Meet the Staff
Susan Gladstone
Director
Susan Gladstone, studied at the prestigious School of American Ballet, after which she joined the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle where she performed principal roles in works by George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham and Lynn-Taylor Corbett among others. Susan was dance captain/ballet swing in both the national touring and Broadway casts of The Phantom of the Opera. In 2004 Susan completed the National Dance Institute’s teacher training program and began teaching for CDI shortly thereafter.
Director
Susan Gladstone, studied at the prestigious School of American Ballet, after which she joined the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle where she performed principal roles in works by George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham and Lynn-Taylor Corbett among others. Susan was dance captain/ballet swing in both the national touring and Broadway casts of The Phantom of the Opera. In 2004 Susan completed the National Dance Institute’s teacher training program and began teaching for CDI shortly thereafter.
Carole Valleskey
Founder
Carole Valleskey is the Founder and Director of the California Dance Institute, an affiliate of Jacques d’Amboise’s renowned National Dance Institute. Familiar with the NDI program since 1983, Carole re-connected with founder Jacques d’Amboise in 1998 and worked to bring this acclaimed program to Los Angeles.
Ms. Valleskey danced with the Joffrey Ballet from 1976-1991 and was a principal dancer from 1983 on. Receiving national and international notice, her most critically acclaimed roles were as “The Cowgirl” in Agnes deMille’s Rodeo, the title role of “Lise” in Sir Frederick Ashton’s La Fille Mal Gardee and “The Chosen One” in the re-creation of the 1913 Nijinsky-Stravinsky Le Sacre de Printemps. She also danced with Cynthia Gregory & Fernando Bujones; the Basel Ballet in Basel, Switzerland; Houston Ballet; and American Ballet Theatre II. Ms. Valleskey was Dance Captain with Phantom of the Opera from 1991-1995.
From 1998-2002, she was Director of Education and Outreach for the Luckman Fine Arts Complex on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles, Prior to that she worked with the Music Center Education Division as a teaching artist and writer of their arts study guides, Artsource.
Founder
Carole Valleskey is the Founder and Director of the California Dance Institute, an affiliate of Jacques d’Amboise’s renowned National Dance Institute. Familiar with the NDI program since 1983, Carole re-connected with founder Jacques d’Amboise in 1998 and worked to bring this acclaimed program to Los Angeles.
Ms. Valleskey danced with the Joffrey Ballet from 1976-1991 and was a principal dancer from 1983 on. Receiving national and international notice, her most critically acclaimed roles were as “The Cowgirl” in Agnes deMille’s Rodeo, the title role of “Lise” in Sir Frederick Ashton’s La Fille Mal Gardee and “The Chosen One” in the re-creation of the 1913 Nijinsky-Stravinsky Le Sacre de Printemps. She also danced with Cynthia Gregory & Fernando Bujones; the Basel Ballet in Basel, Switzerland; Houston Ballet; and American Ballet Theatre II. Ms. Valleskey was Dance Captain with Phantom of the Opera from 1991-1995.
From 1998-2002, she was Director of Education and Outreach for the Luckman Fine Arts Complex on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles, Prior to that she worked with the Music Center Education Division as a teaching artist and writer of their arts study guides, Artsource.
Kevin Bowers
Musical Director
Accompanist
Kevin Bowers, has a BA in music from Princeton University, a Masters in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan, teaches private lessons, and has accompanied dance classes throughout the Southland. Kevin develops, edits, arranges, and distributes music for all CDI programs. He recruits, trains and mentors all accompanists. With the Artistic Director and staff, he develops musical pieces for all culminating shows and hires and directs a 6- to 8-piece band for the Event of the Year shows.
Musical Director
Accompanist
Kevin Bowers, has a BA in music from Princeton University, a Masters in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan, teaches private lessons, and has accompanied dance classes throughout the Southland. Kevin develops, edits, arranges, and distributes music for all CDI programs. He recruits, trains and mentors all accompanists. With the Artistic Director and staff, he develops musical pieces for all culminating shows and hires and directs a 6- to 8-piece band for the Event of the Year shows.
Susanna Hostetter
Teaching Artist
Teaching Artist Susanna Hostetter has taught in the joyful CDI style for nine years, previously with the Chicago Dance Institute. She also taught Latin, social, and creative dance in dozens of schools, often in Spanish. Susanna holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Dance from Macalester College, and has trained with the Creative Dance Center in Seattle, the National Dance Institute and Lincoln Center Education in New York, and Youth Home Dance Center in Ghana, West Africa.
Teaching Artist
Teaching Artist Susanna Hostetter has taught in the joyful CDI style for nine years, previously with the Chicago Dance Institute. She also taught Latin, social, and creative dance in dozens of schools, often in Spanish. Susanna holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Dance from Macalester College, and has trained with the Creative Dance Center in Seattle, the National Dance Institute and Lincoln Center Education in New York, and Youth Home Dance Center in Ghana, West Africa.
Kashana Sharif
Assistant Teaching Artist
Born and raised in Springfield, MA, Kashana began her dance training at age ten at the
Shooting Star Dance Center and Community Dance Enrichment Program. Years later
she advanced to dance education, and taught at multiple dance schools in the New
England area. Kashana now resides in Los Angeles and works as a professional
dancer/choreographer and dance teacher. Kashana studied and trained in Jazz, Ballet, Broadway jazz, Samba, Hip Hop and Stepping. Her credits include The Masked Dancer, Mary J. Blige, Jidenna, Daddy Yankee BET Awards, NBC World of Dance, and So You Think You Dance. Besides teaching for CDI, Kashana is currently a member of two local dance companies, Stroll Groove and LA Samba Dancers.
Assistant Teaching Artist
Born and raised in Springfield, MA, Kashana began her dance training at age ten at the
Shooting Star Dance Center and Community Dance Enrichment Program. Years later
she advanced to dance education, and taught at multiple dance schools in the New
England area. Kashana now resides in Los Angeles and works as a professional
dancer/choreographer and dance teacher. Kashana studied and trained in Jazz, Ballet, Broadway jazz, Samba, Hip Hop and Stepping. Her credits include The Masked Dancer, Mary J. Blige, Jidenna, Daddy Yankee BET Awards, NBC World of Dance, and So You Think You Dance. Besides teaching for CDI, Kashana is currently a member of two local dance companies, Stroll Groove and LA Samba Dancers.
Cecilia Slongo
Assistant Teaching Artist
Cecilia is originally from Cordoba, Argentina where she began her artistic training. She moved to California in 2010 where she continued her studies and performances in a variety of art forms including Fine Arts and Dance. Graduated from University of California, Riverside, Cecilia is a multidisciplinary artist focused mainly in corporeal agency and artistic expression in communion to film and other media. She has shown her recent film work in national and international film festivals. She has performed and studied internationally in Guinea, Argentina and Panama. She has also performed in California for LA based and International artists. Cecilia is a teaching artist invested in expanding the knowledge of cultures through dance, and the healing potential of this art form to the classrooms.
Assistant Teaching Artist
Cecilia is originally from Cordoba, Argentina where she began her artistic training. She moved to California in 2010 where she continued her studies and performances in a variety of art forms including Fine Arts and Dance. Graduated from University of California, Riverside, Cecilia is a multidisciplinary artist focused mainly in corporeal agency and artistic expression in communion to film and other media. She has shown her recent film work in national and international film festivals. She has performed and studied internationally in Guinea, Argentina and Panama. She has also performed in California for LA based and International artists. Cecilia is a teaching artist invested in expanding the knowledge of cultures through dance, and the healing potential of this art form to the classrooms.
Mike Bolger
Accompanist
Michael Bolger's musical career can be summed up in one word: diversity. His skills as a multi-instrumentalist on a varied assortment of brass and keyboard instruments is matched by his stylistic diversity. Michael was born and raised in Los Angeles. He fell in love with music at a young age and pursued study at UCLA and Cal Arts, earning a BFA in jazz trumpet in 1997. Since graduating, Michael's career has blossomed to include a long list of accolades and recording credits including Jewel, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ry Cooder, Jimmy Cliff and the ubiquitous television cartoon Spongebob Squarepants for which he received the 2013 BMI TV Music Award. He can be heard performing trumpet, valve trombone, sousaphone and jazz organ in a wide variety of Los Angeles ensembles. Michael has also served as a teacher at the Silverlake Conservatory of Music since its beginning in 2001. Michael is currently learning, practicing, creating, arranging or composing music.
Accompanist
Michael Bolger's musical career can be summed up in one word: diversity. His skills as a multi-instrumentalist on a varied assortment of brass and keyboard instruments is matched by his stylistic diversity. Michael was born and raised in Los Angeles. He fell in love with music at a young age and pursued study at UCLA and Cal Arts, earning a BFA in jazz trumpet in 1997. Since graduating, Michael's career has blossomed to include a long list of accolades and recording credits including Jewel, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ry Cooder, Jimmy Cliff and the ubiquitous television cartoon Spongebob Squarepants for which he received the 2013 BMI TV Music Award. He can be heard performing trumpet, valve trombone, sousaphone and jazz organ in a wide variety of Los Angeles ensembles. Michael has also served as a teacher at the Silverlake Conservatory of Music since its beginning in 2001. Michael is currently learning, practicing, creating, arranging or composing music.
Colleen Macomber
Teaching Artist
Colleen Macomber, who originally is from southwestern Louisiana, has her BFA from Colorado State University. Although her degree is in fine art, she has danced nationally on a competitive and professional level since high school. Colleen has been working with California Dance Institute since 2018 and has been teaching with several programs of the Associate of National Dance Institute since 2008. Apart from teaching with the team in Los Angeles, Colleen has her own program Creative Arts Momentum. She teaches students annually in New Orleans, Louisiana • Riviera Nayarit, Mexico • Cali, Colombia and hopes to continue expanding her program all around the world. The empowering of children through music and dance is her passion in life, and giving children the confidence and positivity they need is exactly what she is meant to do.
Teaching Artist
Colleen Macomber, who originally is from southwestern Louisiana, has her BFA from Colorado State University. Although her degree is in fine art, she has danced nationally on a competitive and professional level since high school. Colleen has been working with California Dance Institute since 2018 and has been teaching with several programs of the Associate of National Dance Institute since 2008. Apart from teaching with the team in Los Angeles, Colleen has her own program Creative Arts Momentum. She teaches students annually in New Orleans, Louisiana • Riviera Nayarit, Mexico • Cali, Colombia and hopes to continue expanding her program all around the world. The empowering of children through music and dance is her passion in life, and giving children the confidence and positivity they need is exactly what she is meant to do.
Kim Brown
Assistant Teaching Artist
Kim Brown has toured as a dancer throughout North America since the age of 10. She has won numerous National and World Dance Choreography awards including choreographing the international tour for Thrones! the Musical Parody. Kim has performed on the MTV Video Music Awards with P. Diddy and Kid Sister. Kim has danced with Tony Award winners such as Tommie Walsh and Dan Knechtes, as well as Savion Glover, Michael Minery, Trisha Minery, Barry Youngblood, Laurie Ann Gibson and many more. Some other dance credits include Toronto Raptors, Culture Shock, T.O. Dance Force, Sundolls, and the Harlem Arts Program. Kim has done choreography for pop videos, commercials and many live concerts. Throughout her career, Kimberly has been sponsored by TIMEX, REEBOK, NIKE and POLO SPORT and has also been published in Photo Magazine as NYC's "Best Dance Leaper."
Assistant Teaching Artist
Kim Brown has toured as a dancer throughout North America since the age of 10. She has won numerous National and World Dance Choreography awards including choreographing the international tour for Thrones! the Musical Parody. Kim has performed on the MTV Video Music Awards with P. Diddy and Kid Sister. Kim has danced with Tony Award winners such as Tommie Walsh and Dan Knechtes, as well as Savion Glover, Michael Minery, Trisha Minery, Barry Youngblood, Laurie Ann Gibson and many more. Some other dance credits include Toronto Raptors, Culture Shock, T.O. Dance Force, Sundolls, and the Harlem Arts Program. Kim has done choreography for pop videos, commercials and many live concerts. Throughout her career, Kimberly has been sponsored by TIMEX, REEBOK, NIKE and POLO SPORT and has also been published in Photo Magazine as NYC's "Best Dance Leaper."
Toni Collins
Development Associate
Toni Collins brings an interesting blend of musicianship and technical expertise to California Dance Institute. A summa cum laude graduate of UC Irvine in Information and Computer Science, Toni also served as a music worship leader for four decades. After volunteering for several years at CDI productions, Toni was brought on board as an office consultant, helping with fundraising, accounting, and editing. Toni is pleased to help CDI advance its mission of teaching students to strive for excellence through the joy and rigor of dance.
Development Associate
Toni Collins brings an interesting blend of musicianship and technical expertise to California Dance Institute. A summa cum laude graduate of UC Irvine in Information and Computer Science, Toni also served as a music worship leader for four decades. After volunteering for several years at CDI productions, Toni was brought on board as an office consultant, helping with fundraising, accounting, and editing. Toni is pleased to help CDI advance its mission of teaching students to strive for excellence through the joy and rigor of dance.
Grace Major
Education and Development Intern
Grace Major is currently in her final year as a BFA dance student at California Institute of the Arts, where she has been fortunate enough to learn a variety of contemporary, ballet, and hip hop techniques from renowned faculty. As a Dallas native, she attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and performed works by Aszure Barton, Gregory Dolbashian, and Darrell Moultrie, to name a few. She began her dance training at XD2 Dance Studio in Texas and has now been teaching their students for five years.
Education and Development Intern
Grace Major is currently in her final year as a BFA dance student at California Institute of the Arts, where she has been fortunate enough to learn a variety of contemporary, ballet, and hip hop techniques from renowned faculty. As a Dallas native, she attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and performed works by Aszure Barton, Gregory Dolbashian, and Darrell Moultrie, to name a few. She began her dance training at XD2 Dance Studio in Texas and has now been teaching their students for five years.
