Get to know the talented professionals who teach performing arts and martial arts at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley’s Clubhouse Academy.
ALLISON HORNER
Allison began dancing at the age of 4 when she took her first ballet class. Her professional career in dance began at age 16 when she joined the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. She has danced with multiple companies that include American Ballet Ensemble, Ballet Austin and Staatstheatre Darmstadt in Germany. While living and dancing in Germany, Allison had the opportunity to perform in operas and musicals as well as ballets.
Although she has retired from her career as a ballet dancer, Allison remains focused on dance, sharing her love for the art as a choreographer and teacher. She has choreographed numerous productions in the United States and Europe and our very own Clubhouse Theatre. Allison has taught various forms of dance in the United States and Europe. She has been teaching dance and overseeing the dance program at Clubhouse Academy since 2008. In 2016, she became the program director for the Clubhouse Theatre.
Allison strives to to create a safe space where students are supported, accepted and can be themselves. By fostering an environment of equity and care, Allison empowers her students to grow as artists and people.She believes dance is a universal language that doesn’t discriminate based on body type, age, or background. Her greatest joy is working with the students and she aspires to have a positive impact in their lives, supporting and lifting them up in ways that go far beyond dance.
TANYA BAEZA
Sensei Tanya Baeza holds a 5th degree black belt in Shito-ryu Karate-Do and has been teaching karate for the past 16 years. She is a former member of the USA Karate National Team from 2004 through 2016. Tanya is a 6-time USA National Champion, 3-time USA Open Champion, and a Pan American Championships Bronze Medalist.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education from (CSUDH). Her students have competed across the country and placed at prestigious events, including the USA Open and Junior Olympics and National Championships.
ADAM KRAUS
Sensei Adam is a 3rd degree black belt in Shindo Jinen Ryu and has been doing karate since he was 8 years old. Sensei Adam has a passion for martial arts fitness and fitness and believes karate is great for both. In addition to teaching Adam is also an active karate competitor but believe that’s karate is not just a sport but a lifestyle.
AMANDA HAY
Amanda Hay began training with the Clubhouse Academy of Performing Arts in 2008. Her dance training includes Ballet, Musical Theater, Jazz, Pointe, Lyrical, and Tap. While at the Academy, Amanda received the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Scholarship for her achievement in performing arts and was named the Boys and Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley’s Youth of the Year for 2018. In addition to Clubhouse, she has trained with the Fountain Valley High School Dance Team, Maple Conservatory of Dance, and Vanguard University. Amanda received her BA in Theatre Arts with a Musical Theatre Concentration and her BA in Psychology from Vanguard University in 2023. She is currently studying Clinical Psychology at Azusa Pacific University. Amanda has a passion for teaching dance and exposing children to the arts. She became a teacher and choreographer at the Academy in 2017 and has experience teaching in the styles of Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and Strength and Stretch to a variety of ages and levels. She has also taught dance classes to adults with intellectual disabilities at Creative Identity in Laguna Beach. Amanda is so grateful to be a part of the Clubhouse family and is amazed every day by the growth of her students as dancers and as people.
CHAD EAGAN
Sensei Eagan has been training since the age of 5 years old, has over 30 years of experience in multiple fields of martial arts and has over 20 years of teaching experience. He studied and trained extensively under Sensei Yamazaki as early as 1985. He has been recognized for many awards throughout his career, such as 2005 Masters Hall of Fame Competitor of the Year, 2007 Masters Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award, 7-time national champion, and a 10-year member of the USA National Karate Team. All the experience and accolades has allowed him to coach over 30 national and international champions. Sensei Chad currently holds the rank of 6th Degree Black Belt under the Japan Karate-Do Jinen-Kai organization, and 3rd Degree Black Belt under the Olympic committee recognized United States of America National Karate-Do Federation.
CHELSEA GOYA
Chelsea Goya has been passionate about dancing since the age of 13 and singing since she was a young child. In the last 22 years she has trained in recreational and concert styles of dance including modern, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, lyrical, and musical theatre. She joined choir as early on as elementary school, continuing through high school. At Villa Park High School she was selected to participate in the advanced dance program, varsity song squad, and women’s choir. Her choreography for assemblies, pep rallies, and dance concerts was a crucial part of her role in these programs. She also excelled in vocal performance, performing many solos in choir concerts as well as landing leading and supporting roles in musicals such as Grease and Once Upon A Mattress. Fullerton College was her next stop, where she studied dance and psychology. While at Fullerton College, she performed in numerous showcases that included more of her own choreography, which resulted in department recognition. Following her academic studies, Chelsea would sing recreationally with her father in an acoustic duet. Chelsea’s enthusiasm for singing increases every day as she continues to practice her own vocal techniques so she can share her knowledge with others. She believes that dancing and singing are the greatest means of self-expression and she is eager to provide the community with a welcoming environment to communicate through the arts. Chelsea is incredibly grateful to be working with the ClubHouse where she can encourage and support the growing talent and love of the arts in today’s youth.
ELENA VANDERVEEN
Elena began training with the Boys and Girls Club’s Clubhouse Academy since 2012. While at the Academy she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, and contemporary dance. She was the recipient of the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream scholarship from 2018 to 2020 and was named Huntington Valley’s Youth of the Year in 2021. She graduated from Huntington Beach High School in 2022 and attended the Academy of the Performing Arts where she was a member of the Tap Ensemble for three years and participated in the Choreography course. She is currently pursuing a double major in International Studies and Political Science at the University of California Irvine. She has been substitute teaching various classes at the Boys & Girls Club since 2021 and began teaching her own classes in Fall 2023.
ERIN WITECKI
Erin Witecki began performing at Clubhouse Academy in 2008. She was named the Boys & Girls Club of Huntington Valley’s Youth of the Year in 2020. In addition to Clubhouse Academy, she graduated from Huntington Beach High School and trained at the Academy of the Performing Arts where she was a member of the Acting department. Erin is a current student at the University of California Irvine where she is studying History with a Specialization for Future Teachers and Education. Erin is passionate about the importance of the arts in education and how transformative it can be for students!
JADYN KERR
Jadyn Kerr is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area where she began her dance training at 3 years old. She has trained in various styles, including ballet, contemporary, modern jazz, hip-hop, and tap. Later, she continued her dance training in the teen training program with Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco, CA. She has attended summer intensives with the Joffrey Ballet School, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Jadyn has recently graduated from the University of California, Irvine, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance performance, and a minor in digital art. She has been teaching dance since the age of 16 and has taught tap, ballet, lyrical, and hip-hop at local dance studios and choreographed various pieces on her high school’s dance team as well. Jadyn is so excited to be joining the team of teachers at the ClubHouse Academy this year and cannot wait to help her students grow as both dancers and people.
JORDAN SCHOCHET
Jordan Schochet began training with the Clubhouse Academy of Performing Arts in 2010. Her dance training includes Ballet, Musical Theater, Jazz, Lyrical, and Tap. While at the Academy, Jordan also attended Academy of the Performing Arts at Huntington Beach High School with a major in musical theatre and a minor in dance, where she was a part of the tap dance ensemble. Jordan recently graduated from Chapman University with a bachelor’s degree in Integrated Educational Studies, where she was president of the tap ensemble her senior year and had the opportunity to train with artists such as Chloe Arnold, Maud Arnold, Steve Zee, Jason Rodgers, and Melinda Sullivan. In 2023, Jordan received her dual multiple subject teaching credential in general education and special education, as well as her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Along with instructing tap at Clubhouse Academy, she is currently a K-2 special education teacher in Fountain Valley School District, where she gets to explore her passion for teaching and working with children everyday.
JUSTIN GOEI
Justin Goei (He/Him) is an OC based performing artist, actor, choreographer, dance teacher, and fitness instructor. Justin obtained his BA in Theatre from CSUF and has continued to perform with various companies around Southern California and all over the country, including the National Tour of Mamma Mia!, 3D Theatricals, Performance Riverside, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Musical Theatre West, Moonlight Amphitheater, Sierra Repertory Theatre, Honda Center, Disneyland Resort, & Knott’s Berry Farm. In addition to teaching dance and choreographing with theatre at the Clubhouse Academy, Justin has had the privilege of choreographing shows and working with incredible students at Mater Dei High School, Newport Harbor High School, Broadway on Tour Youth Theatre. Some favorites as a choreographer include Once on This Island, Beauty and the Beast, Spongebob the Musical, and Moana Jr. Whether performing on stage, teaching, or choreographing, Justin hopes to continue cultivating a safe inclusive space while sharing his joy and passion of live theatre and the performing arts with the next generation of artists. He is so grateful to be a part of this Clubhouse Academy community and for the people here who have become family. “Love Just Love”
LAURA FLORES
Laura Flores got her start in theater in high school, where she performed in many plays and also acted in an episode of a cable television show called “Crisis Counsellor”. She majored in theatre at Cal State Northridge for a few years before changing her major to Computer Science. When her children started at the Clubhouse Academy theater in 2006, she saw it as a great opportunity to get involved in theater again and started helping out back stage. In 2014, just after her youngest graduated out of the program, she decided that she was not finished and started directing cast 3. Since then she has directed over 18 productions and has switched over to directing cast 4. In addition to her director’s duties, she has a tradition of holding an improv class for cast 4 as a fun activity between performances. When she is not working her full-time job at Southern California Edison or directing at the Clubhouse, she enjoys spending time with her younger son, Jeremy, or traveling to Japan to visit her older son, Andrew, and her two grandsons, Souta and Takumi.
MARCO SOLIS
Born in Mexico and raised in California, Marco has been surrounded by music and style of all sorts such as Hip Hop, Salsa and Bachata, that influenced him as an Open Style Choreographer. Since the age of 5, Marco started his dance journey as a self-taught dancer and choreographer. In 2017, he took his passion to the next level by enrolling in pop-up classes in OC and LA, where he honed his skills and expanded his dance vocabulary and attended classes in Orange Coast College. In 2018, Marco began his ballroom story when he became a part of the Vida Dance Club team, where he took on the challenge of learning a variety of ballroom styles while polishing the styles already under his belt. In 2022, under the mentorship of a professional dancer and choreographer who’s been in the industry for more than two decades, Marco continued to grow and refine his craft. As of today, Marco is a proud member of the hip hop team Lost and Thriving and teaches all over Orange County in studio settings, private lessons, and events. Aside from dancing, Marco also studied acting, film making, and performed in shows in Orange Coast College and studied digital media in Utah Valley University as well as martial arts such as Muay Thai and MMA in various gyms. Marco has a love for the arts in all forms and hopes to pass down the things he passionately learns. Marco sets an environment in his class where everyone can feel comfortable and confident through the perfect blend of humor and professionalism. He believes that the best part of success isn’t winning the prize, but enjoying the story of how it came into your hands.
NATHAN TAKATSUKA
Nathan is a second degree blackbelt under Jinen Kai. My experience with karate started when he was 5 years old and is something that has played an important part in his life. He competed for 10 years doing competitions all around the country. His favorite part of karate is teaching. Nathan finds it very rewarding to see the kids get better as they go through their own karate journey
PAUL LUU
Senpai Paul Luu is a dedicated and passionate martial artist with 20 years of experience. Specializing in Shindo Jinen Ryu and under the tutelage of multiple Jinen Kai senior instructors, he has trained students of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners. As an instructor, he focuses on imparting not only physical techniques but also essential life skills such as discipline, respect, and focus. As a father of 3 children, he understands the commitment to fostering a positive learning environment at our ClubHouse Academy dojo.
RACHEL HSIN
Rachel is trained in tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, and lyrical dance. Originally from Northern California, she began dancing at age 5 and doesn’t ever plan to stop! She has performed extensively in competitions, fundraisers, and other regional events. She has taught and choreographed tap, ballet, and contemporary for kids and adults, and is excited to grow as a teacher with the ClubHouse Academy! While working professionally as an engineer, Rachel is always looking for ways to share her love of dance. Tap is her specialty and favorite style. Currently, she is learning bachata and a sprinkling of other Latin dance styles.
RYANN SCHOCHET
Ryann grew up at the Clubhouse Academy—starting in musical theater—and began taking ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, pointe, and contemporary when she was 9. In addition to her training at the Clubhouse, she trained at the Academy for the Performing Arts at Huntington Beach High School where she was a member of Modern Ensemble, Commercial Ensemble, Choreography, and APA’s first Company Ensemble; her senior year she was awarded MVP of APA Dance Company and Choreographer of the Year. At APA she was given opportunities to choreograph and work backstage for shows, and teach at elementary and middle schools. Her favorite styles of dance are pointe, hip hop, and contemporary, and she loves being able to help her students grow in their improvisation and in new forms of choreography. Ryann graduated from Chapman University with a major in Psychology and minor in Dance while volunteering at local hospitals. Ryann is so excited to use her passion for choreography and dance to help her students find themselves within dance as she did, and become the best they can be.
SARAH CHADWICK
Sarah has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, and pointe at Clifton Dance Project for the last 10 years; she was a member of their Company and Performing Groups, and first began teaching and working reception there. She graduated from Edison High School and Academy for the Performing Arts at Huntington Beach High School in 2020, where she was a member of Jazz Ensemble, Commercial Ensemble, Choreography, and APA’s first Company Ensemble. She worked backstage, choreographed for shows, and taught at elementary and middle schools during her time in APA. She received scholarships and awards including the Director Award and Faculty’s Choice Award in Choreography at APA, an intensive scholarship from Clifton Dance Project, and a nationals scholarship from Dancemakers Inc. She graduated from CSULB in 2024 in pursuit of a career in psychology. Her favorite thing about dance is the complexity behind each movement and being able to explore dynamics. Sarah loves teaching at the Clubhouse and being able to combine her shared love of dance with her passion for helping children learn and grow socially and emotionally.
SUZANNA VARELA
Suzanna was born and raised in sunny Southern California. She grew up dancing Ballet, Jazz and Hip Hop as well as competitive gymnastics. Suzanna decided to pursue her love for dance at Santa Ana College where she became exposed to Modern Dance, Contemporary and even Hula. She was a part of Santa Ana College’s Dance Touring Ensemble (DTE) for two years. She graduated with her Associate of dance then transferred to Arizona State University where she got a larger exposure to a multitude of dance forms. Suzanna took the opportunity to dive into styles such as: Post Modern Contemporary, Turkish Belly Dance, Break-Dancing, Bulgarian Folk Dance and Latin dance styles. Suzanna was honored to be in two graduate capstone pieces. As well as being invited to work alongside Mary Fitzgerald in a piece titled Haikus. Before graduating with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education she mentored under Tracy Puddy at Arcadia High School where Suzanna learned the ins and outs of being a true teacher and giving a proper class while still pursuing dance for herself. Suzanna’s future plans are to continue her education in dance and to teach full time.
SYDNEY HORNER
Sydney Horner has been an instructor at Clubhouse Academy (CHA) since 2016. She is passionate about teaching youth in an inclusive environment and believes in the transformative power of arts education. As a CHA alumnus, she has trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre, dance, and tap for over twenty years. While at CHA, Sydney was given many opportunities to grow in the arts. She received the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Scholarship for her achievement in the performing arts and was named the Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley’s Youth of the Year. She was also given the opportunity to sing and dance at several Boys & Girls Club of America events throughout the country. Sydney graduated from the Orange County School of the Arts, where she studied acting, musical theatre, and dance. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Educational Studies and History from Chapman University. Sydney is working toward her Master of Arts in American Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York, where she will research the history of dance and performing arts. As Sydney pursues a career in higher education, she hopes to maintain a strong connection to her roots in dance and theatre. She plans to return to Clubhouse Academy as often as possible to teach and maintain her bond with this tremendously cherished community.
SHANNON KANE
Shannon Kane feels so lucky to have been teaching at Clubhouse Academy for over 10 years in both the dance and theatre programs. Shannon graduated from Chapman University with a BA in Theatre Performance and has since worked all over Southern California as both a director and choreographer. She is also the Artistic Director and Founder of Top Hat 8 Repertory in Tustin which celebrated their 100th production last summer. Shannon loves all things dance and theatre and is so thankful for the chance to work with all the amazing kids and staff at Clubhouse Academy. Some favorite past projects include Spongebob the Musical, Alice by Heart, Moana Jr and Matilda Jr. Shannon can’t wait for another year of theatre and dance with the wonderful Clubhouse family!!
TRINITY CANGA
Trinity began dancing at the age of 3, training in Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical, and Musical Theatre. Throughout the years, she danced competitively and recreationally. In 2018, she was accepted into Oakland School for the Arts’ rigorous training program where she studied concert dance styles under Reginald Ray-Savage and Alison Hurley. It was there that Trinity learned of her affinity for Modern dance. She graduated from OSA in 2021 and began studying Dance at California State Long Beach. Trinity will be graduating in 2024 with her BA in Dance. Prior to joining ClubHouse Academy, she has taught Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Turns and Leaps, Conditioning for Dancers, and Improvisation at various studios. Trinity is excited to share her passion and knowledge for dance with her future students while creating a space that is safe for students to explore the art of dance.