Soma Pasadena Staff

 

Thalia Thomas

Artistic Director

 

Born and raised in Sydney Australia, Thalia began teaching dance at the age of 14 and later choreographing for Australia’s ABC children’s television network. Thalia performed nationally throughout her teenage years, earning dance roles in Sydney’s production of “42nd St” and “Aida”. Whilst teaching dance at her Performing Arts High School, she began a teaching apprenticeship program in The Pilates Method at the age of 16 making her the youngest Pilates teacher in the country.

 

Thalia moved to America to attend California State University, Long Beach achieving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and certification in The Pilates Method and Massage Therapy. During her years in college, Thalia was selected to perform for choreographers of the Limon Dance Company, Merce Cunningham Company and Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. In her senior year, she was commissioned to set up and direct Pilates programs in three major chiropractic office in Orange County and taught Pilates at Orange Coast College, Long Beach City College and Golden West College. Upon graduating college in 1996, she moved to Los Angeles and acquired yet another Pilates certification from Romana Kryanowska (one of Joseph Pilates students). For the next nine years she directed numerous Pilates programs in Los Angeles and later became an examiner for the official New York Pilates certification course.

 

Thalia has taught Pilates programs to the cast of “The Lion King”, “River Dance”, “Hubbard Street Dance” and "Wicked" gaining the title as the number one source of injury prevention for dancers on Broadway. She has taught Pilates courses at UCLA and Physical Therapy Departments across Los Angeles. Academy Award and Grammy Award winning professional actors and singers have called upon her expertise. Recently, Thalia was commissioned to train the Physical Therapists of Cedar Sinai and USC on dance injuries for their dance medicine program. Also, Thalia taught Pilates to US Olympic teams, and professional NFL and NBA athletes.

 

Thalia owns and has operated Studio Soma in West Hollywood for 10 years. She also directs the upper core dance program at The Walden School in Pasadena CA and is developing a pediatric Pilates program, which will be implement in schools across the country. Thalia has been featured in many publications including Self, People, 944 Magazine, Genlux magazine.

 

 

 

Hollywood Hotshots

 

The Hollywood Hotshots is LA’s premier performance company, specializing in preservation and education of Historical and Contemporary Urban American Street Dance. The company has performed at dance camps and special events all over the world. They are considered one of the leading pioneers in bringing authentic vernacular jazz dance into the mainstream. The Company's goal is to recreate the mood and spirit of the bygone era and retaining its authenticity through fashion, etiquette and dance. They also create a fusion style by combining Ballroom, Salsa, Tango, Afro Cuban, Commercial, Jazz and Hip Hop. The Hollywood Hotshots have made an impact in music videos, commercials, print, television and film.

 

Accomplishments include choreographing and performing for the opening ceremony of the 2014 tournament of Rose Parade, being featured on Disney "Shake It Up", ABC's "Dancing With The Stars", FOX's" So You Think You Can Dance", the Musical Film "Today's The Day" and "School Dance", Hollywood Bowl", Brian Setzer in Concert", Season 2 "LXD", G.I.JOE ,Tosh.O and 2012 Superbowl commercials, Budweiser, Samsung and Honda. They have been working with artists such as Katy Perry, Alica Keys, Gloria Estefan, Jonas Brothers, Plain White T's, Matthew Morrison just to name a few. Let them share their passion and they will take you on an adventures journey.

 

 

 

Minn Vo

Dancer/ Choreographer

 

Minn Vo is LA's premier dance competitor and one of the most versatile performers today. He has made his mark in television, commercials, film, and music videos. Inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame in 2004, Minn covers all areas of Vernacular Jazz Dance. Styles covered are Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Air Steps, Collegiate Shag, among others. Minn has an extensive influence on the contemporary movement of urban street dance. Since 1997 his competition background encompasses a long history of 1st place titles in the local, national, and world competition circuit including the American Lindy Hop Championships, National Jitterbug Championships, U.S Open Lindy Division, Harlem Jazz Festival, California Balboa-Swing Championships, 2008 North American Lindy Hop Championship, and the 2008 World Swing Dance Championships.

 

Accomplishments consist of "Dancing with the Stars" season five, performing for the 2012 "Guys Choice Awards", featured dancer on the television shows "Doctors" and "The LXD". Also a featured dancer for the Jonas Brothers music video "Love Bug", choreographer and dancer for Katie Perry's music video "Thinking of You" and Gloria Estefan "Hotel Nacional, choreographer and lead dancer for feature film "G.I. Joe", dancer in the film "Today's The Day", assist choreographer and dancer on 'Shake It Up'.  Minn is the founder of The Hollywood Hot Shots dance team, who specializes in the preservation and education of both Historical and Contemporary Urban American Street Dance. The Hollywood Hotshots was the big opening number for the 125th Tournament of Roses in Pasadena.

 

 

 

Stefanie Klausmann

Dancer/Choreographer

 

Stefanie Klausmann is a talented dancer from Germany who is ready to share her passion for music and dance and everything that comes with it. After relocated from Europe only four years ago, she successfully made a transition to the US in film, television, and commercials. She has worked with artists such as The Backstreet Boys, 50 Cent, Kelly Clarkson, Daft Punk, Pharell Williams, Gloria Estefan, Cher Lloyd, Capital Cities, Marion Cottilard, Black Eyed Peas, Matthew Morrison and many more. She is a featured dancer in the musical film 'Today's The Day', and a series regular on 'Tosh.O' and 'The LXD'. She has appeared in many commercials including Dior, Nike, Heineken, Pepsi and Honda. Also, Stefanie was the assistant choreographer on 'Shake It Up'.

 

 

Her professional training in dance includes Hip Hop, House, Jazz, Funk, Contemporary, Ballet as well as Vernacular Jazz Dance areas such as Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Air Steps and Collegiate Shag.  She is the creative director and Co-founder of 'The Hollywood Hotshots' dance team, who are specialist in the preservation and education of both Historical and Contemporary Urban American Street Dance.  Her unique style has made her one of Hollywood’s go to professionals for performance and choreography. Stephanie's comprehensive skill set stems from her studies in Germany as a school teacher. Her tutelage was enjoyed by students ranging from ages 6 to 18, teaching subjects such as Physical Education, Home Economics, Musical Theatre and  Dance.

 

 

 

Marvin Tunney

Modern

 

Marvin was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He received his B.A. in English Literature from the University of Washington (Seattle) where he also studied Ethnomusicology, Ballet, Cunningham and the Joan Skinner “Releasing” Technique. He joined the Los Angeles Inner City Repertory Dance Company and performed the lead role of captain in Donald Mckayle’s “Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder”. He is a former member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in NYC. He is a member of the SAG-AFTRA for 33 years, and continues to have an extensive wealth of dance and theater experience from the concert stage to Broadway musical theater, nightclub acts, music videos, films and television. He was also the artistic collaborator and choreographer for the Princess Cruse Line’s production of “Mystique” on the maiden voyage of the Sun Princess.  Marvin received his MFA in Dance from the California Institute of the Arts, and is presently a member of the CalArts Theater School Faculty, teaching movement for actors. He continues to mentor throughout Southern California in the CalArts Youth Community Arts Partnership Programs and is an active resident choreographer for many Southern California community theaters.