Instructors

	John Malashock, Artistic Director, founded Malashock Dance in 1988 after a distinguished performing career with Twyla Tharp Dance in New York-where he was featured in numerous television specials, appeared in the Academy Award winning film, Amadeus, and toured worldwide. He has created over 60 original works for the Company and won four Emmy Awards for his dance films. John has served as a faculty member at the American Dance Festival; at CSU Longbeach; and has taught throughout Europe, Asia and Central America.
	Michael Mizerany, Associate Artistic Director, studied dance at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and then joined The Modern America Dance Company (MAD/CO) in 1986. After three seasons in St. Louis, MO with MADCO, Michael relocated to Los Angeles to join Loretta Livingston & Dancers and, in 1996, he joined the internationally renowned Bella Lewitzky Dance Company. Michael is the recipient of two Lester Horton Dance Awards for Performance (1995 & 1996). Currently, Michael is Associate Artistic Director for Malashock Dance.
	Molly Puryear, Education Director, received her BFA in Dance in 2003 after extensive training in ballet, modern, jazz, dance pedagogy, and kinesiology. She has enjoyed teaching ballet, modern, and contemporary for 9 years, and has been developing and teaching standards-based dance curriculum for Malashock Dance’s Outreach and Education Programs since 2006.
	Erica Buechner has been performing professionally in San Diego since 1999, most extensively with Mojalet Dance Collective. She has also performed for Patricia Sandback and Dancers, Joe Alter Dance Group and Malashock Dance. Erica graduated from SDSU with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and has taught throughout San Diego for over nine years.
	Katie Griffin has her BFA in Modern Dance from CSU Long Beach. She has worked extensively with many local dance companies including Butterworth Dance Company, Patricia Rincon Dance, and Malashock Dance Company and danced in the Carmen Opera in Rome, Italy in 2003. She currently performs and teaches throughout San Diego.
	Diana Nicastro has been teaching ballet in the San Diego area for over 20 years. Diana received her early training in Ballet and Modern Dance in New York. She continued formal ballet studies at the Harkness Ballet School, the Boston Conservatory of Music, and studied with Ruth Sandholm Ambrose of Boston Ballet. After college Diana continued her dance education at the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance. Diana has completed the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Teacher’s Course.
	Julianne O’Brien Pedersen is a Professor of Dance at Eastern Michigan University, a certified Movement Analyst, and a founding member and guest choreographer or the Peter Sparling Dance Company. She received her MFA from Ohio State University. Her modern classes promote moving efficiently with ease and clarity and incorporate Bartenieff Fundamentals, yoga and a deep knowledge of the Limon and Graham techniques.
	Marianne Olsson has been involved with dance and gymnastics since an early age and with fitness classes for 25 years. She started her career in Sweden and continued in the USA for the last 20 years. Marianne has worked for Tamily Webb here in San Diego (Buns and Abs of Steel video) and participated in her TV show. She competed both in Miss Fitness and Aerobic championships for 5 years and got to the National level several times. She has been teaching Pilate's for the last 7 years. Marianne is currently ace certified and works both as a instructor and personal trainer for 24-hour fitness.
	Jaami Waali, co-owner of Kruciaal Element Dance Troupe, has taught for over 11 years in Seattle, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Jaami has choreographed for upcoming performing artists, danced with elite hip hop troupes, worked in the commercial dance industry, holds Bachelors in Dance and Fine Art, and is currently pursuing her Masters of Arts in Dance.