MEET OUR 2024 FACULTY

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Spencer Liff is an award-winning Director and Choreographer with work frequently seen on both stage and screen.  He has earned two Emmy Nominations for Outstanding Choreography for his work on the hit FOX TV series “So You Think You Can Dance”, where he has been a resident choreographer for the past 10 seasons.  Highlights of his other TV credits include Dancing with the Stars, B Positive, One Day At A Time, Parks and Recreation, How I Met Your Mother, Mike and Molly, 2 Broke Girls, Alexa & Katie, NBC’s Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris (Choreographer & Co-Producer) The Latin Grammy Awards, The Emmy Awards, and The Oscars. Films include Steppin’ Into The Holiday starring Mario Lopez, Stephen Karam’s Speech and Debate, and the upcoming Legendary Pictures feature film The Toxic Avenger. Spencer is currently the Director / Choreographer of the new Broadway show, “DRAG The Musical” Written by and starring Drag Race All Stars winner Alaska ThunderF*ck! The musical received rave reviews during its 4 week sold out world premiere in Los Angeles Fall of 2022. Spencer's passion extends beyond his professional career success. As a proud faculty member of the Broadway Dreams Foundation, he has taken his talent and experience around the world, teaching masterclasses and providing opportunity and mentorship to aspiring performers of all ages. His commitment to making quality arts education accessible and inclusive for all has earned him a reputation as a champion of the next generation of artists. 

MONIKA FELICE SMITH is a professional choreographer, director/movement director, & dancer residing in both Los Angeles & New York. Having transitioned to the contemporary & commercial hip hop world from classical ballet & pointe, her choreography blends a fusion of technical contemporary & hiphop energy. Today, Monika has had the opportunity to choreograph, movement direct & performance coach for artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, FINNEAS, Panic! At The Disco, Doja Cat, Bella Poarch, Twenty One Pilots, One Republic, Alessia Cara, Ashe, Bebe Rexha, Sir, DPR Ian, Woosung, Angel Olsen, Sam Fischer, Lennon Stella, Sub Urban, Wengie, Leah Kate, Role Model, Lil TJay and more. 

Monika’s work can be seen in feature films such as, Mother’s Instinct w/ Anne Hathaway & Jessica Chastain (Coming Soon) & TV specials such as Hulu’s Huluween Dragstravaganza. Her work is featured in ads & commercials for Nike/Jordan, Lululemon, Fabletics for Liza Koshy, Kelly Rowland & Vanessa Hudgens, JustFab, Yitty, Oculus, Supernatural, Spyder Athletics & Flaunt Magazine  for Joey King & Maude Apatow. 

Monika’s work has been awarded the World Choreography Award for “Best Choreography in a Commercial” for Spyder Korea. She was also nominated with the production teams for MTV Video Music Awards for FINNEAS’ Let’s Fall In Love For The Night, Panic! At The Disco’s Viva Las Vengeance & Twenty One Pilots’ Saturday. Monika received a UKMVA nomination for “Best Choreography in a Video” & “Best Dance/Electronic” for Waze & Odyssey, Tommy Theo, George Michael & Mary J. Blige’s Always. Monika and the production team were winners of the “How The Hell Did They Do That?” for Always MV at SXSW 2021. 

Monika’s dance credits include Paramount Network’s Michael Jackson’s Lip Sync Battle Live Tribute, Spyder Athletics for Milan & NYC Fashion Week 2020 & NY Virtual Fashion Week 2021, music videos with artists such as Meghan Trainor, Bella Poarch, Jeremih, Jay Rock, Elle King & Sam Fischer, also dancing in commercials such as PRISM for SnapChat and performing at the Staples Center as a member of the WNBA Sparks Crew.

Monika is the founder & director of LUME Dance, alongside choreographer & business partner MaryAnn Chavez. 

Monika enjoys educating and training dancers in her Masterclasses and private training sessions around the globe. Her strength lies in storytelling; fusing movement with intention & raw emotion. She enjoys playing with shape, texture and musicality, while grounding her choreography with technical elements. Monika is excited to share and instill her love of movement with all audiences in all forms.

After years in finance – Aree took her first yoga class and could not get enough.  Her practice began with Bikram yoga, where she learned through self-discipline and dedication that anything is possible.  Like many, Aree enrolled in a teacher training program to deepen her personal practice.  After witnessing the power of yoga, on and off the mat, Aree was drawn to teach and is now well known as one of LA's best.

With a foundation and appreciation for strong holds, Aree moved to the more graceful mind/body connection of Vinyasa flow as a transition to the power classes she is now famous for.  Aree Khodai is a master at weaving the mind and body connection for those she teaches and assisting in true and profound intention setting on the mat and in your everyday life. 

Sam Allen is a graduate of the University of Southern California and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts (the “Fame” School). He teaches regular classes at major dance studios, including Playground LA, and Broadway Dance Center in NYC. Sam is also a faculty member of the Studio School at Hussian College where he teaches Commercial Dance as part of their BFA program. Throughout his career, he has been fortunate to share his passion for dance both nationally and internationally. He has had multiple teaching tours across Japan, China, Philippines, Switzerland, France and Germany. Sam also created his own 3 day Hip Hop dance camp in Belgium. Besides teaching, he has choreographed multiple feature films, the musical production “In The Heights”, a music video for Keith Urban, a live tour for Todrick Hall, and many other commercials for major companies. Check out his website at www.SamAllenSwag.com and follow him on social media @samallenswag_