OUR TEAM
Owner & Managing Director
Alexa Cutcher
Originally from Southwest Michigan, Alexa began dancing at a young age and quickly fell in love with it. After years of training and competitive dancing, she continued her education at Eastern Michigan University where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Entrepreneurship and Dance. During her time at EMU she concentrated on perfecting her ballet and modern technique and took extensive classes in choreography and dance history. Alexa performed multiple times both in guest faculty showcases and student choreography showcases. She also choreographed multiple times for the program and her works were featured in multiple shows including the Elements of Composition Showcase and the Advanced Composition Showcase. After graduating in 2014 she decided she was suited for warmer weather and quickly moved to California to take in the sunshine. Soon after moving, she was fortunate enough to meet the wonderful staff and students at CORE Dance and quickly fell in love with the encouraging and positive atmosphere. In addition to teaching at CORE Dance, Alexa also taught dance at Paso Robles Public Schools where she worked on developing a brand new dance program while teaching to grades TK-5 for a year before moving to Flamson Middle School where she taught for an additional 2 years while completing her teaching credential and Master’s in Education. In January of 2018 Alexa took over as owner of CORE Dance and has loved every moment of it.
CORE Dance Company Artistic Director
Lindsey Caudill
Lindsey brings over 20 years of experience to her role as Artistic Director of CORE Dance Company. Known for her innovative movement style and emotionally driven choreography, Lindsey has built a reputation for creating work that is both technically challenging and artistically engaging. Her choreography spans a wide range of styles and age levels, and she is especially skilled at helping dancers connect deeply with their movement and musicality. Under her artistic direction, CORE has continued to grow as a company committed to strong training, meaningful performance opportunities, and a supportive, professional environment. Lindsey is passionate about fostering a space where dancers are encouraged to push boundaries, develop their own artistic voice, and take pride in the process of growth. Her leadership plays a key role in shaping CORE’s vision and the overall development of its dancers both on and off the stage.
CORE Dance Company Assistant Director
Oscar Gutierrez
Oscar, a local dance instructor and traveling professional born in Sacramento and raised on the central coast. First training in gymnastics and when his family moved switched to dance and only dance since then. In middle school Oscar was a recipient of “The Mercer Sanchez Scholarship” which helped pay for expenses competing and training in dance. Since middle school Oscar knew we wanted to dance as a professional and after graduating moved to Los Angeles to train and work in 2019. Unfortunately that was during the events of Covid and after sometime he has returned home keeping busy with all things dance. Oscar has performed in many states with shows he’s been a part of just recently coming from Mississippi performing and being an associate to the choreographer at an MGM resort “Beau Rivage” with musical Footloose. Continuing to expand and grow his resume with various projects he’s also been an associate choreographer, assistant and performer for Cirque Dreams with Cirque Du Soleil. Enjoying both production and performing sides of the life of a dancer. Apart from working professionally Oscar also teaches at Core Dance and is an associate director for its older competitive teams which he loves to do. Other than dance Oscar enjoys spending time with the family and friends, living an active lifestyle, handstands, programming lights and traveling.
CORE Dance Company Assistant Director
Leslie Baumberger
Leslie Baumberger is a founding pillar of the Central Coast dance community as a teacher, choreographer, and director for the past 35 years. She was an Artistic Director and Company Director of Pat Jacksons American Dance under owner Pat Jackson, and American Dance of SLO under owner Lissa Beck. Her dancers have gone on to tour with famous musicians, work professionally on both stage and screen, become successful choreographers, and open their own studios across the country. Leslie’s companies consistently place first overall in competitions throughout the United States. In 1996, she was invited to be a master teacher by the Kalinka Ballet School in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her dancers were invited to perform in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia and were featured in such dance publications as Dance Spirit and Dance Teacher magazine. She directed the All American Dancers, who were named Performers of the Year 1998 and again in 2000. In 2014, Leslie was honored with the Arts Obispo lifetime achievement award in dance. And, in 2015 the California State Legislature honoured Leslie with a Certificate of Recognition in the dance arts. She loves being a part of the Central Coast Dance community and is proud to help dancers continue to SHINE forever.
CORE Babies, CORE Minis & Pre-Company Director
Isabella Lund
Isabella has been dancing since she was 2 years old, starting out at Pat Jackson’s American Dance before continuing her training at CORE when the studio opened in 2010. She grew up performing in local shows and attending competitions as part of CORE Dance Company. Over the years, Isabella has received numerous scholarships and opportunities through convention/competitions like ASH, Tremaine, Hollywood Vibe, and Dupree, where she was selected for their “All Star” program in 2018. She also had the opportunity to travel to Austria in 2019 to perform with CORE as part of the Stars of Tomorrow program, dancing in multiple cities across the country. She discovered her passion for teaching a few years ago, and after graduating from San Luis Obispo High School in 2023, she’s continued to pursue both teaching and performing. Isabella has worked professionally under Emmy-nominated choreographer and director Doriana Sanchez, which has allowed her to keep dancing while sharing what she loves with the next generation. Outside of dance, she is currently pursuing a degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice. She’s so excited to officially join the team after being a part of the studio for so many years!
Musical Theatre Performance Group Director
Justin Grapentine
Justin has been with Core since 2015, and has loved every second of it. With Core, Justin has performed internationally and has won numerous awards, titles, and scholarships. Justin graduated from Templeton High School, and now studies Biological Sciences concentrating in Anatomy and Physiology at Cal Poly in hopes of becoming a doctor. Justin has experience choreographing for local companies including Core Dance, THS drama, and Flex Performing Arts. His dance training ranges from Cecchetti ballet to Jazz Funk and everything in between, as well as Theater training with THS Drama, Cuesta College, and Suzy Miller. In his free time, Justin dances professionally for local companies including Civic Ballet, NCDPAF, and SLO Mac. Additionally, Justin conducts novel Immunological research at Cal Poly as a Frost Research Scholar. Other hobbies of his includes volunteering at the local senior nutrition program “Meals that Connect”, tutoring, playing the guitar, and learning new things. Justin is honored to be part of such an extraordinary studio and looks forward to continuing to shine with them.
Pointe, Jazz Technique, Ballet
Jordan Manchin
Jordan Manchin is a 3rd year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo from Moorpark CA. She is pursuing a career in Early Childhood Education. As well as a 3rd year returner on the Cal Poly Dance Team, who are currently USA National Champions for the 24-25 year; competing in the Division I level! Throughout her years before Cal Poly, she has been a competitive dancer from the ages 5-18, competing in various styles, groups, solos and duets. She was a member of the Moorpark Civic Ballet Company where she danced in the Nutcracker in various roles, including Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Lastly, Jordan was apart of the LA Dance Magic junior and senior company; assisting and learning alongside numerous professionals!
Heels
Claire Headrick
Claire began dancing at the age of three where she attended Pat Jackson’s American Dance. She continued her dance education at CORE Dance where she performed and competed as a member of CORE Dance Company until the age of 18. After high school Claire pursued her bachelor’s degree in Economics at California Polytechnic University where she had the opportunity to continue her dance training through university clubs and recreational classes. After her graduation in 2024, Claire joined the local adult dance company known as Revive where she has had further opportunity to learn and perform. Claire is honored to return to CORE as an instructor sharing her lifelong passion for dance with the next generation!
Tap
Holly Hoffman
Holly Hoffman began dancing at the age of 4 in the Bay Area and was a member of the nationally award winning competition team at Lana's Dance Studio. She was praised for some of the best character work in the Bay Area for her work as a performing character, singer and dancer at Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, CA. Holly continued dancing in college and explored modern, swing, ballroom, West African, aerial silks, breakdance and line dancing. During grad school, Miss Holly taught dance at Laguna middle school through an after school program with SLO Parks & Recreation. After graduating from CalPoly with dual masters degrees, Holly worked as Choreographer for the annual musicals at Central Valley Christian Schools in Visalia. She also taught Creative Movement through Advanced Tap at Elite Dance Academy before moving back to SLO. Miss Holly loves sharing the joy of tap at CORE Dance!
Hip Hop
Emma Ventrella
Emma has been dancing since she was 10 and has grown up dancing at CORE. She's taken and trained in all styles of dance including contemporary, lyrical, ballroom, hip hop, ballet, tap, Bollywood, jazz, and modern. She currently dances on the CORE competitive team, HEAT convention senior company, and have done various dance intensives around the country! She loves to dance, teach, and learn new styles.
Hip Hop, Lyrical, Jazz
Ellison Krueger
Ellison Krueger will be joining us for her first year at CORE! She grew up in Costa Mesa, CA, and trained competitively at West Coast School of the Arts from ages 7 to 18 years old. She is trained in jazz, lyrical, ballet, hip-hop, tap, contemporary,, and tumbling. During that time, she also worked as a substitute teacher at her studio, and is looking forward to leading her own classes this year. Currently, she is a second-year student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a proud member of the Cal Poly Dance Team. In high school, Ellison was on the Varsity Song Team and trained in Pom as well. These experiences have given her a strong foundation in both performance and teamwork, and she is excited to bring that energy into the classroom. Dance has always been such a huge part of her life, and she is truly honored and excited to share her passion with the CORE community as a staff member this year!
Jazz, Ballet
Izzy Russell
Izzy has been dancing for 13 years and competed for 11 years at former Pam Rossi Dance Ten! She was a part of the Moorpark Civic Ballet where she did the Nutcracker annually, being casted in many parts including Snow Queen and Clara! She is excited to continue her dance journey as a part of the dance team at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she will be attending school in the fall.
Ballet, Jazz Tech
Eleanor Yarborough
Bio coming soon!
Lyrical, Hip Hop, Jazz Technique, Flexibility
Kaelyn Hauber
Bio coming soon!
Ballet
Bella Janison
Bio coming soon!
Ballet
Bella Janison
Bio coming soon!
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Lyrical, Ballet
Klar Kristan-Harder
Klar knew she would pursue dance professionally at the tender age of 3. When her 2 older sisters were in ballet class, Klar would imitate movements in the doorway of the observation room. She extensively trained in the Italian Cecchetti Syllabus with Teacher Emeritus Lucille McClure, in Whittier, California through her teens. Since those formative years, Klar has enjoyed professional opportunities dancing in soloist and principal roles, performing in the ballets The Nutcracker, Firebird, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliette, Giselle, Paquita, Carmen, Cinderella, Don Quixote, Peter & the Wolf, among others, including numerous original ballets and Guest Artist invitations. Klar has performed the choreography of George Balanchine, Alan Scofield, Norbert Vezak, Carlos Carvajal, Enrico Labayen, Kathryn Rozak, James Reardon and Jerry Jackson, and many regional and international choreographers. She considers it a blessing to have been honed and mentored throughout her career by noteable Artistic Directors, namely Maria Vegh (Harkness/Marin Ballet), Margaret Swarthout (Royal Opera), Robert Barnett (Atlanta Ballet), Jocelyn Vollmar (San Fransisco Ballet), Peter Pawlyshin (Boston Ballet/Royal Winnepeg), James Reardon (Boston Ballet/Boston Dance Company), Alonzo King and Arturo Fernandez (Lines Ballet), Enrico Labayen (Joffrey/Labayan Dance) and Dennis Nahat (Cleveland/Ballet San Jose/Theatre Ventures International). She was honored to dance with The Marin Ballet, Pacific America Ballet Theatre, Ballet New England, Boston Dance Company, Granite State Ballet, Labayen Dance San Francisco and American Repertory Theatre Ballet, spanning a performing career of over 25 years. Klar also danced in commercial venture companies, including The Walt Disney Company, Jerry Jackson Productions and The Really Useful Company (Phantom of the Opera). Klar’s teaching arsenal includes classical and contemporary ballet, pas de deux, pointe, jazz, tap and musical theatre. She has maintained a strong focus on educating and training dancers and artists of all levels since 1991, continuing to perform in a vast array of eclectic and wonderful opportunities.
Hip Hop
Parker Lowrie
Bio coming soon!
Tiny Dancer Series
Sabrina Diaz
Bio coming soon!
Tiny Dancer Series
Amanda Tannous
In her youth days, Amanda started in cheer then switched over to dancing with the color guard and the school band, which is how she ended up in dance and theater. She started her college education wanting to be a choral director, then realized her love for dance was a better fit. After having 2 kids and a major change, Amanda finally obtained her Associates Degree in Dance from Fresno City College. Her experience over the years has fluctuated between dance, theater, cheer, teaching, judging, and choreographing. She has had the privilege of being a Director and choreographer for ‘Lassen County’s Best of Broadway’ for 5 years. Amanda was also involved in Lassen Family Services fundraiser event, ‘Dancing for a Brand New New Me’ for 4 years as a professional dancer, who holds a winning title with 2 of her dancers. She has been a head coach for cheer for the LYFL Mavericks cheer team, they took 1st place at their competition that season. She was also the head choreographer for the high school cheer team at Parlier High School, as well as a choreographer for senior recitals and pageant dances. She was also a member of ‘MSYG and Ladies’ for 2 seasons. Amanda has been a dance teacher for 10+ years teaching from babies at the creative dance level to adults in various styles.
Ballet, Tap
Madeline Bourque
Bio coming soon!