Faculty

  • Braham Logan Crane is an award-winning choreographer on the world stage including setting works on dancers from American Ballet Theater, Bolshoi Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Bad Boys of Dance starring and directed by world renowned Rasta Thomas. He has collaborated and performed with recording artist and “Avenue Q” Broadway star, Angela Ai. Additionally, he choreographed and performed at the Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary as an opening act for The Killers. As a teaching professional, he has served as a guest artist on the faculty of many renowned dance schools including Virginia school of the arts, Koresh dance center, University of the Arts, The Relativity School, Broadway Dance Center, Peridance and Steps On Broadway. He is an inspirational teacher and entrepreneur. He has created ASH and brought together this phenomenal faculty to create the experience of a lifetime for the next generation of artists.

  • Lisette entered into her professional career straight out of highschool, and since been a dancer, choreographer, artistic director, songwriter, music video director and movement coach. She’s danced alongside superstars such as Ariana Grande, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson and Usher on stages all over the globe, and has choreographed for Pink, Prince, Britney Spears, Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez. She’s been featured in commercials for Gap, Pepsi, Pringles, iPod and Sprite, and has choreographed for film and television, with credits including supervising choreographer on America’s Best Dance Crew. d television, with credits including supervising choreographer on America’s Best Dance Crew. Lisette made her debut as a host and mentor to talent of all kinds on AMC’s Showville.  With over 15 years experience, her approach is to give people the permission to express themselves, find where their strengths are, and share those gifts with the world.

  • Alan was born and raised in Minnesota and began dancing at the age of seven training in contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, Bollywood and Broadway. His diverse dances led him to win Youth Championship and Under 21 National Titles. At the age of eighteen, he was a finalist in Season 10 of So You Think You Can Dance. Alan  toured through North America with So You Think You Can Dance, and Burn the Floor for their world tour. After touring he received a recurring role as part of the show choir, Vocal Adrenaline, on Glee. Alan has been on five seasons and toured with  ABC’s Dancing with the Stars as part of the professional troupe, allowing him to showcase his skills as a dancer and a choreographer.

  • Known as one of “Tap’s Leading Ladies”, co-director and producer of the critically acclaimed DC Tap Festival, and cover girl for Dance Spirit magazine’s Tap issue, Maud Arnold is a member of the female tap band, the Syncopated Ladies, widely known for viral videos that have accumulated over seventy million views. Syncopated Ladies won Season 11 of FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance: Dance Crew Battle.  Mentored and trained by Debbie Allen, Maud has taught at Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles. Maud’s Television Credits Include: Black Lady Sketch Show, BET Experience: 106 and Park, The Late Late Show With James Corden, HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, and Switched at Birth, Secret Talents of the Stars as a featured dancer with Mya, The Today Show. Maud can be seen in national commercials and print ads for Toyota, GAP and CANTU and has worked with Beyoncé on several commercials and music videos. Maud exudes her passion for tap dancing with her high energy, fun and action-packed dancing.

  • Hannah is a renowned choreographer based in New York City with additional bases in Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Los Angeles. She began her training at the age of ten, and has continued creating her own art since fifteen. As a commercial dancer and choreographer, her credits include Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Ricky Martin, Kimberly Cole, Herb Alpert, Beacon, T-Mobile, Sonos Speakers, Boost Mobile and Amazon, to highlight a few. In 2015 she founded her own training company The Westsiders, which has grown to weekend intensives throughout the country. During quarantine Hannah started a performance based company My Feelings; giving students the space and permission to explore their emotions and choices paired with support from Hannah and their virtual community. Hannah has been a member of the ASH faculty since (INSERT YEAR DATE), and is the the esteemed director of ASH theCompany.

  • Jim Nowakowski began his formal ballet training at the Timothy M. Draper Center for Dance  Education, Rochester NY. He joined the Rochester City Ballet as a company member in 2002.  While attending the International Youth America Grand Prix Competition Finals in NYC, he has  taken home the 2002 Junior Youth America Grand Prix Prize, the 2004 Junior Men’s Gold, and  the 2007 Senior Men’s Gold Award. Mr. Nowakowski was a finalist at youngARTS week and  was presented with the Gold Award in Dance from Mikhail Baryshnikov. He was a Presidential  Scholar of 2007 Nominee, Princess Grace Nominee 2011, as well as a Carnival Cruise Line  youngARTS Winner in Dance. He is a former Demi-Soloist with Houston Ballet and competed  on Fox’s ‘So You Think You Can Dance, placing Top 3 Stage Dancers, Top 6 overall. Mr. Nowakowski has danced in theaters all throughout the United States, as well as Canada, Ukraine,  Paris, Italy, Australia, and Spain. Mr. Nowakowski was named ‘25 To Watch’ for Dance  Magazine in 2015. He was a company member with BalletMet in Columbus OH from 2018  through 2022. Mr. Nowakowski has taught all over the nation a guest teacher and convention  teacher. He is currently a faculty member at The Rock Center for Dance in Las Vegas NV. He  has a passion for teaching and hopes to help inspire the next generation and guide them towards  their most successful careers. 

  • Sabrina Phillip is an innovative choreographer and teacher. Sabrina is originally from Canada and has extensive training in Ballet, Jazz and Modern dance and went on to work at the international level in London, England. Sabrina has performed with dance companies including Tessandra Chavez’ Unity Dance Ensemble. She appears in commercials for Dex, Hip Hop Abs, Corvel and appeared as a dance expert in Hollywood’s 10 Best Dance Movies. Her choreography has been featured on So You Think You Can Dance as well as commercials for MoBeam and BCBG. Live performances she’s also choreographed for include Jacob Jonas’ To the Sea, Carnival Choreographer’s Ball, EDGE Scholarship Showcase, Silverlake Contemporary Ballet, and the televised Nappytabs production for artist Rashed AlMajid in Saudi Arabia.  Her music video credits include choreography for Martin Baltser, Holly Conlan and Jenna Bryson. Sabrina has traveled worldwide as a teacher, her intention is to challenge dancers; focusing on placement, correct technique, strength, agility and musicality.

  • DJ Smart has been described as innovative, quintessential and arguably one of the most versatile and gifted performers of his generation.He is a graduate with honors from the University of the Arts where he received his BFA in Ballet Performance.He has made countless guest appearances granting him the opportunity to perform, teach and choreograph all over the USA and in over thirty countries internationally. His credits include: Jessie J, The Jacksons, Twenty-One Pilots, Cher, Becky G, Disney’s Best Friends Whenever, Dancing With the Stars, Latin American Music Awards, America’s Got Talent, Billboard Awards, Momix Dance Company, Oklahoma!, Koresh Dance Company and more. Most notably, he was a special guest performer on the hit TV series So You Think You Can Dance and So You Think You Can Dance Ukraine. DJ is frequently involved in charity work, mentoring youth and activism for human rights. He continues to travel the world sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience as a performer, teacher, choreographer and ambassador for the arts.

  • Matthew’s love for dance performance, choreography, and teaching began at the age of three, where his passion for artistic movement first began. He graduated from Houston’s High School of the Performing and Visual Arts, where he was exposed to a variety of dance disciplines. Matthew then began to assist top industry choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Braham Logan Crane, Lisette Bustamante, and Stephen “Twitch” Boss.  He has appeared in music video projects with artists such as Macklemore, Sia, Beyoncé, and Jesse & Joy. Matthew has worked with Andrew Winghart on concept visuals including Pneuma and Blue Wave. His movie credits include Stargirl on Disney+, choreographed by Mandy Moore. Additionally, he has traveled the world dancing with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. He has also worked as a choreographer’s assistant alongside  Mel Charlot on So You Think You Can Dance. Matthew’s teaching philosophy is based on creating a welcoming and diverse environment that encourages students to be their most authentic self. He emboldens you to identify your artistic voice while also ensuring that you understand dance movements are a visual representation of the music you hear and feel.

  • Tovaris Wilson was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He is a graduate of the prestigious New World School of the Arts in Miami and was admitted to a mentorship program with the legendary Debbie Allen. Tovaris has performed on the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, and the BET Awards.  He can be seen in commercials for Pepsi, Rubbermaid, and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter products. He has been featured in films including the Austin Powers Trilogy, Rush Hour 3, A Time For Dancing, and Rock Of Ages with Tom Cruise. Tovaris can be seen in music videos with artists including Britney Spears, Will Smith, and Prince. He has also been a featured dancer on world tours with Britney Spears and Cher. He has choreographed for artists including Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Cher, The Pussycat Dolls, Vanessa Carlton, Demi Lovato, Kelly Rowland, Adam Lambert, Jordin Sparks, Iggy Azalea, Natasha Bedingfield, Keri Hilson and FKA Twigs. His choreography has been featured on television shows such as American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

 

 

Please Note: ASH Faculty varies from city to city.  Unfortunately, ASH cannot guarantee which faculty will be in attendance. Occasionally, advertised faculty will be replaced by an equally qualified professional.

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