Our Wonderful Teachers

 Melissa Bebee graduated from San Jose State University with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education.  She started her dance training at age 4. She studied jazz, ballet, and tap at Mission Dance for 5 years and then trained at Yoko's Dance for 5 years where she won numerous awards at competitions. She also taught jazz, combo, and pre-ballet classes. In 2000 she participated as an ambassador for the City of Fremont with their sister city in Japan, where she performed for the Governor and other dignitaries. Melissa is currently co-director of the Performing Company at Dance Attack!. In 2004, she worked with internationally known dancer, Christopher Morgan on choreography for the Performing Company. In December 2004 she co-choreographed the opening number for the San Jose Holiday Parade, which was broadcast on NBC in its entirety.  Melissa has started a full time position with ADP, but will continue to work with the Performing Company here at Dance Attack! 

Denise Boucher began dance training at the age of three and started teaching jazz as a student teacher when she was just in high school. Denise coached the Monta Vista Drill Team for four years, including the year they took first place at the USA Cal State and National Drill Team Competitions. Denise loves children and has three of her own-she is an involved, full-time Mom along with her two part-time jobs as a manager at Macy's and a teacher for Dance Attack!. She also coaches the Performing Company at Dance Attack! Sunnyvale.

Newton Cheng  has studied health and fitness since an early age, and is passionate about helping others to achieve their fitness goals.  He has worked as a personal fitness trainer for the past 4 years and is certified by the American Council on Exercise.  Newton has brought great success to a variety of clients ranging from CEO's, engineers, and teachers to dancers, martial artists, and competitive triathletes.  His specialties are weight loss, toning, functional training, postural correction and muscular imbalances, and injury prevention.   

Newton also holds a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, and is currently pursuing an MBA at UC Berkeley.

Vick Damone has been intrigued with Popping since he was 12 years old.  He trained with Harry The Frisco Popper from "Demons of the Mind", Playboy Brian of the "Playboys Inc.", and Tommy Boy of "Style Elements".  He enjoys all styles of Popping but will focus on teaching Bay Area styles.

Tina McLean graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in dance. She was one of Dance Attack!'s first students in Santa Clara and she went on to become a member of the Performing Company. She was in SJSU's University Dance Theater and has performed at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, the American College Dance Festival, and in several dance program concerts.  She was a member of Funkanometry for several years and is currently a member of Loose Change and intern at Push Dance Co.  She teaches combo, jazz, hip hop, ballet at Dance Attack!.

Catherine Pinto is a graduate of San Jose State University with a degree in Accounting. She began tap dancing with Dottie White in 1986. In 1990 she started dancing with Dance Attack! Mountain View founder Sioux Lehner and expanded her dance experience to include jazz, ballet, hip hop and being a member of the Mountain View Performing Company. This last year she joined the cast of the rap opera, Beat Box, for performances in Oakland and at the Hip Hop Theaterfest in NYC. She was instrumental in creating our tiny tots program and has choreographed several prize winning routines for our Performing Co. As co-director of our Performing Company, she and Lovetta  Downes won the Co. Dance "Educator Award". Our resident tap guru, she teaches tap and jazz, and designs costumes for the Performing Co.

Juliet Pinto has been dancing since she was 5 years old. She started tap dancing with Dottie White and went on from there when she met Sioux Lehner at Dance Attack!. She studied breakdancing and danced several years with the hip hop outreach group, Culture Shock S.F. In 2000, she was honored by LA Dance Magic as a "Magic Performer". She has appeared in several music videos including "Dimples" by John Lee Hooker, " Written on my Heart" by Plus One, "Block Party" for Lisa Lefteye Lopez, and "Tainted Love" for Marilyn Manson. She has appeared in commercials for American Express and Dr. Pepper (with Mark McGrath). She also appeared in the movie "Legally Blonde 2" as a cheer leader. Juliet teaches Jazz, Ballet, Funk Styles, Breakdancing, and Tap.

Keith Pinto graduated from the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts and has toured with Fame - The Musical throughout Europe, the United States, and Canada. He was a member of the Mountain View Dance Attack! Performing Company for several years and danced with a group of boys there that caused quite a stir wherever they performed. He currently lives in San Francisco where he is a musician and MC in the hip hop band Felonious, performing throughout California and appearing in an Arrowhead Water commercial.  The band has also performed at the Hip Hop Theater Festival in NYC.  Keith has appeared in a national television commercial for Saturn. He teaches hip hop in Marin, Livermore, at San Jose State University, Ohlone College and here at Dance Attack!

 

Guest Teachers

These talented teachers/choreographers regularly contribute master classes and/or choreography to our Performing Company.