Mosaic

Alan Luu is one of the dance directors and choreographers of Mosaic and the Urban Poets Performing Arts Company. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and was a dance team director during his time there, leading and choreographing for various hip hop teams on the campus. Eventually, Alan founded and directed a dance company called DVS, which was active in the Southern California hip hop dance scene between 1999-2005. DVS placed and performed in such competitions and showcases as Bust-A-Groove (now Body Rock), the American Street Dance Championship, Culture Shock San Diego Showcase, Carnival - “Choreographer’s Ball,” the Urban Youth Workers’ Conference, and much more. Members of his dance teams have gone on to join such teams as Culture Shock Los Angeles, Culture Shock San Diego, Kaba Modern, the Jabbawockeez, as well as perform on television shows such as “America’s Got Talent” and “America’s Best Dance Crew.” Alan has also been involved in dance ministry, first as a choreographer and dancer for EFX, a hip hop and street dance crew that performed at the very first Call event in Washington, DC, and now at Mosaic.

Presently, Alan focuses primarily on creating stories through dance for Mosaic and the Urban Poets, and his work with them has been traveled and produced not just around the United States, but also internationally in places like Istanbul, Turkey; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Cape Town, South Africa.

Arlene is a business major in her senior year at the University of Southern California. Originally from Phoenix, AZ, she moved to LA in 2005 and became a part of the Mosaic family soon after. She enjoys baking cupcakes for others, calling up old friends while sitting in traffic, and laughing a lot (at and with others but mostly at herself). She first became acquainted with jazz dance at age 5 but didn’t really enjoy dancing until years later, when she discovered hip hop in New York City at the age of 19. Since then, she’s fallen in love with dancing, teaching, and choreographing. Dance is not only a creative outlet for her but has become the way she gets in touch with, and worships, the One and Only.

Don began his dance journey in 1982, when he became fascinated by the street dance style known as “popping.” The creative aspect of forming illusions with the body is what attracted him most to popping. In 1983, he was drawn to the more acrobatic and physically demanding street dance style of “breaking.” Since then, his passion for street dance has grown. He has been involved in both professional and community work utilizing his knowledge and skills to help foster the positivity and visibility of these street dance styles in the community. He has taught and choreographed for various dance teams and companies throughout Los Angeles and Orange County, including beginning through advanced workshops in popping, locking, and breaking at JayVee Dance Studio, Homeland Cultural Center of Long Beach, and Culture Shock LA. He is also a member and choreographer for In Rhythm With Him Dance Ministry in Orange County, and Artistic Advisor for Culture Shock Los Angeles. As a performer, B-Boy Don has been seen on LATV’s Hip Hop Show, Mun, Hot 92 Jams Summer Concert Series, and the upcoming hip hop film, Platinum Illusions. He is a member of Funny Bones Popping Crew and Soul 2 Soul Breakers, professional street dance teams that have performed in music videos, commercials, and concerts alongside such acts as KRS1, the DUB Tour, and Extreme Autofest Concert Series.

An LA native, Dorathi is no stranger to the arts. Her passion from a young age has been to entertain, encourage, and inspire people through music, dance, and acting. Some of her accomplishments include song placements in syndicated television, music production, on-set and studio vocal coaching, but it is performing regularly with the Urban Poets that has allowed her to blossom as a dancer, along with giving her the gift of genuine community. Dorathi considers her most important accomplishments to be her friendships, new or old. She not only is no stranger to the arts, but hopes not to be a stranger to anyone! She looks forward to meeting YOU!!!

Lisa has been a professional dancer in Los Angeles since 2000 when she started assisting top choreographers and performing in various shows throughout the city. She has been seen on television in Gilmore Girls and the Teen Choice Awards as well as performing at the Arrowhead Pond and Los Angeles Coliseum. Lisa has been a part of Word in Motion dance company, toured with Armor of Light and has taught at numerous dance studios and schools throughout the country. She has been a member of Urban Poets for the past couple of years, performing in shows and conferences nationally and internationally.

Meghan Way is originally from St. Peters, MO, and now resides in Los Angeles, CA, where she is currently pursuing a career in teaching, dancing, and choreographing. Her versatility and energy have allowed her to perform in industrials for Redken Hair and Tarbell Realty, as well as in pieces and shows for Joe Tremaine, Keri LaGrand and Doug Caldwell. Meghan was featured in commercials for Carvel Ice Cream and John Robert Powers, where she danced with stars from Disney’s High School Musical. She also has brought in the New Year at Harrah’s Casino! She is a member of Gregg Russell’s company, Tapsounds Underground, and teaches and assists for his workshop, 3D Dance Network. She is in the hall of fame of assistants for Company Dance Convention and has assisted for Liz Imperio, Doug Caldwell, Joelle Martinec, Nichelle Bane, Mandy Moore, and others. Meghan recently performed in Disney’s Snow White at Disneyland, and choreographed for Carnival - “Choreographer’s Ball,” in Los Angeles. She teaches at Simi Dance Center in California and has begun teaching, choreographing, and judging around the country. Meghan is also a member of the performing arts team, Urban Poets, in Los Angeles. She wishes to thank God, her family, and friends for her life, and always believing in her!

Michelle Christine is a Midwest native who received a degree in Dance Choreography and Teaching from SUNY Buffalo in NY. After graduating, she moved to Los Angeles to choreograph and design music videos and commercials. Some credits include The Daylights, Jacqueline and Thalon. She also has taught at many prestigious dance studios in the Los Angeles area and is currently in the process of opening her own studio. Michelle has a heart for the creative expression dance offers to everyone, and enjoys performing, designing, and teaching.

Mike Tyus has been dancing for the past 6 years. He started at a competition studio called the Dance House, winning top awards. At the age of 13, he was a semi-finalist on the hit television show Star Search. When he was 15, he began traveling around the world to places such as Istanbul, Turkey; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Ensenada, Mexico, to perform and teach with the Urban Poets. In April 2007, he performed in the prestigious Music Center Spotlight Awards, televised live from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and placed first in the Non-Classical Dance category. Currently, he teaches ballet and hip hop at the Dance House and continues to perform with the Urban Poets.

Morgan Carroll is 19 years old and has been dancing since the age of 6. She has performed such styles as: ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, musical theater, and African dance for the past 13 years. Morgan looks forward to establishing herself as a dancer and choreographer in Los Angeles. She is also a graduate of a prestigious arts concentrated high school, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.

Phillip Attmore has been performing since the age of three. He grew up in Los Angeles, attending the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, and upon graduation, began an exciting adventure in the performing arts. He has performed for audiences that span from squatter camps in South Africa, to Broadway houses in New York. His passion is for using the arts as a language to communicate with people worldwide!

Born and raised in Seattle, WA. First generation to be born in the USA, she spent the majority of her life finding the balance between the culture of her ancestors and the culture of the United States. In trying to find herself, she instinctively funneled her emotions through music and dance thus found herself a forum in which to speak. She officially began taking hip hop classes at age 17. Shortly after, she started her own dance team in college for the years spent until her graduation, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Communication. Since then she has taught hip hop in many dance schools as well as the University of Washington’s Experimental College. Having moved to Los Angeles to pursue dance 4 years ago, Renee has been signed by Bloc dance agency, danced in a few music videos, danced for new artists, membered in elite dance crews such as Breaking Point Dance Company, Team Boogiezone.com Breed, and Funkanometry. Now she is excited to choreograph, teach, and dance with the members of Urban Poets.

Rey is experienced in a variety of dance styles: hip hop, pop, jazz, modern, folk, and Polynesian. He has accumulated five years of experience as a dance instructor and choreographer. He has choreographed competition routines for multiple high schools in Southern California, including four routines that won United Spirit Association National Champion awards.

Stacey started taking dance classes at an early age, but later became a successful track athlete. Upon her arrival at Occidental College 8 years ago, she fell in love with dance again, focusing on hip hop and salsa, performing in the school’s annual student dance show. It wasn’t until graduation in 2004 did Stacey’s dance ventures really take off. She began taking classes at the popular dance studios in North Hollywood and in different studios around Los Angeles, and began choreographing for her alma mater’s dance shows. From there, she was given many opportunities, including salsa dancing in a Guyaki tea commercial, choreographing for the Eagle Rock High School cheerleading squad, teaching at Pasadena youth centers, and even spent a little time doing stage choreography for an up and coming band. Since joining the Mosaic dance ministry team in May of 2006, Stacey has co-choreographed and performed in several unique dance pieces and continues to teach beginning/intermediate hip hop/pop dance classes, which is her specialty. Stacey often teams with Rey Munda, as they often assist each other because of their similar styles and taste in music. Stacey is very blessed to be a part of the Mosaic dance ministry and Urban Poets and believes that her opportunity to experience dance this way is truly a gift from God.

A Northern California native, Tiffany hails with a BFA from University of Michigan’s renowned Musical Theatre program. Tour credits include: 1st National Tour of 42ND STREET (Peggy cover), Cathy Rigby’s Farewell Tour of PETER PAN (Tiger Lily/Mrs. Darling cover), 42ND STREET in Moscow, Russia (Phyllis); Regional: BRIGADOON (PCLO), FOOTLOOSE, OKLAHOMA, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Sacramento Music Circus), and MY FAIR LADY (North Shore MT). After four years on tour, Tiffany came to LA and briefly retired from musical theatre to pursue her dream of changing the world through producing, directing, and acting in film. Thank you to the Mosaic community for allowing her to share God with the people she loves most: performers.