Staff
DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S ARTS INSTITUTE
SUSAN SWARTHOUT is the Director of the Children’s Arts Institute. She has been working with young people and arts education for over 25 years including 11 years running a children’s theatre for the Smithsonian Institution. Susan has a Master’s Degree in Theatre and received teaching credentials from both North Carolina and California to teach English and Drama. Her last position was with The Museum of Television & Radio in Beverly Hills where she headed the Education Department. As a professional arts educator, Susan has had a life-long commitment to working with young people.
SITE DIRECTOR, LOS ANGELES CAMPUS
SUSAN SIMPSON (SUE) comes to the Children’s Arts Institute after a very successful three years as a Site Director for Fitness by the Sea summer camp. Susie is a credentialed teacher and theatre arts professional with experience in film television, stage and voiceovers. During the school year Susie is a first grade teacher at the Mountain View Elementary School in Tujunga.
SITE DIRECTOR, VALLEY CAMPUS
TBA
INSTRUCTORS
BIANCA ANTONACCI
Bianca attended the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, where she was classically French trained and became a chef. She has taught private instruction to both adults and children in San Francisco and Los Angeles and is a creative and upbeat chef with a positive attitude who takes pride in making great food that looks, smells, and tastes beautiful.
LARRY ASHTON
Larry Ashton studied illustration and painting at Art Center College of Design (Pasadena), and received his BFA from Parsons School of Design (New York City). He has been working as a freelance illustrator for national magazines and newspapers for 25 years been doing oil paintings for 15 years.Larry started teaching art in the New Orleans public school system in 2002 and taught in many schools for the following three years. He moved to Los Angeles when Hurricane Katrina destroyed the school where he was working. He is currently teaching visual art through LACMA at different elementary schools in LAUSD District 4.
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)@hotmail.com
MELISSA BERMAN
Melissa Berman brings over 20 years of experience as a performing arts instructor and professional performer. Melissa’s background includes performing arts specialist in-residence for the Smithsonian Institution as well as various programs throughout Los Angeles, Orange County and Pasadena. Melissa’s work includes serving at-risk and special needs communities including the Very Special Arts Festival and most recently the Hollywood Arts Council’s Project SOAR. An award-winning critically-acclaimed performer, Melissa’s credits include The Center Theatre (LA), Don’t Tell Mama (NYC), and The Kennedy Center (D.C.). Melissa Berman holds a BFA (honors) in Dramatic Art and Speech as well as Graduate Work in EducationalTheatre from Virginia Commonwealth University.
DANIELLE BONADONA
Danielle Bonadona will be a senior at the California Institute of the Arts this year where she is pursuing a BFA in Experimental Animation. She has been recognized by the California State Legislature, Assembly and Congress for her work and has been awarded as a California State Arts Scholar in 2005 and 2006. Danielle has been working with children for five years as an art, film and animation instructor. During the school year she teaches animation at the Community Arts Partnership in Eagle Rock, California.
MARINA BORISOVA
Marina Borisova is 22 years old and a graduate from CSU Sacramento with a BA in child development. A gymnast for 20 years, she received many accolades for her achievements in the gymnastic world including leading the CSUS Women’s Gymnastics Team to two conference championships. She is an experienced coach, teaching gymnastics to children of all levels.
GLYDIA CHAN
Glydia Chan returns for her third year with the Children’s Arts Institute, a function of her dedication to working with children and the arts. She has a multiple subject teaching credential and currently teaches Art, English, and History at a local middle school. She is also an artist and spends her time painting, drawing, and going to local museums and galleries.
NANCY CLEMENTS
Nancy Clements studied art at Wayne State University in Detroit where she received a B.F.A. in Interior Architecture and Textile Design. She has experience in the film industry as a Set Decorator, and has also exhibited her art quilts and wearable art. Nancy has bee teaching art and sewing to children for the pas 25 years. She is currently working for the Pasadena Unified School District teaching art and sewing and at the Pasadena Museum of California Art.
SARA “MS. MIGHTY” FENTON
Sara Fenton aka Ms. Mighty grew up in Toronto, Canada performing and competing in Rhythmic Gymnastics. Her love of dance prompted her to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a professional dancer. She has since performed with artists such as Nelly Furtado, the Beastie Boys and le tigre and with companies like Diavolo Dance Theater, shebang! B-girl (breakdance) Crew, and Lux Aeterna Acrobatic Dance Company. In addition to teaching with Diavolo, Sara currently teaches at Nikki’s Gymnastics and Gymnastics World.
JENNA HARJU
Jenna Harju is an artist who specializes in oil pastel drawings on cardboard and had her first gallery showing at the Infusion Gallery downtown Los Angeles in 2007. She also has experience and training in watercolor, acrylic, oil paint, mixed media, sculpture, and pencil. In addition to teaching sculpture and collage art, she has taught theatre, dance, sewing, knitting, and cross-stitch to children.
LYNN LEATART
A painter since the age of 9, Lynn took her first class in oil painting at a North Hollywood art school. A graduate of Chouinard Art School, the precursor to CalArts, she has been making jewelry for many years, and became serious several years ago, when she learned to solder. Her work is in shops in Los Angeles, Venice and Santa Monica. She still works as a painter, when not making jewelry. Her work with young people includes classes for Crestview Elementary School, Otis Evening and Summer School, Crossroads Elementary, and the Junior Art Center at Barnsdall Art Park.
JESSE MACKEY
Jesse Mackey is a professional actor with credits in film, television and commercial work. A member of the Liquid Radio Players improvisational theatre company, he also directed the Re-creating Radio workshops for young people at The Paley Center for Media.
SEAN MCELWEE
Sean McElwee was born and raised in Southern New Jersey. After graduating from the North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA in Filmmaking, he moved west to further pursue a career in film. He is currently a working filmmaker in the Los Angeles area and a woodworker who taught for the Children’s Arts Institute last summer.
CARA MCGEE
Cara has been teaching dance in Los Angeles and New York for the past 8 years. After earning her BA from Columbia University, she continued training and performing with various dance companies including Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, and Brockus Project. Cara is currently the associate director of Ciaradance company as well as being the dance specialist of the Children’s Community School.
DAVID NEUBAUER
Magic Castle Magician David Neubauer is a full-time professional magician and actor who entertains throughout the United States. Specializing in strolling, close-up and stand-up magic, a small sample of David’s credits include entertaining at Comic Relief, the American Music Awards. He has performed with Patti LaBelle, Barry Manilow and Dick Van Dyke among others, and at corporate, trade show and private events from Bar Mitzvahs to Weddings! He holds a specialized degree in theatre from the Michigan School of the Arts. For more information on David’s magic, please visit his website at http://www.dnmagic.com.
JANET PLANET
Janet Planet is a drummer, artist, writer, filmmaker, music and arts educator, and ethnomusicologist with a degree in Communications/Speech-Theater who enjoys bringing people together in playful, creative ways through rhythm, writing, and art. Janet has studied West African drumming, dance, and drum circle facilitation extensively, including training in Senegal, West Africa. She is a founding member of the Los Angeles Women’s Drum Core and the World Music ensemble, The Luna Party! Janet has also founded the program, Write On!, which introduces and explores the many ways one can express themselves through writing. Most recently Janet has been honored to receive a Professional Designation in Arts Education from the Los Angeles County Arts Education Training Program through the Music Center Education Division. For info about Janet Planet and Drummin’ Fun, please visit http://www.drumminfun.com.
KATHLEEN REDMOND
Kathleen Redmond graduated from Oberlin College with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a focus in Environmental Education. She currently spends half her time working in the After -School program at Children’s Community School and the other half building vegetable gardens with her business Heart Beet Gardening. She has planted gardens with children from Ohio to the San Fernando Valley and hopes to inspire many more young gardeners.
JENNIE WARREN
Jennie Warren received her BFA with honors in Photography from Art Center College of Design. Before attending Art Center, she went to Long Beach City College and took every photo class they had-twice! She has over 3 years experience working with kids, and taught photo classes to 2nd and 3rd graders. With over 12 years of photography experience, Jennie freelances and shoots portraits, editorial and commercial jobs.
JAMIA WEIR
Jamia Weir is a freelance artist and certified art educator from the state of Connecticut, where she obtained her provisional teacher certificate in Art Education (grades K-12) and taught art in the New Haven public school system. She has also taught fine art in the summer program at international prep school Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut. Jamia recently also spent a semester abroad in England, where she studied art therapy at the University of London, Goldsmiths.
KENYA WILLIAMS
Graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts and Dance, Kenya’s professional experience includes working as a choreographer for the KIN Dance Company in Los Angeles. She is a dance teacher in Carson, CA instructing young students in dance, music, and theatre. She has been in several guest appearances including “Touched By An Angel”, “Moesha”, “The Parkers”, Disney’s “Even Steven’s”, and many more. She has also produced and directed various citywide events for the Mayor and City Council members. A celebrated stage performer, her work has been awarded best performance by the NAACP in 1999.
DANNA MOR-LIVINE
Danna Mor-Livine, a teacher for four years and a Children’s Arts Institute culinary instructor for one, has brought her diverse background and world-wide experience to the kitchen. After graduating from the Ben Gurion University in Israel, she married a professional chef. She speaks fluent French and Hebrew and is currently living in the San Fernando Valley area.
EARNEST MERRITT
Earning a Master’s degree at the California Institute of the arts in Valencia, CA, Earnest has had art shows around the world and is widely noted for his teaching skills in woodworking as well as other areas in art. Also, currently an instructor at LACMA, he designed an art course for teens 13-18 years old that explores the use of a sketchbook to develop visual language. He also guides 2nd and 3rd grade students at the Westland School in Los Angeles, CA, implementing a philosophy of progressive education that incorporates art and creative problem solving.
DEBRA BIANCULLI
Debra Bianculli is an elementary art teacher in the Culver City school district. She has been teaching for 5 years to children grades K-12. Although teaching art is her profession, her second passion lies in the culinary arts. She was taught the art of Italian and French-Canadian cooking from her mother and has explored Asian cuisines as well as the fine art of sushi. She is a master at healthy eclectic dishes and brings her skills and passion to the kitchen.
KATIE RITTER
Katie is an enthusiastic art teacher with a BA in Fine Arts with a concentration in Ceramics as well as Art Education. She graduated Cum Laude and with high honors at the noted Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire.
CARA MCGEE
As a dancer who began her training at the age of two, and a Children’s Community School alum, Cara has been teaching over the past 9 years to students of all ages ballet, jazz, creative movement, and modern dance. She encourages children to use their imagination to enjoy the varieties of movement dance has to offer. Her extensive performance experience includes the Alvin Ailey, “Memoria”, “Behind these Walls”, and as a backup dancer for Beyonce.She received her BA from Columbia University in 2005.