meet our team
Alexa von der Hoff
CORE Dance Owner, Director of CORE Dance Company
Originally from Southwest Michigan, Alexa began dancing at a young age and quickly fell in love with it. After years of training and competitive dancing, she continued her education at Eastern Michigan University where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Entrepreneurship and Dance. During her time at EMU she concentrated on perfecting her ballet and modern technique and took extensive classes in choreography and dance history. Alexa performed multiple times both in guest faculty showcases and student choreography showcases. She also choreographed multiple times for the program and her works were featured in multiple shows including the Elements of Composition Showcase and the Advanced Composition Showcase.
After graduating in 2014 she decided she was suited for warmer weather and quickly moved to California to take in the sunshine. Soon after moving, she was fortunate enough to meet the wonderful staff and students at CORE Dance and quickly fell in love with the encouraging and positive atmosphere. In addition to teaching at CORE Dance, Alexa also taught dance at Paso Robles Public Schools where she worked on developing a brand new dance program while teaching to grades TK-5 for a year before moving to Flamson Middle School where she taught for an additional 2 years while completing her teaching credential and Master’s in Education. In January of 2018 Alexa took over as owner of CORE Dance and has loved every moment of it.
Becky Cota
Becky Cota began her dance training at the late age of 23, after retiring from a 15 year competitive swimming career. Becky always loved dance, and her first dance class was “Pop & Lockin” with Huggy Ford at Pat Jackson’s American Dance Studio. She was hooked, and began taking whatever class she could. Within the first year she was put on scholarship and by the second year, she was invited to dance with the prestigious American Dance Company under the direction of beloved Miss Pat.
Becky moved to Palm Springs, California in 1986, where she continued her training in Los Angeles with Dennon & Sayhber Rawles, Doug Caldwell, and Keith Clifton and locally with Gary White and Shea New. She has traveled and performed in numerous industrials, musicals, stage productions, television and rock videos. Becky began teaching and quickly leaped into choreography for various community events.
While working with Shea New, Becky became her jazz director and formed “the Desert Dimension Dancers”. They were the first semi-professional dance troupe in the desert. As she continued to train and dance herself, she really found her true place which was teaching and choreography. Her choreography accomplishments continue to grow with numerous stage productions including: A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Big River, The Desert Theater Leagues Annual Award Ceremony, The Arabian Nights Pageant, Music Kids, Miss Indio and Miss Palm Springs Pageants. She was also assistant choreographer and dancer in the award winning musical “Blues Boulevard” and “Festival”. She has also choreographed numerous award winning competition and high school team pieces in jazz, lyrical, musical theater, and contemporary. She is a sought out teacher for technique classes as well.
Becky has been teaching for 32 years and continues to teach master classes and set pieces for competition teams. She feels blessed to continue doing what she loves by watching her pieces come to life on stage, including watching the love of her life, daughter Aaliyah dance. Many of her students have gone on to work in the entertainment industry in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Japan. Becky is also a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor since 1991 and uses her knowledge of biomechanics to strengthen dancers and prevent injuries. Becky looks forward to continuing her journey in dance back in San Luis Obispo where it all began.
Becky Cota
Becky Cota began her dance training at the late age of 23, after retiring from a 15 year competitive swimming career. Becky always loved dance, and her first dance class was “Pop & Lockin” with Huggy Ford at Pat Jackson’s American Dance Studio. She was hooked, and began taking whatever class she could. Within the first year she was put on scholarship and by the second year, she was invited to dance with the prestigious American Dance Company under the direction of beloved Miss Pat.
Becky moved to Palm Springs, California in 1986, where she continued her training in Los Angeles with Dennon & Sayhber Rawles, Doug Caldwell, and Keith Clifton and locally with Gary White and Shea New. She has traveled and performed in numerous industrials, musicals, stage productions, television and rock videos. Becky began teaching and quickly leaped into choreography for various community events.
While working with Shea New, Becky became her jazz director and formed “the Desert Dimension Dancers”. They were the first semi-professional dance troupe in the desert. As she continued to train and dance herself, she really found her true place which was teaching and choreography. Her choreography accomplishments continue to grow with numerous stage productions including: A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Big River, The Desert Theater Leagues Annual Award Ceremony, The Arabian Nights Pageant, Music Kids, Miss Indio and Miss Palm Springs Pageants. She was also assistant choreographer and dancer in the award winning musical “Blues Boulevard” and “Festival”. She has also choreographed numerous award winning competition and high school team pieces in jazz, lyrical, musical theater, and contemporary. She is a sought out teacher for technique classes as well.
Becky has been teaching for 32 years and continues to teach master classes and set pieces for competition teams. She feels blessed to continue doing what she loves by watching her pieces come to life on stage, including watching the love of her life, daughter Aaliyah dance. Many of her students have gone on to work in the entertainment industry in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Japan. Becky is also a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor since 1991 and uses her knowledge of biomechanics to strengthen dancers and prevent injuries. Becky looks forward to continuing her journey in dance back in San Luis Obispo where it all began.
Molly McKiernan
Molly is an American Ballet Theatre Certified Dance Teacher with over 20 years of experience teaching in the Performing Arts. Her first ballet class was at the age of 5 at Mary Coudin Snyder’s Dance Studio. Her dance training continued at American Dance and then on to Academy of Dance in San Luis Obispo where she spent many years studying ballet and jazz as a young dancer. At the age of 10, Molly auditioned for Ballet Austin and was accepted to their Junior Company program for 3 years of classical ballet training under the direction of Eugene Slavin and Alexandra Nadal of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She performed many of the children’s roles in their acclaimed production of The Nutcracker.
Upon returning to Academy of Dance, Molly became a member of the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo. For more then 12 years she performed corps de ballet, solo and principal roles for the ballet company including Snow Queen, Rose Queen and Sugarplum Fairy. Contemporary roles in Alice in Wonderland, West Side Story, Where the Wild Things Are and soloist for Jon Anderson’s “Earth Mother Earth”. She was hired as Lead Guest Artist for 2 seasons of Ballet Fantastique’s Nutcracker and went on to further her training with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.
Molly’s devotion to dance transitioned seamlessly into teaching and choreographing. She was appointed Artistic Director for 2 seasons of the Civic Ballet’s well received Sleeping Beauty at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center, Master Ballet Teacher for Dance in Action’s Summer Convention in Hawaii, Guest Choreographer at The San Luis Obispo Little Theatre for “Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison Legends Shows” and Co-Director for their ACT Children’s Broadway Camp programs, Artistic Director for The San Luis Jazz Dancers, Choreographer/Master Teacher for Mission College Prep, Morro Bay High School, Alan Hancock’s Spectrum and Cal Poly’s Orchesis Dance Company, performer/choreographer for Academy of Dance’s International Dance Festivals in China, Cuba and Spain, creator and Teacher for San Luis Coastal Unified School District’s Elementary PE/Dance program which provided an enrichment through dance for over 2000 students a year. She has been recognized for her collaborative and choreographic works with the San Luis Obispo Symphony in “Carnival of the Animals”. Molly was the Artistic Director of Coastal Chamber Youth Ballet from it’s inception and spent 9 years developing a quality ballet program through training, performances and outreaches.
Klar-Kristan Harder
Klar knew she would pursue dance professionally at the tender age of 3. When her 2 older sisters were in ballet class, Klar would imitate movements in the doorway of the observation room. She extensively trained in the Italian Cecchetti Syllabus with Teacher Emeritus Lucille McClure, in Whittier, California through her teens. Since those formative years, Klar has enjoyed professional opportunities dancing in soloist and principal roles, performing in the ballets The Nutcracker, Firebird, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliette, Giselle, Paquita, Carmen, Cinderella, Don Quixote, Peter & the Wolf, among others, including numerous original ballets and Guest Artist invitations. Klar has performed the choreography of George Balanchine, Alan Scofield, Norbert Vezak, Carlos Carvajal, Enrico Labayen, Kathryn Rozak, James Reardon and Jerry Jackson, and many regional and international choreographers. She considers it a blessing to have been honed and mentored throughout her career by noteable Artistic Directors, namely Maria Vegh (Harkness/Marin Ballet), Margaret Swarthout (Royal Opera), Robert Barnett (Atlanta Ballet), Jocelyn Vollmar (San Fransisco Ballet), Peter Pawlyshin (Boston Ballet/Royal Winnepeg), James Reardon (Boston Ballet/Boston Dance Company), Alonzo King and Arturo Fernandez (Lines Ballet), Enrico Labayen (Joffrey/Labayan Dance) and Dennis Nahat (Cleveland/Ballet San Jose/Theatre Ventures International).
She was honored to dance with The Marin Ballet, Pacific America Ballet Theatre, Ballet New England, Boston
Dance Company, Granite State Ballet, Labayen Dance San Francisco and American Repertory Theatre Ballet,
spanning a performing career of over 25 years. Klar also danced in commercial venture companies, including The
Walt Disney Company, Jerry Jackson Productions and The Really Useful Company (Phantom of the Opera). While performing, Klar had the good fortune of holding faculty positions at Marin Dance Theatre, Marti Gibeau
School of Dance (Palo Alto) and San Francisco Dance Center - home of Alonzo Kings Lines Contemporary Ballet. In
conjunction with her performing career, she took on directorship, choreographic and teaching capacities at Dance
Connection Palo Alto, San Francisco School of the Arts (Artist in Residence), Paso Robles Chamber Ballet (a
Regional Dance of America member school), and was appointed by Dennis Nahat as Associate Director/ Principal
Teacher for his new ballet school, Theatre Ventures International, in San Jose, CA. She has developed and taught
exclusive Dance and Performing Arts curriculum through Central California’s public school system to nearly 700
students of all ages for several years. She has been a prominent faculty instructor, choreographer and Artistic Director for Coastal Dance and Music Academy’s programs in Grover Beach, CA, and created exclusive Performing Arts
workshops and online dance content at the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation. Klar’s students have been awarded scholarships/acceptance into programs at Ballet Magnificat, Ballet San Jose, Boston Ballet, Joffrey, Long Beach Ballet, Anaheim Ballet, Lines Ballet, Marin Dance Theatre, Radio City Rockettes, School of American Ballet, The Gelsey Kirkland Workshop, ABT, among others. She has also guided students into acceptance and scholarship awards to prestigious colleges offering Fine Arts degrees. Though primarily classically trained ballerina, master teacher and choreographer, Klar’s talents allowed her access
to the musical theatre arena as well. She performed in The Phantom of the Opera, A Chorus Line, My Fair Lady, The King and I, Funny Girl, Bye Bye Birdie and Broadway compilations shows internationally that included Riverdance,
Singin’ in the Rain and West Side Story. She has also taught, choreographed, directed and danced internationally in
the US Commonwealth Islands of Guam & Saipan, Japan, Thailand, and India. Klar’s teaching arsenal includes classical and contemporary ballet, pas de deux, pointe, jazz, tap and musical theatre. She has maintained a strong focus on educating and training dancers and artists of all levels since 1991, continuing to perform in a vast array of eclectic and wonderful opportunities.
Leslie Baumberger
Leslie Baumberger is a founding pillar of the Central Coast dance community as a teacher, choreographer, and director for the past 35 years. She was an Artistic Director and Company Director of Pat Jacksons American Dance under owner Pat Jackson, and American Dance of SLO under owner Lissa Beck. Her dancers have gone on to tour with famous musicians, work professionally on both stage and screen, become successful choreographers, and open their own studios across the country.
Leslie’s companies consistently place first overall in competitions throughout the United States. In 1996, she was invited to be a master teacher by the Kalinka Ballet School in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her dancers were invited to perform in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia and were featured in such dance publications as Dance Spirit and Dance Teacher magazine. She directed the All American Dancers, who were named Performers of the Year 1998 and again in 2000.
In 2014, Leslie was honored with the Arts Obispo lifetime achievement award in dance. And, in 2015 the California State Legislature honoured Leslie with a Certificate of Recognition in the dance arts. She loves being a part of the Central Coast Dance community and is proud to help dancers continue to SHINE forever.
Leslie Baumberger
Leslie Baumberger is a founding pillar of the Central Coast dance community as a teacher, choreographer, and director for the past 35 years. She was an Artistic Director and Company Director of Pat Jacksons American Dance under owner Pat Jackson, and American Dance of SLO under owner Lissa Beck. Her dancers have gone on to tour with famous musicians, work professionally on both stage and screen, become successful choreographers, and open their own studios across the country.
Leslie’s companies consistently place first overall in competitions throughout the United States. In 1996, she was invited to be a master teacher by the Kalinka Ballet School in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her dancers were invited to perform in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia and were featured in such dance publications as Dance Spirit and Dance Teacher magazine. She directed the All American Dancers, who were named Performers of the Year 1998 and again in 2000.
In 2014, Leslie was honored with the Arts Obispo lifetime achievement award in dance. And, in 2015 the California State Legislature honoured Leslie with a Certificate of Recognition in the dance arts. She loves being a part of the Central Coast Dance community and is proud to help dancers continue to SHINE forever.
Isabella Lund
Isabella has been dancing since she was 2 years old. Beginning at Pat Jackson's American Dance and then continuing here at CORE ever since they opened their doors in 2010. She attended many competitions with her CORE team, as well as dancing in local performances. She has received numerous scholarships and opportunities from competitions such as ASH, Tremaine, Hollywood Vibe, and being a part of the “All Star” program at Dupree in 2018. She fell in love with teaching dance a few years ago. After graduation, alongside teaching, she has been able to continue her passion due to performance/job opportunities from award winning, Emmy nominated choreographer and director Doriana Sanchez. Isabella is excited to officially join the CORE staff after being a part of the studio for so long!
Holly Hoffman
Holly Hoffman began dancing at the age of 4 in the Bay Area and was a member of the nationally award winning competition team at Lana's Dance Studio.
She was praised for some of the best character work in the Bay Area for her work as a performing character, singer and dancer at Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, CA.
Holly continued dancing in college and explored modern, swing, ballroom, West African, aerial silks, breakdance and line dancing. During grad school, Miss Holly taught dance at Laguna middle school through an after school program with SLO Parks & Recreation.
After graduating from CalPoly with dual masters degrees, Holly worked as Choreographer for the annual musicals at Central Valley Christian Schools in Visalia. She also taught Creative Movement through Advanced Tap at Elite Dance Academy before moving back to SLO.
Miss Holly loves sharing the joy of tap at CORE Dance!
Holly Hoffman
Holly Hoffman began dancing at the age of 4 in the Bay Area and competed with a nationally award winning dance team for several years. Her passion for teaching was triggered during her first year of high school while teaching 3-5 year old girls at her high school’s junior cheerleading camp, and volunteering as the choreographer for a children’s musical for elementary school aged kids. While still in high school, Miss Holly worked as a performing character, singer and dancer at Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, CA where she was praised for some of the best character work in the Bay Area and was recruited for a second year. Her senior year of high school, Miss Holly received a Top Performer award at the ITS California All State Conference for her tap solo, “Paint it Black,” and graduated as an Honor Thespian with the International Thespian Society.
In college, she continued to dance and studied ballet with Michelle Walters, jazz with Lisa Deyo and added modern dance to her repertoire. While at Cal Poly, she participated in the annual spring dance shows, dancing in multiple styles including breakdance. During grad school, Miss Holly taught dance at Laguna middle school through an after school program with SLO Parks & Recreation.
After graduating from CalPoly with dual masters, Miss Holly moved to the Great Central Valley where she was the Choreographer for the annual musicals at Central Valley Christian Schools in Visalia. She also taught Creative Movement through Advanced Tap at Elite Dance Academy and was hired as a featured dancer in the annual productions of The Nutcracker with Theatre Arts Alliance as a Flower, Snowmaiden, Mirliton trio,Chinese Tea duet, and ending as Clara’s Mother and Snow Queen. Miss Holly loves sharing the joy of tap at CORE Dance! She is also excited to be the Executive Director of Children’s Ballet Theatre.
Justin Grapentine
Justin has been with Core since 2015, and has loved every second of it. With Core, Justin has performed internationally and has won numerous awards. Justin goes to Templeton High School, and in his free time he choreographs and performs with THS Drama. His dance training ranges from Cecchetti ballet to Jazz Funk and everything in between.
Other hobbies of his includes tutoring, playing the guitar, and making random duck noises to annoy his parents. Justin is honored to be part of such an extraordinary studio and looks forward to continuing to shine with them.
Makena Harding
Our wonderful Office Manager
Makena was born and raised in Palm Springs, California. She is currently in her second year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Makena has been dancing since she was 7 years old and is trained in all styles. She started competing in 2015 with the Hartin Dance Company in ballet, jazz, and modern. In high school she was captain of the La Quinta High School Dance Team and had an undefeated season all four years. While in high school, she took classes under Travis Wall, Carlos Curley, Autum Miller, and danced at Millennium Dance Complex She competed in nationals located in Florida and now holds a National Hip Hop title. Makena "retired" from dance after graduating high school to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian but couldn't stay away from the dance world.
Makena Harding
Our wonderful Office Manager
Makena was born and raised in Palm Springs, California. She is currently in her second year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Makena has been dancing since she was 7 years old and is trained in all styles. She started competing in 2015 with the Hartin Dance Company in ballet, jazz, and modern. In high school she was captain of the La Quinta High School Dance Team and had an undefeated season all four years. While in high school, she took classes under Travis Wall, Carlos Curley, Autum Miller, and danced at Millennium Dance Complex She competed in nationals located in Florida and now holds a National Hip Hop title. Makena "retired" from dance after graduating high school to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian but couldn't stay away from the dance world.
Aubrey Turner
Teen Company Director
BIO COMING SOON!
Oscar Guittierez
BIO COMING SOON!
Cory Lund
CORE Dance Company Treasurer
BIO COMING SOON!
Cory Lund
CORE Dance Company Treasurer
BIO COMING SOON!
Testimonials
Amazing teachers and a welcoming, supportive environment. My daughter loves her classes at CORE!
Erin H.
I am SO thankful I am back to dancing again! I'm even happier I found Core! The people are friendly and classes are fun!
Stephanie G.
Contact Us
ADDRESS
882 Ricardo Ct, San Luis Obispo CA 93401
Monday: 8-10 AM & 3-6:30 PM
Tuesday: 8-10 AM & 3-7 PM
Wednesday: 8-10 AM & 3-7 PM
Thursday: 8:15-10 AM & 3-7 PM
Friday: 8-10 AM & 3-630 PM
Saturday: 9 AM - 12:30 PM
Sunday: CLOSED
About
CORE Dance offers something for every interested dancer, all ages, styles and commitment levels. In addition to the ballet based dance training CORE offers, we also offer performance opportunities for beginners through advanced levels, starting at age 2 through adults. CORE Dance currently has the largest and most diverse performing groups on the entire Central Coast.
Opening Hours
Monday: 9:30-11:30 AM & 3-6:30 PM
Tuesday: 3-7 PM
Wednesday: 9-11 AM & 3-7 PM
Thursday: 3-7 PM
Friday: 3-630 PM
Saturday: 9 AM - 12:30 PM
Sunday: CLOSED
ADDRESS: 882 Ricardo Ct., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Email: coredance.cc@gmail.com
Telephone: (805)541-2669
Instagram: @coredance.slo
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