July 31 - Aug 4, 2024
Paris Hotel
Las Vegas
Cutting Edge Practical Teacher Training
And Certification For All Dance Teachers
Dance Teacher University - UNLV
Dance Teacher University Faculty
Dolly Kelepecz has been a professional dancer for over thirty years. She danced with Los Angeles Ballet, Houston Ballet, Nevada Dance Theatre and the Zurich Opera Ballet before joining the famed Lido Show at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas where she was the principle dancer/ singer. She is currently a member of the international Contemporary Ballet Company, Ballet Mink. Ms. Kelepecz has traveled with Ballet Mink since 1997 as a soloist as well as the costume designer performing many times in Denmark, Russia, and Scotland and in 2013 Israel. Ms. Kelepecz is an instructor with the UNLV dance department where she teaches ballet and Pilates. The UNLV dance
Louis Kavouras, Chair, Dance Department, UNLV
Dance Teacher Web and faculty from the University of Nevada Las Vegas have partnered to create the best and most comprehensive teacher training program for studios with multiple disciplines.
Dolly Kelepecz, Director of Training Programs
department has included Dolly's Pilates classes as part of the curriculum required for dance majors to graduate. In 2005 Dolly was recognized as Outstanding Part-time teacher in the Collage of fine Arts and in 2008 she was recognized as the Part-Time Instructor of the Year at UNLV. In 2012 Ms. Kelepecz was given a Full-time Position at UNLV. She also received Life Time Achievement Award in Ballet from Dance Educators of America in 2012.
In 1987 she opened her first Pilates studio in Las Vegas, making her the first to open a Pilates studio in Las Vegas. Now 25 years later, she has multiple studios locally, throughout the U.S. and has expanded internationally. In 2001 Dolly opened her first studio in Japan and has since opened studios in Korea and Mexico.
Dolly has established Pilates studios for many health facilities, including hospitals, physical therapy clinics and chiropractic offices. She has also developed programs for Houston Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theater, Wynn Resorts and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
She has appeared on her own Pilates fitness television program airing five days a week called Healthy Lifestyles, promoting health and wellness. She has published Pilates DVD/books in Japan and Korea. She has also produced seven Pilates DVD's in the US based on the DK Body Balancing Method of Pilates exercise. DK Body Balancing Method is the Pilates Certification program that Dolly runs through UNLV Continuing education.
Louis Kavouras joined the UNLV Dance Faculty in 1992. In 1994 he was elected chair of the department. Kavouras has been a principal dancer of the Erick Hawkins Dance Company and faculty member of the Erick Hawkins School of Dance since 1996. The Erick Hawkins Dance Company is a professional, New York based, modern dance company founded by modern dance pioneer, Erick Hawkins. Kavouras has studied with modern dancers Kathryn Karipides, Kelly Holt, Erick Hawkins, Betty Jones, Lucas Hoving, Donald McKayle, Peter Pucci, Gus Solomons, Jr., Rudy Perez, Claire Porter, and Clay Taliaferro. Kavouras is accomplished as a choreographer, designer, visual and graphic artist. His dances have been showcased in Nevada, Ohio, North Carolina, Texas, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Australia, Scotland, England, China, Korea, Japan, Denmark, Russia, Nova Scotia, and Jamaica.
Kavouras believes in creating dances which are uniquely his own, and range from “hilarious” to “poignant.” He comes from a total theater tradition and explores all interdisciplinary avenues between the arts.
Angela D'Valda Sirico & Steve Sirico, Artistic Directors, Dance Teacher Web
Angela D'Valda Sirico and Steve Sirico have been teaching, choreographing and producing shows for over thirty years. In 1979 they formed the Adagio team of D’Valda & Sirico after performing in shows and on television worldwide as individual dancers. Their performing credits include "Scala" Barcelona, Spain, Casino Estoril, Portugal, Theatre Royal, Oxford, England, Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Hotel Tequendama, Bogota, Columbia, Teatro Nacional, Buenos Aires, Argentina,and as Guest Artists for Wayne Sleep's smash hit "Dash", Dominium Theatre, London.
They were featured artists in Royal Command performances in Spain and had the privilege of performing for Princess Diana of Wales. D'Valda & Sirico's many television credits include "David Letterman", "Star Search", and "Tarde Para Todos" as well as variety shows in the U.S.A, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Portugal , Italy and Argentina. Their combination of explosive choreography and exciting partner work has been given rave reviews both nationally and internationally. Their choreography for the acclaimed "Brother Can you Spare A Dime" was commissioned by Boston Ballet II and performed by the company. Angela and Steve have owned and directed a very successful dance studio in Fairfield, Connecticut since 1987. Their students have received scholarships and contracts to American Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Hartford Ballet as well as the National tours of "Fosse", "Fame" and "We Will Rock You" and on Broadway in "Chorus Line".
Angela and Steve have been on the faculty of Dance Educator's of America’s Teacher Training program. Steve is the author of his Jazz Dance syllabus and together they authored their Partner syllabus both used for Teacher Training worldwide. Angela served as Chairperson for the tri state panel of the Royal Academy of Dancing and they have taught as guest faculty for Mt. Holyoke College, Michigan State University, The University of Arkansas, Yale University and Fairfield University. They teach Master Classes in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical Jazz and Partner work all over the world including residencies in England, Spain, Costa Rica and Mexico. From 2003-2005 they were presenting faculty for Dance Teacher Magazine's Summer Teacher’s Conference in NYC.
They continue to be active as adjudicators for major dance competitions and recently choreographed the opening production number for the National Speaker's Association at their annual convention on Broadway in New York City. In 2007 Steve and Angela launched Dance Teacher Web, an online creative and business resource for teachers and dance studio owners worldwide.
Simone DePaolo studied locally prior to her acceptance into Alvin Ailey’s School of American Dance. She continued her studies in New York City before moving to Europe to headline as a dancer/singer. She has performed extensively through-out Europe and northern Africa in various clubs, resorts and aboard cruise ships. Simone’s many credits include “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” “Streakin Through the 70’s,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Toob Time.” She has performed with jazz pianist, John Eaton and the band Odyssea. An award winning choreographer, Simone adjudicates and teaches for major dance organizations throughout the country.
Simone DePaolo
Tony Coppola
With long-standing national recognition as a tap dance virtuoso, master dance teacher, All-American gymnast, and professional percussionist, Tony Coppola is in high demand as a performer, choreographer and master instructor. He is listed in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers." His television choreographic credits include John Tesh Live at Redrocks for PBS, The Mystery and Magic of Nadia Comaneci for ABC TV, and The World Gold Gymnastics Tour starring Nadia Comaneci, Bart Conner, Keri Strug and a cast of Olympic Gymnasts and Hollywood dancers, the Superstars of Gymnastics for USA TV network, and commercials for McDonalds, Aramis Cologne, and Autolite auto-parts.
Featured for his solo tap dancing on various TV shows and in Las Vegas, Tony can also be seen in many dance magazines for his authoritative articles on jazz and tap and ads promoting Capezio's Coppola Tap Shoes, which were introduced in 1990. He was also featured in a production for the Kennedy Center's Imagination Celebration. The Kennedy Center's out-reach program has sent Tony to work with young people in various geographic locations. While on faculty at the Colorado Ballet in Denver where he headed up the jazz training, he also provided the off-ice ballet classes for nationally ranked skaters at the World Arena in Colorado Springs, where he also hosted for PBS Television.
Tony Coppola has been a faculty member at UNLV in Las Vegas for five years, teaching jazz, tap, dance appreciation, and providing percussion support for modern class. He recently choreographed the historically significant production of "The Cradle Will Rock" for Nevada Conservatory Theatre. His writing background for dance magazines has led him to his latest academic project: a newly published workbook for dance appreciation class at college level. The text, entitled "Invitation to the Dance," by Anthony Coppola, can be seen on the Kendall Hunt website as well as on Amazon.com.
Tony is particularly proud of his Las Vegas based Coppola Tap and Rhythm Ensemble. The ensemble is engaged in ongoing works in progress, and has performed in concert. These concert appearances include "Dance in the Desert" Festival in summer of "08," "Higher Elevations" spring of "09" in Flagstaff, Arizona, and at the prestigious, international "Crested Butte Music Festival." His ensemble is rapidly gaining a reputation for its unique and dynamic use of tap dance, percussion, and specialized rhythmic elements. Tony espouses a philosophy of versatility and relevance for himself and his dancers.
