Our Teachers!

We pride ourselves in having experienced and passionate instructors who love to work with our students. Many of our teachers have roots here at Hart Academy and our now giving back to our program.

Diana Holman - is the proud owner and director of Hart Academy of Dance. She has been dancing for over 20 years and teaching for almost 10. She is a well-known dancer, teacher, and choreographer for many studios, high schools, and worked as the assistant director for Team Rave Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Currently, she is also the advanced tap teacher at the Orange County High School of the Arts. Diana graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Communication from Chapman University in 2005. Her specialty is teaching and choreographing tap, however she also enjoys teaching musical theater, jazz, and lyrical.

Emily Baker - has been dancing ballet since the age of four. She has trained with Lois Ellyn, Stefan Wenta, Bill Iha, Judy Britten, Axel Hering, and Joey Harris. She attended Orange County High School of the Arts in Commercial Dance from 1993 thru 1995. Upon graduation, she started dancing professionally for Nouveau Chamber Ballet under the artistic direction of Lois Ellyn. She travelled to Fukui Japan in 1995 and 2001 as a guest principal in Spring Waters, Appalachian Spring, and Paquita. She has danced the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Clara, Arabian, Spanish, Reed Flutes, Soloist in Waltz of the Flowers, and Turkish Doll in 'The Nutcracker' for Nouveau Chamber Ballet. She has also danced "Cigale" in 'Cigale', "Gray Horese" in 'Tale of the Little Gray Horse', Summer Wind, Petrushka, and many more. Emily began teaching at 17 in 1995 and truly found her passion. She has been teaching at Hart Academy of Dance since January of 2005.

Steven McNamara - originally from the east coast, has trained in dance for 10 years. As a dancer, Steven won numerous awards and titles both regionally as well as nationally. He has been teaching and choreographing for 5 years. Over the years, his choreography has won him many awards on both the west and east coasts! Steven currently attends the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Irvine, CA studying graphic design.

Alyssa Kosan - is a graduate of the Orange County High School of the Arts where she excelled in the Commercial Dance Department. She was a competitive dancer for 11 years winning numerous awards and titles. She is currently studying Merchandise Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Alyssa has been teaching dance for 3 years, and has worked as a rehearsal director for the Golden State Dance Company.

Tiffany Pendergast - has been dancing since the age of four. She began dancing at Hart Academy in 1996 and began teaching in 2003. She was the captain of her high school dance team and teaches for several community centers as well. She is a recent graduate of UC Irvine and is currently in the credential program to become an elementary school teacher.

Christina De Villez - has been a student of dance for over 18 years. She has been trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern at various dance studios throughout Southern California. Her years of dancing have won her various national and regional awards throughout the west coast. Christina has performed in Disney's Electrical Parade, Disneyland's Fantasmic!, Disney's Grand Marshal Pre-Parade, Disney and Pixar's Block Party Bash, and Team Rave LA. Along the way, Christina has made time to Choreograph for Disney's charity event Flashback for over four years and counting. She has taught at various dance studios such as Dance Unlimited (Oceanside, CA), All That Dance (Chino Hills, CA), Hart Academy of Dance, (La Habra, CA), B's Dance Studio (Downey, CA), and Higher Ground (Anaheim Hills, CA). Christina is presently a song leading coach at La Serna High School and is a student at Cal State University of Fullerton and is receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. Christina is a certified Yoga instructor through Cloud Nine Yoga and has taken classes with various yoga instructors throughout California. She has also been a Girl Scout for 15 years and has received the Silver and Gold Award. Christina's passion of dance has grown to become a defining part of her life and she is excited to see where her dancing journey will take her as she continues her education and practice in all styles of dance. Christina is excited to be teaching at her home Hart Academy of Dance where she started dancing as a little girl.

Ricky Cole -

Jessica Werbick - has beent teaching dance for the past 14 years. She has taught in a number of studios throughout Orange County and is ecstatic to be back at Hart Academy with a fantastic director. You may have seen her in the parades at Disneyland between 1994 and 1997. She continued her education at Concordia University in Irvine and graduated in 2000 with a degree in Mathematics and a minor in Business Administration. Besides teaching, Jessica works in her own business, By The Numbers Bookkeeping, Inc.

Kristen Vega - is a recent graduate of Sonora High School and Hart Academy of Dance. At SOHS, Kristen was Senior Class President, Dance Production captain, Varsity Song captain, CSF Vice President and Impact Lead Mentor. She is currently a Sociology major at Chapman University in Orange, CA. Kristen has been dancing ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and hip-hop for over 15 years and has trained with Diana in tap for the past 10 years. She is excited to be joining the Hart Academy staff and has earned her position here with her fabulous dancing and leadership skills.

Brianna Whitehall - began her relationship with dance at the age of five which grew into a passion that she has continued for 16 years. She studied technique and danced competitively at Hart Academy of Dance for 8 years. She represented Troy High School for four years, where as a regional undefeated soloist, she earned Best of California award for two consecutive years and Best of USA at a Nationals Competition. She was also captain of Troy High School’s National Champion winning dance team. She has been instructing and choreographing for 5 years. She choreographed and performed for high school musicals and plays, as well as, choreographing studio dance pieces. She enjoyed being a member of Team Rave L.A. Dance Company that performed at many fundraisers in the L.A. and Orange County area, including Heal the Bay at Venice Beach, The Candle Light Ceremony for 9/11 in Beverly Hills, performances at Disneyland, and John Wooden Classic. Brianna is currently instructing at Hart Academy of Dance and local Community Centers in her area. She is enthusiastic to continue her study in Dance and English at Fullerton College and beyond.

Tiffany Cloud - trained at Hart Academy for 10 years and has been teaching at Hart for 10 years as well. Tiffany has her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from California State University of Fullerton as well as a minor in Kinesiology. She competed on Cal state Fullerton's nationally ranked dance team for two years and was captain for one year. Tiffany is also a coach for the Whittier Christian High School Varsity Song Squad and Azusa Pacific University's Spirit Squad. Some of her professional work includes music videos, cable sport show appearances, and print work. Tiffany is a blissful newlywed who loves praising the Lord through her many talents. "Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him..." Psalm 149:3

Cheri Avalos - has been dancing since the age of two and competively since the age of five. She has trained in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Modern, African, and Flamenco. She has won numerous awards and national titles throughout both the East & West Coast. She has performed in many benefit shows for Breast Cancer and 9-11. With her love for kids, Cheri is currently a Liberal Arts Major in pursuit to be a Kindergarten teacher on day. She has been teaching for 4 years now and has choreographed for numerous studios and high schools. Along with the studio, Cheri also coaches for the nationally award winning song squad at Los Alamitos High School, that she was once part of. Cheri’s passion for teaching and working with children has taken her many places and has now landed her at Hart Academy. A family that she is honored to now be a part of.