Co Dance

The first weekend of November we spent up in Denver with our dance family for the first convention of the year. The girls team wasn't going to this convention but to get ready for their big week convention at Dance Excellence we signed them up to attend with the older teams.  Because this was the first time that the girls danced up with the older girls, they were a little shy and intimidated by the first couple of classes but by the afternoon and the next day they were doing such a great job keeping up and putting themselves out there.  They were so excited to be working with such great dancers!

Greg Russell

Gregg is an Emmy Nominated Choreographer and has worked with such stars as:  Bette Midler, Gene Kelly, The Nicholas Brothers, Michael Jackson, Gregory Hines, John Lithgow, Kenny Ortega, Savion Glover

You may have seen him on television in “Even Stevens”, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “The Tonight Show”, in the GAP national commercials or his choreography on the hit soap opera "Bold and the Beautiful".  Gregg was also featured on the cover of Dance Teacher Magazine as an entrepreneur who directs his own tap company titled “Tap Sounds Underground” and directs the corporation 3D Dance Network, Inc.  Currently, he is developing and directing a reunion "Tapsounds Underground" show in May 2011 to celebrate 12 years of entertaining.

He directed a commercial for Carvel Ice Cream and has also performed with numerous musical artists such as Reba McEntire, Smashmouth, Sugar Ray, Jason Mraz, The B-52's, Toni Basil, Alanis Morrisette, and Mandy Patinkin.
Gregg’s latest projects include dancing in an upcoming Volkswagen national commercial, performing in the Jerry Lewis Telethon and Dance Halloween charity event hosted by Jamie Lee Curtis.  He is hosting and producing “Tap into the Network” intensives which will have him traveling to 4-6 different cities throughout the country in the summer of 2011 (www.tapintothenetwork.com).

Lauren Gottlieb

Lauren Gottlieb is multi-faceted performer on the rise!  This dancer, actress, choreographer, and entrepreneur came in third on Season 3 of the hit show “So You Think You Can Dance” and returned to do the choreography round for Season 5’s auditions.

Lauren’s most recent credits include 4 episodes on ABC’s smash hit “Glee” and a return to season 7 of “So You Think You Can Dance” as one of the first ever All-Star dancers.  Lauren also co-starred in an episode of “The Ghost Whisperer” starring Jennifer Love Hewitt and can be seen in the feature films: Bring It On:  Fight to the Finish , Disaster Movie , The Hannah Montana Movie

Her commercial campaigns include works with Subway, Old Navy, AT&T, and a promo for FX’s television show “Nip/Tuck” choreographed by Marguerite Derricks.  Lauren has also danced in industrials for Nike, Macy’s and Macy’s Passport and can be seen in the SYTYCD Workout DVD.

Lauren has graced many stages alongside musical artists including Mariah Carey, while promoting her new album E=MC2,  Shakira on the Grammy Awards, a tribute to Paula Abdul, Carrie Underwood’ Christmas Special, Sean Kingston, Laura Bell Bundy, and Raphael Saadiq.

Gina Starbuck

Gina Starbuck, a native of Fresno, California, is turning heads everywhere she goes. This triple threat starred in the LA Company of the Broadway hit Wicked, as the Witch’s Mother. She has worked with artists such as Prince, Adam Lambert, Lindsay Lohan, Gavin Degraw, Gene Simmons, Josh Kelly, and many more. Most recently, she was a contributing choreographer for a live performance by Patti Labelle, featuring about 300 top dancers of all ages form across the country.

She has received endless awards and recognition for her work as a dancer/choreographer and has had features in publications such as Gendance, Backstage Arts, and SYTYCDISM. Adding to her artistic abilities, Starbuck’s unique sense of style earned her a full page spread in one of Japan’s most prestigious fashion magazines, Woofin’ Girl.

While still in her teens, Gina traveled and performed with contemporary dance company, MKF Altered Modalities, winners of the 2000 Jazz World Congress. She also was awarded Freshman of the Year in Dance at Chapman University and was the only freshman selected to represent Chapman’s Dance department at a festival held at the Kennedy Center.

Since coming onto the scene in Los Angeles Gina has appeared in a variety of television shows , films, and commercials. Starbuck’s credits include, Bring It On 3 & 5 , "Passions" , "Young & the Restless" , "America’s Got Talent" , AXE , Visa for which she worked with Emmy Award winning Choreographer, Mia Michaels.

She’s on faculty at many prestigious dance studios and conventions including the Edge Performing Arts Center, Millennium Dance Complex, Co. Dance, MUSE Dance Company, Intrigue Dance Intensive and more. She’s also a featured choreographer at the Pulse.  Starbuck has assisted many top choreographers, including Blake McGrath, Bobby Newberry, Andre Fuentes, and Brian Friedman.

Gina will be working with Brian this summer as an Associate Choreographer on America’s Got Talent. She will also be appearing in the new CMT show, “Your Chance to Dance,” as an Associate Choreographer.  In 2007, Gina created and founded Art4life, which is now an annual event involving numerous artists in support of the American Cancer Society and in honor of her father.  Gina’s passion and individuality will continue to shine as she takes on every new venture and inspires many!

Tucker Barkley

Tucker Barkley is known as one of the hottest dancers and up & coming choreographers in today’s dance world. Tucker moved to Los Angeles, from Texas, in 2005 at the age of 15 to pursue his dance and choreography career. Tucker has been told he is one of the most versatile dancers out there, from being technically trained in jazz, ballet, tap, and every style of hip hop, and even some breakin’ and gymnastics thrown in.

Since moving to LA, Tucker has danced in more than 22 music videos and has worked with such artists as Britney Spears , Janet Jackson , Miley Cyrus, Jason Derulo , Adam Lambert , AVA , Sean Kingston , Cheetah Girls , Omarion , Dierks Bentley , Sean Paul with Keyshia Cole , Disney’s Corbin Bleu

Tucker has also done numerous commercials and TV projects for McDonalds, Big Lots, DirecTV, Shoe Carnival and TV shows that include: “Dancing with the Stars” dancing with Choreographer Wade Robson, American Idol , Travis Payne's tribute to Michael Jackson on “Dancing with the Stars” , CBS “Cold Case”, CMT Awards, “TRL”, American Music Awards , MTV JLO’s “Dancelife” , ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Show

In addition, Tuckers has been in 9 feature films including “Dance Flick”, “Hannah Montana the Movie”, “Disaster Movie”, "Walk Hard", and "Alvin and the Chipmunks”.

Tucker is an MTV Music Video Award winning choreographer, winning at the Australian MTV VMA Awards Best Choreography for Britney Spears “Circus” Video that Tucker Co-Choreographed with Andre Fuentes. He also choreographed MTV’s Pilot “Dance or Drop”. 

Tucker teaches at the Millennium Dance Complex and the Edge.  He is sought after to teach master classes all over the world including Australia, Poland, New Zealand, Canada, and Guam.

Barry Youngblood

Known for his original hip-hop choreography and music mixes, Barry has worked with numerous musical artists such as: Jordan Knight, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Brian McKnight, Jennifer Lopez, Busta Rhymes , P. Diddy, Plus One

He just recently choreographed a new music video for “Oh No!” by Marina & The Diamonds in addition to music videos for such artists as Rachael Lampa, Brian McKnight and Nelly and Industrials for Sega Dreamcast, Nike, Reebok, Namco, Skechers, and Cadillac.

Barry’s numerous television credits include: The Ellen Show, MTV Video Music Awards, VH1 Awards, Miss America Pageant with Donny Osmond, The Today Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, The Young and the Restless, J.Lo NBC Special, The Soul Train Music Awards

He also performed for the Queen of England and with Kid Rock, Ja Rule and Jennifer Lopez for the USO Show in Ramkin, Germany for the troops.

Barry was a featured dancer in the movie Bringing Down the House with Steve Martin and Queen Latifah

Judy Rice

Judy is a graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School and has danced with the prestigious Joffrey Ballet.  As a member of the American Ballet Comedy, she toured extensively throughout Europe, Canada and the United States.

She has 20 years experience teaching for regional companies and festivals as well as Co. Dance, DMA, DEA, CNADM, 3D Dance Network, The Joffrey Ballet School, The Joffrey Ballet, Broadway Dance Center and the Dance Teacher Magazine Summer Conference. Judy has been a judge for ADA and is on the faculty for Dance Masters Teacher Training School and CNADM training school. She is also a contributing writer to GOLDRUSH magazine and  featured on the all new website, www.dancevideo.com, published by Dance, Dance Teacher and Dance Spirit Magazines.

Since 1990 she has been an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan.  Last winter, Judy Rice had the opportunity to assist former Paul Taylor Principal, Ruth Andrian, in re-staging Mr. Taylor’s Sacre du Printemps (The Rehearsal).  Upon her departure Judy will be the primary rehearsal director.  This is an incredible distinction as no one outside of the Paul Taylor Dance Company has ever been granted this honor.  In addition, the University of Michigan students who perform the work this Fall, will be on a double bill with the Paul Taylor Dance Company, which is also a first.

Judy is the Vice-President of Behind Barres, a CD series designed to accompany ballet class, whose music was featured on ABC’s hit TV show “Lost.”  To date they have produced 11 albums of ballet class music and have released three instructional DVD's.  Her television credits include “Fame”,  “The Tonight Show” starring Johnny Carson , and “All My Children.”