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SOPA ALUMNI
SOPA is so proud of our alumni. Many of our students have gone on to pursue careers in the field of the arts.
Melissa Roberti
Melissa Roberti began performing with SOPA in 1998, where she studied theater and dance. She graduated high school from Idyllwild Arts Academy, and went on to complete a BFA in directing from NYU-Tisch School of the Arts. Credits include assistant director at acclaimed NYC cabaret The Box, and curator of bi-monthly performance event Art Underground. She currently lives in New York City, where she directs and writes for theatre/film.
Natalie Stocks
Natalie Stocks works full time doing the advertising for Miner's Ace Hardware, and part time as a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant and loves both jobs. Her favorite part about both is being able to use her creativity. At Miner's she put together the sale ads as well as oversees store displays and end-caps. In Mary Kay she loves working with the most incredible women I've ever met and helping women dream and be successful and look and feel better than ever! Her unit is called the "Dancing Hearts" and we dance at the beginning of every success meeting!
She is planning a wedding with her amazing fiance, Keith, for October 22nd of this year. They have an adorable dog, Sadie. Most of their free time consists of watching Laker games, getting together with friends, camping and snow trips. She also loves to spend time with her grandma and visit the teachers and kids at Montessori Children's School.
Miss you girls lots! Hope all is well! "Dance like no one is watching!"
Sarah Beltran
Sarah Beltran graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. Living in Berkeley with her fiance, she volunteers as a phone counselor on a suicide crisis hotline, works in an office of a mental health clinic for children and is a preschool/toddler teacher. Sarah has applied to graduate schools in California for Master programs to receive her M.F.T. license and become involved with early childhood intervention.
Kati Schell
Kati Schell has been dancing since she was seven years old and absolutely loves performing. She studies ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop, musical theater and acting at SOPA and really enjoys teaching her own classes. She is currently a student at Alan Hancock College and plans to pursue a career in performing arts and then later go into physical therapy. In 2007, Kati was first runner up in the Miss California Mid-State Fair Pageant. She just returned from Disney college in January and is actively auditioning to become involved in Disney’s entertainment division and plans to move back to Anaheim this summer or fall so we are happy to have her back at SOPA for the time being. Kati has found in herself a passion for dance and a love for the stage which she strives to pass on to all of her students.
Stephanie Ericsson
Stephanie grew up in the Bay Area dancing at The San Juan School of Dance studying Ballet through the Royal Academy of Dance. She has been dancing for 17 years doing ballet, tap and jazz. While dancing at San Juan she competed on the Dance Team for 5 years attending numerous dance competitions including Nationals in New York, LA, and Las Vegas. In 2000 she began dancing with Keith Banks at Studio 10 in San Jose and continues to enjoy classes there when in town! Stephanie has been in many Musical Theater productions starting at age 8. In 2005 she played her favorite role as Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street at Sunnyvale Community Players.
Within the last 6 years she has become increasingly passionate about modern dance and choreography. Stephanie has been on the Orchesis Dance Company for two years and is currently working on choreography for that show. She likes to challenge students to rise to their fullest potential through hard work and their love for dance. She loves dancing as a form of self expression and hopes to encourage her students to do the same.
Heather Malcolm
Heather Malcolm has been performing since she was six years old and developed a passion for musical theater right from the start. She has studied voice with Judith Dunlore for six years and hopes to study in England next fall. Heather has performed in numerous musicals including Grease, Oliver, Les Mis, Jekyll & Hyde, Chorus Line and Thoroughly Modern Millie. She then did Little Women in August. Heather will be teaching drama, tumbling and co-directing the Five Cities Performance Choir at SOPA in the fall.
Kendra Pearson
Kendra is a dance major at Alan Hancock College. She has been dancing for many years studying ballet, jazz, modern and now tap. Last year Kendra was accepted to the State Street Ballet Summer Program. Kendra teaches ballet and pre-school classes. This year she is playing the lead roles of an Icicle and Mrs. Claus in “A Night Before Christmas.” She is very passionate about dance plans to continue dancing and performing herself for as long as possible.
Rachel LeCover
Rachel LeCover is a junior at Nipomo High School. She has been dancing since she was three, first with Karren Garmen's Creative Dancing and then at the Studio of Performing Arts for the past five years. She is a member of the Titan Robotics Club, the drum major of the Titan Marching Band, and plays alto saxophone in the Nipomo High School Jazz Band. When she's not dancing, Rachel can be found reading, on her computer or doing homework. She has been a demonstrator for three years and began substitute teaching last year. Rachel has also been a company member and syncopator. She was accepted to South Street Ballet’s summer program in 2007. She is very proud to have her own classes this year.
Jake McGuire
Jake was here when the doors opened to The Studio in 1993. He was involved in the drama department for 10 years. He was also involved with The Studio Players for almost all productions. Jake worked as an assistant director to Shannon Lowrie up until 2003 when he moved to New York to pursue his dreams. He was hired on at The Irish Repertory Theater where he worked for three years. He also worked for MTV as a production assistant. We are very pleased to announce that Jake is returning to The Studio this October and will be the artistic director.
Donica Schmidt
Doncia danced at The Studio for 10 years, 6 of them competitively. She was also involved with the drama department and performed and choreographed for several Studio Players Productions. During her last few years at The Studio she taught many classes and continues to teach during the summer. Following graduation in 2003, Donica headed to Long Beach State where she was accepted into the dance program. Donica is doing extremely well and was chosen to be a choreographer in the undergraduate performance. Donica is also the recipient of a dance scholarship in 2005. She is very missed.
Marni Brewster
Marni began at The Studio the day it opened. She was involved with the drama department until the day she left. She began teaching and directing drama her senior year of High School. Marni became a competitive dancer in 1998 and later went on to direct one of the groups and became a platinum award winning choreographer. After graduating AG High in 2002 she chose to remain on the Central Coast and attend Cal Poly as a theater major. We are so glad she decided to stay in town for awhile because she continued to teach, choreograph and direct a competition group at SOPA for the next four years. Marni is a fabulous choreographer and directed numerous drama productions for SOPA and local schools. When she graduated CAL POLY in 2006, Marni was accepted into the Masters’ Program at Cal State Long Beach and will be getting her masters in Theater Management. Although we miss her dearly we are so proud of her accomplishments.
Randyn Spear
Randyn Spear is a Central Coast native, who received her training at the Studio of Performing Arts, American Dance SLO, Allan Hancock College, and the Edge Performing Arts Center, in addition to summer studies at Santa Barbara State Street Ballet. Randyn grew up performing and competing throughout California winning numerous awards and scholarships. Randyn has worked in all areas of the business including music videos, night clubs, fashion, and musical theater. She received her BA in dance from California State University, Long Beach where she performed numerous works under the tutelage of Susan McLain, Lorin Johnson, Holly Johnston, and Sophie Monat, to name a few. Throughout the years Randyn has choreographed for San Luis Obispo Little Theater as assistant to Suzy Miller- Fuentes, Arroyo Grande High School, Allan Hancock College dance team and ensemble, and ASAP in Southern California. Randyn is currently an instructor and the director of the San Pedro Ballet School performance team and rigorously working for her Pilates certification to further her education and active lifestyle.
Lindsay Shurick
Lindsay Shurick attends UCSB for Biochemistry in the college in creative studies with an interest in genetics. She has her 2.5 year old son with her in santa barbara and boy is he outgoing and does he love dancing! She also volunteers at a medical clinic in downtown Santa Barbara and absolutely loves it! During the summer she plans to take a dance class through the university. Life is busy, but internal calm and happiness keeps us going!
Robin Kirk Wolf
Robin grew up on the Central Coast and began dancing at three and singing and acting at five. She has had the privilege of working with many local theatre companies : SLOLT, Chameleon Productions, The Great American Melodrama, PCPA, Cal Poly Theatre and Dance, PLOT, Centerpoint Theate Group, The Eagle Theatre, The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival and Blue Dove Productions, among others. Amidst all of these groups The Studio of Performing Arts remains a favorite. Robin came to The Studio in 1991 as a young performer and over the following years joined the staff, teaching children's Theatre and Dance. She fondly remembers performing as a founding member of The Studio Players alongside owners Shannon and Jake in productions like The Wizard of Oz, Man of LaMancha and Oliver. Oh the stories those walls could tell! After attending PCPA and spending five years as a company member of The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival, Robin has spent the last nine years in New York City with her fiance Matthew, working in Event Management and working with theatre groups such as: The Shakespeare Project, T. Schrieber Studio and Footlights Group. No matter how much she loves NYC, on very cold winter days she misses Farmers Market, The Strawberry Festival and afternoons at the beach!
Christina Ungefug
Christina Ungefug fell in love with dance at a young age. She grew up on the Central Coast of California, hopping from one dance studio to the next, until she was lucky enough to find her perfect fit at The Studio of Performing Arts. Quickly, The Studio became like a second home to her; her dance friends becoming her second family. With her dance family at her side, along with her amazing parents' support, Christina's passion for dance grew. In addition to performing with The Studio, she became a member of the Nipomo High School Dance Company, as well as a dance instructor for the Nipomo Elementary School Bright Futures Program. Upon graduating from NHS, Christina focused on another genre of art. Her love for creativity and passion for the arts as a whole drew her to The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, in Los Angeles California. She graduated from FIDM in 2010 with an AA Degree in her newly found love, Interior Design. Christina is now focusing on furthering her education, receiving her BA degree and possibly even reaching for a MA Degree in Interior Design and Art History. Rest assured that whatever the future may hold, Christina intends to make the most of her passion for the arts. Whether it be dancing with her fellow Alumni, or designing the next big boutique hotel, Christina will continue to reach for the stars-loving every minute of it!
Andrea Ford
Andrea started dancing with us at the age of 5. She became a competitive dancer at the age of ten up until she graduated in 2005. She is also an active participant in the Alan Hancock dance program both as a performer and choreographer.
Samantha Ford
Samantha Ford is one of the studio’s HIP HOP masters. She began dancing at an early age and hasn’t stopped. Sam has overcome many obstacles in her life but nothing has stopped her from pursuing her dreams and dancing. She began student teaching when she was a teenager then took a brief hiatus to live in Europe for a year. She returned to the Central Coast and SOPA in the fall of 2006 and is back to dancing and teaching.
Alicia Matosich
Alicia danced at The Studio for 9 years and was a competition dancer for 6 of them .Alicia headed to UC Davis following graduation in 2005. She continues to dance whenever she can and has joined as many dance activities as she can find. She is majoring in Exercise Biology with a Psychology Minor and works at Willett Elementary School as the "playground aide." Alicia also has an internship at the local hospital helping the nurses on the Med-Surg floor. Somehow she manages to find the time to help with Sunday School at her Church and work on setting up an after school cultural dance program for a local elementary school. She will soon be auditioning for an on-campus hip hop group. You can look for Alicia and our other Alumni to appear in the Alumni number of our annual holiday show!
Alea Bolt
Alea grew up at the studio, dancing, acting, singing, performing and competing. She is now going to school at the University of California, Santa Barbara as a psychology major, but she refuses to lose dance in her life. She started out at UCSB as a dance major, but soon realized that it wasn't for her. With the competitiveness between the other dance majors, the dryness of solely focusing on technique, not being able to express anything through dance, all the fun was sucked out. After taking approximately a nine month break from dancing, Alea couldn't stay away from it any longer. She is now taking classes at a local dance and fitness studio as well as a modern class at UCSB. She hopes to always have dance as a part of her life, teaching and performing. She'll be up on stage with Andrea and Alicia tap dancing at the studio shows when they are little old ladies.
Heather Malcolm
Heather started out at The Studio in 1997 when she auditioned for a role in The Studio Players production of Annie. Since then she was enrolled in our drama department until she graduated in 2006. Heather has performed with many local theater companies and is now a student at Cuesta College. She continues to act as much as possible. We are sure to see her on Broadway someday.
Justine Bailey
Justine is one of only 4 accepted in UCLA’s performing Arts Major. She began at The Studio in 2000 with our drama department. Shortly thereafter she began dancing and did so until she graduated in 2006. Justine’s favorite form of dance is tap and she is staying as active as possible with the UCLA tap scene. We wish her good luck in her career!
Chris Rienicher
Chris is also one of 4 accepted in to UCLA’s performing Arts major. Chris began his acting carrier in The Studio’s drama department in 1999 performing in such productions as “Grease” and “Annie.” He graduated in 2006 and we are sure to see more of him soon!
Zac Effron
Zac was involved in our drama department in 1998. He performed in our production of Little Shop of Horrors. Zac went on to act professionally soon after that and got his big break when he landed the lead role in Disney’s “High School Musical.” Zac is also one out of four accepted into UCLA’s performing Arts major. He is currently working on the motion picture “Hairspray,” where he will be playing the teenage heart throb “Link” We wish him continued success!
Nikki Pena
Nikki has been dancing for 4 years and loves it more than anything. She studies ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop and her personal favorite, lyrical. She is currently attending Allan Hancock College studying to be dance major. Nikki has the biggest love and passion for dance and hopes to do something big with it one day. She loves teaching because she gets the chance to inspiring kids and share her love for dance and there's nothing in the world like seeing your students succeed. Nikki moved to the LA area in September of 2008 to pursue her career as a dancer. Good luck Nikki!
Taylor Murphy-Sinclair
Taylor has been working with S.O.P.A. for almost 9 years now. She currently takes 4 classes here a week and teaches her very own drama class :) Taylor is very involved in Studio productions and has enjoyed a variety of roles over the course of her career including: Dodger in Oliver!, Anita in West Side Story, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Golde in Fiddler On the Roof, and most recently as Cinderella in Into the Woods. She would like to say "hi" to her absolutely incredible students, they are wonderful and they make it all worthwhile, "I love ya!" Taylor is a 16 year old junior at Arroyo Grande High School and participates avidly in the speech and debate program. Taylor was one of a select few to be accepted into the UCLA Drama department. After starring in Little Women this past summer Taylor moves to LA to pursue her career at UCLA. Good luck Taylor!
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