Melodie Nay Danley

Kimmi Barnett

Kimmi is another past student of Melodies’ Dance Theatre who began dancing at the age of 6. While continuing to dance at Melodies’, Kimmi began her professional dance career at the age of 9 by performing all over Los Angeles as a member of Cor-Vic Hollywood Entertainers. After her time with Cor-Vic Hollywood Entertainers, she started competitive dancing through Melodies’ Dance Theatre. Kimmi has trained in various styles of dance such as tap, jazz, musical theater, acrobatics, Hawaiian dance, and Ballet Folklorico. She also competed on her high school gymnastics team and Song team. Kimmi has been teaching dance for over 30 years at Melodies’ Dance Theatre. Here she teaches acrobatics, tap, and musical theater. During her time at Melodies’, Kimmi also became co-owner of the studio alongside Heidi Santillan-Fong from 1997-2019, and she continues to teach at the studio to this day.

Rafael Austria (Ace)

Ace fell in love with dance when he was in High School, but didn’t start taking dance classes until he became a dance major in Cypress Community College. From there, he practiced classical, multicultural, and social dance styles, joined a competitive Hip-hop dance crew, dance ensemble, and ballroom team. He transferred to California State University Long Beach where he graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance. As a professional dancer, he is actively involved in performing and teaching for multiple dance companies such as with Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre, as well as the street dance communities in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Orange County to continually expand his movement vocabulary.

Madie Coryell

Madie is a trained dancer of 14 years. Her styles include: jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, modern, hip hop, heels, Latin, ballroom, swing and more. She is another former dancer from Melodies’ Dance Theatre, and competed with MDT for several years. Following her training at Melodies’, she danced at Cypress college. More recently she has trained and competed in Miss Canyon Hills, where she won the title from 2020-2021, as well as competed and won the title of Miss Anaheim in 2022. During her pageant training she learned hula hoop dancing. She is also a former Disneyland parade performer of 3 years, and she currently performs dance professionally with fire.

Chelsea McIntyre

Chelsea McIntyre is an independent artist and professional dancer based in Huntington Beach, CA. She began her artistic career at an early age, creating and selling sculptural, photographic and multimedia works and choreographing dance pieces from elementary school onward.

Chelsea began dancing Hip Hop, Polynesian and Bellydance in high school, and became a young performing professional while in college under the direction of Pu’alani’s Polynesian Paradise. She joined the CSULB Salsa Spirit Team and was a core member of the performance and competition team and club from 2010-2015. She also studied circus arts, specifically pyrotechnics, under the legendary Scorch fire troupe. Chelsea became a professional Ballroom and Latin dancer and instructor in 2013 and is licensed through the National Dance Council of America (NDCA). She served as assistant director, head choreographer and lead instructor at JD Dance Company from 2014-2023, and served as the primary marketing and outreach coordinator.

Under her dba MAC Movement, Chelsea has led her students to multiple national championships and countless opportunities for the low-income community of greater LA county, and conceptualized and produced the Long Beach Cultural Dance Festival in 2023 with the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA). She is happily teaching at Melodie’s Dance Theatre and expanding her career as an educator, professional performer and competitor while juggling a two year-old baby girl at home!

Tosh Tran

Tosh Tran is a seasoned movement artist with over 20 years of experience spanning studio training, competitive and professional dance companies, and work within the broader performance industry. Rooted in contemporary dance, Tosh’s movement language is informed by a diverse background that includes classical styles, urban forms, and the grounding practices of yoga. This multifaceted training allows Tosh to bring a unique and holistic approach to dance education and choreography.

Passionate about the intersection of technique and self-expression, Tosh emphasizes body awareness, emotional connection, and personal storytelling through movement. In the classroom, Tosh creates an inclusive, explorative space where dancers are encouraged to develop their own voices while building strong foundational technique. Whether working with aspiring performers or seasoned professionals, Tosh is committed to fostering confidence, creativity, and authenticity in every dancer.

Audrey Williams

Audrey is proud to be teaching at her childhood dance studio, Melodies Dance Theatre. She began dancing at the age of 3, but took on strictly ballet at Long Beach Ballet at the age of 12. There, she competed annually at the Youth America Grand Prix, choreographed for The Ballet Alliance Dance Festival, and participated in productions such as the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella, and Coppelia. In 2022, she began taking singing lessons and was cast in her first musical, Spring Awakening, with El Camino College theater. She then was cast in the spring of 2023 for her first professional show, A Little Night Music, at the Tony Award Winning Pasadena Playhouse.

Nick Young

Nick Young is a dancer and choreographer born and raised in Orange County, California. While at Los Alamitos High School, he devoted three years to the show choir program, performing with “SoundFX” across Southern California and Nashville, Tennessee, as well as assisting with the intermediate choirs as Dance Captain. Shortly after his second year of high school, Nick began his extensive training in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and Hip-Hop dance at several dance studios. In his last year of high school, he joined the dance program working with the intermediate 3 and advanced groups as well as starring in their Spring 2022 production “The Ghost Light”. Right out of high school, he was recruited to join the professional dance company “The Young Americans” to perform at their dinner theater in Harbor Springs, Michigan. He also worked with them to produce “The Magic of Christmas” at the La Mirada Theatre. In January of 2023, Nick began performing in Disney’s California Adventure Lunar New Year Procession. There he acquired professional training in Chinese dragon, lion, and martial arts dance. Currently, Nick furthers his knowledge in an industry prep program, Lume Dance Collective. Nick continues his aspirations to dance professionally. Alongside teaching at MDT, he is currently dancing at Knotts Berry Farm in the new Fiesta Village show “Calle Celebracion”.

Matalina Levi

Matalina Levi is a current student of Melodies’ Dance Theatre who often teaches as a sub for younger kids. She has been dancing under Melodies’ for about fifteen years in styles such as tap, hip hop, jazz, and lyrical. Dance is Mati’s favorite outlet of freedom and expression. She also has trained as Polynesian dancer and teacher who performs and instructs the beauty and knowledge of the different cultures.

Phia Sucevich

From a small remote Dance Studio in Portland Oregon, Phia always dreamed about big stages and bright lights. With her love for creativity and performing, she’s a hungry dancer always grabbing for more. With her recent college graduation from AMDA, Phia now has her associates in Commercial Dance, which helped her get signed to the dance agency MTA. Phia is not conformed by one specific style, she can excel in both commercial work and concert performances, with her versatility and technical background she is truly a light that can’t be tamed. Phia has worked with artists such as Chloe and Maud, Elen Harutyunyan, and Alex The Lion. She has trained in concert and commercial styles such as Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Lyra and Aerial Silks, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Heels, Modern, and Partnering. Phia wants to work in every dance style but dreams of going on tour with Sabrina Carpenter or working with artists such as FKA Twigs. She brings her training into every class she teaches to bring her students the same light that dance has brought her.