Instructors

Kathy Thuerbach, Executive Director

Kathy Thuerbach is the Executive Director of UDP, and was an accomplished dancer by the age of 18, training with Judith Ormsby (ballet), Luigi (jazz), Peter Gennaro (jazz), Tommy Hansen (choreography), Father Tom Smith (tap), Joe Tremaine (jazz), and Gus Giordano (jazz). She also studied with Nicolas Petrov of the Pittsburgh Playhouse Ballet Department and at Lichine Ballet School and Debbie Reynolds Studio, both in LA. She has performed the role of Chocolate, Snow Queen and Sugarplum Fairy in the Nutcracker.

Kathy has choreographed more than 50 different musicals and ballets for various theater and ballet companies across the US, including CYT Tucson and San Diego, Cedar Street Theater, Golden West Ballet and the Antelope Valley College Theater and Music Departments. Kathy was on staff as a dance instructor at Antelope Valley College from 1984-85. Kathy, a national and world baton twirling champion (USTA and NBTA), was the Purdue University Golden Girl from 1976-79, and traveled to 45 states and several foreign countries to perform and teach both dance and baton. She was a Los Angeles Lakers Girl from 1979-81, performing as a baton soloist before audiences of more than 17,000. Kathy was the Managing Director and Choreographer for the Starlight Musical Theater Showcase Company in San Diego.

Kathy has performed on stage in such leading musical theater roles as Winifred in “Once Upon a Mattress”, Ado Annie in “Oklahoma”, Cathy in “Company”, Nellie in “South Pacific”, Meg in “Brigadoon” and both Annie and Dolly in “Annie Get Your Gun”.

Kathy and husband Jon are very excited to bring professional, non-competitive training in dance to Tucson. They co-founded Christian Youth Theater Tucson in 2005 and have enjoyed watching the inner growth of the kids who come through the program! Kathy has three children: Jonathan, Bradley and Lindsay.

Kerri Lopez, Managing Director

Kerri Lopez is a graduate of the creative writing program at the University of Arizona. She was trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap and hip hop at various studios, starting at Pofahl’s Dance Studio in Florida. She performed in multiple Nutcrackers, and competed with local studios. As a student at Sabino High School, Kerri started choreographing many production dances for advanced dancers, as well as Sabino’s musicals: South Pacific, Annie Get Your Gun and Anything Goes.

While a freshman in college, Kerri returned to her former high school and created a dance team in order to further her dreams of choreography and teaching. With the Sabino Pom/Dance team, Kerri coached for four years, winning 2nd place regional (08), 1st place regional (09) and 1st place state (10) in the 4A-1, AIA competitions. Of the students she trained, two are now dance majors at the University of Arizona, one is a pom line dancer at NAU, and one is currently on the UA pomline. Kerri’s choreography has won multiple first place awards at many dance competitions as well. Kerri spent the 2008 summer in Los Angeles, CA, assisting Jessica Starr of MUSE Dance Co, where she worked for such great dancers and choreographers as: Nick Gonzalez, Jessica Starr, Henry Shum Jr. and many more.

She has choreographed many musicals, including CYT’s Cinderella, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and The Music Man. She is thrilled to be the managing director of University Dance Project and to continue aiding students in the art of dance.

Guy Amir

Specialties: Hip Hop, Ballet, and Technique for Men

Guy Amir started dancing at the young age of 7 at the Charlotte Klein Dance Center in Boston. He has trained in all styles of dance from ballet to hip-hop, and is currently studying for his BFA in dance at the University of Arizona. Guy’s professional work includes work for New Balance Sneakers©, and being a guest artist for the Queen City Ballet in Helena, Montana. Over the winter of 2009, Guy choreographed a hip-hop piece for DCW (Dance Company Worcester), as well as taught at Nancy Chippendale’s in North Andover, MA. Guy’s choreography has been chosen to be performed in the University of Arizona School of Dance 2009 season show as well as for the school’s 125th Anniversary Ceremony. Guy not only loves to dance, but also has a passion for teaching and choreography. UDP is delighted to welcome Guy onto its staff!

Michelle Costello

Specialties: Contemporary (Lyrical), Modern, Jazz Fusion, Technique

Michelle Costello is currently studying at the University of Arizona as a dance major. She has been dancing for the past 16 years, specializing in jazz and contemporary. Michelle has trained, performed, and competed around the country and world, including Disney World in Orlando, and with the U.S. Dance Team in Reisa, Germany. In the summer of 2008, she trained with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and studied with Ana Marie Forsthye, Pedro Ruiz, Marimba Gold Watts, Graciela Kozak, Carlos Dos Santos and Maguette Camara. During her time at Ailey, she was featured in Elizabeth Roxas’s repertory piece, assisted by Tracy Inman and originally choreographed by Judith Jamison from “Divining”. Michelle was also an apprentice for Urbanity Dance Project, located in Boston, MA for the 2008-2009 season. She choreographed her own solo that she competed and won with in many competitions. She was invited to perform this solo for Boston’s First Night of 2010, along with other Urbanity Dance Project’s pieces. She was also one of the choreographers for a hip hop piece presented in the show “In the Season” at The University of Arizona. UDP is thrilled to have this talented young dancer on our staff!

Aia Evans

Specialties: Tumbling

Aia Evans is a junior at the University of Arizona, where she is a Wildcats cheerleader. She is an accomplished gymnast with training from Almaden Valley in San Jose, CA, and Champions Academy in Morgan Hill, CA. Aia was coached by Donna Craig, Liviu Mazilu and Olympic silver medalist Jinjing Zhang. Aia competed at a level 9 in gymnastics for four years and is a Western National Floor Champion and State All-Around Floor Champion, both at a level 9. She has coached gymnastics for two years at Champions Academy and was a member of the Nor Cal Elite All-Stars for one year. Aia also trained in ballet at Lana’s Dance Studio in Morgan Hill, CA, for five years. University Dance Project is ecstatic to have her as our tumbling teacher, sharing her incredible talents with all our students!

Michaela Granado

Specialties: Jazz, Hip Hop

Michaela Granado has been dancing since the age of six at various Phoenix studios such as Turning Point, Tempe Dance Academy and Classic Dance Image. She trained in jazz, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, modern and tap. Michaela is currently a junior at the University of Arizona, majoring in interdisciplinary studies: Marketing, Communications and Sports Management. Michaela has been on the U of A’s pom/dance line since her freshman year. Her hip-hop choreography for Basha High School received a 1st place award in 2008 at the Arizona State High School dance competition. Michaela recently choreographed a hip-hop competition number for UA’s Pom Line that competed at the 2009-2010 UDA Collegiate Nationals. UDP is so excited to have her choreography skills, dance technique and energy added to its staff!

Ilana Jones

Specialties: Ballet

Ilana Jonas was raised in Southern California, where she trained at the Academy of Dance under RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) examiner Merle Sepel. She completed every grade and major examination in the RAD syllabus and was awarded the Solo Seal in 2006. Ilana performed in The Nutcracker from 1998 to 2006, when she danced the role of Sugarplum Fairy. She is working toward a BFA in dance at the University of Arizona, with an expected graduation in December 2010. While at the U of A, Ilana has performed the roles of ‘Baby Swan’ in Swan Lake (2008), ‘Second Theme’ in Balanchine’s Four Temperaments (2009), and ‘Russian Girl’ in Balanchine’s Serenade to name a few. She also performed in Michael Williams’ tap production, Rhythm Schism (2008), Susan Quinn’s Sabor a Mi (2009), and Doug Nielsen’s Parakeet Chronicles (2010). It is a great pleasure to have Ilana involved with UDP, bringing her talents and knowledge to our students!

Kristi Lopez

Specialties: Ballet, Technique, Contemporary

Kristi Lopez began professional training in ballet at age 13, under Kim Tuttle of Pofahl’s Studio. She was an apprentice in Dance Alive’s Professional Ballet Company performing in such ballets as Carmina Burana, The Nutcracker, Firebird, East of the Sun West of the Moon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and many more. Kristi has spent summers dancing and training in New York City’s Joffery Ballet and Remeni, Italy’s Rimini Ballet. Kristi competed in jazz, hip-hop, ballet and lyrical with local Tucson studios and holds the title ‘Miss Dance Arizona 2004’. Kristi was a dance major at the University of Arizona working closely with many talented choreographers. She is a master in the field of dance technique, teaching it effectively and always improving those she instructs. She spent years teaching at multiple studios in town and University Dance Project is very excited to have her on its staff.

Ryan Moguel

Specialties: Tap

Ryan Moguel started his dance training at Angie’s Dance Academy in North Carolina. He continued his studies at the Neglie Conservatory of Ballet in Buffalo, NY. He has studied ballet intensively with Dance Masters of America, New York State Summer School of Ballet, as well as other forms of dance at Clark Academy of Performing Arts. Ryan is a sophomore at the University of Arizona, with a major in dance. As a tap dancer, Ryan competed for the Canadian National Tap Team in 2006 and 2008, winning multiple awards international awards. He has performed professionally with Darien Lake Theme Park and Resort and has also competed in the Barcelona Dance Awards Competition. Ryan is a man of many trades and UDP is more than excited to have him on staff!