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OUR TEAM
Jennine Dunne
Co-Owner, Studio Director
Jennine is Part Owner and Studio Director here at Flex Performing Arts. She was born and raised in Los Angeles County and moved to the Central Coast after completing college. She holds a degree in Business Management from Woodbury University in Burbank, CA and CA Real Estate License. She began taking ballet at 3 years old and at 6 began cheerleading. She continued to study ballet, jazz, hip-hop and cheer until 18 years old, including being a part of a modern dance conservatory group and dance/cheer squad in high school. She took acting lessons in Beverly Hills and has worked for a casting director in Hollywood. She also has an extensive background in sales, customer service, and marketing. She is now an active local Realtor on the Central Coast where she assists people with one of the most important assets of their lives. She has a daughter who has been dancing since she was 18 months old and is now eleven. They both have a love and passion for the dance and performing arts industry. Jennine has lived here for over 20 years and has deep ties in our local community and looks forward to having her students call “Flex” their home.
She and her husband, Curtis who is FLEX's CFO, live in Arroyo Grande with their two children, Marcus and Jade, and their two dogs and bunny.
Brianna Deveraux-Allen
Co-Owner, Artistic Director
From California’s Central Coast, Brianna began her dance education at age 4. She is formally trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, theatrical and contemporary dance styles. In her youth she was very active in the performance and competition company at Adkin’s Dance Center. Her love of dance has taken her to Southern California, New York and London. And she has had the privilege to work with and learn from such greats as Debbie Allen, Mia Michaels, Anthony Morigerato, Al Blackstone, Mike Minery and many others. She learned early on that she had a passion for teaching and sharing her love of dance. She has 15 years of experience in dance education and is thrilled to begin her career as a studio owner.
Her choreographic credits include several of the Allan Hancock College biannual dance concerts (Dimensions in Dance and Dance Spectrum), Coastal Chamber Youth Ballet’s annual production of Babes in Toyland. She served as Performance Troupe Director for the Dance Out Loud program at Coastal Dance and Music Academy. She is the Resident Choreographer for Coastal Performing Arts Foundation and Coastal Youth Theater. For them she has choreographed several shows, including Aladdin, Hairspray, Shrek, West Side Story, Footloose, Thoroughly Modern Millie and more.
She and her husband, Auston, live in Arroyo Grande with their two children, Afton and Viala, and their German Shepherd mix, Edison.
Michelle McDonald
Administrative Assistant
Michelle was born and raised here on the Central Coast but ventured off to attend The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in both San Diego and Los Angeles where she earned her Associate of Arts degree in Merchandise Marketing. After getting married, she was thrilled to return to the Central Coast to raise a family. She currently lives in Grover Beach with her husband, Dennis and daughters Olivia and Penelope. Michelle loves working at Flex Performing Arts because it allows her to stay connected with her daughters by being involved in their theater and dance lives. She is currently the administrative assistant at Flex. When she’s not at the studio she loves to travel, spend time with family and hang out with her three cats - Cleo, Giuseppe and Frankie. And she loves to tap!
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Auston Allen, Director of Customer Service & Marketing; Brianna Deveraux-Allen, Artistic Director; Jennine Dunne, Studio Director; Curtis Dunne, CFO
Meet the Staff
Ben Reyes
Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop Teacher
Ben Reyes has been involved in dance at Allan Hancock College since 1983, first as a student and dancer, and later as a choreographer and teacher. He has participated in Dance Ensemble since its beginnings, performed and choreographed for numerous dance concerts, and taught for the Allan Hancock College Youth Dance Company in the College for Kids program. He co-directed the Youth Dance Company’s Magical Moments series in May 2003 and has been a guest choreographer and dancer for Cal Poly's Orchesis dance productions since 1995. He taught jazz, hip hop, and men's jazz at A Class Act dance studio in Paso Robles, Coastal Dance and Music Academy boys ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, and partnering, and the Studio of Performing Arts in Grover Beach he taught tumbling, hip hop, jazz, and tap. He has been the guest choreographer at Fusion Dance Project, in Hayward, CA. since 2010. Ben has worked with Adam Parsons, Jonathan Platero, Doriana Sanchez, Melinda Sullivan and Suzy Miller. He is also the Production Advisor for Jesus Solorio’s, SOL Innovations, the advisor of New Age Dance dance club on the Hancock campus.
Bridget Huffer
Teacher
Born and raised in Santa Maria, CA, Bridget Huffer has had a passion for dance, and especially ballet, ever since she began dancing at the age of 4. Starting with the City of Santa Maria and then moving over to dance with Allan Hancock College’s College for Kids Youth Dance Program, she trained in ballet, jazz, and pointe, danced in the advanced Youth Dance Company as an apprentice and principal dancer, and had lead roles in The Nutcracker and Magical Moments productions. She continued her training in college with Allan Hancock College’s adult dance program and started teaching ballet with Allan Hancock College’s College for Kids Youth Dance Program. A few years later, Miss Huffer transferred to California State University, Long Beach where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in dance in 2013. After college, she continued to dance and teach in Santa Maria with Allan Hancock College, in Grover Beach with Coastal Dance and Music Academy, and in Guadalupe with El Padrecito Performing Arts. Miss Huffer has also had the pleasure of working as a counselor for the American Ballet Theatre Orange County Summer Intensive sessions in Irvine, CA for 5 summers. She is trained in ballet, modern, jazz, pointe, ballet folklorico, and tap. Having worked with students ages 3 to 73, she loves seeing students find the joy and freedom that dance has to offer.
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Cynthia Valenzuela
Ballet Teacher
Cynthia Valenzuela received her early dance training with Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. Cynthia previously taught, choreographed and performed with Allan Hancock College's Dance Department and youth dance program, as well as Coastal Dance and Music Academy. Cynthia lives in Oceano with her husband and two children.
Eliana Nunley
Jazz, Hip Hop Teacher
Eliana Nunley is currently a voice teacher and student resident artist with Opera San Luis Obispo. She teaches jazz, hip-hop, and occasionally tap at different studios, and grew up dancing in her mom’s dance troupe (JPO), as well as at the Studio of Performing Arts, where she competed in their hip-hop “squad.” She has performed in multiple productions with Opera SLO, as well as ACT, and SLO Repertory staged readings. Favorite roles include “Mary” in Mary Poppins Jr (ACT), “Ursula” in the Little Mermaid Jr (ACT), “Mrs. Potts” in Beauty and the Beast (NHS), and “Cinderella” in Cinderella (AGHS). Outside of performing, she loves to spend time with her family and two dogs and watch scary movies.
Heather Muran
Combo Teacher
Heather Muran found her passion for dancing at That's Dancin' studio in Camarillo, CA at the age of 5. She was (and still is!) a triple threat with her dance repertoire including ballet, jazz, hip hop and tap. She joined That's Dancin' Company at age 8 and studied jazz and hip hop under Shelby Brown, a regular dancer for Michael Jackson. Heather also performed in community theater productions with the Conejo Players, Camarillo Airport and the Oxnard Civic Theaters. In high school, Heather performed as a cheerleader and sang in her school's jazz ensemble.
Heather recently rekindled her love for dance after a 20+ year hiatus through watching her daughter, Clare, perform at CDMA and Flex Performing Arts Studios. She enrolled in adult ballet, jazz and tap classes at Flex in the fall of 2021 and performed in the Unstoppable Recital with Flex!
Heather works for a regional economic development group (REACH) and donates her time to supporting nonprofit organizations, including being a Camp Fire leader, and has organized multiple talent shows at both Ocean View and Shell Beach Elementary schools.
In her own words: "I am looking forward to meeting and sharing the love of dance with my students! Dancing brings me so much joy in life, and I am thrilled to bring my personal dance experience to help others become life-long dancers."
Horacio Heredia
Modern Teacher
Horacio Heredia currently teaches dance at Allan Hancock College, in Santa Maria and at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He has been invited to work with local high school and multiple university folklórico groups. Heredia’s diverse choreography work has been presented at Allan Hancock’s Dance Department, Orchesis Dance Company, the American College Dance Festival’s Baja regional conference and the HH11 Dance Festival in Santa Barbara. He has performed with dance companies such as Variable Velocity Performance Group, Ballet Theater San Luis Obispo, Deyo Dances, and Civic Ballet San Luis Obispo.
Jadyn Trevino
Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Preschool Teacher
Jadyn Trevino started her dance training at the age of 4. She graduated from Allan Hancock College with her Associates Degree in Dance in 2020. She was a part of the LA Dance Magic senior company, and travelled to different places to assist their competition and convention. Jadyn has also won top awards for her dances at regional competitions. Now at the age of 20, she continues to train in all genres of dance, and has had the opportunity to teach dance at various places. She is always open to trying new things, and hopes to own a dance studio in the future.
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Kaz Pearson
Musical Theater Teacher
Karen Kahn Pearson, known to most as "Kaz", attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo starting as a voice major under the direction of Dr. Thomas Davies. She earned her degree in Liberal Arts with minors in Music and English. Kaz also trained as a dancer for over 20 years at The Academy of Dance under the direction of Lorilee Silvaggio. She performed for several years with The Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo and The San Luis Jazz Dancers. While teaching elementary school has been her main profession, her true passion lies in musical theater performance which she has been doing for the last 25 years. She has performed in theaters all along the central coast of California and also spent a few years pursuing musical theater in New York City. In addition to being a school teacher, Kaz teaches dance, voice, musical theater, and even restorative yoga to children and adults of all ages. She also serves on the board of directors for Coastal Performing Arts Foundation and is one of the directors for their Coastal Youth Theater program.
Kimberly Eaton
Ballet Teacher
Kimberly fell in love with dance when, as a pre schooler, she sat through 4 acts of the Swan Lake then announced to her parents that she wanted to be a Ballerina. She has been involved in the dance community throughout Santa Barbara and SLO counties ever since.
As an adult, she has performed with Santa Barbara Ballet Theatre, Valerie Huston Dance Theatre, Allan Hancock College Dance Department, Variable Velocity Performance Group, Gilbert Reed Ballet, and several individual studios. Kim has taught ballet, pointe and modern for decades at Adkins Dance Center, and in the past she has taught for VAFB youth center, Allan Hancock youth dance department and Central Coast School of Dance. She has choreographed for many productions for all ages and technical levels of dancers.
Kea Dance is Kim’s home business where she has designed and made costumes, dance wear, clothing and accessories for years. She resides in Arroyo Grande, where she is surrounded by her dogs, cats, tortoises, turtles, fish and several sewing machines.
Lizann Burch
Ballet/Tap Combo Teacher
Miss Lizann comes to Flex Performing Arts, with 35+ years of teaching experience, ranging from pre-school, Beginners (3 years) to advanced, in ballet, tap and jazz. Although now, she is partial to the little ones. With a strong emphasis on “perfect placement” and precise technique, she gives her dancers important tools to execute all elements involved in becoming an accomplished dancer. With a major in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Fine Arts, she has choreographed Jr. Miss Pageants and a musical production of “Godspell”. While teaching ballet, tap and jazz at VAFB for many years, she was instrumental in staging and choreographing numerous productions, including “Mary Poppins”, “Cinderella”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Wizard of Oz”, and “Babes in Toyland”. Lizann has readied girls with the Long Beach Baton Twirling Academy for national competition at Notre Dame. She has taught dance technique and ballet at AGA (American Gymnastics Academy) in Long Beach, New Hope Gymnastics in Fountain Valley, Santa Maria YMCA Gymnastics, the former Dreams and Paradise Gymnastics in Nipomo and Performance Gymnastics in SLO. She also began the dance program for Long Beach Parks and Recreation at Silverado Park.
Lizann’s dance training began at the age of 5 with Majorie Hall, Ann Smithberg and Cheryl Utsuniamyia, all in Santa Maria: Paula Morgan in Lynwood, CA: and Francisco Martinez of the Long Beach Dance Academy. She has performed in uncountable dance recitals and with the Allan Hancock Dance Department. “Teaching is my passion and with patience and guidance, I try to give my students the knowledge and tools to succeed- not only in dance but in everyday life”.
Meghan Betts
Ballet Teacher
Meghan was born and raised here on the central coast and has danced all her life. She is trained in classical ballet but enjoys all forms of dance. Meghan trained as a child through her teen years at the Classical School of Ballet in Lompoc, CA and then went on to dance at Allan Hancock College and Sacramento State University. She earned her BA in child development with an emphasis in early childhood education from CSUS. Meghan taught at CDMA for 6 years and enjoyed every minute of it! She is excited to be part of the FLEX family.
Michael Vargas
Hip-Hop Teacher
Michael has been a professional dancer for over 13 years in Los Angeles. He has been an instructor at Millenium Dance Complex and Debbie Reynolds Dance studio for many years. He has worked with artists such as Missy Elliott, Fergie, Omarion, Justin Bieber, Jacob Latimore and many others. He started out as a B-Boy and moved into hip hop and jazz funk. He also transitioned into Production in 2013 and has been Stage Manager and Show Caller for Justin Bieber Believe World Tour, Chris Brown Between the Sheets and One Hell of a Night Tour, Paula Abdul , Beyonce Formation World Tour, On the Run ll World Tour, and Kanye West Listening Party Chicago Show.
Natalia Noriega
Acting Teacher
Natalia graduated from PCPA in 1996 and has a BA in Theatre from Cal Poly. She is an award winning actress from the film "Trusting Chloe."
“Acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances.”
-Sanford Meisner
To act is to study human behavior. My mission is to teach children the fundamental tools of innovation, memorization, improv, team work, salesmanship, communication, public speaking and projection while observing and understanding the depths of human behavior.
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Odessa Laurie
Preschool Dance, Jazz, Contemporary Teacher
Odessa started dancing when she was 10 at Coastal Dance and Music Academy under the instruction of Brianna Deveraux, among others. Since then, Odessa has been in countless performances onstage as well at urban street venues. She currently trains at SLO Movement Arts Center in the conservatory program focusing on ballet, modern, and contemporary, but she has a passion for all styles of dance, especially musical theater. Odessa is excited to be part of the Flex Family because she hopes to learn a lot along the way and get the chance to see young minds exploring their passions.
Sarah Vasquez
Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop Teacher
Dance has always been a huge part of Sarah's life. She began dancing 14 years ago at Coastal Dance & Music Academy where she trained in jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop and contemporary, but really fell in love with contemporary. While at CDMA she graduated from the dance teacher training program and has been teaching ever since. She was in performance troupes throughout elementary and high school, performing at venues around California. She was also a member of the Coastal Chamber Youth Ballet Company. She has a deep passion for this beautiful form of art, and enjoys every aspect of it. Sarah is beyond excited to be a part of the FLEX family and share the love of dance in the studio.
Stacy Millard
Jazz, Conditioning Teacher
Born and raised on the Central Coast, Stacy Millard has danced almost her entire life. Growing up, Stacy danced with the American Dance Company at the former Pat Jackson’s American Dance studio. Stacy spent years training, traveling, competing and auditioning. After college, Stacy returned to her hometown studio and began to teach dance and choreograph. In 2010, Stacy became co-owner and director of CORE Dance in San Luis Obispo. Stacy’s choreography has won her and her students multiple awards including Best Choreography & First Overall at both Regional & National dance competitions. Above all, Stacy thrives in the studio watching students have small victories & grow to become strong, confident dancers. Stacy’s favorite dance move is a head-roll (just ask her chiropractor)! Shine!
Teresa Gasca
Sing and Dance, Preschool Teacher
Teresa Gasca has been teaching dance to children for 25 years. Her dancers love the many props she uses to inspire dance, including scarves, instruments, a parachute and more. Through her classes children gain a lifelong love for movement and music.
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Zoey Sturgis
Tap, Front Desk Assistant
Zoey has been dancing for the past 14 years. While she has taken ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop classes, her true love is tap. She currently dances for both Flex and the Arroyo Grande High School Dance Company, where she has been lucky enough to choreograph multiple tap dances. She has worked at Flex for almost a year now and she is looking forward to helping students learn the joys of tap.
