Rhonda Balajadia

Brian Drogosch

As a competitive dancer Brian was a member of the 1996 and 1998 National Champions at the American Dance Championships in Myrtle Beach. He then started his career at the prestigious Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles on scholarship under the direction of Joe Malone. He has appeared on the television show “3rd Rock From the Sun.” He has danced at the American Choreography Awards, The Nutcracker in Los Angeles, worked on the movie “These Old Broads” with Debbie Reynolds, Joan Collins, Shirley McClain, and Elizabeth Taylor, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, The set of “Alley McBeal” and Tremaine Dance Conventions. Brian has been teaching for three years, specializing in Lyrical and Ballet. His students have won national recognition and numerous awards from competitions all over the country.

Email: brian@triplethreatpa.com

Victoria Frye

Vickie's passion for the arts has taken her to the happiest moments of her life. She has been dancing since the age of five and has studied jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, ballroom, and tap. Vickie has performed all over the United States with studios and independent color guards, as well as in Prague with the CSUH dance department. After being a competitive dancer for six years, she continued on to teach at dance studios and schools in the Bay Area. She has instructed and choreographed for the United Spirit Association, S.S. Dance Express, Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, Granada High School Color Guard and Dance Team, Junction Avenue Middle School, and Tri-Valley Rep.  Vickie also judges and is a Head Counselor for the United Spirit Association.  With a degree in dance from CSUH, Vickie is currently on the dance faculty at Las Positas College. Vickie is happy to be returning to a wonderful year with her TTPA family! Her motto: "You can dance anywhere, even if only in your heart."

Email: Vickie@triplethreatpa.com

Sonya Buitrago-Hardy

Sonya grew up in Livermore and now resides in Tracy. Sonya has been dancing since the young age of 6 years old. She has danced with many different teachers and choreographers. She has also performed in a variety of shows and musicals in the area. This past Fall her choreography was seen in Pleasanton Playhouse’s Singing in the Rain. Sonya is the mother of 4 children, and her love of dance and children has led her into teaching for over 18 years. Sonya is also a judge for national competitions. Many of her dancers have won numerous overall scores and top choreography awards at State and National competitions.

Email: hardygirlhams@yahoo.com

Shawnel Buitrago-Herbst

Shawnel has been involved with dancing since the age of 2 1/2, training with multiple studios and teachers in the Bay Area. She has always aspired to become a teacher and owner herself. During her 6 years as a member of the San Francisco 49er “Gold Rush” cheerleader, she has had the chance to perform in such locations as Canada, Japan, China and Austria. She also has had the opportunity to tour overseas with the USO to Bosnia, Croatia and Hungary to entertain American Troops for Independence Day. She has been involved in community theater for the past 17 years and most recently co-directed/ choreographed Beauty and the Beast for Tri-Valley Rep If you look closely, Shawnel can also be seen in the feature film "Flubber" with Robin Williams. The dedication of Shawnel and her students have led them to many awards and accomplishments. Email: Shawnel@triplethreatpa.com

Shanna de la Torre

Shanna’s love and passion for dance has been present throughout her life.  Starting at the age of 4, competing and training in all types of dance, Shanna knew she had found her calling.  Performing in hip hop troupes such as, Positive Steps, and Culture Shock, Shanna was able to discover her true love of dance, hip hop.  Training in avenues ranging from college, to conventions, and master classes, her main goal was to explore what the world of hip hop meant to her, and she found her answer in teaching.  She has since gone on to choreograph routines that have received awards such as; Best Choreography, Precision, the Showstoppers Essence of Hip Hop Award, and many more. 

Through her dancing and teaching style, Shanna strives to communicate her love and enthusiasm for life and the arts, to all that she is able to work with. 

Email: butterflytat@comcast.net

Lori Fletcher

Bill Langley

Bill is a native of Michigan and moved to the bay area in 2003. Starting out as a competitive dancer he appeared on the nationally televised 1996 American Dance Championships, where his team was crowned national champions. He attended Oakland University, and Wayne State University both on dance scholarships. He has performed with the Oakland Dance Theatre, Bob McGrath of Sesame Street; and on the television show Club Connect. He has choreographed numbers for The Children’s Miracle Network, Jerry Lewis Telethon, 2002 Variety Clubs International Convention in Palm Springs, The Reel Awards at The Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, For the San Jose, Saber Kittens and Numerous NBA half time shows. As a teacher in Michigan and California, Bill’s students have performed on Star Search with Arsenio Hall, So You Think You Can Dance,  the movie “Pixel Perfect” by Disney, High School Musical 3, reoccurring roles on “Even Stevens” and “The Young and The Restless,” “Rent” on Broadway, and Touring casts of “Fosse,” “Movin’ Out” and "Cats" Bill has been teaching dance for 12 years and his students have won numerous high score and top awards at competitions all over the United States.

Email: bill@triplethreatpa.com

Noelle Messa

Noelle started dance at the age of seven. Ever since then, she has been training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, and Lyrical. Livermore being her home town, she started dance with SS Dance Express, and Triple Threat Performing Arts. She has performed in many Pleasanton Playhouse Shows, and loves being part of the community through dance. She looks forward to a wonderful year with Triple Threat!

Stacey Stevens

Stacey has been teaching dance for almost 15 years.  She is trained in tap, jazz and ballet.  As an expert in tap, she utilizes many different teaching techniques in order to give her students a better understanding of expressing rhythms with their feet.  Stacey attended the University of California, Riverside, on a tap scholarship, where she performed at various locales throughout her college career.  She was also an original member of the Highlander Girls Dance squad.  

Stacey's choreography has earned her numerous awards, including: Top Teacher, Best Choreography, and the Al Gilbert Tap Award.   Stacey is very excited to be joining the TTPA family and looks forward to sharing her passion and knowledge of tap dance with all of the students.

Tammy Thompson

Tammy is a veteran dance mom. Her first daughter Laura started dancing with S.S. Dance Express in 1992. Tammy has been with the studio ever since with her two other daughters, Lindsey and Lisa, even dancing herself with the mom's groups. Tammy has been working in the banking/finance business for over 25 years and brings her knowledge and experience to Triple Threat. Tammy has been working in the office for over ten years. She enjoys working with the teachers, dancers, and parents at Triple Threat. Tammy's goal is to help all so everyone may enjoy the arts.

Juanita Montenegro

Juanita starting dancing at the age of 6, and through the years she has had the opportunity to experience different studios in California and Arizona .   She joined a competitive team and began competing at regional competitions throughout Northern California at the age of 9 and has won many showmanship and top awards.  Juanita has also attended and participated in many conventions as a child, and continues to do so as an instructor.
 
Juanita’s first opportunity to teach was offered to her during her junior year in high school, where she began coaching Jr. High and High School Cheerleading squads. In 2001, Juanita began teaching the Bay Area YMCA’s.  Her career as an instructor for recreational and competitive dance began in 2003. Her students have won numerous top awards from competitions all over the area. She has had the privilege to work with well-known choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Joe Tremaine, Gregg Russell, The Tap Dogs and Lisa Thompson from The Fly Girls - In Living Color.
 
Juanita’s drive and passion for dance only continues to grow.  She is committed to studying the latest styles, learning new technique, and sharing her knowledge.    

Lori Stefani

Lori has been dancing since the age of 4, where her parents decided to trade in her quiet tennis shoes for some taps.   She attended the Terry Smith Dancers of Hayward for 15 years studying tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop.  There she was fortunate to be a part of a tap group who were the winners of many awards including the Gene Nelson Award, top score, choreography, and fabulous feet.  During this same period of time, Lori spent 3 years on the Varsity Cheer/Dance Team at Hayward High School where she was captain her senior year.  From there she joined the Chabot College Cheer Team for 2 years, finishing out her second year as team captain.  In 1997 she joined the Oakland Skates Dance Team for one year until deciding she wanted to share her love of dance as a dance teacher. Teaching both recreational and competitive dance of all styles for over 13 years, Lori’s expertise is tap.  She has been with the TTPA family for 5 years and is currently the head coach for the Tracy High School Varsity Dance Team, where she has spent 3+ years.  Lori has taught for several Bay Area studios including Hayward Area Recreation, The Terry Smith Dancers, Nelson’s Dance for All Ages, Dance Makers and Step 2 This.  She hopes to touch the hearts of all her students with her love and passion of dance, just as her dance teacher has done for her. 

Gwen Stone

Gwen has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She was born into a performing arts family. Her mother was a professional ballerina with the Royal Ballet & the Legate System & is currently a ballet teacher & competition choreographer in Orlando, Florida.  Her sister is a professional ballerina with Georgia Dance Theatre Professional Company & a ballet teacher with Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts. So needless to say dancing & the passion for the arts are in Gwen’s blood and it is what inspires and pushes her to excel every day. She has an extensive background in modern, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, jazz, gymnastics, character, cheer, and tap. She has won numerous National All Round Dancer Awards throughout her 16 years of competitive dance, specializing in modern, ballet, jazz ,contemporary & character.  She has had the opportunity to work with such choreographers as Michael Smuin, Mia Michaels, Roland Dupree, Jackie Sleight, Chebar Williams, Sam Weber, Charles McGowan, Doug Caldwell and Joe Tremaine. In her adult years she has carried out her passion and brought the love of dance and performing to the hearts of students throughout the Bay Area. Her creative drive and love of dance can been seen through her students when they rock the stage. Her students have won several top awards throughout the state. She believes that dance is the best outlet for the great days & the not-so great days; on any day you can just allow yourself to become one with the emotion and the heart of what you are feeling and project it into your movements.

Katherine Langley

Advertising/Marketing Director/Office Staff

Katie hails Michigan where she grew up in a dancing family. Along with competitive dance she played basketball, softball, track, and volleyball. Since graduating from Michigan State University in 2010 with a bachelors degree in Creative Advertising. Katherine has excelled in marketing and design, while working in the Marketing Department at Cornerstone Schools in Detroit. She looks forward to getting to know all of the TTPA families while being part of our office staff.  We are so excited to have her join our team!