DANCE INSTRUCTORS & STAFF
Gaby Betts
Instructor
Gaby began dancing when she was three years old. She first began dancing with Dance Express Dance Crew until the age of six. Thereafter, she joined Backstage Dance Studio II, where has been dancing the last eleven years. At Backstage Dance Studio II, she was taught in many various styles of dance. Within that time frame, she was also attending Culture Shock Las Vegas, where she had the opportunity to dance along side famous singer/performer, Ne-yo. Gaby was selected to choreograph for Culture Shock's annual "Mix it Up" showcase, where she first started to learn more about the art of choreography. She also participated in the Broadway in The Hood program, where she performed in shows such as, The Jungle Book and Broadway with Love. Through high school, she attended and graduated from Las Vegas Academy of the Performing arts, majoring in dance. While attending the academy, she was selected to create a dance piece for their senior choreography show. Gaby is now attending the College of Southern Nevada, where she is pursuing her degree in elementary education. Gaby is ready to begin teaching this season!
Thomas DiSabato
Instructor
Thomas DiSabato was born and raised in New York; Thomas started dancing at the age of 8. He performed in his first professional show at Radio City Music Hall in the 1976 Bicentennial show “America,” when he was 16. Growing up in New York gave him the opportunity to study under many major teachers and choreographers within the NY metropolitan area. After high school he attended Nassau Community College as the first male student to be accepted into the dance department but decided to leave college when he auditioned and was accepted at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center on a full scholarship. He performed with the company in “Memoria” at City Center, NY. Thomas has performed for over 25 years in many dance companies and shows throughout the U.S., Europe, the Bahamas and Japan. Locally he worked with Siegfried and Roy as a dancer/line captain. He also performed in Legends in Concert, and EFX as dancer and assistant line captain, where he worked along with Michael Crawford, David Cassidy, Tommy Tune and Rick Springfield. He danced with and was the company artistic director for both OPUS Dance Ensemble and The New Works Project in Las Vegas. He started as a para-professional guest teacher/choreographer at the Las Vegas Academy and then deciding to retire from performing, he graduated from UNLV with a BFA degree in Secondary Education in Theatrical Arts and Dance. He now has been a licensed staff member at the Las Vegas Academy Dance Conservatory for the past 19 years.
Marlina Bugler
Instructor
Born in New York City, then moved to Las Vegas, Marlina started as a studio kid at the age of 2. Marlina is well versed in multiple styles of dance including ballet, modern, hip hop, jazz, jazz funk, and contemporary. After she graduated Las Vegas Academy in 2015, she has been teaching for the past 8 years. She has trained, and taught at various studios in Las Vegas; such as Nevada Ballet Theater, Culture Shock Las Vegas, Millennium Dance Complex, and The Rock Center for Dance to name a few. She currently dances with Missy Cochran Entertainment, and teaches for Nevada Ballet Theater's outreach program, Go! Move! Dance!
Abigail Cabrera
Instructor
Abigail grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. At five years old, she attended Desert Gymcats, where she began her practice in gymnastics and dance. She also took several classes at her local recreation centers, which is what really sparked her love for dance and gymnastics at 10 years old, Abigail began attending Dance etc. and Salcianu Elite Academy of Gymnastics, where she further advanced her dance and gymnastics training for the next 4 years. Thereafter, Abigail joined Backstage Dance Studio II, where she finished off her training until her senior year. Abigail was also a part of the dance program at Winchester Dondero Cultural Center, where she performed with their team called the Star Catchers. With the Star Catchers, she was a part of many local performance opportunities which include, The Lion King Jr., Dance USA dance competition, and the Annual Children’s Festival at Winchester Dondero Cultural Center. Abigail attended and graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a Bachelors in Kinesiology. Her next goal is to attend Physical Therapy school to become a physical therapist, but meanwhile she is enjoying her time working as a physical therapy technician and as a tutor at College of Southern Nevada. Abigail is super excited to be teaching at Backstage!
Nikki Darling
Instructor
Nikki Darling has performed with the Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association (TN), Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (VA), American Dance Festival — Diane McIntyre’s reconstruction of Helen Tamaris’s “How Long Brethren” (NC), Once Upon a Time, Inc. (NYC), Edith Stephens Electric Current Dance Co. (NYC), at the Apollo (NYC), and with La Masquerade (NYC). She has taught dance and acrobatics for all ages at: Rhinelander’s Children’s Center (NYC), Living Hope Dance Ensemble (NYC), The Dance Studio of Park Slope (NYC), Hamilton Dance (NYC), Delaware Dance Company of Newark, Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association, East TN Academy of Performing Arts, TN Conservatory of Fine Arts, and Studio for Dancers. Her training includes: Dance Arts, Inc. (TN), a bachelor’s degree in dance from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, American Dance Festival, Centre de Danse de Paris, Ecole du Choreographie du Russe, Martha Graham School, and the Alvin Ailey School.
Alex Harrison
Instructor
Alexandra Harrison has been a professional dancer in Las Vegas, NV, since the age of 8. Prior to becoming a professional dancer, Alex trained at the original Backstage Dance Studio starting in 1998 in all areas of dance and specialized in tap, hip-hop, contemporary, jazz, and modern. In 2001, Alex represented the United States in the International Dance Organization (IDO) World Tap Championships in Riesa, Germany where she earned two gold medals for the U.S.A. At the age of 16, Alex began as an instructor at Backstage Dance Studio while choreographing for various organizations, including Carnival Cruise Lines and many competitive dance teams and studios around the country. After high school, Alex earned a degree in Special Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she was a member of the UNLV Rebel Girls. As a co-captain during her senior, she led her team to a Hip Hop National Championship at the UDA College Dance Nationals. Following a successful run with the Rebel Girls, Alex went on to choreograph for many nationally ranked dance teams and continued to perform for recording artists like Smokey Robinson, Bow Wow, Kelly Clarkson, and Michael Buble. Alex has choreographed several musical theatre productions within the last decade, including Legally Blonde, Little Shop of Horror, Bring It On: The Musical, Carrie The Musical, Annie, Beautiful, Mean Girls, and much more. She currently resides in Henderson, NV where she is a wife, proud mommy of three little boys, coach, choreographer, and is the dance teacher at Green Valley High School. Alex loves sharing her passion of dance with people of all ages and abilities and is looking forward to continuing her journey with her Backstage family!
Sabine Nehls
Instructor
Sabine was born and raised in Las Vegas. She began her journey at the age of two and has been dancing ever since. She started off dancing at Summerlin Dance Academy and then moved to The Rock Center for Dance. You may know her from NBC World of Dance season two where she and her team “The Rock Company” performed all the way to the semi-finals. She has also been in the Cirque du Soleil foundation show “One Night for One Drop” where she played the lead role “Drop”. Recently Sabine has been doing multiple concept videos and performances on some of the biggest stages in Las Vegas for example MGM Arena, T-mobile Arena, and The Smith Center. She has also assisted some of the biggest choreographers in the dance industry including Tessandra Chavez, Brian Friedman, and Tyce Diorio. The styles Sabine teaches are contemporary, jazz, and technique. Sabine loves everything about dance and enjoys learning about other dancers who came before her!
Michelle Mondino
Instructor
Michelle has been dancing with Backstage Dance Studio II for the past 17 years. She has numerous years of teaching and coaching experience. During High school, she was with the Green Valley Varsity Dance Team. Her time on the team was spent training and competing in various styles of dance. She has been coaching children's cheer and dance classes for the past five years.
Heather Victorson
Instructor
Heather Victorson had all her youth schooling and training at the Royal Ballet School in London and went on to become a member of the world renown Royal Ballet Company. Upon coming to Las Vegas, she became a principle dancer in many of the famous Fredric Apcar production shows. Heather has been teaching ballet/pointe at Backstage Dance Studio II for 20+ years and will continue to teach at Backstage. She is beyond excited to be able to continue her passion of teaching ballet.
Maile Cochran
Instructor
Maile, a Las Vegas native, discovered her passion for dance at the age of three at Dance Etc. At twelve, she began training at The Rock Center for Dance and competed nationally. During high school, she attended the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, where she developed a deep interest in choreography. Now recently graduated, Maile is pursuing a professional career in dance while also studying for a BFA in Choreography at UNLV. She has had the opportunity to perform at the MGM and is currently working on a new show. She looks forward to seeing everyone in class!
Tina Ferdinand
Office Manager
Tina Ferdinand has been a part of the Backstage Dance Studio II family since 1998. She started as a dance mom and became the office manager of the the studio in 2004. Tina loves working with all the families that come through the studio by ensuring everyone is welcome and becomes part of the Backstage family.