Kimberly D. Esmond
Owner/Director

OCDP is owned and directed by Kimberly Esmond. Kim has performed in all genres of dance for over 25 years. Her dance experience includes studio and community dance instruction, 17 years of cheerleading, coach of regionally ranked Pop Warner squad, member of a nationally ranked Drill Team, member and Captain of a nationally ranked songleading squad, fitness and yoga instructor, dance teacher to underprivileged children, and a member of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. While on the Carolina Panthers TopCats, Kim was the recipient of Rookie of the Year and was selected by the Panthers staff to perform across the country for military troops after 9/11.

In addition to her dance abilities, Kim has her BA in Business and Spanish and has 9 years of human resources experience. Kim has extensive experience with children including dance instruction, cheerleading instruction and through volunteering in and around Orange County. She currently offers her time volunteering for the Special Olympics, Team Kids, and the Girl Scouts. In addition to her volunteer work, Kim is the head coach/choreographer for one of Tustin’s award winning Pop Warner Cheerleading squads.

Kim is a Level II certified Yoga Booty Ballet Instructor and is currently the main instructor for these classes for OCDP.

Tiffany Esmond
Parent & Me Dance Instructor

Tiffany Esmond is our primary instructor for our Parent & Me classes. Tiffany has a Master's Degree in Education, holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and was an elementary school teacher for 12 years. Tiffany's background also includes various genres of dance, creative movement, and ballet dance instruction to children ages 10 months to 5 years of age.

Keverlie Herron
Dance Instructor

Keverlie has extensive dance experience and is passionate about working with kids and sharing her love of dance. Keverlie graduated from the Los Angeles County High School of the Arts as a dance major and continued her education to earn a degree as a Dance major at Cal State Long Beach. In addition to teaching kids dance as several dance compies in Los Angeles county, Keverlie has also performed with various singing and performing groups. We are so pleased Keverlie has joined us to help launch the beautiful new dance center at Lawndale.

Carly Westergard-Dobson
Dance Instructor

Ms. Westergard-Dobson holds a BA in Art history from the University of California, Irvine and an MFA in Dance from Mills College. She has trained predominantly in Modern dance forms but has trained in Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Scottish Country Dance and African dance. She has trained with instructors such as Jill Working, Sonya Delwiade, Heather Gillette, Shelley Senter, Molissa Fenley and Rachel Berman. She has had the opportunity to perform pieces choreographed by Sonya Delwaide, Lisa Wymore, Heather Gillette, Jenny Backhaus, Mike Esperanza and Kari Jensen. She is also a certified Pilates instructor from Body Arts and Science International and trained under Rael Isacowitz.  She is currently a part time faculty member at Santa Ana College where she choreographs and directs the Dance Touring Ensemble. She also teaches dance at numerous preschools around Southern California. She is currently enrolled in a Yoga certification program through Cloud 9 Yoga and will complete the program in August of 2010.

Jamie McCann
Dance Instructor

Jamie Alexandra McCann has been dancing for 25 years and is originally from Texas where she taught jazz, tap, ballet and modern to students ages 2 to adult. She received her MFA in Dance at the University of California Irvine where she taught jazz and social dance. Jamie graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Arlington in the fall of 2000 with her BA in Interdisciplinary Studies. During her dance studies at UTA she was awarded the Dance Ensemble Scholarship two years in a row and honored at the Presidents Convocation. Upon graduation she taught dance classes at UTA and directed the university's undergraduate performing company for five years. Jamie taught master classes in jazz at the American College Dance Festival South Central Region from 2002 to 2006. In addition to teaching, Jamie performed professionally with Le Cabaret Burlesque and continues to appear as a guest artist for the company when she is in Dallas.

Porsha Sales
Dance Instructor

Porsha has been blessed me with the gift to dance and has been dancing for about 12 years now. She is a graduate from Los Angeles County H.S. for the Arts and has training from ASU dance program and Debbie Allen Dance Academy. She is a very passionate dancer and loves being able to express feelings and emotions through dance. She has explored many avenues of dance and enjoys all styles. From the critical technique of ballet, to the fierce moves of jazz, to the loose yet strong moves of african dance, along with the more soft moves of praise dance; Porsha loves them all. Porsha is currently pursuing a degree in Liberal Studies to become an elementary school teacher. She has always been apt to teach and believes teaching dance is a great way to share what she has learned and experienced to help bring up the younger dance world today. She loves working with children and enjoys seeing them develop and flourish into amazing dancers and people. Experience, knowledge, wisdom, and technique have made her the dancer she is today, tomorrow, and forever!!!

Amy Basoff
Hip Hop, Fitness, and Cheer Instructor

Amy has been dancing for many years with specialty training in Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Musical Theater and Fitness. She danced competitively for 3 years and won numerous awards in individual and groups routines. Amy graduated from Orange County High School of the Arts and is currently
studying at the University of California, Irvine. For the past few years Amy has been dancing professionally for the NBA D-League team Anaheim Arsenal and for the MLS team, Chivas USA. She is excited to be a part of the OC Dance Productions Family and we are thrilled to have her!

Kellie Johnston
Dance, Cheer and Fitness Instructor

Kellie Johnston has 24 years of extensive dance training in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and lyrical. She now enjoys sharing her love of dance with students of all levels, ages 2 - adults. Kellie grew up in Irvine, California and trained at Daria Bearden in Tustin, CA from ages 3-14. She was a member of the Advanced Dance Ensemble at Irvine High School where she choreographed numerous dances and received awards such as most spirited, best dancer, best choreography, and Heritage Award. Kellie attended CSU, Chico for college and was the Team Coordinator and captain for their dance team, Expressions, for 4 years. She directed and choreographed their annual showcases as well as various performances at basketball, volleyball, rugby and soccer games. While attending CSU, Chico, Kellie kept very busy teaching master classes at high schools throughout the area, performing and competing with dance groups like Envy Hip Hop & Chico Dance Theatre, Fusion Hip Hop and Jazz teams, and teaching at Hype Dance Studio. At Hype, Kellie assisted the owner and co-choreographed for competition pieces and dances performed at Sacramento Kings and Harlem Globetrotter games. She has studied with numerous world renowned dancers & choreographers. Kellie currently lives in her hometown of Irvine, CA and teaches for Pacific Dance as well as OC Dance Productions. Her most recent venture is working as a full-time dance student teacher at Sonora High School that will complete her Single Subject Teaching Credential in Physical Education so that she is able to teach dance at a secondary level.

Alysia Cornwell
Cheerleading Instructor

Alysia, one of OCDP's newest cheerleading instructors, has been cheering and dancing for several years. Alysia spent several years as a Captain and is now currently in her final year at UCI and is a member of the UCI cheerleading squad. Alysia will be graduating in Spring 2010 with a degree in Cagnitive Psychology and plans on furthering her studies in graduate school to bcome a psychologist and work with children. Alysia is excited about working with OCDP and sharing her passion of cheerleading, dance, and working with kids.

Rachel Scott
Dance Instructor

Rachel Scott began her dance training as a small child at Southland Ballet Academy. Her training there led to a company membership with Festival Ballet Theater, performing as a soloist in ballets such as Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. Later she received a scholarship with Defore Dance Center, training in all disciplines of dance. After she graduated the scholarship program, Rachel went on to dance with various local dance companies, perform as a dance soloist in The Glory of Easter, as well as various regional theater productions throughout Southern California. Rachel has taught adults and children of all ages at Defore Dance Center, The California Conservatory of the Arts, and various dance and musical theater schools throughout Orange County.

Sarah Cook Johnston
Dance & Cheer Instructor

Sarah Johnston, who has been dancing since the age of three, graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arizona with a BFA in Dance. She has performed professionally in ballet, modern, and jazz productions with Paul Powell Productions in Tucson and Canyon Movement Company in Flagstaff, and most recently with Glory Productions at the Crystal Cathedral. She has been dancing at Disneyland for the past three years in Parade of Dreams, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, Disney's Electrical Parade, and Fantasmic. Sarah has taught ballet, modern, jazz, lyrical, tap, hip hop, leaps and turns, aerobic dance and choreography for Canyon Dance Academy, Showtime Dance Company, Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy, and Coconino Community College, and coached the Flagstaff High School Dance Team. She has been fortunate enough to teach and perform in Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, the Netherlands, and Italy, as well as all over the country. She is excited to share her love of dance with the students of OC Dance Productions.

Amanda Nguyen
Dance Instructor

Amanda began dancing at the age of eight. She started at the Pacific School of Ballet in Laguna Hills where she was trained in ballet, jazz, and tap. She then furthered her dance training at the Orange County High School of the Arts in the Classical/Contemporary Dance Department where she danced for four years and was the junior and senior director of the department. She is currently completing her degree in dance at UC Irvine where she is a Senior.

Nikki Reyes

Cheer & Dance Instructor

Nicole “Nikki” Reyes has been dancing since she was 6 years old. She began dancing with the Colony of Performing Arts where she competed in areas of jazz, ballet, hip hop, novelty dance and tap. She then joined The Guardettes of Orange County Dance/Drill team where she was captain of her team and competed in military style dance, lyrical, novelty dance and jazz dance. She spent all four years of high school on the cheerleading squad and won an award for UCA All Star her sophomore year. Nikki graduated from UC Irvine and has her BA in Public Health and a minor in Education. She is currently taking the pre-requisite classes necessary to apply to a Masters program to become a Physician’s Assistant. She enjoys working with children and is very excited to be a part of OCDP!

Amanda Wuebben
Cheer & Dance Instructor

Amanda is going into her 4th year teaching cheer, drama, and dance at Vineyard Christian School. She loves coaching her cheer squad and enjoyed watching them win the Grand Champion title at the OLU Shout Jam competition in 2010. She cheered all throughout high school leading her squad as captain the first three years, then asked to coach the freshman squad her senior year. She graduated from Westmont College in 2007 with a BA in Theater and a BA in Art. Amanda has been dancing as long as she can remember. Some of her favorite styles she has trained in include hip-hop, jazz, swing and modern. She is also currently involved in the dance ministry at Saddleback Church as a choreographer and dancer.

Bridget Mortensen
Cheer & Dance Instructor

Bridget has been cheerleading and dancing since the age of 7. Her specialty is choreography and she has coached some of the top all-star cheer teams in Orange County. Her cheerleading experience expands to the high school level in which she coached for the San Clemente High School JV and Varsity cheer squad for 3 years. She also danced competitively for an all-star dance team for 4 years where she won national titles for her choreography.

Bridget is a graduate of Cal State University Long Beach and she is currently an account manager for a health insurance brokerage in Orange County. As a new OC Dance Instructor she is thrilled to follow her passion for teaching young children in the areas of dance and cheer.

Dyoni Cole
Dance Instructor

Coming soon!

April Sigmund
Cheer & Dance Instructor

April is in her Tenth year as an arts instructor. April made her debut at three years old singing and dancing and was hooked! April is a professional actress, singer, dancer, and model in the Los Angeles metro area. She has been fortunate enough to perform across the country in cities such as Houston, Dallas, Miami, Las Vegas, Washington DC, and The Big Apple- New York City. April has been seen onstage in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet; Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Kate in Taming of the Shrew; Allura/Carla in the musical City of Angels, Grusha Vashnadze in The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Dancing Jasper in the Dream Ballet of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and Julie in the world premier Making up History: Searching for Annie Moore. One of her most memorable on-stages moments was performing an original one-woman show Permed, in which she wrote, directed, and stared; both in Miami, and the Washington DC metro area. By sixteen she was traveling the country modeling and made the transition into TV and Film acting. I have appeared on such TV shows as America’s Most Wanted, the Jamie Kennedy Experiment, VH1’s Talk Back Live, and as a model on the Wheel of Fortune. Favorite Film Credits include: Angelique in Heron Bay, Kelly in Open Door, Cassandra in the internationally acclaimed film Sisters, Martha in Award Winning short Assault in Brooklyn, and Bobbie in the Award Winning feature film Heaven Burns. April attended New World School of The Arts, a conservatory program affiliated with the University of Florida, on a full scholarship to study musical theater and acting. While at New World she was placed on the dean’s list and national dean’s for eight consecutive semesters, and was inducted into the phi kappa phi honors society before graduating, Summa Cum Laude, in 2003 with her Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA). During her college years April took an interest in pageantry and began competing in the Miss America Organization Pageant system. During this time she held the titles of Miss Houston 2001, Miss Harris County 2002, and Miss North Miami 2003; which earned her the opportunity to compete in Miss Texas, Miss Florida, and Miss Alaska where she placed Top Ten, and Top Five. April has been teaching for ten years, and absolutely loves it. She has an immense passion for the arts and for sharing this love with others. Because of her years working in the theater, on TV, in film, on radio, in the dance studio, in print, on the runway, in the casting office, behind the camera, in pageants, as the creator of a one woman show, as founder & spokesperson for a non-profit organization, and as an executive producer I have the skill and experience to help guide you to reach your goals. She is looking forward to working with you, and watching your skill and passion for this exciting, and addictive, art form grow!

Crystal Shum
Cheer & Dance Instructor

Crystal started her artistic career as a competitive figure skater at the age of 10. From there, she transitioned into studying many different dance styles with an emphasis in jazz, modern, and hip hop. Throughout her dancing career, she has been in numerous dance shows and charity performances where she has gained experience as a performer and a teacher. She was showcased at the '09 American College Dance Festival Association where she performed in a piece called "Consequences" with Saddleback College. Crystal is involved with ArchiTexture Dance Company, a site-specific modern dance company. She is studying Psychology and Social Behavior with a minor in Dance.

Cheryl Kessler

Dance Instructor

Cheryl Kessler was born in England, raised in Eastern Canada. Her love for music began at the age of 7 learning the play the Accordion with the Continental School of Music. She began her training in Theater at the age of 8 with the Montreal Children’s Theater, continuing her training with her high school Drama program. At North Carolina School of the Arts, she studied Voice, Ballet, Tap (her favorite) & Jazz receiving a BFA in Drama. After graduation, Cheryl became a Dance Instructor for Arthur Murray Dance Studio & discovered a new love – teaching. As an Owner/Teacher of a Dance Studio in Florida for 7 years, teaching Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Ballroom and Drama for 2yr olds – Adult, Cheryl discovered another new love – teaching young children. Moving to Orange County, she continued teaching young children with Music Together & music & movement in a preschool. She recently completed her Early Childhood Education & Infant Toddler units from Saddleback College. Cheryl believes that exposing children at an early age to the Arts broadens their creativity and will give them a greater appreciation of the Arts throughout their life.

Kayla Bixby

Dance Instructor

Kayla Bixby began dancing at the age of four. She is from  San Francisco where she studied ballet with Jayne Zaban of  Dance Arts Center. Upon her admittance to the Dance Department at CSULB, she began her training in modern and contemporary dance forms, as well as continuing to study ballet. Kayla graduated with high honors in May, 2010 with a BA in Dance. She is currently working as a Company Trainee with Backhausdance, a  contemporary modern dance company in Orange County, for which Jennifer Backhaus is the Artistic Director & Choreographer for. Kayla is a ballet and contemporary dance instructor & intends on attending graduate school to receive an MFA in Dance in order to eventually teach in a university setting.