Nevada Union Dance Community

Faculty & Associate Teaching Artists

Annie Aguilar, D.C.
Chiropractor / Yoga & Movement Educator

Dr. Annie Aguilar is a chiropractor and fitness professional who helps people move with greater strength, confidence, and ease throughout every stage of life. Drawing from a background in dance, yoga, and neuroscience, she combines evidence-informed chiropractic care with movement coaching to support mobility, balance, resilience, and long-term well-being. She earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University and holds a degree in neuroscience from Middlebury College. In addition to her chiropractic training, Dr. Annie has advanced education in craniosacral therapy, lymphatic drainage, pelvic floor rehabilitation, perinatal and postpartum care, concussion recovery, and functional medicine. Her work is guided by a belief that movement is one of the most powerful tools for supporting health, authentic expression, and vitality throughout the lifespan.

Karen Attix
Co-founder MATTIX DANCE / Ballet, Music & Choreographer

Karen Attix danced professionally with the New York based modern dance companies of Merce Cunningham and Kathyrn Posin. She also collaborated with New York choreographers Jane Comfort and Matthew Diamond. Returning to the Bay Area in the mid-1970, she quickly became part of the new contemporary dance scene working with Margaret Jenkins and Brenda Way (founder of ODC) and studying with Alonzo King of LINES Ballet. She received two choreography fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts and set her choreography on dance companies in Fairbanks, Alaska as well as Sao Paulo, Brazil and Limas sol, Cyprus. As a solo performer and Affiliate Artist, she toured extensively throughout the US. She co-founded MATTIX DANCE with fellow Margaret Jenkins’ dancer Virginia Matthews and together they performed in New York, Turkey and Israel and throughout the Bay Area. Karen has taught contemporary Cunningham based technique at Mills College, UC Berkeley, Reed College and San Francisco Ballet. Since moving to Nevada City in 2005, Karen has choreographed for Nevada Union Dance and Center Stage Dance Studio. She is also a certified Level One Gyrotonic trainer and brings over 20 years of classical piano study to her technique classes.

Elizabeth Castañeda
Founder of TWINSPACE / Ballet, Character & Classical Spanish

Elizabeth Castañeda is a dance educator and choreographer with nearly thirty years of experience teaching ballet, pointe, character, jazz, contemporary, and improvisation. Her foundation began with extensive Royal Academy of Dance training and early choreographic mentorship at Austin Dance Academy. She later continued her studies at Ballet Arts Academy of Spokane, where collaborative work with her twin sister earned First Place in the Northwest Allied Arts Festival Choreography Division. Elizabeth continued her training at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle and with Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco. She has taught and created work for organizations including Ballet Theatre of Spokane, the LINES Ballet Pre-Professional Program, and ODC. Her teaching career also includes nearly a decade as an Artist in Residence at San Francisco School of the Arts. Elizabeth founded TWINSPACE in San Francisco, and is a co-creator of The Fossettes, a Fosse-inspired performance ensemble. She additionally leads Sister Magic Productions, a company dedicated to immersive, genre-blending performance work.

Roxanna Cohen, PT
Physical Therapist & Consultant

Roxanna Cohen is a physical therapist, movement specialist, and owner of The Pilates Place, with over three decades of experience in movement science and rehabilitation. She is a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and a Fellow of Movement System Impairments, a distinction reflecting advanced clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating movement-based dysfunction. She is also a Senior Educator for Polestar Pilates and PBT-certified instructor, with extensive experience applying Pilates and conditioning methodologies to support dancers, aerialists and other high-level movers. She is a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine Scientists and regularly attends continuing education with leaders in the field of dance and circus medicine. Her work is distinguished by a rigorous, systems-based understanding of human movement and a longstanding commitment to integrating clinical insight with performance training.

Lauren Duchene
Founder & Director of Imaginative Movement / Youth Division Lead

Lauren Duchene is a ballet educator devoted to cultivating joyful, imaginative, and technically grounded training for young dancers. With over 25 years of experience, she blends classical technique with a nurturing approach that fosters a deep love of movement, and artistic expression. She began her training in Marin County at Stapleton School of the Performing Arts and continued her pre-professional studies at Marin Dance Theatre. She holds a BFA in Dance from UC Irvine with an emphasis on ballet performance. She is certified in Pilates, and Barre Training to support strong, well-rounded dancer development. Lauren is also the founder of Imaginative Movement, a ballet program for young dancers offering thoughtful dance training with a creative and playful approach. 

Chanthou Lam
Founder/Director of Connection Dance Project

Chanthou Lam is the Founder and Artistic Director of Connection Dance Project as well as the Director of Dance at Nevada City School of the Arts. Chanthou is an accomplished dance educator, choreographer, community advocate, and lifelong student of movement. With a Master of Science in Kinesiology (Movement Studies) and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Theatre from California State University, Sacramento, she brings a unique blend of artistic excellence, movement science, and community-centered teaching to every class she leads. Drawing from extensive training in Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Cuban, Dunham Technique, Hip Hop, Funk, Jazz, Modern, and Contemporary Dance, Chanthou has performed and trained with renowned artists and companies throughout California and beyond. Her work is rooted in the rich traditions of the African diaspora and guided by a deep commitment to dance education, cultural understanding, accessibility, and community connection.

Azriel LaMarca
Co-founder of The Glass Bead Players / Modern & Choreographer

Azriel LaMarca is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and performer with more than two decades of experience teaching, creating, and presenting dance throughout Northern California. She holds a degree in Dance and Theatre Arts from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and has taught modern dance and creative movement for a wide range of organizations, including the Nevada Union Dance Program, The Movement Alliance, The Center for the Arts, and Dance Because. As a performer, Azriel has appeared professionally with the Zen Monkey Project and the Linda Bair Dance Company and co-founded the experimental dance theater company The Glass Bead Players. She explores collaborative and improvisational performance through her work with the improvisational collective Shadow Cabinet, is a seasoned contact improviser and teacher, and has been creating new dance work for dancers and students of all ages in Nevada County for over twenty years. 

Daisy Mitchell
Varsity Dance Team Coach, Nevada Union High School

Daisy Mitchell has been a dedicated member of Nevada County’s dance community for over two decades and began her teaching career locally in 2005. Throughout her professional career, Daisy has performed with several distinguished organizations, including the San Francisco 49ers, Sacramento Mountain Lions, Stockton Eagles, and Sacramento Heatwave Dance Team. Her extensive performance experience brings a dynamic, real-world perspective to every class and rehearsal. Committed to lifelong learning, Daisy continues to refine her artistry through advanced training at Sac Dance Lab and leading regional and national dance conventions. Her passion for dance, combined with her positive energy and supportive teaching style, inspires dancers to develop confidence, technical excellence, and a genuine love for movement. At Nevada Union Dance, Daisy serves as the Varsity Dance Team Coach, teaches weekly Hip Hop and Jazz Fusion Community Enrichment Classes, and choreographs for dancers across all levels of the program. Her dedication to fostering both strong technique and meaningful connections has made her a beloved mentor and role model for countless students.

Erin Reynolds
Artistic Director, Erin Reynolds Performances / Contemporary

Erin Reynolds is a choreographer, educator, and performer whose work has been presented nationally and internationally, including in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berlin, Istanbul, and Vienna. She holds an MFA in Dance from California State University, Long Beach and a BA in Dance and Performance Studies from UC Berkeley. Erin is the artistic director of Erin Reynolds Performances and co-artistic director of E&C and Bare Outlines, and currently teaches at California State University, Sacramento and Chico. Her work explores the intersections of performance, new media, and public space, bringing a thoughtful and contemporary perspective to dance-making and education.

Sienna Riley
Physical Therapist • Teaching Artist & Choreographer

Dr. Sienna Riley is a physical therapist and lifelong dancer. She began dancing at the age of three in studios in Nevada County as well as spending all four years as a member of the Nevada Union Dance department. She then went on to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from California State University, Long Beach. She has danced professionally and taught dance in Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Nevada County. Sienna is certified to teach Yoga and Pilates as well as earning her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Regis University in Denver. She practices physical therapy locally at Body Logic Physical Therapy.

José Romero
Pilates Instructor & Personal Trainer

José Romero is a highly experienced fitness professional and movement educator helping clients improve strength, mobility, and overall well-being. Originally from Spain, José completed his training through the Spanish Federation School of Pilates and earned professional credentials through the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) before building a successful career working with diverse populations in both Spain and Miami, Florida. His approach combines evidence-based training methods with a deep understanding of functional movement, helping clients develop strength, stability, flexibility, and confidence in their bodies. José specializes in Pilates, High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), functional fitness, and corrective exercise strategies, creating accessible and engaging workouts that challenge participants while honoring individual needs and abilities. He is currently on faculty at The Pilates Place, located at Body Logic Physical Therapy, providing Pilates Mat and Reformer group classes as well as personal training sessions.

Tsal’gyür Nicole Starbuck
NUDance Community Founder & Director | Jnr & Senior Division Lead

A former Soloist with San Francisco Ballet, Tsal’gyur Nicole Starbuck performed for ten years under Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson, working with many of the world’s leading choreographers and artists. Following her performing career, she has dedicated more than two decades to teaching, choreographing, and mentoring dancers in pre-professional ballet training. Her educational approach integrates the traditions of classical ballet with contemporary knowledge of anatomy, movement science, and long-term dancer development, fostering technical excellence, artistry, musicality, resilience, and a lifelong love of dance. Informed by decades of contemplative practice, she emphasizes mindful, sustainable training that supports the integration of body and mind while cultivating focus, confidence, and artistic presence. She is deeply committed to cultivating a school culture that upholds the highest standards of classical ballet while supporting the health, well-being, and continued growth of both dancers and faculty. In addition to her extensive ballet background, she holds certifications in NASM Personal Training and Progressing Ballet Technique, with additional certifications in yoga, meditation, and massage therapy, bringing a comprehensive, whole-person perspective to dance education.