Lisa Kimsey  808-735-8641 Executive Director   Little Angels, Angels, Tap and Ruby GEMS Lisa Kimsey, Founder and Executive Director, studied dance in the islands as a child and taught in Los Angeles and Wisconsin prior to returning home to Hawaii where she has performed with the Dances We Dance Company and Diamond Head Theatre. She recently completed Dance Educator's of America three year teacher training program and the Hawaii Community Foundation’s PONO program for Executive Directors.

Becky Helfert Wedll  808-735-8641 Teacher   Ballet and Tap Becky Helfert Wedll was born and raised in East Helena, Montana where she began her dance training at the age of seventeen.  After high school, Becky studied both modern dance and ballet at the University of Montana, where she earned BFA degrees  in both Choreography & Performance and Studio Teaching and was the recipient of the U of M Excellence in Dance Award.  An avid performer, Becky has been featured in works by Lotte Gosslar, Shapiro and Smith, and Florin Ferieu.  She is currently a third year MFA candidate in the dance program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and loves the warm, inviting atmosphere The Movement Center provides to both its faculty and students.

Carolyn Wilt  808-735-8641 Teacher   Ballet Carolyn Wilt started her ballet training at the Londonderry Dance Academy (LDA), directed by Barbara Mullen, at age five. Under Ms. Mullen, Carolyn has danced in New York City and London; attended the Yorkshire Ballet Seminar; and passed her Royal Academy of Dance Children’s and Major examinations. A current junior at University of Hawaii, she has performed in pieces choreographed by students, faculty, and guest artists. She has also performed with local companies, including Hawaii Opera Theater, Ballet Hawaii, and Honolulu Dance Theater. This summer, she is planning to attend the Prague International Ballet Intensive on a scholarship from the University of Hawaii. She delights in teaching and being an active part of The Movement Center’s ballet education program. Helping her students grow and develop their artistry truly is a wonderful experience.

Mayuko Ayabe  808-735-8641 Dance Teacher   Ballet Mayuko Ayabe was born and raised in Japan. She moved to Hawaii in 2005 to earn her BFA degree in Dance from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Mayuko is a company member of Tau Dance Theater since 2006 and has performed with Convergence Dance Theatre, Honolulu Dance Theatre, and Onium Ballet Project. In 2006, she attended American Dance Festival and got opportunity to work with Berry & Nance Dance Project, Keigwin + Company, Paul Taylor, and Ting-Ting Chang. In 2007, she was selected to take part in a student exchange with the London Contemporary Dance School.   Dance has always been a part of Mayuko’s life and she feels blessed to be a part of TMC.

Julie Okumura  808-735-8641 Director of Performances   Song and Dance, Musical Theatre, Mommy & Me, Vocal Performance, Sapphire Gems Julie attended and trained at the University of California, Irvine and has performed in many musical productions both in Hawaii and California.  She has worked at the Movement Center for eight years teaching and directing musical theatre.  She has also performed with Ohia Productions and toured many local schools with their Educational Road Shows.  She was last seen on stage in Ala Moana's Christmas Gift of Aloha by Ohia Productions.  She currently runs a performing arts group at Calvary By the Sea Lutheran Church and sings weekly on a local dinner cruise line.  She loves TMC because we not only teach our students how to dance, sing and act but we also work on creating good people.  We have created a loving and caring environment which anyone, no matter what challenges they have, can enjoy learning about the performing arts.

Nicole Young  808-735-8641 Teacher   Jazz, Tumbling, Little Angels, Angels, Cheer, Fitness and Emerald GEMS Nicole Young earned a BFA in dance and a BA in psychology from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.  She currently performs with Iona Contemporary Dance Theater, Samadhi Hawai'i, Upside-Down Dance, and on the Navatek.  Her other interests include watercolor painting and writing plays for The Movement Center.  Nicole's classes at TMC include jazz, tumbling, cheerleading, Little Angels, Angels, and GEMS.  "I am grateful to be a part of the TMC family.  I also love the teaching assistant program because students become role models for the next generation."

Chansri A. Green  808-735-8641 Director of Classical Ballet Program   Ballet, Little Angels and Angels Chansri A. Green was born and raised in the corn fields of central Illinois. Her passion for dance and performing was sparked in the living room of her home for anyone who would attend the shows, saying always to her parents… “I am going to grow up to be a dancer!” And so she did. She studied at the Joffrey Ballet School, the Harid Conservatory, and the Juilliard School.  She received her BFA in Dance, concentration in education, from Columbia College Chicago in 2003.  In 2004, she moved to Hawaii to further pursue her education and attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa on fellowship.  In 2007, she received a MFA in Dance, concentrations in education & performance / choreography.  During the past four years she has taught dance at the University of Hawaii, Kapiolani Community College, Punahou Dance School, and joined the Movement Center Teaching Staff in 2005.  In January of 2008, she accepted the position of Director for the TMC Ballet Program and looks forward to seeing the ballet program grow and blossom.  She is passionate about sharing her love and knowledge of ballet to the students she feels so fortunate to teach, whether young or old.  She believes everyone should have dance in their life because it is such a wonderful joy to experience.  TMC has been one of the greatest experiences in her life and she is thankful to be part of such an incredible place full of love for art and children.

Rebecca Miante  808-735-8641 Teacher   Ballet, Pilates Rebecca Miante began studying ballet, pointe, lyrical, and modern dance in Annapolis, Maryland.  Miss Miante holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education with a Psychology minor and Pilates Mat Certification from Shenandoah University.  A scholarship student, Miss Miante participated in numerous performances, productions, and educational outreach tours.  Off stage, Miss Miante is involved in costume construction, stage management, and rehearsal direction.  She volunteers for the Red Cross and teaches community CPR classes.  October 2007, Miss Miante joined the friendly staff at The Movement Center and sharing her passion for Pilates to students at TMC.

Jonathan Sypert  808-735-8641 Teacher   Street Dance   Jonathan Clarke Sypert AKA iNTREPiD has sampled and dabbled in dancing, acting, performance poetry, and MCing.  He has been blessed to have acted as company actor for Honolulu Theatre for Youth, choreographed Grammy Nominated Henry Kapono's Wild Hawaiian Groovement Tour, danced for Tau Dance Theatre's Hanau Ka Moku and Naupaka as part of the original cast, and competed with Hawaii's first ever slam poetry team HawaiiSlam.  One of his current joys is sharing his passion for performance with the children of The Movement Center.

Rosalynn Cambe  808-735-8641 Teacher   Street Dance and Hip Hop Rosalynn is a former student at The Movement Center.  Although she has taken a variety of dance genres, she loves dancing and teaching hip hop and street dance.  Her dance experience extends out to the Bay Area in California where she also taught and participated in hip hop classes.  Rosalynn says she loves being a part of The Movement Center because of the positive, non-competitive environment that the faculty, students, and parents display.

Shinogu Sato  808-735-8641 Teacher   Tumbling, Rhythmic Gymnastics,Little Angels,Angels As a gymnast, Shinogu Sato was state junior champion and participated in the Japanese national competition until 1981. She graduated from a Tokyo women's junior college of physical education. After graduation she coached Gymnastics and Rhythmic Gymnastics in Japan.  Now she enjoys teaching Angels, Little Angels, Tumbling and Rhythmic Gymnastics classes at TMC.

Laurie Jamieson-Mead  808-735-8641 Teacher   Tap, Ballet & Jazz Throughout the last twenty-five years I have been involved in different types of dance.  The focus of my dedication to dance has been to improve my technique and knowledge of dance.  I feel I have gained a deep fulfillment as well as a strong desire to excel and pass on the joy of dance to others.  I accomplished an intense teachers program with the British Association of Teachers of Dancing in 1999 and graduated with a diploma in Modern Jazz and Stage.  Since then I have furthered my education with a diploma in Freestyle and currently preparing for my Membership level with the B.A.T.D in the spring of 2009.  Through the years I have enjoyed performing in outside of studio events.  It has been a wonderful experience to take all that I've learned and share it with other dancers and audiences.  Some of the performing experiences that I have had include: Four years with The Canadian Cancer Society benefit showcase, several of Toronto's parades.  Modeling for Linda Lundstrom, Raisins swim wear, Garbo's and Modrobes clothing.  Hair shows for Big Sexy hair, AG and L'Oreal in Toronto and Montreal Ontario.  Danced with the Toronto Rockettes for the Toronto Rock (NLL) in front of audiences of 18,000 and more.  We traveled in Canada and the USA, with appearances on the Red Green show, Much Music and other local television and radio stations.  I moved from Canada to the U.S. five years ago and have been working with dance studios across the U.S. and Canada teaching and choreographing for recreational and competitive programs.    My goal is to be constant in improving all aspects of my profession.  Beyond that, I strive to immerse myself in whenever I dance or teach.  I am thrilled to be a part of The Movement Center faculty and I look forward to getting to know all of the students and families, as well as sharing my dance experience and creating new memories.

Sara Robertson  808-735-8641 Teacher   Performing Arts Experience Sara Robertson received her BA degree in Theatre Arts from Texas A&M University and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Trained in tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, and musical theatre since age 5, Sara is a former company member of Dance Theatre of Arlington and has performed in various shows such as Li'l Abner, The Man of La Mancha, All in the Timing, The Great Celestial Cow, and made an appearance on the tv show, Lost. She has choreographed and directed in Texas, Hawai'i, and China where she also taught drama at the Shanghai Children’s Discovery Museum.  Sara LOVES teaching at TMC because "the students are FAB! Class time is when everyone can shed their outer skins, be their crazy, goofy, diva selves, and PERFORM!"

	Colleen Lum  808-735-8641 Office Administrator   Administration Colleen Lum, another supportive mom turned staff, has been TMC’s amazing office administrator for 6 years.  Colleen can answer your questions about classes, help you fit dance shoes, console wounded souls and sell you a snack – all with a smile and a hug!

Kelly Bright  808-735-8641 Costumes Director   Song & Dance and Fitness Kelly Bright started her TMC career as supportive mom of Alika Bright.  She has taught Song and Dance, Fitness and Little Angels and currently serves as TMC’s costume designer.  Her creative designs and great organizational skills make her a wonderful costume mistress!