Higher Ground Dance Company [Faculty]

~ Celia Dohrman ~

Celia has extensive training in a variety of dance styles including jazz, lyrical, ballet, pointe, tap and tumbling as well as acting and musical theatre. She has 8 years of experience as an instructor and competition choreographer for studio teams as well as college level dance. She has been frequently rewarded for outstanding choreography at various competitive events. Celia also grew up a successful competitive dancer winning many platinum, first place and overall medals as well as scholarships to conventions, competitions and renowned L.A studios. She was a former National Champion Esperanza Songleader and has done various commercial works appearing in educational videos, instructional dance videos, live television appearances, and commercials. She has also participated in ballet camps, performances and companies all over the country. Her vast experience with an array of professional instructors has given her great knowledge for her current teaching career.

~ Mark Chavarria ~

Mark has appeared as a dancer on Nickelodeon Snick House with featured artists such as N’Sync, Pink, Youngstown, and the Kids Choice Awards. He was also a dancer on Sugar Ray, “Answer the Phone.” Mark has many theatre credits where he has been a performer, director, and choreographer. Some of those productions include “Annie,” “Cinderella,” “Grease,” “Peter Pan,” “Disney Review” and “Jazz Dance LA.” Mark has special training in the areas of acting, vocals, instruments, tumbling, and stunt work. He has trained with some of the best instructors in Los Angeles such as Joseph Malone, Cory Finn, Wade Robson, Jacki Sleight, Tina D’Amato, Bradley McCaskill and Joe remaine, to name only a few.

~ Megan Gosnell ~

Megan has been dancing for over 15 years. She majored in dance at Cal State Long Beach and studied ballet at the Joffrey Ballet School, New York. She currently is a Chivas Girl and a member of the Anaheim Arsenal A-List Dance Team. Her other credits include being a member of the Cal State Long Beach “Beach Girls Dance Team,” a faculty assistant for Tremaine Dance Conventions and a Nickelodeon Snick House Dancer. She has also danced Clara, The Sugar Plum Fairy and the Flower Queen in the Nutcracker. Currently, she is A child development major at Cal State Fullerton.

~ Roland Gruspe Jr. ~

Roland Gruspe has danced in a variety shows and traveled for International Dance Tours to France. Roland was a former dancer and choreographer for International artists such as Jolina Magdangal, Gabby Concepcion & Sunshine Cruz, and Banig. He has choreographed for many companies such as Fil-Am Family Cultural Dance Co., Team Millenia, Long Beach Polytechnic HS, Generation 2, Xplicit Motionz and Funkanometry. His most recent work has been for Nike doing promotions. He is a former member of Funkanometry Hip Hop Company and a current member of MAVYN, a hip hop company in Orange County. He keeps up his training in Los Angeles at the EDGE Performing Arts Center, Millennium Dance Complex, and Madonna Grimes. He is represented by the KSA agency.

~ Shannon Steen ~

Shannon was a Los Angeles Laker Girl for five years and is still actively involved with the Laker organization choreographing several routines each year for the current squad. She was also a former Clippers Spirit girl for many years. As a Laker Girl, she traveled to Paris, Bosnia, Japan, Italy, Greece and many places across the country. Currently, she is a choreographer for a Nickeleodeon children's show, Yo Gabba Gabba. She also works with different high school dance teams doing technique and choreography. Shannon has many television, film and stage credits as well as many years of experience teaching all types of dance to all ages.

~ Candice ~

Candice has performed for many famous stars such as Ben Verene, Chita Revera, Betty White, Christina Applegate and Mary Tyler Moore. She was also givent the opportunity of dancing onstage with Liza Minelli. She traveled all over the US with Tremaine Dance Company, and was awarded Dancer of the Year 2003-2004, where she continued assisting at the conventions for another five years.

Candice was also casted for a music video that she danced in. She attended the world congress and was able to perform with dance companies all over the world. She attended various conventions and competitions where she recived many scholarships. She has been taking different intensives in Los Angeles to better her dancing abilities. She has also been in instructional dance videos over the years.

Candice is excited to bring her professional dance experience to Higher Ground Dance Company.

~ Jeff ~

~ Kenny ~