Vision Instructors
Vision Dance welcomes our outstanding instructors. We want to thank these very talented individuals for sharing in our vision and their dedication to such an important cause. They are excited to bring you a fun and inspiring weekend of dance and have some great choreography planned for you!
Al Bee
Al Bee has been dancing and choreographing professionally for over 18 years. Starting with his television debut on Star Search and continuing onto music videos, tours, films, and industrials, he is sought for his accented moves and performances in jazz, hip-hop, street jazz (MTV style choreography), musical theater, and tap.
Al Bee has worked for several well renowned choreographers including:
- Wade Robson
- Travis Payne
- Brian Freeman
- Bart Doerfler
- Jerry Evans
- Jamie King
- Wayne Cilento
- Alan Johnson
- Ottis Sallid
- Daniel Ezralow
- Russell Clarke
- Mic Thompson
And many more.
As a dancer he has performed in the Academy Awards, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and series regular on the television show "Your Big Break." His movie credits include "Rent" the movie, "Boys n Girls," "Neverland" and "I'll Do Anything." His television and industrial credits include promos for CBS, NBC, Comedy Central, Crest, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Reebok, Nike, Skechers, NFL Properties, Harley Davidson, Playstation, Nintendo, Toyota, and Disney.
As a choreographer, Al Bee's work can be seen all over the world --- South America, Canada, Japan, Europe, and all throughout the United States. He has been on faculty for several dance conventions including Dance Caravan, 5678 Showtime, DMA, and DEA, and is currently on faculty with Hollywood Vibe
(see www.hollywoodvibedance.com).
Al Bee is a well-rounded dancer and educated with a degree in Finance Real Estate and Law from Cal Poly Pomona University. He owns Plan Bee Productions, producing trade show entertainment and choreography and his heart goes out to helping new performers get a feel for what choreography and performing is like in Hollywood.
He recently directed a new children's triple threat showcase and provided choreography for the Halloween Expo Show and new singing artist D Train.
Mark "Biz" Burke
Mark "Biz" Burke was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. Mark started dancing at the age of 14. Mark quickly picked up moves from watching movie videos and B-Boy tapes. When he began his training and performing with a local dance troupe, he knew that dance was going to take extreme dedication. Realizing the importance of proper dance training, Mark began taking Jazz and Ballet classes on a regular basis in addition to practicing his true love, hip-hop.
Along with dancing, Mark has a passion for music. As a skilled trumpet player he received the Semper Fidelis award from the United States Marine Corps for musical excellence.
Soon after Mark landed his first dance job as a performer in Jeff Kutash's Splash at the Reno Hilton, he moved back to Phoenix where he started teaching and choreographing for a number of dance studios in the Phoenix area. His choreography has won National titles and many honors across the nation. He then began to work with NSYNC along with other new up-and-coming artists, including choreographing the home opener of the 30th season for the Phoenix Suns Basketball team.
Since moving to Los Angeles in 2001, Mark has had the opportunity to dance for Lisa "left-eye" Lopes, Curb recording artist Kaci, and has remixed songs for Destiny's Child, Solange Knowles, Kaci, choreographers Rosero and Jamal, Liz Imperio, Jayson Wright, Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo, and various others.
Recently, Mark has been a music producer for MTV's extremely popular America's Best Dance Crew Season 1 & 2 (see www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/dance_crew/series.jhtml). He has also produced music for Beyonce and Jabbawockeez's latest Tours.
Mark also teaches regularly at LA Zeal professional dance studio. Mark's classes are inspiring, motivating, as well as fun, exciting, and energetic. Through his upbeat music and addictive choreography you are sure to want more.
Joelle Martinec
Joelle's unique style, challenging classes, and ability to inspire have her in demand as a master teacher and choreographer throughout the world. She has been a favorite instructor of dancers and teachers on the dance convention circuit for many years.
Joelle is the founder and choreographer of the new Los Angeles based company Unbound Dance Ensemble, which is in the process of creating their premier show.
She has worked with the likes of: The Cohen Brothers (Fargo) in "The Big Lebowski", Marguerite Derricks (Austin Powers) in "A Time For Dancing", Jerry Evans (The Mask) in "Romy and Michelle: In The Beginning", and Michael Rooney (Kylie Minogue) in the MTV music award winning video "It's Ohh So Quiet". Joelle has performed in countless stage shows for Buena Vista Special Events and The Platinum Guild. She has a guest artist for The Wes Veldink Movement and a soloist for Liz Imperio's Instincts Live Media Dance Company, where Lewis Segal of the Los Angeles Times called her performance "feisty".
Recently, Joelle played "The Prosecuting Attorney" in J.T. Horenstein's production "The Question". Joelle was the assistant choreographer to Denise Leitner on the LA production of "The Who's Tommy" featuring Tony Award Nominee Alice Ripley, Nona Hendryx and "Wicked's" Jenna Leigh Green. As well as a faculty member at the Edge Performing Arts Center, Joelle is a master teacher for the cast of Cirque du Soleil "Le Reve" in Las Vegas.
Joelle also choreographs for numerous organizations, dance companies, and commercial projects. Her award winning choreography can be seen on many studios and companies throughout the world. She has recently returned from Sarajevo, Bosnia where she worked in part with the non-profit organization Genesis Sarajevo, helping to create outlets and opportunities for dancers there.
Joelle's passion and enthusiasm is contagious to not only the dancers, but to everyone around her.
"Dr Zumba" Karen Coates, MD
Karen Coates is a lifelong dancer, physician, and certified Zumba Instructor. Karen is excited to get people of all ages moving their bodies and mindful of a health conscious lifestyle with the fun music and varied dance styles of Zumba.
Throughout her life, Karen has enjoyed many forms of dance, including ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and traditional African dance. With Zumba, she has added salsa, samba, merengue, cumbia, and belly dancing to her repertoire.
While in medical school, she participated in the world-renowned American Dance
Festival at Duke University.
Other dance highlights of her
life include dancing in musicals such as The Wiz and Pajama Game, tapping with Gene Medler and Savion Glover, and exploring African dance with Chuck Davis.
As a physician, she brings additional knowledge in anatomy, physiology, and the diseases that can be brought on by inactivity. You will enjoy her high energy style, creative choreography, and whole body workout.
Find out more at www.drzumba.com.
Lindsay Collins Shaw
Lindsay is a graduate of Texas Woman’s University with a BA in Dance Studies and a minor in Science. She has taught a variety of dance forms to all age groups at several studios, but her personal training preference stems from classical ballet. Lindsay was a five-year member of the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, performing throughout Texas as well as other states for special events, including the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. Lindsay attended the School of American Ballet in New York City for three summer programs on full scholarship. She also attended the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle and later headed to the San Francisco Ballet School for over a year and a half. She was a scholarship student there as well, and she performed with the San Francisco Ballet for that season.
Lindsay realizes the value of classical ballet as a building
block for all types of dance, and she is a strong advocate of correct anatomical training for the prevention of dance related injuries. She has extensive experience teaching and directing in a formal dance environment, and she as taught dance for the Wake County Magnet school program as well. Lindsay loves involvement in choreography and theater, and she has choreographed numerous pieces for community civic companies. Her choreography has been recognized and performed by the American College Dance Festival, and she has also choreographed musicals and production shows.
Lindsay is currently one of the owners of the Carolina Dance Center (www.carolinadancecenter.com) and resides in Raleigh with her husband, Matt; baby boy, Sam; and dog, Georgia. She enjoys attending major sporting events and visiting the beach as often as possible.