LEAP Alumni Achievements

Roman Baca, Class of 2014

Roman trained with The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory before enlisting in the Marine Corps.  Upon his return, he started Exit12 Dance Company, using dance as a healing tool for himself and other veterans. After graduating from SMC, he went on to become a Fulbright Scholar while earning his MFA in Choreography at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London.

Tonia Barber, Class of 2022

Tonia is a seasoned independent producer with a skill for curating and producing live events, art, and documentary films. She served as the Executive Director for Dance Camera West from 2011 to 2019, and is currently the Executive Director of AKLA, a fellowship connecting jewish teens to achievements in technology, medicine and the arts.

Sara Benavidez, Class of 2021

In addition to Sara’s extensive dance career, she has worked as a legal assistant for over a decade. In 2023, she earned her MA in Organizational Leadership and Management from Claremont Lincoln University. She currently works as a facilitator of restorative conversations.

Dalene Bramer, Class of 2006

Dalene danced for San Francisco Ballet for 9 years. Upon graduating from SMC, she went on to earn her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law. She currently works as the Senior Director of Global Labor and Employment for Uber.

Margot De La Barre, Class of 2017

Margot has appeared on Broadway in South Pacific, Evita, Anything Goes, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, and Promises, Promises. She has danced on three Tony Awards telecasts, Good Morning America, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Late Show with David Letterman, and The View. Upon graduating from SMC, she joined the LEAP Program as the New York Program Coordinator. She then completed her MFA in Dance from Montclair State University and currently teaches at the School of Art and Design in Savannah Georgia.

Akasi Francis-Mora, Class of 2022

Akasi danced with professional Hip Hop companies The MOB and ENVY Dance, among several other organizations. In addition to her extensive dance experience, she works as a vocational nurse. After graduating from SMC, she developed LuVpEaCeNsOuL MoVeMeNt, a wellness initiative combining her work as a healthcare practitioner, creative healing artist, educator, poet, and social justice activist.

Colleen Craig Freedman, Class of 2019

Colleen has worked with music artists including Beck, Katy Perry, Ne-Yo, Jordan Sparks, and Paula Abdul as well as on film and television in America’s Got Talent, Glee, True Blood, Fame (2009), Crazy Stupid Love, and Dancing with the Stars.

Post LEAP graduation, she attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Boyd School of Law, earning her Juris Doctorate Degree in 2023

Steven Hyde, Class of 2014

Steven enjoyed a  professional dance career spanning over 20 years, dancing with world-renowned companies such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre. He has served as the Director of the Classical and Contemporary Dance Conservatory at Orange County School of the Arts since 2006.

Nancy Lemenager, Class of 2013

Nancy’s Broadway credits include Guys and Dolls, Kiss Me Kate, and Movin’ Out and her film and television credits include Ocean’s 8 and Poker Face. In addition to being an accomplished performer, Nancy is an adjunct professor for Pace University’s Commercial Dance Program.

Shelli Margheritis, Class of 2018

After a successful career as a professional dancer, Shelli has gone on to work as a choreography agent for MSA, representing some of the best dance talent in Los Angeles, and is a founder and partner of Independent Artist Entertainment. She is a published author as well as co-writer of the BFA Commercial Dance curriculum for The Studio School in downtown Los Angeles and a member of the Television Academy and a board member of the World Choreography Awards. In 2021, Shelli earned her Master of Science in Management and Leadership at Western Governors University.

Jeff Metzler, Class of 2014

Jeff is an accomplished Broadway performer and actor with credits that include The Tony Awards, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and Mary Poppins. After graduating from SMC, he went on to become a strategy and brand marketing professional, working with companies including Disney, Old Navy, Nickelodeon, CBS, and Lincoln Center. In 2020, he earned his MBA candidate through Columbia Business School and continues to work as a Creative and Business Strategist.

Sophie Monat, Class of 2014

Sophie danced with the Lille Opera Ballet and National Ballet of Portugal. She went on to serve as the Director of Classical Dance at the Orange County School of the Arts and join the faculty of California State University, Long Beach. She continues to teach and set work around the world.

Christopher Mondoux, Class of 2016

Christopher danced with San Francisco Ballet from 2005 to 2010. After graduating from SMC he transitioned into the corporate sector, working with companies including Audi, AirBnB and Lyft. He currently works as a Senior Manager in Travel and Entertainment for American Express and is expected to earn his MBA from Yale School of Management in 2025.

Gillian Murphy, Class of 2018

Gillian joined the American Ballet Theatre in 1996 at the age of 17 and went on to become a principal dancer in 2002. She has been named Dance Magazine’s “25 to watch” and won numerous awards for her dancing. Upon graduating from SMC, she enrolled in Harvard’s Crossover to Business program for professional artists and athletes. She continues to dance for ABT and is currently an Artistic Associate with American Repertory Ballet.

Tara Pandeya, Class of 2006

Tara danced as a soloist for Ballet Afsaneh for 13 years, in addition to performing with Cirque du Soleil and the National Dance Company of Tajikistan. Her own creative work has received numerous prestigious grants and garnered her an Izzy Award. She is also a Fulbright Scholar and earned her MA in Dance Anthropology from London’s Roehampton University, Centre for Dance Research.

Wendy Rosoff, Class of 2019

Wendy began her career as a Musical Theater performer in Broadway and National Tours of Radio City Christmas Spectacular, 42nd Street, and more. She is currently works as a television and film actor including appearances on Veep, The Good Place, Criminal Minds, Shameless, and Fresh Off The Boat.

Garen Scribner, Class of 2011

Garen has a varied performance career that includes dancing soloist for San Francisco Ballet, performing with Nederlands Dance Theatre, dancing with Jennifer Lopez, and earning the lead role in Broadway’s An American in Paris.

He has also worked as an on-camera host for Broadway Sandwich and All Arts TV. In 2022, Garen earned his Mid-Career Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.

David Strobbe, Class of 2012

David danced with the Cleveland San Jose Ballet and Smuin Ballet. He has an extensive career as a dance educator and arts administrator. In 2016 he earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Baruch College, followed by becoming a Doctor of Education through the University of New England in 2020. He currently works as a Lecturer in Arts Administration at the University of Kentucky.

Alanna Swovelin, Class of 2021

Alanna’s dance credits include the Vancouver Winter Olympics, LA Fashion Week, Los Angeles Opera, and more. After graduating from SMC, she transitioned into the position of Company Manager for companies including Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, LA Opera, COMPLEXIONS Contemporary Ballet, and the Blue Man Group.

Zoot Velasco, Class of 2007

Zoot enjoyed a 12-year career as a professional break dancers, swing dancer, mime, and actor working with major artists including Prince, Michael Jackson, Arsenio Hall, and James Cameron. After graduating from SMC, he went on to earn his MBA in nonprofit management from Hope International University. He is a published author and expert in the nonprofit field, currently serving as the Director of the Gianneschi Center for Nonprofit Research at California State University Fullerton as well as a Lecturer in Business, Marketing and Advanced Social Work in Organizations.

Pierre-Francios Vilanoba, Class of 2015

Pierre-Francois danced with the Paris Opera Ballet for 8 years, then joined San Francisco Ballet as soloist in 1998, becoming a principal dancer in 1999. After graduating from SMC he went on to earn his Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from The Wright Institute and currently works as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist.

Adriano Welch, Class of 2013

Adriano performed with Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet Company, New Mexico Ballet, and Delta Festival Ballet. He currently works as an agent for choreographers and educators with the Movement Talent Agency.

Chryssie Whitehead, Class of 2017

Chryssie’s performance career began as a Rockette in New York City. She has gone on to be a successful Broadway, film, and television performer including the 1^st National Tour of Fosse and appearances on Grey’s Anatomy and Stephen Spielberg’s West Side Story. In addition to her thriving performance career, Chryssie is works as a musical theater educator, director, and choreographer.

Stephanie Wolf, Class of 2014

As a professional dancer, Stephanie performed with Wonderbound, the Metropolitan Opera, James Sewell Ballet and the Minnesota Ballet, among several others.  After graduating from SMC, she went on to become Colorado Public Radio’s arts and culture reporter and started her own dance publication called DIY Dancer with fellow Saint Mary’s alum Candice Thompson. She continues to work as an audio and digital journalist.