MARIO VELEZ, JR.

Mario Velez Jr. is a professional hip-hop choreographer, dancer & performer. Mario has toured and worked with artists such as Omarion, TLC, Brandy, Boyz II Men, Doug E. Fresh, Paula Abdul, Nu-Flava, Sista Sledge & many others. He has also toured with the world-renowned Harlem Globetrotters! He is currently performing and choreographing for Jasmine Hormez a national recording artist. He is also choreographing for the NBA and WNBA. These teams include the Phoenix Suns Dance Team, Seattle Supersonics, Golden State Warriors, the Phoenix Mercury hip-hop squad and the Storm Kids. You can also find him teaching for dance competitions/conventions Dance Olympus, 3D Network, Coast2Coast Workshop, Hype, Takin’ it 2 the Streets hip-hop workshop and others. Mario has set numbers and choreographed shows that include Splash and Bottoms UP in Las Vegas, and Jubilation in Reno. He is very excited and passionate about his new venture as studio owner/director of Diverse Elements Dance Studio. The one phrase that Mario lives by is, “Hip-hop is not just rap and music, it’s a culture… a way of life!"

MELISSA VALENTINE-VELEZ

Melissa began dancing at the age of 5. She has been studio trained in all areas of dance. Her passion for dance has affected not only herself but those all around her. She danced professionally for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury for 6 years. Before that, she danced in Las Vegas for a year. She coached a State winning and Nationally ranked High School Pom team. She has been teaching dance for the past 9 years. Melissa, along with her husband Mario, have finally fulfilled their dream of becoming studio owners with the opening of Diverse Elements Dance Studio.

NIKOLE STAHL

Nikole is twenty years old. She has been dancing for eighteen years and choreographing for five. She currently teaches and choreographs at Classic Image Dance in Phoenix, Arizona and has toured and assisted for several national dance competitions and showcases. Her passion is performing, choreographing, and inspiring others through her unique style and vision.

CORI BENDER

Cori’s training is a unique blend of dance, theater and human development. She has over 37 years of dance experience and has performed with many groups throughout the NJ and NY areas. Her undergraduate work includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology as well as intensive studies in Theater and Performing Arts. Her classes are designed to teach, inspire, and build self esteem. After graduating college she continued her studies and earned her Chiropractic degree…dancing and teaching along the way! Cori “diverse" background is a great example of the diversity of our studio!!!!

FRANCOISE JOUBERT

Francoise began her dance studies in Bordeaux, France at 6 years old under Mr. Ary Arelly, premier dancer in the company of Marquis de Cuevas. She also studied in Cannes, France under Rosella Hightower, Andrew Glegosky, Solange Golovine and Olga Stens in character. She started her career at The Opera of Bordeaux, Grand Theatre France under Maitre Skoutratoff. She danced in Coppelia, La Fille Mal Gardee, and Sleeping Beauty. She interpreted her last role of the Queen in Sleeping Beauty in Palos Verde, CA. She began her teaching career in France and continued to in the US at the Ballet Conservatory of Palos Verde, CA. for four years. The staff included Fay Gilette Director, and Meredith Baylis, former head of Joffrey School in New York. She continues spreading her knowledge in Phoenix as a Ballet/Pointe instructor and choreographer as well as a Pilates instructor.

STEPHEN “SUNDANCE" EVANS

Stephan Evans AKA Bboy Sundance has been dancing for 12 years, focusing mainly in the art of breaking. He began his training in California & moved to Arizona in 2000. He is a proud member of one of Arizona’s top b-boy crews, Mellow Drama Crew, as well as a member of Automatic Response Perfornance Company in Phoenix, AZ. Stephan is a passionate & dedicated teacher & competitor.

ILIR SHTYLLA

Ilir¹s first taste at performing was folk dancing at weddings and special occasions. He began taking ballet lessons at age 11 at the Jordan Misja Choreographic Ballet School of Albania. Ilir graduated from the Baku Choreographic University of Azerbaijan. He performed principal roles in well known ballets with Azerbaijan Opera Ballet Theatre. Since moving to the United States in 1999, Ilir has worked with many notable choreographers including Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Christopher Wheeldon, and Robert Weiss. Ilir was a soloist with the Carolina Ballet where he danced in Who Cares?, Firebird, Coppëlia, and Carmina Burana. Since joining Ballet Arizona in 2003, Ilir originated a featured role in Ib Andersen¹s Go With It! and has performed soloist roles in Paquita, Ib Andersen¹s Amoroso, Elevations, 2B, and The Nutcracker, and George Balanchine¹s Agon and Serenade. He has performed in many other ballets including Romeo and Juliet, La Sylphide, Coppélia, and George Balanchine¹s Prodigal Son, Divertimento No. 15, Theme and Variations, and Slaughter on Tenth Avenue.

ELVIA RABINOR

Elvia has been teaching dance for over 25 years. She lived and studied dance in New York City with such renowned teachers as David Howard, Finis Jhung and Eddie Zawachi to name a few. While on Long Island she had her own Studio, “Just for Kids" which specialized in early childhood development. Elvia has developed her own unique style with the “little ones" which combines technique, positive reinforcement and a whole lot of fun. Elvia worked with Mario over 10 years ago and feels she is now “home".

ANDREA COFFEY

Andrea Coffey started dancing at an after school program at the age of 3. She began taking class at Miller’s Dance Studio at the age of 5, in Aurora, Colorado, and joined the competitive dance company, Tour de Force, at 9 until she graduated from Smoky Hill High School. She participated and placed in the top ten in local and national competitions such as: KAR, Spotlight, Starlight, Odyssey, Showbiz, Talent On Parade, Dance Champs, Starpower, LA Dance Magic, Westcoast Dance Explosion, Co. Dance, received a tap scholarship from New York City Dance Alliance in 2007, and Debbie Renyolds Scholarship from Monster’s of Hip Hop in 2008. Andrea has taken class and performed for, legend in the making, Jason Samuel-Smith, at the age of 13, and taken master classes from Chloe Arnold, Ayodele Casel, Corey Finn, Danny Wallace, Lisa Hopkins, and many more. Andrea is currently attending Arizona State University, majoring in Communications. She participated on Hip Hop Coalition as dance assistant and co-captain. She is as an aspiring dancer/teacher/choreographer, and plans to move to Los Angelas to pursue her career after finishing college.

BRIGID BENSON

Brigid has been dancing since the age of 3. She grew up in Phoenix and trained in many styles of dance such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary. She has taken class at many studios all across the valley. She is currently apart of the Automatic Response Jazz Company. Brigid is very passionate about dancing and is thrilled to begin teaching as well as being apart of Diverse Elements! She loves performing and hopes to inspire others!

CHRIS THOMAS

Chris Thomas has been dancing for 6 years. He started teaching and choreographing at his local Church in California and was the co-director of the Hip-Hop Ministry “Step it up." Since then, Chris has gone on to teach and choreograph at studios throughout Southern California, choreographing numerous award winning pieces, from productions to mini groups. Chris has worked with the Radio Disney group “He and I" on their promotional tour along with “Jessie Malakouti." He has shot a number of music videos and performed in live events and various venues and has choreographed for Arizona’s own “Automatic Response." Chris Thomas brings a positive attitude to his teaching; he pushes his dancers to go above and beyond what they believe to be their potential with a charismatic method of teaching and choreographing. Chris strongly believes that the ability to express ones self through movement is an art form, whether in Jazz, ballet, etc. A bit of “soul", mixed with a touch of “swag", with a pinch of “Finesse" are all the makings of Chris Thomas.

SARAH MUALIM

Sarah started her dance training at the age of 13. Since then she has trained with some of the best teachers in Arizona. Sarah grew up dancing at Diverse Elements Dance Studio under the direction of Krista Coney and Mario Velez until she graduated from Xavier College Preparatory in 2008. She now attends Arizona State University and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Sarah is a part of the professional performance company Automatic Response and also is a backup dancer for artist and singer Jasmine Hormez. She strives to continue her training by taking as many classes, both around the valley and in LA, as she can.

KRISTA CONEY

Jazz Instructor

Krista has been dancing since the age of 4. Her performances have taken her all over the United States, Canada, and Japan. She has had the opportunity to showcase her passion for dance through television, videos, and concert tours. In addition to Krista’s own talents as a performer, her award winning choreography has been featured in schools, night clubs, and national competitions. Credits Include: Aaron Carter Jukebox Tour, Aaron Carter Japan Tour, Britney Spears Onyx Tour, Star Search, FAMEUS, and West Coast Dance Explosion.