Meet the Instructors

Abbie

In 2003, Abbie completed her Yoga teacher training at the Open Center in NYC. She has assisted Robyn Ross at the well known Kripalu Center in Lenox, Mass. Abbie’s passion for alternative health led her to train in Reiki, Laughter Yoga, & Spiritual Response Therapy, as well as work longside acupuncturists & chiropractors in NYC. In 2007, Abbie expanded her fitness training with a Pilates certification. She recently moved to the Los Angeles area and is so very blessed to be teaching at Heartbeat House!

Amber

Amber grew up in Australia, New Mexico, Brazil and Canada before finding herself in Los Angeles. Upon arrival in LA she fell in love with the historically-based, forward-looking healing power of different yogic postures, meditations and breathing techniques. She completed the Hatha and Kundalini mixed Teacher Training Program at Karuna Yoga in Los Feliz in the fall of 2007. Currently, she is expanding her yoga studies through the Yoga Therapy Rx Porgram at Loyola Marymont. She believes yoga allows her to breathe into the precious, transcendent parts of her body to allow her moments of calm, acceptance, inspiration and contentment. She is consistently awed and humbled by the gift of teaching yoga to others. She strives to provide a space for her students wherein they can breath and relax into the innate strength, stability and sacred silence that exists in their bodies and minds. Yoga aside, Amber has a degree in Art History from the University of British Columbia and she strives to read, watch, listen and tell stories as often as she can.

Angelita

Angelita’s eclectic dance background, with over 30 years of dance experience and 20 years of Flamenco, combined with her exceptional musicality and energy makes her a highly in-demand instructor. She is the artistic director of the flamenco show at El Cid Flamenco Theater, one of the oldest Spanish landmarks in Los Angeles.

Antonio

Antonio was born in Iran and grew up in Sweden before he moved to California. He has studied various Martial arts for 28 years & Latin dance more than 20 years.He started dancing at age of 14 & started to learn several different Latin styles by the age of 20, including Argentine Tango, Flamenco, Salsa, Cha Cha, samba and more.Antonio has trained with some of the best worldwide Tango dance teachers- Felix Chaves, Michael Espinoza, Monica Orozco, Leonardo Barrionuevo & Miriam Larici. Antonio also has a passion for Japanese martial arts as well as Latin dance. He practices both everyday.

Ashley

Ashley has designed a fun, effective cardio dance workout that she has taught all over the world. She can be seen in numerous workout DVDs, Fit TV and has recently completed “On The Ball,” which she designed and hosts. She is a current member of, Bijou Dancers performing in Los Angeles. Her certifications include: Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Active Older Adults, Core Muscle Stability, Kick Boxing, Get Real Weight Management, and GTS.

Brett

Brett has been studying Tai Chi Ch’uan and Chi Kung since 1995, currently studying at the Taoist Institute of Los Angeles under the direction of Grandmaster Carl Totton. Brett is a Certified Instructor of Tai Chi and Chi Kung as well as senior teaching assistant at The Taoist Institute. Brett has also been studying Kenpo Karate since 1996 and in 2001 began the study of Kung Fu, Taoist philosophy, Chi Kung, Meditation, Tui Na massage and Healing. Currently Brett is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Oriental Medicine at Emperor’s College.

Cati

Originally from Paris, France, Cati Jean studied ballet since the age of 8 with renowned teachers and choreographers. As a performer in Paris, she worked in television and performed in famous cabaret shows which took her to Japan and eventually Los Angeles. Since in L.A., she has taught and choreographed for many musicians, artists, and actors. Recently she trained Jessica Biel for her latest film role and Dita Von Teese for her burlesque shows. Cati’s hit cabaret show, L’Effleur de Sens, shows monthly at the King King in Hollywood.

Cherith

Cherith is a California native who since childhood has expressed herself by being involved in sports, dancing, theater and social activities. After spending a year and a half recuperating from a near fatal car accident, Cherith returned to Los Angeles in 2008 determined to prove her doctors wrong- she came back to her love for dancing as a way to workout without concentrating on her limitations. She used dance to regain her strength, flexibility, and mobility. Her passion for the art of salsa, merengue, cumbia and music lead her to start training with JP Santana to become certified in Latin Jam. She is now teaching and has performed on Univision, college campuses, and festivals. She is blessed to have the ability to dance and move and believes that through faith and a lot of hard works, anything is possible. She teaches with the goal that life should always be fun- especially while you’re dancing!

Doris

Doris Born and raised in a West Indies Parisian multicultural family, Doris started to develop her artistic sensibility at 6 learning ballet and rhythmic gymnastics. She finally fell in love with African and middle eastern dance and was the student of the Paris’ African school and created the Martel-Zavatta dance company in 1999. Doris currently lives and works in Los Angeles.

Fransini

Fransini has explored many of the Latin dance styles in her 25 years of dance experience, from Afro-Cuban to Salsa and Samba. She has been teaching for over 12 years in Colombia, South Carolina, Oregon and California. She currently owns SambaYSalsa, a dance and entertainment company and performs with her group at many different events, and she has recently completed her Zumba Certification.

Heather

Heather has enjoyed participating in fitness classes of all kinds for twenty years. She loves to teach and incorporate kickboxing, power moves, interval and weight training using weights, balls, bands, steps, and your own body weight for resistance always set to energizing fun music that will make you want to move. She believes that exercising is and should always be fun so you will find yourself hungry to come back for more. In the last four years, Heather has lost and maintained a 95lb weight loss, changed her career from producing TV to sharing all forms of fitness and yoga, and most importantly found a sense of self-acceptance that she hopes will be contagious. From December 2007 to December 2008, she ran in four marathons, completing three. The physical, mental, and spiritual gifts of moving her body, with others, marrying movement with breath in yoga, have been innumerable and shifted every aspect of Heather’s life and world view for the better. Her goal and passion in life is to share these gifts with as many students as possible in an environment of joy, acceptance, non-judgement, and fun!

Heidi

Heidi is committed to exploring the therapeutic and expressive properties of movement and dance. Finding the story each body wants to tell and letting it speak through pace, rhythm and space is her passion. She has worked with all age groups and has extensive experience working with special-needs clients. She has studied multiple forms of dance from ballet to belly dance and is currently enrolled in the Tamalpa Institute for Expressive Arts Therapy. The work that she has done has fueled her desire to find ways to help every body find the movement that creates joy.

Jasmine

Jasmine graduated from UCLA with a degree in History and choreography became her way of translating all she had learned, a map of juxtaposition and contradiction, exploring places wrought in authority and fleeting moments of insecurity. Her other work has been seen at Diavalo Dance Space and for the monthly psycho dance show Fingered. She has danced with companies such as Hysterica and Collage Dance Theater and with musical talent including We Are the World, Hazm, and Hecuba in various venues around Los Angeles such as the Hammer Museum, the Ford Amphitheater, The Orpheum, Pioneer Town and a laundromat on Sunset and Vine. She has choreographed music videos under the direction of Jennifer Tzar for Bob Wayne and danced in videos for Beck, Ingrid Michaelson, and You Will Know Us By the Trail of the Dead. Today she continues creating movement, picking up pieces of the city for inspiration while collaborating and working with choreographers such as Ryan Heffington and Mecca Andrews. Her classes are a quirky combination of technique, musicality, placement, balance, playing with gravity and creating images through motion.

JP

Juan Pablo is a Native from Manizales, Colombia. After his move to Southern California, JP began working as an instructor and physical trainer at Ballys Total Fitness and LA Total Fitness of Hollywood. In 2004, he began working with Zumba Fitness Cuorporation as a professional instructor. Now-a-days, he is one of the best and most recognized Zumba instructors in California, and is currently working as a Zumba instructor at various locations in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, as well as working as a personal trainer with celebrities such as Eva Larue from CSI Miami. Juan Pablo has been Certified as Instructor and Choreographer by ANAC (Association of National Aerobic Championship Worldwide), AFFA (Group Exercise Instructor) (Personal Training Instructor), and FEDA (Federacion Espanola de Aerobicos y Fitness)

Julie

Julie is very excited to be teaching Rock Toddler at Heartbeat House. Julie recently moved to Los Angeles from Austin, TX. In Austin she coordinated the Early Childhood Program at Austin Lyric Opera. She has her BA in Italian Literature from UC Berkeley and Masters of Music from the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to Rock Toddler she teaches Orff classes at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music.

Kimberly

Dance Ethnologist, Kimberly Miguel Mullen, M.A., is an award winning DVD star who is gaining global recognition for her innovative approach towards crossing over cultural dance forms into main stream markets. Mullen’s DVD’s, Dance and Be Fit Brazilian Body, Lower Body Burn, and Abs Burns have been coined by Us Weekly, Celebs’ New Dance Workout and have earned such prestigious awards as Best Dance DVD 2009 by Health Magazine’s “American Healthiest Buy.” With a Master’s degree in dance from UCLA and international training experience in Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, and Puerto Rico , she makes a unique contribution to the field and spirit of dance ethnology. Her style embraces all genres of dance enabling her to work in both traditional and contemporary performance realms which performance and choreography credits include concert, theater, film and television. The Los Angeles Times calls Mullen, “spectacularly supple,” owing to her comprehensive mastery of the dance discipline.

Kristen

Kristen’s love for rhythm and dance led her to fall madly in love with Yoga Booty Ballet, which she believes is an ideal fitness medium because of its uplifting and fun nature. With music guiding the YBB experience, Kristen enjoys creating the unique and evocative playlists that help to ignite the intentions of her students.

Kumbi

Kumbi is from Boulder, Colorado and has always been a health and fitness fanatic. She started practicing yoga over ten years ago in attempt to heal a lower back injury. Discovering that yoga not only helped heal her back but also reduce stress and open up an inner energy and light, she was transformed. Her background is in teaching dance as well as personal training. She has trained in chiropractic offices as well as large gyms. She studied and underwent a teacher training program in Hatha Power Yoga under Steven Earth of Earth’s Power Yoga in Los Angeles. Since then, she has been teaching locally and privately as well as studying and learning under a variety of teachers. Kumbi is currently enrolled in a yoga therapy program with The American Viniyoga Institute under Gary Kraftsow.

LeX

LeX has been a professional performer/choreographer/instructor for over 12 years. She has trained extensively with hip-hop masters like Boogaloo Sam, Don Campbell, Mr. Wiggles, Crazy Leggs, Buddah Stretch, Link, Rennie Harris and has also been trained in jazz, tap, lyrical and some salsa. LeX was a touring company member with Rennie Harris Puremovement and performer in the internationally touring production “Cool Heat Urban Beat,” where she toured Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark & Portugal. She has worked with recording artists such as Will Smith, Sean Paul, Pink, Neil Young, etc. She was a member and choreographer of the NBA Philadelphia 76ers and Fox Television’s Good Day Philadelphia Hip-Hop Dance Team. Besides teaching and choreographing, she is also co-Owner/Director of FloMotion Dance Company who have performed for NBC, Bally’s Total Fitness, ILLADELPH Legends, 76′ers, and CLUB DUO, (Tokyo, Japan). LeX currently lives in Los Angeles where she’s done videos with Snoop Dogg, Nelly Furtado, Alyson, as well as teaching and dancing.

Marisa

Marisa has been involved in all forms of exercise from an early age. A former certified spin instructor, in 2002 she discovered Latin dance which started her journey on a new and exciting path to training in salsa, merengue, cha cha cha, bachata, and samba. After being introduced to Zumba at a seminar, she knew she wanted to teach it- the perfect combination of Latin dance, hard-core exercise, all in a party-like atmosphere!

Mecca

Mecca’s film and stage credits include Disney’s Bedtime Stories, RENT, MTV Movie Awards, Hysterica Dance Company, Commonality Dance Company, Grammy’s with David LaChapelle, Sony Industrials, Vh1’s Showgirl Bootcamp, and American Apparel. Mecca can been seen in the February 2008 issue of Dance Spirit with Hysterica Dance Company. Her work is spoken very highly of in Street Scene, Los Angeles Times and Arthur Magazine. Mecca was featured in the June issue of Loudmouth magazine for her performance troupe The movement MOVEMENT who were also chosen as one of 20 Finalists for the VH1 reality television show Choreographer. Mecca has choreographed for Los Angeles Comtemporary Dance Company, Hysterica Dance Company and Syzygy Theatre Company just to name a few. She has travelled to Stuttgart, Germany with Commonality Dance Company to instruct Contemporary Jazz and perform the companies repetory and has performed extensively in Europe with Electrosoul indie band Hey Willpower. Mecca choreographed singer/songwriter Eleni Mandell’s video Dis Moi and completed a collaboration with ‘A Family Finds Entertainment’ director Ryan Trecartin for his most recent film ‘I Be Area’ in which she also performs. She is currently choreographing a new play Beauty For Ashes that will premiere in November. Mecca Vazie Andrews teaches contemporary jazz at Edge Performing Arts Center, Creative Movement at Gramercy Park and Jazz 3 at Loyola Marymount University. Ready Steady Go!

Michael

Always a student of yoga, Michael has been immersed in the practice for over 15 years. Certified in both Kundalini & Hatha, he brings a unique blend of the two forms of yoga to his class. Hatha provides the grounding postures to anchor energy, and Kundalini takes that energy to another level of awareness. With a passion for expanding his consciousness in his own practice, he hopes to communicate this in his teaching, and through example in his daily life. In addition, Michael’s love of music and the healing power of sound current play an integral part of his class, including mantra and breathe to enhance deeper meditation and contemplation.

Nancy

Nancy Kintisch (Raghubir) has been an avid student and practitioner of many types of yoga much of her adult life, but knew she had found her home in Kundalini Yoga six years ago. She’s studied extensively under master teachers Harijiwan and Tej at Golden Bridge and in Santa Monica, and has received her certification three times….twice just for fun. Her classes are “Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan”® which means that they are pure Kundalini Yoga and not mixed with any other yoga form. Therefore, your experience will be profound, transformational, energizing, holistic, and as close to the source as possible. Nancy also teaches an early morning class here at Heartbeat House at 6 am Monday-Wednesday-Fridays. She has regular classes at Dance Garden, Yoga West, and the Crystal Matrix, and once a week at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts where she teaches “Kundalini Yoga and the Spark of Creativity” to young artists, actors, musicians, and dancers. She is an artist herself and her love of creative self-expression permeates every class she teaches. For more information, visit her website at www.Atwaterkundaliniyoga.com.

Oceana

Oceana began her lifelong fascination with movement in acrobatics at age six. The progression to competitive gymnastics at age twelve was natural and she competed through high school, her best event being balance beam. During her college years she studied ballet and operatic voice.

Oceana has become a dynamic belly dance artist over the last 8 years, in the American Cabaret and Egyptian styles. Oceana is also a snake dancer in Mesmera’s Sacred Serpent Troupe, a member of Jenna’s Troupe Bloom, and recently appeared in the critically acclaimed theater show “Caravan of Secrets” by Zahra Zuhair. Oceana is a featured dancer at Moroccan Restaurant Dar Maghreb, and dances at weddings and celebrations all over Los Angeles.

Anyone who has known Oceana for even a short time will learn of her love for all animals and especially sea creatures. Her affinity for animals and the sea defines her personality and is the object of a majority of her affections. It is through dance that she is able to communicate that love and respect for all life to her students. Belly dance, of all dance forms has survived for thousands of years not only for entertainment, but because it has a real ability to heal and empower those who seek to explore its many secrets. Oceana invites you to join her in experiencing the life-giving dance.

Rahul

Rahul is from London and began his dancing career at the early age of 8, performing at local charity events and cultural shows. In this time, he was lucky enough to gain distinction in Modern and Classical Indian dancing from the reputable Honey’s Dance Academy. In 2002 he returned to dancing after a hiatus, and made a huge comeback with the GKT Diwali show corporation. With this company, he went on to perform at top venues such as Wembley Conference Centre, London Carling Apollo and Brixton Academy, performing to hit Bollywood songs such as “Chaiye Chaiye” and “Kambhat Ishq”. In 2004 he joined FlexFx productions where his choreographies were an instant success and helped the company become “best” in British/Asian entertainment, performing at high status events, such as the Zee Cine Awards. Rahul has been seen in big Bollywood blockbusters and videos for top-grossing Tamil hit songs where he has shared the screen with superstars of India. Rahul’s passion for dancing is immense – – he has been teaching for over 10 years and is eager to bring Bollywood to Hollywood with the help of other dedicated performers.

Rebekkah

Rebekkah has been teaching pilates for 7 years and yoga for 2. She loves working with all kinds of people of all shapes, ages, and sizes. She thinks of our bodies as the greatest of gifts to know and most of all, that looking inward and rejuvenating the outward should be filled ith fun and come from the soul.

Sarah

Sarah, creator of World Citizen Baby, grew up in a family where music was always central to family gatherings. She received her BA in Theatre Acting/Directing from Mesa State College in Colorado and spent several years in Chicago working as a theatre actor. In January 2003, she did the Music Together teacher training and began teaching early childhood music around town, including at the Old Town School of Folk Music, where she learned to play guitar and first discovered capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art. In July 2004, she studied classical acting techniques with the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, UK. She is a founding member of Song Weavers, an a capella song/chant group that has performed in Sebastapol, CA, New York City, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Sarah brings guitar, bodhran (an Irish frame drum), flute, banjo and berimbau (an Afro-Brazilian instrument) along with a passion for creating a global community to her music. Sarah’s CD, Rest My Love, a collection of lullabies from around the world, is available on at http://cdbaby.com/cd/sarahpeters or on iTunes.

Shawnee

Shawnee’s teaching experience began with teaching ballet, cheer, musical theatre, and expressive movement in youth programs and schools. After discovering Zumba early in 2007, she has taught with JP Santana and LatinZumba at dozens of festivals and events throughout LA. She participated in the Zumba infomercial now airing worldwide as well as presenting Zumba on Fox News Channel’s Good Day LA and most recently a special presentation of Zumba Kids to promote the release of the new Zumba Kids DVDs. Zumba has become the perfect balance of dancing, performing, and teaching in Shawnee’s life. She currently teaches in Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley and hopes to help students of Heartbeat House dance their way to a happier and healthier life.

Soy

Soy is a former member of FatChanceBellydance in San Francisco, directed by Carolina Nericcio, who is credited for popularizing ATS (American Tribal Style). Soy has shared the stage with Bellydance superstars and currently performs in L.A. and the O.C.

Susan

Susan Howard has been working as a fitness professional and private trainer for over ten years. She is AFFA, APEX, Reebock Core and Yoga Works certified. She taught at Barry’s Bootcamp West Hollywood and has been motivating private clients in the Atwater area for years.

Sweepy

Sweepy is a member of the world famous ROCKSTEADY CREW. He has toured the world performing in theaters and concert halls all over. He has also been featured in many music videos such as Missy Elliots WORK IT VIDEO AND Daddy Yankeys ROMPE. He also has been featured in the movies PIRATES OF THE CARRABEAN PART 2, and the new INDIANA JONES.
Sweepy has many years experience teaching children, teens and adults poppin and breaking.
Come and have fun and learn from a legend in the dance world!

Toni

Toni is originally from Fresno, California and was always active in cheerleading, gymnastics. After graduating from both UCLA and USC and entering into the field of Accounting, she quickly felt the need to regain her passion for fitness in order to balance her professional life activity. Toni began taking classes at Heartbeat House as her New Year’s Resolution in 2008 and then soon became an instructor for Latin Jam Workout, working closely with JP Santana to promote the workout brand as well as participating in various performances and fitness events. Latin Jam helps her to keep in shape, as well as to keep focused in her every day career. “I am excited to help promote one of the best workout platforms I’ve come across, while at the same time having a blast. Hope to see you all in class!”

Veena

Veena was born with both an Indian and Arabic background, Veena grew up with Bollywood films and Bhangra dance/music. Famous with her twin sister, Neena, as “The Bellytwins,” they have been featured as special guest dancers, choreographers, and actresses on hundreds of national and international stages, films, TV shows, commercials and music videos. The twins are also the founders, artistic directors, choreographers and teachers of their own dance company, which specializes in dances of India and the Middle East. Their recent 2 hour live production of Hooray for Bollywood! received rave reviews from a sold-out audience and the media. The show is currently in negotiations for US, European, and Asian tours. Veena is a recipient of several acting, singing and dancing scholarships and awards, local and national. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre and Voice, and is a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts Degree program at UCLA. Aside from learning dances in Egypt and India, she also studied Mexican Folk Dance and Spanish at the University in Michúcan, Mexico. She speaks Hindi, Spanish, some Arabic and Farsi, and is fluent in sign language. As an actress, she has appeared on many feature films including Monkey Bone with Brendan Fraser, Scorpion King, From Dusk ‘til Dawn, and Freddy Got Fingered. She had recurring roles on Malcolm & Eddie, The Shield, and ER.