Lesha Montoya- 
                                             Artistic Director/CEO



Lesha Montoya, a native San Diegan who was on stage by the age of two, has danced just about everywhere in the United States, as well as a several places outside of the continent, including studying Argentine Tango in Bueno Aires in 1997.  The past twenty years of her thirty-five years of experience have been as a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer.  She has appeared in commercials, TV shows, movies, music videos, magazines , the news, and many productions throughout the world.

Lesha lived shortly in New York where she taught and danced, (having an opportunity with Cats), until relocating to LA, where she began working on the movie "Dance With Me", starring Vanessa Williams.  Along with dancing with male leads in movies, like "My Gardner", she has trained actors Enrico Colantoni (played Elliott in "Just Shoot Me") of "Veronica Mars" and Erica Gimbel (played Coco in both the movie and TV series "Fame") in Foxtrot; Willie Marquez  the Priest in both Antonio Banderas' "Zorro", and also played one of the dance teachers on "Dance With Me") in Tango and Swing; Harry Groener (an original cast member of Broadway's "Cats", who played Vanessa Williams' dance partner on "Dance With Me") in Viennese Waltz; Scott Peaty (played Vanessa Williams' pro-am student in "Dance With Me") in Foxtrot and Swing, to name a few.  Lesha also helped choreograph the line dance sequence in "Dance With Me".  In 2008, Lesha not only starred in the play "Tony and Cleo, written by Howard Rubenstein, as Cleopatra, but it was a unique opportunity to bring together her talents as actor, dancer and choreographer.  Lesha rehabed one of San Diego's first string Chargers, through dance.  The reality crazed years has her coaching "American Idol" hopefuls with their stage presence and movement.  Lesha has also helped choreograph an Argentine Tango for Mary Murphey's "So You Think You Can Dance", first season.  This year she paticipated in the local tour of "Dancing with the Stars" as a competitor with one of San Diego's celebrities, Randy Jones, for opening night at Qualcomm Theatre.  Becoming the International Spokeswoman for Empower Electronics, world wide solutions for greener energy, and with new commercials in Saudi Arabia, Lesha has been invited to Dubai to create dance programs for Sheiks and their families, in Spring 2009 as a three year project.

As a retired competitor she holds both a World  and National Title on the Country Western/Swing/Ballroom circuit, many Swing dance & Hustle victory's, and was ranked 13th nation wide in  the United States Professional American Rhythm Ballroom National Championships.   Lesha continues to choreograph and coach young amature couples vying for their positions on the different circuits.

Upon her return to San Diego, Lesha begun dance programs in schools and in The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, for inner city students.  The funding granted by the Schlinger Foundation, has allowed Lesha to implement challenging and skill building dance curriculum's for kids, who, otherwise, have little or no access to the arts and regularly funded programs.  The Programs have continued to grow under her supervision and the support of the Schlinger Foundation grants, for the last nine years.  She has been asked to begin Ra-Tango programs, a combination of Argentine Tango and Hip-Hop, in the Preuss school at UCSD, and Toussant Academy of Arts, in San Diego.

Lesha Montoya was the Dance Director of both the Monarch High School Project, a school for the homeless and displaced youth, and the Laguna Beach Boys & Girls Club, where at least six schools bus their kids for after school programs.  These programs have bettered the youth of today through creative outlets for their time and energy.  They are learn about teamwork, time management skills, commitment, and the desire to interact in front of an audience.  The Shutup-n-Dance dancers of each have done many, many performances and several dance competitions (in which they have placed in the top three regularly), as well as had TV exposure.  

Lesha taught at USD from 2002-2004 and helped revive partner dancing skills amongst young adults.  When she is not on set or in the theatre she is in the studio working with kids and adults developing their dancing knowledge.
Lesha's main goal is to promote and generate internal growth , self-confidence, and an understanding of the arts, with the many kids and adults she has the opportunity to work with.