Nine Inch Nails. His room is high expectation, high support, structured, sweaty, and deeply encouraging.

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Nola Gibson

Keely Mikkelsen — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 23:11:26 +0000

Nola Gibson is a Los Angeles based performer and teacher in dance and yoga. She earned her BFA in Dance Performance from UC Irvine in 2021 and has since performed with local companies including Benita Bike’s DanceArt, Bernard Brown BBmoves, and Lineage Dance Company. Her teaching career has consisted of positions with Westside School of Ballet, Esperanza College Prep, and Pacifico Dance Company among others where she has taught contemporary floorwork technique and ballet. She is currently a company member of DIAVOLO Architecture in Motion and will be performing at the upcoming Brisbane Arts Festival in Australia.

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Hunter Huie

Keely Mikkelsen — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 23:07:40 +0000

Hunter Huie has taught U.S. history, civics, and geography for the past five years. Before joining the ��ֱ��, he was an instructor at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, Alabama. Hunter served as a fellow of Learning for Justice, an educational outreach program of the Southern Poverty Law Center, and has facilitated professional learning around its Teaching Hard History: American Slavery curriculum.

His approach to teaching history is captured by a favorite mantra: “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes. And the future is free verse.”

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Kelsey Siepser

Keely Mikkelsen — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:48:03 +0000

Kelsey Siepser is a writer, director, actor, and educator whose work explores the stories we tell ourselves to survive—and the narratives that allow us to thrive—through a queer, Jewish, feminist lens. Their creative work spans theater, film, and devised performance, with a focus on identity, mental health, and collaborative storytelling. Kelsey has appeared in award-winning independent films including Public Hearing, West of Her, The American Side, and The White Orchid. Their award-winning short film In Her Ear premiered at the LA International Short Film Festival and is currently being developed as a feature. Kelsey earned an MFA in Acting from the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts and previously taught acting at Emerson College Los Angeles.

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Stacey Cabaj

Keely Mikkelsen — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:40:45 +0000

Stacey Cabaj is a Canadian American actress and educator whose work lives at the intersection of performance, contemplative practice, and transformative learning. Prior to joining ��ֱ��, she served on the faculty at Loyola Marymount University as a tenured Associate Professor and Chair of the Theatre Arts Programs, and has also taught at Louisiana State University and the University of Pittsburgh. Cabaj holds an M.F.A. in Theatre Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University and a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is certified in the Meisner Approach to Acting, Meditation, Vibrant Voice Technique®, and both Hatha and Vocal Yoga®. Her research led to the co-authored book Lessons from our Students: Meditations on Performance Pedagogy (Routledge). At ��ֱ��, Cabaj brings humor, rigor, and a deep commitment to helping young artists discover their fullest, most expressive selves — both onstage and beyond.

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Faculty Department - ����ֱ��