SCHS Dance Team Staff

Kelley Brown is originally from Northern California. She has studied various dance forms including Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Modern, Tap, Contemporary, Military and Hip Hop for the past 25 years. Kelley received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance Performance with honors, along with a minor in Leadership and Organizational Studies from Chapman University. Kelley is a BASI certified Pilates Instructor with comprehensive dance specialization, along with a certification in Burn At The Barre. Kelley has been apart of the United Spirit Association for 12 years where she taught for the Dance Staff as a Head Instructor. She was apart of the program development team for the Dance Program as well as a Judge for the USA in both regional and national competitions. Kelley has taught and choreographed for several studios in Southern California where she has been awarded for her choreography. Kelley has been apart of the teaching staff at PAVE School of the Arts since season 1, where she teaches Pilates, Flexibility, Ballet, and Jazz to all ages. Kelley is passionate about supporting every student and encouraging them to be the best dancer and person they can be. She is extremely humbled and grateful for the opportunity to be a support system for this wonderful program. Kelley looks forward to continuing the legacy and traditions so many have contributed before her, promoting unity, and excellence in all she does.

Savannah Hooks has been dancing since the age of 3 and is classically trained in the Cecchetti Ballet System. She has a passion for all styles of dance with extensive training in many, including: contemporary, jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip-hop, modern, and Irish dance. She has danced for a number of dance companies and crews including Unity Dance Ensemble, founded by Tessandra Chavez under the direction of Tarua Hall and Theo Ivey; High Profile Dance Crew, which resides in Las Vegas; and Establish Your Empire, founded by Gigi Torres. She graduated from CSUN magna Cum Laude obtaining a Mathematics degree where she received the F. Lynwood Wren Award. As an educator, Savannah has taught classes all over the country working as a Master Teacher, Choreographer and Coach. She has been a member of the dance staff for the United Spirit Association for almost 11, where she was awarded M.V.P for 2015, 2017, 2018, and received the Unity award for 2019. Savannah loves to create and has always had an absolute passion for choreography. She has been setting pieces on dancers from a very young age, and has choreographed countless award winning, and national title winning routines. She also values the importance of forever being a student, and invests into furthering her education at all times. She has assisted and/or trained under many great dance artists such as Dee Caspary, Tessandra Chavez, Tarua Hall, Liz Imperio, Kayla Kalbfleisch, KJ Gonzales, Keone Madrid, Gigi Torres, and many more. Conclusively Savannah absolutely loves teaching and inspiring others through dance and plans on doing just that for the rest of her life.

Suzie Poetsch started dancing at the age of 5 and fell in love with classical ballet which led her to scholarships at San Francisco Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet summer programs. She is trained in the Cecchetti method and R.A.D. Her 15 year professional career with Ballet Pacifica allowed her to explore the possibilities of dance with classical and contemporary choreographers such as David Allen, Diane Diefenderfer and Peter Pucci. She also toured with Los Angeles Ballet and David Taylor Dance Theater of Denver, CO.  Suzie has been a certified Pilates Instructor since 2001 through the Physical Mind Institute. Suzie loves to share her joy of dance, while focusing on proper technique for the longevity of her student’s dance careers.  She looks forward to sharing her passion of ballet with the SCHS Dance Team.

Danica Ebel is an English teacher here at San Clemente High School and joins the dance team as their new advisor. She grew up in Orange County and attended Aliso Niguel High School, where she danced across a variety of genres including jazz, hip-hop, pom, and contemporary. After graduating she attended the University of Oregon where she received her Bachelor’s in English. She then went on to earn a certificate in publishing from New York University, and her Master’s in Education from Concordia University, Irvine. She is excited to continue supporting dance team and watch her students grow!