The BIDC Board of Directors

Kim began dance classes at the age of five and started performing at the age of six. She studied and performed with Island Dance Academy until 2000. Continuing to study and perform at the University of Hawai'i Hilo, she graduated with a degree in Performing Arts Dance in 2005. Working full-time as an administrative assistant, she takes dance classes as time allows.

Grady spent most of his young years in Illinois. At age 12, he started breakdancing with b-boy friends as a hobby, and started gymnastics in high school . Upon moving to Hawai'i at age 16, he met people who inspired him to make dance more than just a hobby. He has been introduced to various dance styles such as Krump, hip-hop, ballet, contemporary, and modern at Center Stage Dance Studio where he teaches a breakdancing class. He has performed in various dance forms for UHH Great Leaps and in multiple Center Stage Dance Studio productions.

Odette started dancing and competing in jazz as a song girl during high school, and has been dancing couples and ballroom dances, line dancing, and hip-hop for 12 years. Taught by national champions in Salsa and West Coast Swing, Odette has been teaching West Coast Swing in East Hawai'i since 2007 and performs exhibition routines. She dances in jazz and modern productions for Hilo’s Center Stage Dance Studio. She studied hula for four years with Hula Halau O Kou Lima Nani E located in Keaukaha. Visit her website at: www.OdetteRickert.com/Dance.htm

Cheryl began dancing at age 4 in Memphis, Tennessee. She was certified by Southern Dance Masters at age 15 and began teaching ballet, tap, and jazz. Cheryl danced with the Burney Lyons Dance Troupe and performed throughout the mid-south as well as at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. Here in Hawai'i, she has taught dance at the YWCA, Hilo Intermediate School, and for the Performing Arts Learning Center at Hilo High. She presently teaches tap and ballet at Center Stage Dance Studio and tap at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo through the Fitness for Life program.

Miguel has been active in the performing arts in Hawai'i (singing, dancing, choreography, acting, directing, theatre tech, teaching and management) for 40 years. A wide ranging work background includes travel, hotel work, electronic engineering, accounting, taxes, and real estate management. He is currently self-employed.

Annie is the Artistic Director of O-T-O Dance, now in its 25th season, based out of both Tucson, Arizona and the Big Island of Hawai’i and is on the dance faculty at the University of Hawai’i and Hawai’i Community College teaching modern and aerial dance. Over a span of 35 years, her teaching, company and dances have been presented throughout the U. S., Europe, Russia, Mexico, Central and South America. As an artist, she has been a recipient of numerous awards from state, national, and international agencies including the prestigious 2005 Arizona Artist Award. In addition to being a master teacher of modern dance and contemporary forms she is one of a few accomplished teachers from the United States who instructs and trains people of all ages in the art of aerial dance using the single point low flying trapeze. Over her teaching career she has worked as an artist in residence in many schools in the United States and abroad teaching students of all ages and abilities various forms of movement arts.

Michal has been studying different modalities of dance since she was five years old.   As a teenager she danced with Garlutzo Dance Company in Colorado, and was a competitive figure skater for nine years.  Michal took her first West African dance class while in college at The University of Washington, where she graduated from in 1997.  She has studied West African dance with a variety of master teachers, many of whom she hosts on the Big Island to share with the Island community; Moustoupha Bangoura, Fara Tolno, Yousouff Kombassa & Naby Bangoura, to name a few.   As the founder and director of Lavaroots Performing Arts, she teaches dance on the Big Island, and her company has performed island wide for the past 7 years.   She is also a Teaching Artist in the schools, a Princedance Company dancer, and the current Director of the Kahilu Theatre’s Summer Arts Program.  Through the spirit of dance, she shares the joy of music & culture, and encourages others to do the same. Visit her website at www.lavaroots.com.

Junior. started as a hula dancer in the 2nd grade. He was introduced to breakdancing during the 8th grade and has continued with it since. He also studies ballet, contemporary, and modern. Junior’s accomplishments include winning the “Breakin’ Out 1” and “Breakin’ Out 2” team battles, and the “Old School Jam 2007” battle. He has performed in various dance forms in multiple Center Stage Dance Studio productions.

Trina has been teaching, choreographing, and performing on the Big Island for the past 35 years and has performed in the Pacific, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the U.S. She has won five Hawai'i State Dance Council Choreographic Awards as well as national recognition for her choreography which highlights the poignancy of the human condition. She loves to collaborate with other artists—musicians, poets, multimedia and visual artists. She has founded 20 innovative education, culture and arts, and human service programs and organizations which are still in existence today. Visit her website at: www.hawaii.hawaii.edu/tnm

Angel is the award winning Artistic Director of PrinceDance and the CEO of PrinceDance Institute. She received a B.A. in Dance and Psychology from Hofstra University in New York. After living in Manhattan teaching, choreographing, and performing, she decided to move to Hawai'i to reconnect with the elements. In Hawai'i, Angel began the PrinceDance Institute, which teaches classes and produces performances all over the state. In 2007, Angel formed PrinceDance, a non-profit professional dance company. She is also a recognized teacher for the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Dancing her way through the world’s cities and countries, Angel continues to teach, perform, and inspire. Visit her website at www.PrinceDance.com

In his sophomore year in high school, at the age of 15, Trey found his passion in popping and choreographing hip-hop routines. His inspiration comes from seeing others show interest in dancing, and his dream is to become a choreographer to inspire others. Trey also aspires to major in Dance at the University of Las Vegas. He has performed in various dance forms in multiple Center Stage Dance Studio productions.