Judy Kreith & JJ Laserna
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Judy Kreith Judy Kreith received her masters degree in dance education from Stanford University. She moved to Fairbanks in 1996 to teach as an Artist in the Schools. Prior to moving to Fairbanks, she was in Colorado where she received a grant to produce a children's educational program on the history of Jazz and Social Dance. Since moving to Fairbanks she has received grants from the Alaska State Council on the Arts to study dance and music in West Africa and Cuba. Currently she is an adjunct professor in dance at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and an instructor for the Ballroom Dance Club of Fairbanks. She also teaches music and dance classes for young children. JJ Laserna I started dancing since first grade back in the Philippines with Filipino folk dances, and some hip-hop. I hated dancing because it was required in our school, and there was no way out of it. If there was a dance boot camp, I can say that I have been there. I became interested in ballroom dancing during my freshman year in high school here in Fairbanks, but didn't pursue it until my senior year. I have learned every ballroom dance I know today from Ms. Stefani Brown, along with the guest instructors she has brought up here to teach the Lathrop Swing Club some fancy choreography. I was drawn into swing back then, until I was introduced to Salsa. I started taking Salsa lessons with Angel Ramos and Megan Allen (who I now work for). Since then I have been more drawn to the Latin styles (mainly Salsa, Bachata, and Cha Cha Cha). In my first year of college, I took the intermediate ballroom class taught by Judy Kreith, and I have re-learned most of the dances I knew, mainly technique and better lead-follow relationship. The highlight of this class was learning Cuban Salsa, which made me appreciate dancing more than ever, and I have been dancing non-stop ever since. I also recently got into serious business with hip-hop (break dance, popping, and locking) since I finally have time to do them almost 100% after high school. I have no favorite dance; it just depends on the mood. |