OUR STORY
A New Legacy:
Legacy Dance Studio was born January 2022 out a great love, respect, and passion for CF Dance Academy which came before it. Our goal is to continue the nurturing of dancers in a safe place, while training at a level of excellence.
Meet Our Legacy Staff!
Skylar Vandenburg
Owner / Hip-Hop / Jazz / Elite Team Director
Skylar Vandenburg danced at CF Dance Academy for 15 years and began instructing 10 years ago. During her time as a student at CF Dance Academy, she trained in various dance styles including hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, ballet, and tap. As an adult, Skylar continues to train at a professional level with award winning teams in the Hip Hop community; these include VMO, LFG, and Hyphen. She hopes to continue to create a safe space for all ages to dance and have the opportunity to be themselves.
Ryan Morris
Hip-Hop / Elite Team Director
Ryan began training in San Diego at Formality Dance Academy in 2005 under Phillip Geniza. After training at established hip-hop studios such as Culture Shock SD, Studio FX, and Studio 429, he studied movement and choreography at University of California, Riverside. There he got a taste for other dance forms and participated in the GLUCK Contemporary Ensemble. Throughout his dancing experience Ryan has contributed to and competed with various hip-hop teams in the southern California area such as Team Millennium, Academic of Swag, and Soul Fresh Crew. He also directed UCR's competitive hip-hop team 909 Hip-Hop Dance Troupe for multiple seasons. Ryan now teaches at multiple studios in La County, Orange County, and the High Desert training from beginner level students all the way up to those competing at a national level!
Judy Molenda
Front Desk Manager
Miss Judy is the heart and soul of Legacy Dance Studio. She has been managing the front desk for many years and carries on the warm, welcoming, detail oriented care she has always had since CF became Legacy. Make sure to stop by the front desk and say hi!
Claudia Ion
Hip-Hop / Elite Team Director
Claudia is a hip-hop instructor at Legacy Dance Studio. In 2009, she started her dance training at CF Dance Academy, which included hip-hop, jazz, tap, contemporary and ballet. She’s been teaching all ages and various levels since 2014. As an adult, Claudia has trained with teams within the hip-hop community such as V Mo, Vixens, and LFG. She has her Bachelor of Science in Child and Adolescent Development and is continuing her education in hopes of becoming a school teacher. Claudia believes that dance is an opportunity for dancers to push past limits while having fun, and feels honored to be a part of a studio that provides a safe space for everyone.
Vanessa Benetiz
Tap
Vanessa Benitez born and raised in California has been dancing since she was 9 years old. Going between sports and dance classes, she finally found her true calling in continuing her love for dance. Vanessa teaches tap and hip hop to special needs kids. Vanessa has been teaching Tap for the past 18 years. She brings a different element by blending her tap with hip hop to bring out “FUNKY TAP”. Vanessa states, “My true inspiration comes from watching my students improve each class, they are the ones that make my ideas come to life!” She hopes to continue to tap for many years to come.
Kira MolenDa
Ballet / Jazz / Hip-Hop / Acro / Tech
Miss. Kira started dancing at the age of 3.5. Her classical dance studies include, successfully passing her Standard 1 through Grade 8 Cecchetti Ballet Exams and has also received her TC1 Cecchetti Teachers Certificate. She has competed with Elite teams as a soloist and group dancer. In the field of commercial dance, she has served as team captain on an Elite Hip Hop team for two years and has won multiple awards with this group in addition to 3 other teams. Miss Kira has trained with many industry professionals, was invited to perform at the Carnival Choreographer Ball in September 2019, and has won 1st place overall as a solo jazz dancer at Showstoppers. She is currently choreographing and coaching our Sound Off elite team. One of the most rewarding things Miss Kira experiences as a dance teacher is the ability to see her dancers grow, not only in their training but also in their personal development.
Damian Kelly
Ballet
Damian is currently part the Anaheim Ballet Company and has performed in their productions of The Nutcracker since 2016. He has taught ballet classes for Anahiem Ballet as well as in Paramount & Signal Hill. While training in ballet for the last 16 years, he has performed with Disneyland parades, Coast City Ballet, Akomi, & The Dance Co.
Rorey Michelangelo
Acro
Mr. Rorey has danced his way from the East Coast to the West Coast from Newsies at the Gateway in New York to Cinderella at Musical Theatre West. Some of his most recent credits include: Pepe in West Side Story by Palos Verdes Performing Arts, Newsies as Specs/Race with 3D Theatricals, Macavity in CATS with Interlakes Theatre and Zebulun in Joseph with La Mirada Theatre. Rorey's other dance credits include, featured dance in Prince of Eden's "Sit Me Back Down" and principle dancer in " Full Circle" Jazz concert. While not on stage Rorey shares his love of dance by teaching tumbling from ages 4-13 at Legacy Dance Studio.
Lauren Kim
Contemporary / Lyrical / Tech
Lauren Kim has been dancing since the age of 18 months old. She started competing with CF Dance Academy in 2015 and trained in many styles: ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, lyrical, and the Cecchetti method of ballet from ages 13-19. She passed her Grade 9 Cecchetti exam and trained in Grade 10. She had danced at CF Dance Academy for seven years and was one of the junior and senior captains of the Fullerton Youth Senior Ballet Company [FYB]. She was also a part of Sunny Hills High School Dance Production all throughout high school and was the captain during her junior and senior years. She is currently the assistant coach of SHHS DP and holds weekly high school dance team prep classes at Legacy to further prepare dancers for high school dance team.
She had also been a part of the award-winning competitive group, Fortissimo, which moved forward to create a concept video about teen suicide. Lauren has also participated in numerous competitions and events, such as Youth America Grand Prix, California Dance Classics, Showstoppers, Kids Artistic Revenue, Urban Street Jam, Maxt Out, Collaborations, Kidz Carnival, and CADTD, where she has received numerous awards and recognition for her group dances and solos. Lauren currently coaches Junior FYB and teaches weekly contemporary and technique classes. She has coached many award-winning soloists and duets and looks forward to continuing pushing her dancers to success. She loves to teach and choreograph and is grateful for being able to share her passion for dance at Legacy. Alongside teaching and dancing, she is currently a full-time attending Pomona College in Claremont, CA where she is studying psychology.
