HOUSE OF PAVE
Sonya received her BA in Economics from UC Berkeley & Masters in Business Administration from UCLA. With over 20 years of experience, she was appointed the Senior Managing Director for Ankura and is the national leader on the Economics team. In 2016, Sonya along with her husband John Kwon, started PAVE School of the Arts. Sonya has also served on the board for OCSA since August 2018 and also founded the West Coast Chapter of Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Alliance (WLMA).
SONYA KWON
Amanda Gardner was born and raised fiercely competing as a dancer in Orange County. She’s worked on numerous Disney sitcoms, commercials, and films as dancer, and actor. She holds the Silver Medal from the 2016 Dance Worlds as well as an All Apparatus Teacher Certification in Pilates. She is most proud when teaching and choreographing her superstar students at PAVE!
AMANDA GARDNER
Nicole has over 25 years of dance experience. She is a former Director/Instructor for the United Spirit Association and judges for high school, collegiate & all-star National & Varsity Spirit competitions nationwide. Her credits include dancing and choreographing for numerous pro-dance teams (NFL, NBA, WNBA, CFL & Arena Football) such as Lake Girls. She was the Director/Coach at Santa Margarita HS Pom team for 8 years and is currently the Director of Varsity Spirit (West) and teaches at PAVE!
NICOLE CESTONE
After attaining a BFA in Dance Performance from Chapman University, Derek signed with BLOC Talent Agency. He has worked with artists like Arcade Fire, Todrick Hall, “Earth, Wind & Fire," & Hugh Jackman. Derek has skills in a wide range of dance vocabularies and is also an acrobat/singer/pianist/actor. He travels to studios nation-wide and is an accomplished choreographer. Derek’s choreography for “In Camera” by Yumi Zouma was nominated for best choreography in a music video at the UK MVA’s!
DEREK NEMECHECK
SAM CANTORIA
Dr. John Kwon graduated cum laude with a Master in PT at Loma Linda University. He completed his Kaiser Orthopedic Residency and became a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. He is the owner of CORE Performance Physical Therapy. He and Sonya own and operate PAVE School of the Arts and is considered an expert at treating dance related injuries. His background in movement science/pilates has enabled him to implement an injury prevention program at PAVE.
JOHN KWON
Danielle Page, was born and raised in Orange County and has been dancing for the last 20+ years. She trained at one of the top dance studios in Southern California in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, and Lyrical. In high school, Danielle was the co-captain of her Dance Choreography team. She joined the nationally ranked dance team at OC College. She has taught at a number of studios throughout Orange County and is very fortunate to direct the Pre-PAVE program for the last 4 years.
DANIELLE PAGE
Jordan is an alumni of OCSA’s CMD Conservatory and Valedictorian ’08. She is a Magna Cum Laude B.F.A. in Dance Performance/Emphasis in Health & Wellness graduate of Chapman University. She is signed with MSA and Lifestyle Unlimited. Some of her work include “GLEE,” ”SKECHERS,” “Lime A Rita” & Disney’s “Aladdin, the Musical Spectacular.” She was a LA Laker Girls ‘14 - ‘15. Jordan is the co-founder and Creative Director at PAVE School of the Arts where she coaches her champion students.
JORDAN BLAIS
Brynne Becker is an accomplished dancer, teacher, and choreographer nationwide. She trained with Keith Clifton, Michael McBain, Michael Cortez, Joffrey and a company directed by Anthony Sellars. Brynne danced professionally for 10 years. She and her parents owned and taught at their own dance studio. She is a recipient of numerous choreography awards. While focusing on strong technique, Brynne strives to create a fun and energetic environment for her students to learn.
SASHA DEE
Sasha Dee is an alumni of MPI (‘10) and trained with DTH for 14 years. She received her B.F.A. in Dance Performance, Minor in IES from Chapman University (‘14) and was captain of their dance team. She is represented by BLOC. Some of her work include NBA/LA Lakers Halftime dancer, LIFEHOUSE, actor for FACEBOOK & “BE FIT” Keiara LaShae Workouts. She loves teaching, choreographing and judging. Sasha Dee is one of the co-founders of PAVE and is the Dance Team Director & Assistant Company Director.
A native of Southern California, Leah Silva is a sought out International Dance Adjudicator and Instructor, Award-Winning Choreographer, Artistic Director, Producer and Critically Acclaimed Performer. Some of her credits include choreographing for the Emmy Awards, performances for Mattel Toys & vocal/dance performances for American Idol top finalists. Leah is the Founder and Artistic Director of Reverb Production Company. Leah is also the Founder and Director of the Orange County Tap Festival.
LEAH SILVA
BRYNNE BECKER
Savanna graduated from OCSA’s Commercial Dance Conservatory and trained with jjAE Dance Company & INNOV8 Dance Company. She is represented by BLOC Talent Agency and is a member of training programs such as Motus, Cameron Lee, and Kolanie Marks. She books many projects in LA for dance and choreography and recently traveled to Dubai to share her art with a dance studio there. Savanna is a proud PAVE Alumni and is currently one of our choreographers and instructors at the studio.
Kelley received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance Performance with honors, along with a minor in Leadership and Organizational Studies from Chapman University. She is a BASI certified Pilates Instructor with comprehensive dance specialization & a certification in Burn At The Barre. Kelley has been a part of the United Spirit Association for 8 years. She has taught various styles of Dance & Pilates all over the West Coast. She has been a teacher at PAVE since Season 01!
Mariah Spears graduated from Chapman University with a BFA in Dance Performance and clusters in Theater Technology & Honors. She was one of the top16 dancers on "SYTYCD” Season 10. She was featured in commercials like “The Voice,” danced for artists like Kelly Clarkson & choreographed for Snoop Dog, Nike & House of Hoops. She currently travels around the world to teach, tours with Hollywood Dance Experience and teaches at local dance studios including Pave School of the Arts!
MARIAH SPEARS
KELLEY BROWN
SAVANNA KUBAT
Daniel Huynh is a professional dancer and choreographer represented by Go 2 Talent Agency. He graduated from Chapman University with a BFA in Dance Performance and has worked with artists/companies such as J. Cole, Banks, Nike & Disney. He worked under choreographers such as Mandy Moore, Nappytabs & Michael Rooney. Daniel has created dance films to further his experience working behind the camera. Daniel hopes to continue to learn and grow in dance and choreography in LA.
Nikolas Bermea is a hip-hop and contemporary fusion dancer/choreographer from Austin, TX. Early in his dance career, Niko was one of the select dancers to assist Streetz Dance Convention from 2017-2019. He continues to host hip-hop and contemporary fusion master classes, intensives, and residencies throughout and the U.S. and internationally. He is currently a company member on world renowned hip hop company, V Mo, under the direction of Danyel Moulton, and an apprentice on the LA-based company, MusEffect, under the direction of Jessica Starr.
DANIEL HUYNH
A proud and recent graduate of PAVE's Innov8 and 8Crew programs, Noelle is thrilled to be able to support PAVE as a point of contact as well as supporting the backbone of operations. Noelle's love of dance started at the age of 5 which eventually led to competitive dance in hula, ballet, jazz, tap, and contemporary. While she pursues her degree in Communications, she is grateful to be able to uphold the PAVE pillars of Performance, Artistry, Versatility, and Exposure in her interactions with students and their families
NOELLE GIESE
NIKO BERMEA
Will graduated from Chapman University where he started the nationally ranked, Chapman Dance Team. He danced and did acrobat for Disney for nearly 9 years. He was also on Pace All Stars in 2012 when they were chosen to be Team USA for Jazz and Pom. They were titled World and International champs that year. Now Will coaches and choreographs for many high school songleading, cheerleading, and dance teams who have won many regional and national competitions.
WILL TRAN
ALEX ALBA
Jason Martin is originally from Fairfield, CA and received his training at Dance Direction under Lisa Clark Schmeling. Since graduating from Chapman University with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance, Jason signed with Clear Talent Group. A few of his credits include: Poppy International Tour, Charli XCX, Ben Platt, Nike, The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Prom a Netflix Original, Cirque du Soleil, Universal Studios Japan and more. Jason currently for Entity Contemporary Dance Company, a professional dance company based in Los Angeles.
JASON MARTIN
PICTURE COMING
SOON
Malia Asahino began her dance journey at the age of 6 while earning dance titles and choreography awards along the way. Malia is represented by MSA Agency and has danced in multiple music videos under the direction of renowned choreographers. She began choreographing/ teaching in high school and fell in love with both ever since. She is eager to continue sharing her love and passion for this art.
MALIA ASAHINO
PICTURE COMING
SOON
Kate is a junior at Dana Hills High School who has been competing since she was six. She is currently a choreographer for her school’s advanced dance team and a member of her school’s varsity song team. Kate has achieved first place awards at well known dance competitions such as Countdown, Bravo, and KAR! She is proud to be a part of the PAVE faculty!
PICTURE COMING
SOON
KATE ZIMMERMAN