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| Center for Creative Arts |
| 14168 Poway Rd. #110 Poway, CA 92064 phone 858.748.9033 fax 858.748.9023 |
| About CCA |
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Ericka Moore, Dance Faculty
Ericka Moore believes in the impact of art (dance) to empower individuals, which
therefore empowers community. She began to study dance (jazz, ballet, modern, and hip
hop) seriously at the age of 15. Since then, Ericka has been driven to perform and to
create pieces that speak about the world she lives in. Ericka made her choreographic
debut with Fingers N the Hood, which received the Union-Tribune Critic's Choice
Award and extensive television coverage. Funkalosophy was Ericka's second full-length
show created in 2001. Funkalosophy revealed how the hip hop subculture contributes to
an activist dance theatre, while empowering youth and other hipsters with a voice
concerning their political and social issues. Ericka is a Company Dancer and Instructor
for Eveoke Dance Theatre. Ericka has been teaching children dance for about 5 years in the San Diego area
and the San Diego Unified School District. She joined CCA in 2006 and currently teaches modern dance to
the CCA dance company students and to adults from the Poway/RB/Scripps Ranch community.
Ericka Moore believes in the impact of art (dance) to empower individuals, which
therefore empowers community. She began to study dance (jazz, ballet, modern, and hip
hop) seriously at the age of 15. Since then, Ericka has been driven to perform and to
create pieces that speak about the world she lives in. Ericka made her choreographic
debut with Fingers N the Hood, which received the Union-Tribune Critic's Choice
Award and extensive television coverage. Funkalosophy was Ericka's second full-length
show created in 2001. Funkalosophy revealed how the hip hop subculture contributes to
an activist dance theatre, while empowering youth and other hipsters with a voice
concerning their political and social issues. Ericka is a Company Dancer and Instructor
for Eveoke Dance Theatre. Ericka has been teaching children dance for about 5 years in the San Diego area
and the San Diego Unified School District. She joined CCA in 2006 and currently teaches modern dance to
the CCA dance company students and to adults from the Poway/RB/Scripps Ranch community.
Amanda Clark, Dance Faculty
Amanda joined the CCA Faculty in the spring of 2005. She is currently completing her
Fitness and Nutrition degree at San Diego State University, with a minor in Dance. She
has been dancing for 18 years, with a background in tap, jazz, Irish dance, musical
theatre, hip hop, and Broadway productions. She has additional experience in acting, song
and dance, and cheerleading, and has performed for Mesa College Dance Company as a
dancer and student choreographer. Amanda currently teaches tap, jazz and hip hop at CCA.
Amanda joined the CCA Faculty in the spring of 2005. She is currently completing her
Fitness and Nutrition degree at San Diego State University, with a minor in Dance. She
has been dancing for 18 years, with a background in tap, jazz, Irish dance, musical
theatre, hip hop, and Broadway productions. She has additional experience in acting, song
and dance, and cheerleading, and has performed for Mesa College Dance Company as a
dancer and student choreographer. Amanda currently teaches tap, jazz and hip hop at CCA.
Marianne Thompson, Dance Faculty
Marianne joined CCA in the spring of 2006. Her dance background includes extensive
training and performance in Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary Dance as well as Modern,
Creative Movement, Tap and Hip Hop. Marianne holds her Elementary Major Cecchetti
Exam. She has placed in the Top 5 Overalls as a soloist in many competitions including;
Dance Rave, Kids Artistic Review and Star Systems. She was the captain of the Poway
High School Dance Team for two years, and Westmont College Windancers’ captain for
a year (where she trained under one of Merce Cunningham’s students, Victoria
Finlayson). She was honored as Westmont College’s Artist of the Week in March 2009.
Currently, Marianne is working for her B.S. in Kinesiology, with an emphasis in Athletic Training, working
specifically with dance injuries. She enjoys sharing her passion for dance with students of all ages. She
strives to inspire students to work hard and achieve their highest potential through positive reinforcement,
fun and energetic classroom dynamics and a consistent base in technical dance training. Marianne currently
teaches ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, and creative movement at CCA.
Marianne joined CCA in the spring of 2006. Her dance background includes extensive
training and performance in Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary Dance as well as Modern,
Creative Movement, Tap and Hip Hop. Marianne holds her Elementary Major Cecchetti
Exam. She has placed in the Top 5 Overalls as a soloist in many competitions including;
Dance Rave, Kids Artistic Review and Star Systems. She was the captain of the Poway
High School Dance Team for two years, and Westmont College Windancers’ captain for
a year (where she trained under one of Merce Cunningham’s students, Victoria
Finlayson). She was honored as Westmont College’s Artist of the Week in March 2009.
Currently, Marianne is working for her B.S. in Kinesiology, with an emphasis in Athletic Training, working
specifically with dance injuries. She enjoys sharing her passion for dance with students of all ages. She
strives to inspire students to work hard and achieve their highest potential through positive reinforcement,
fun and energetic classroom dynamics and a consistent base in technical dance training. Marianne currently
teaches ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, and creative movement at CCA.
Samantha Trent, Music/Kindermusik Faculty
Samantha came to CCA in the summer of 2007, serving first as our voice teacher. She
also took on additional studies toward her certification as Kindermusik Educator.
Samantha is currently attending Chapman University, studying Industrial/Organizational
Psychology with a minor in Music. She has been singing for 12 years through private
instruction, and has performed in musical theatre productions around San Diego for
over 10 years. In addition to teaching private voice lessons, Samantha is also a musical
theatre teacher at Christian Youth Theater, as well as a musical director for their
most recent spring productions. She currently teaches voice, musical theatre, and Kindermusik at CCA.
Samantha came to CCA in the summer of 2007, serving first as our voice teacher. She
also took on additional studies toward her certification as Kindermusik Educator.
Samantha is currently attending Chapman University, studying Industrial/Organizational
Psychology with a minor in Music. She has been singing for 12 years through private
instruction, and has performed in musical theatre productions around San Diego for
over 10 years. In addition to teaching private voice lessons, Samantha is also a musical
theatre teacher at Christian Youth Theater, as well as a musical director for their
most recent spring productions. She currently teaches voice, musical theatre, and Kindermusik at CCA.
Ruthie Dewoskin, Dance Faculty
Ruthie joined the CCA staff in the summer of 2008. She has spent over 18 years dancing and 12 of them
competitively. Her background includes: Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Hip-Hop and some ballet. She was on
Team Rave LA and recieved many awards in the competitive circuit. As a child she partook in musical
theater and was in multple children's productions throughout san diego county. She is currently co-captain
of Califonia State Uniersity of San Marcos' dance team and will be graduatng in the spring with a degree in
Kinesiology with an emphasis in Physical Therapy. She hopes to become a Physician's Assistant and
specialize and neurosurgery. Ruthie also spends time at Project Walk working with spinal cord injurt
clients. She loves to dance and is very happy to be able to share her passion with her students. She works
hard and hopes that they work to the same potetial. She currently teaches tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern and
combo classes at CCA.
Ruthie joined the CCA staff in the summer of 2008. She has spent over 18 years dancing and 12 of them
competitively. Her background includes: Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Hip-Hop and some ballet. She was on
Team Rave LA and recieved many awards in the competitive circuit. As a child she partook in musical
theater and was in multple children's productions throughout san diego county. She is currently co-captain
of Califonia State Uniersity of San Marcos' dance team and will be graduatng in the spring with a degree in
Kinesiology with an emphasis in Physical Therapy. She hopes to become a Physician's Assistant and
specialize and neurosurgery. Ruthie also spends time at Project Walk working with spinal cord injurt
clients. She loves to dance and is very happy to be able to share her passion with her students. She works
hard and hopes that they work to the same potetial. She currently teaches tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern and
combo classes at CCA.
Catherine Fuhrmann, Dance Faculty
Catherine joined the CCA Faculty in the summer of 2008. She has been dancing for 18
years. She has danced jazz, tap, and modern, but her main focus is in ballet. Her ballet
training was in the Vaganova method. At age 11, she was accepted into a summer dance
program, The Jillana School, in New Mexico. She has performed a variety of roles from
different ballets such as “The Nutcracker,” “Swan Lake,” and “Concerto Barocco.”
Catherine loves to dance and teach. She hopes to inspire her students to work hard,
dream big, and keep dancing. She currently teaches ballet, tap, and jazz classes at CCA.
Catherine joined the CCA Faculty in the summer of 2008. She has been dancing for 18
years. She has danced jazz, tap, and modern, but her main focus is in ballet. Her ballet
training was in the Vaganova method. At age 11, she was accepted into a summer dance
program, The Jillana School, in New Mexico. She has performed a variety of roles from
different ballets such as “The Nutcracker,” “Swan Lake,” and “Concerto Barocco.”
Catherine loves to dance and teach. She hopes to inspire her students to work hard,
dream big, and keep dancing. She currently teaches ballet, tap, and jazz classes at CCA.
Sharlene Star O'Keefe, Owner/Director
Sharlene Star O’Keefe, MFA, CCA Director/Owner. Sharlene received her Master of
Fine Arts Degree from UC Irvine with an emphasis in Education and Curriculum
Development. She also holds a BFA in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist
University in Dallas, TX. She is a Certified Kindermusik Educator and a Certified
Language of Dance (LOD) Specialist. Sharlene has over 15 years of experience teaching
all ages from infants to pre-professional in many disciplines of the arts and was
previously a member of the Dance Department Faculty at Mira Costa College. Since
2004, she has been developing and implementing a unique art training and art history
program at Tierra Bonita Elementary School. She also teaches enrichment classes in art, music, drama and
creative movement at local preschools. Her background includes extensive study and practice in ballet, jazz,
tap, modern, musical theatre, acting, choreography, pedagogy, kinesiology, art, art history, child development,
curriculum development and working with at-risk and special needs children. Sharlene has performed with
many regional dance companies including Dallas Civic Ballet, Dimensionz Jazz Dance Company, NOVA Modern
Troupe, Temecula City Ballet and New West Ballet as well as seasonal performances with San Francisco
Ballet and Boston Ballet. She also appeared on the Ally McBeal Show and modeled with Pat Ward Williams
Photography in LA. Sharlene is also the author of a manual on curriculum development and the integration of
creative movement into elementary school curriculum. E-mail her directly: sharlene@4creativearts.com
Sharlene Star O’Keefe, MFA, CCA Director/Owner. Sharlene received her Master of
Fine Arts Degree from UC Irvine with an emphasis in Education and Curriculum
Development. She also holds a BFA in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist
University in Dallas, TX. She is a Certified Kindermusik Educator and a Certified
Language of Dance (LOD) Specialist. Sharlene has over 15 years of experience teaching
all ages from infants to pre-professional in many disciplines of the arts and was
previously a member of the Dance Department Faculty at Mira Costa College. Since
2004, she has been developing and implementing a unique art training and art history
program at Tierra Bonita Elementary School. She also teaches enrichment classes in art, music, drama and
creative movement at local preschools. Her background includes extensive study and practice in ballet, jazz,
tap, modern, musical theatre, acting, choreography, pedagogy, kinesiology, art, art history, child development,
curriculum development and working with at-risk and special needs children. Sharlene has performed with
many regional dance companies including Dallas Civic Ballet, Dimensionz Jazz Dance Company, NOVA Modern
Troupe, Temecula City Ballet and New West Ballet as well as seasonal performances with San Francisco
Ballet and Boston Ballet. She also appeared on the Ally McBeal Show and modeled with Pat Ward Williams
Photography in LA. Sharlene is also the author of a manual on curriculum development and the integration of
creative movement into elementary school curriculum. E-mail her directly: sharlene@4creativearts.com
