MIA MICHAELS
Mia Michaels and her inspirational and dynamic choreography can been
seen weekly on Fox's hit TV series "So You Think You Can Dance".
This year marks Mia's third season on the show as both a judge and
choreographer.
Mia's choreographic genius and passionate dance moves currently grace
the stage of Cirque du Soleil’s live music concert tour, “Delirium”;
and also in the long running Las Vegas theatrical production of
“Celine Dion…A New Day”, at Ceasars Palace. The opening night of
Celine’s show was televised (CBS) and earned Mia Michaels an Emmy
nomination for “Celine in Las Vegas: Opening Night Live”. Mia has
also had the pleasure of working with such stars as Madonna, Ricky
Martin, Gloria Estefan, and Prince, and on commercials for Coldwell
Banker, Ziploc, WNBA, Star TV and VISA.
Mia recently choreographed Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of
“Hello, Dolly!”, starring Tovah Feldshuh, and continues to direct
music extravaganzas for Greek superstar Anna Vissi throughout
Europe. Mia’s body of work has been profiled in the Smithsonian
book, “Masters of Movement: Portraits of America’s Great
Choreographers”, and she is the founder, artistic director and
choreographer for RAW, the acclaimed New York-based dance company and
has been commissioned to create works for Les Ballet Jazz de
Montreal, Jazz Dance Chicago and Oslo Dance Ensemble. Mia is also
the Artistic Director of The Pulse dance conventions, and as held
faculty positions with such prestigious dance institutions as Alvin
Ailey and The Joffrey Ballet, and continues to teach master classes
around the world.
For more info vist : http://www.miamichaels.com/
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Carol Abohatab
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Mills College in Oakland, Carol Abohatab earned both her BS and MFA degrees in Dance Performance and Choreography, and studied with Murray Louis and the late Alwin Nikolais in New York. She began choreographing and dancing in the Bay Area in 1997, and has been teaching Modern Dance and choreographing consistently nationwide for many groups in the Drum & Bugle Corps and Winter Color Guard activity since 1988. Spirit of Atlanta, Glassmen, SCV, The Cadets, State Street Review, Emerald Marquis, San Jose Raiders World Guard, Miamisburg HS, and Leigh High School are just a few of these groups. Carol began performing at the age of nine with the Centurions, and continued with the 27th Lancers, Star of Indiana, Quasar, Erte, and State Street Review. She is currently the choreographer for the Santa Clara Vanguard and the SCV World Guard, and teaches at two colleges in the Bay Area.
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Jill Brennan
Jill Brennan is the co-founder, designer, and director for the Northeast Independent Performance Company- 2002 WGI Independent Open Silver Medalist and 5 time WGI Independent World Class finalist. Her guard career began when she attended St. Augustine High School and performed with Coast One Winterguard. After high school, she performed with Shaktai Performance Company for several years and later performed with the Florida Community College of Jacksonville Dance Company. Since that time, she has worked with several programs including, Nease High School- 1999 Scholastic A World Champions, Fletcher High School,- 2002 Scholastic A World Champions, FCCJ Dance Company, St. Augustine High School Dance Company, Northmont High School, Bartram Trail High School, Orange Park High School and Fleming Island High School. She currently resides in St. Augustine, Fl.
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Robby DuFresne
Robby DuFresne is the co-founder, designer, and director for the Northeast Independent Performance Company- 2002 WGI Independent Open Silver Medalist and 5 time WGI Independent World Class finalist. His guard career began when he attended St. Augustine High School and performed with Coast One Winterguard. After high school, he performed with the Shaktai Performance Company for several years. Since that time, he has worked with numerous programs including, Nease High School- 1999 WGI Scholastic A World Champions, Shaktai Performance Company, Northmont High School, Bartram Trail High School, Diamond Bar High School, and Orange Park High School. Robby graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Human and Child Development/Child Psychology. He currently lives in Jacksonville, Fl, where he is in the field of family counseling.
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Michael Gaines
Currently the Visual Coordinator/drill designer for 7 time DCI World Champion The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Michael also designs for some of the top high school marching bands and winter color guards in the country. His designs have been featured by several high school Bands of America National Champions, as well as 3 time WGI World Champion, Pride of Cincinnati.
In addition to his work in the US, Michael has had the opportunity to design for groups on an international level, including 2007 WGI Bronze Medalist Aimachi Color Guard, from Nagoya Japan, as well as the 2006 WGI Bronze Medalist indoor drumline, Aimachi Percussion Ensemble. He has been the featured clinician at events around the US, Japan, and Thailand.
Michael's education consists of a degree in Computer Arts/New Media from the San Francisco Academy of Art University, and a degree in Business Administration, majoring in Finance, from the University of Dayton in Ohio.
Michael resides in San Francisco, CA.
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April Gilligan
April has been involved with WGI for the past 20 years where she has worked with multiple successful guard programs. She currently serves as the Director of Independent World Guard, Braddock Independent. She is best recognized for her work with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and Braddock HS. April is currently involved with the University of Miami Band of the Hour, and manages an ESE reading and social skills program at the Atlantis Academy in the Miami area. April currently resides in Miami, FL where she is pursuing a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling.
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Karl Lowe
The premise of innovation, imagination, quality and risk are only a few words that apply to the unparalleled contributions Karl has made to WGI. From Odyssey to Fantasia, he has been intense in his approach to his winter guard programs, but he is equally as intense in his respect for his competitors. Karl currently is the director of the fall and winter color guard programs at Riverside Community College. He has taught many "Bands of America" finalist color guards from high schools across the Southeast, as well as the Suncoast Sound Drum & Bugle Corps, the Magic of Orlando, and Santa Clara Vanguard. Karl was inducted into the WGI Hall of Fame in 2003
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Fred Marier
Fred Marier has been involved in the pageantry activities since 1987. An alumni of the Blue Devils winter guard and drum corps he currently teaches the 2007 Bronze Medalist Blessed Sacrament. He has worked with several other groups such as Tarpon Spring's High School, Sonnor, St Ann's and the Boston Crusaders. Aside from color guard, Frederic obtained a dance degree in 2002. Since his graduation he is a member of the Montréal Danse Company (www.montrealdanse.com) with whom he has performed in South Korea, Belgium, England, Mexico, USA and Canada. Fred Marier is now also a permanent choreographer at Espace Tangente in Montreal (a theatre specialized in the diffusion of contemporary dance). Following enthusiastic critics and avid public support, In May of 2008 he will be presenting is first full length work (60 min.) entitled Ils.
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Randy Nelson
Randy’s influence in WGI spans back to 1984, when his primary competitive group, Choctawhatchee High School, made finals for the first time, and has continued to do so each year since. His work with numerous other Open and A class guards such as Orange Park HS, Harrison Central HS, JSU Center Stage, University of Alabama as well as the Independent World Class Northeast Independent have helped strengthen those classes. Randy has served on the WGI Board of Directors for 22 years and as President since 2000. He has also served as Vice President and on the instructor Task Force that shapes judging philosophy.
A graduate of Jacksonville State University with a major in Music Education, Randy is currently the Director of Bands at Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, FL. His bands have been consistent finalist at BOA Regional events and were the Class 5A Florida State Champions in 2004 and 2005. He is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, MENC and NAJE.
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Rosie Queen (Miller)
Rosie has extensive experience teaching drum corps, marching bands and winter guard. Rosie was also the visual ensemble and cast manager for "Blast" while it ran in London and on Broadway. Her teaching experience includes: Carolina Crown (2003-present), The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (1994-2000), and The Cadets of Bergen County (1993). Rosie has taught many high school and independent organizations throughout the U.S. including Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard (1997-present), Aimachi (1996-present), Carroll High School, Center Grove High School, Avon H.S., and Escapade of Dayton, OH. Currently, Rosie resides in Indianapolis, IN with her husband Jeff, where she is the Color Guard Director at Carmel High School. She is also pursuing certification in Event Management at IUPUI in Indianapolis.
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Adam Sage
Adam Sage is the color guard designer and caption head for the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps and the Phantom Regiment Winter Guard. Adam has worked with numerous programs in the southeast including Tarpon Springs High School, East Lake High School, Seminole High School, Clearwater High School and Pope High School in Marietta, Georgia.
Adam's drum corps experience includes being a member of the Suncoast Sound from 1988 to 1989, and The Cadets of Bergen County from 1990 to 1991. He was the caption head for the Magic of Orlando from 1992 to 1993; caption head for the Crossmen from 1994 to 1995. Adam then spent 1996 through 2002 working with the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps.
Adam is also actively involved with Winter Guard International (WGI). He was the director of The Company Colour Guard from 1995 to 1999. The Company was a two time WGI World Champion in the A (1995) and Open (1996) class. He was also a member of Emerald Marquis from 1990 to 1991. Sage currently works with Kennesaw Mountain High School in Kennesaw, Georgia (2004 Winter Guard International Scholastic A World Champions and 2005 Winter Guard International Scholastic Open World Champions); University of Central Florida Knights Winter Guard in Orlando, Florida; and the Southern Knights Winter Guard in Brighton, England. He is also an adjudicator in the Southeast, as well as BOA.
When he is not teaching color guard, Adam is a third grade teacher in Kennesaw, Georgia where he resides.
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Tracy Wooton
Innovation and constant study in the areas of teaching and training defines
the approach Tracy has used over the last 24 years in the pageantry arts. As
Director of Northern Lights, Tracy was responsible for all instruction and
training of the performers. Tracy has served on the WGI Advisory Board as
well as clinician for many circuits nationwide. His teaching experience
includes winter percussion, dance teams, drum corps, marching bands, and
color guards such as Northmont HS, Ronald Reagan HS, Southridge HS, Mason
HS, Springboro HS, University of Oregon, Signature, Pride of Cincinnati,
Escalade, Top Hats, and Northern Lights. Working hand on with performers and
staff, Tracy continues to serve as a consultant for multiple independent and
scholastic programs.
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