Meet The Team

Bridget Norris

N-PAC was created by Dean and Bridget Norris with a vision to create a world-class integrated dance, theater, vocal and acting program, and to bring together some of the highest quality teachers in the Southern California area. 

Michelle Miner

Michelle has been an accomplished tap choreographer for over 24 years.  Michelle has trained with such tap masters as Brenda Buffalino, Mike Minery, Sam Weber and the late Gregory Hines. Well known as the tap trainer and choreographer for Sophia Lucia,  she was also the mentor for the 2012 Guinness world record for consecutive pirouettes broken by Sophia. Her choreography is sought after all over the country and her students can be seen dancing for Fox, Disney, ESPN and in “Dance Teacher” and “Dance Spirit” magazine.  Her students hold numerous national championship titles and she is known as one of the most successful tap choreographers ever in the competition dance industry. Most recently, you will see her tap on NBC’s World Of Dance. She has also trained the 2006 World Dance Champion, who became the youngest ever intern for the NYC Rockettes and her students have danced for such artists as Rhianna and Britney Spears.   You can see her choreography on Fox and numerous music videos. Michelle is proud to have had 8 tap dances nominated for an Industry Dance Award and won the IDA for “Best Tap Dance” three years out of the six it has been given.

Sarah Cleveland

In addition to her many years as N-PAC’s studio manager, Sarah continues to work extensively with professional touring theater company Theatre Royale, currently serving as the company’s resident assistant director/stage director/dance director. Standout Theater Royale productions include, Newsies (regional tour), Mary Poppins (regional tour), Les Miserables (regional tour), Beauty and the Beast, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, West Side Story, and Singin’ in the Rain. Sarah graduated from California Baptist University where she studied both Theatrical Performance and Technical Design & Management. 

Jaquelyn Peterson

With over 20 years of musical theater experience, both performing and directing, Jacquelyn is a veteran of the arts who has worked throughout Southern California and New York.  Jacquelyn trained at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, and recently directed and musically directed the 2016 production of  A Christmas Carol  for the Temecula Valley Players, making it the company's highest grossing show on record. 

Margaux Leffas

Raised in sunny San Diego, Margaux fell in love with dance from the second she put on tap shoes.
Her early years of training were at the well renowned San Diego Dance Centre.  She attended Orange Coast College and received her Associates in Fine Arts and then made her way to Las Vegas and
received her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with emphasis in Performance from UNLV. She has
trained and competed in tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and musical theatre. Once her school
years were completed, she moved back to California to continue what she loves most, teaching
dance to the next generation. Since Margaux has been teaching for 15 + years, you can find her
students on WOD, tv commercials and more. Margaux has won many awards at competitions
such as “Highest Score of the Competition”, “Tap Excellence” and lastly has been
nominated for the IDA’s several times for her Tap routines. She works with Spotlight Dance Cup as a Show Director and is also judging with Starquest. 

Tabetha Thomas

Tabetha Thomas is a highly experienced dance teacher with a passion for sharing her love of dance with students of all ages. She has been teaching dance for over 35 years and has become an accomplished instructor and choreographer in the competitive dance scene. Her talent and dedication have led to numerous regional and national award-winning accomplishments, as well as many choreography awards.  Tabetha was the owner and director of a nationally-ranked studio in North County San Diego for 15 years. During her tenure, she built a reputation for providing high-quality dance instruction to students from all backgrounds and skill levels. She has trained dancers in a wide range of styles but her true passion is Jazz.

Alix McCurry

Alix started dancing at the age of 2 and grew up training in all genres of dance. She has been an Artistic Director for one of the top ranked dance studios in North County San Diego for the last 5 years. Alix currently continues her own passion for competition in Ballroom. Since 2013 she has trained under the supervision of Professional Latin Ballroom World Champion Olga Ginzburg. Alix is a three time World Pro-Am Champion in Latin Ballroom. Alix embodies the true spirit of dance which can be seen in the passion she puts into every class she instructs, whether it’s a solo or production. That passion is felt by her students as she teaches them the same joy, happiness, and fulfillment that the art of dance has brought her.

Taylor Valadez

Taylor began her formal dance training at the age of 2, and started competitive dance at the age of 5.  Taylor's formal dance training includes jazz, lyrical, modern, ballet and tap.  Taylor has trained with Shannon Mather, Terry Shulke, and Jose Chavez and has been a performing member of various dance company's throughout Southern California. Taylor began teaching dance at 16 years old and loves helping dancers to become better technically and improving their movement quality.

Diane Cheeseman

Diane Cheeseman holds an M.A. in Dance Education from New York University, B.F.A. in Dance Performance from Butler University, and is an ABT® Certified Teacher in Pre-Primary through Level 7 & Partnering. Her formative ballet training includes attendance at International Ballet Academy (Kirkland, WA), Kirov Academy of Ballet (Washington, D.C.) and Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory (St. Petersburg, Russia) as well as private study under Magali Messac, Ronald Tice, and Vera Altunina. Professionally, Diane has performed in forty-nine states, six countries, and across two continents, including two North American tours (80+ cities). Her credits include Ballet Bellevue, Commonality Dance Company, Kybele Dance Theater, and Polish National Ballet as well as Feld Entertainment, Walt Disney Entertainment, and various film and television. For over a decade, Diane has taught classical ballet throughout the United States, including five years at the Joffrey Academy of Dance, the Official School of The Joffrey Ballet (Chicago, IL), as well as at dance institutions in California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia. From 2018-2022, she was an adjunct faculty member for City Colleges of Chicago, also serving as Dance Program Coordinator. Diane has presented at the Royal Academy of Dance Australia annual conference (2022) as well as successfully coached students for international ballet competitions such as World Ballet Art Competition and Youth America Grand Prix. She is a member of CORPS de Ballet International and National Dance Education Organization.

Ryan Maw

At age 11, Ryan was scouted by movie producers for a role in the film “Dance Off” and his commercial dance career began. He then went on to perform on The Ellen Show, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and many more. Ryan has choreographed for the live stage performance of “25 LIVE!” and has been a part of multiple choreography teams/assistant choreographer for projects by Disney, Paramount, etc. 

Noah Hormuth

Noah began training under Davin Lawson with Supremacy Dance Fam. Together they have performed at World of Dance, ShowOut Dance competition, and won first place gold medalist at Hip Hop International in 2022.

Noah shares his love for hip hop by teaching at birthday parties and other local events.  Noah’s goal is to help the younger generation find their love for dance so that they may develop a passion and grow into artist of their own.

Heather Rhodes

Ms. Heather has been teaching & instilling the love for dance to young children for 30 years. Ms. Heather owned and operated a successful dance studio in San Marcos for 15 years. She enjoys and is extremely passionate about teaching. She puts her heart and  soul into teaching young dancers in a safe fun enjoyable environment.

Ms. Heather is excited to be teaching for N-PAC to share her passion for dance.

She runs the tiny tot and mini’s program with combination classes with Tap, Jazz, & Ballet, ages ranging from 2 to 9 years old.

Jeff Lawless

Jeff is a working actor, director and producer and is a graduate of the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.

Sara Arnold ("Sarnold")

Sara’s goal is to provide a safe and inclusive space for all dancers and yogis to explore their bodies and find the same love for movement that she does. Sara is RYS200 hour certified under Yoga Alliance, and plans on furthering their knowledge of the body through the marriage of dance and yoga. Sara was also trained under Kelly Conaway of Aerial Achievements for acro and stretch. 

​