| Visionaries and Instructors |  |
 Michelle Bolong (Owner, Artistic Director, and Head Instructor of PPAMAC)Michelle was raised as a South bay native having started her Martial Arts training in Taekwondo at the age of nine. In her later teens Michelle decided to expand her movement knowledge with technical dance. She was eventually selected for a dance degree by The Laban Academy of Dance in London, England. In Europe she toured as a professional dancer, choreographer, and a Performance Martial Artist. In 2000, Michelle relocated to San Francisco to culminate her own innovative style of movement entitled "Martialdance." Her choreography combined the power of Martial Arts, weaponry, alongside the fluidity of dance. This brought her to tour internationally with companies: Velocity Circus, Vortex Collective, and Los Angeles based dance theater company Diavolo. Soon after, Cirque du Soleil recruited Michelle to join in their new production of the Beatles show called LOVE. Here she was part of their creative team, dancer, and aerial dancer. After three years with Cirque du Soleil Michelle returned back home to give back to her community and to establish an Aerial and Martial Arts Center in Manhattan Beach. She still maintains her relationship with Cirque du Soleil as a part of their brave team of 'creative process performers,' where she is called in to test new aerial inventions and to create innovative movement for their future productions. Michelle brings her wealth of experience in the professional world as both Dancer, Aerial Dancer and Martial Artist in hopes to build a bridge between traditional Martial Arts, Circus Aerial Arts, and the contemporary styles of Performance Martial Arts (Power Fusion Martial Arts). Her 20 years of experience of being a movement artist include being a gold medal winner in the state championships in Taekwondo, an instructor of Martial Arts, a Certified Pilates instructor, a Professional Dancer, a Performer, and an Entrepreneur which gives her the momentum to continue to build her vision of a unique Center generating something truly new and exciting to the Manhattan Beach area and beyond. Email michelle@thepowerplantcenter.com. | |
 Kristy Beauvais (Instructor and Program Director of PPAMAC Aerial Arts)Kristy Beauvais guides all creative and instructional aspects of program development of the PPAMAC Aerial Arts Program. Her mother was one of the original New Orleans Saints dancers who operated her own successful dance studio. Kristy's father was a professional bodybuilder who opened and ran his own gym in New Orleans. Choreographing competitive posing routines for large, pumped up men was a normal childhood activity for Kristy. By the age of 12, Kristy was teaching teen and adult classes in her mother's studio and staging annual recitals. Her unique teaching style combines strong movement techniques and practical body mechanics with a wild sense of humor. Kristy has honed her skills through eclectic teaching and performing experiences across the country, from New Orleans, to New York City, Toronto, and Los Angeles. Kristy has tapped all of her previous influences and experiences, including musical theatre, Bunraku "rod" puppetry, live hosting and improvisation, Butoh dance, aerobics instruction, personal training, aerial training, comedy and on-camera acting, to create her dynamic aerial arts programs. Her signature teaching style and philosophies were born through the broad variety of movement, dance and fitness classes Kristy has taught at gyms such as Crunch Gym in New York and Los Angeles, and performance studios such as the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in Los Angeles. Now residing in Los Angeles, Kristy has carved a niche for herself with her efforts to provide intelligent, creative physical fitness instruction for children in the area's public & private schools. Mrs. Beauvais holds a BFA in Dance from the Tisch School of Arts at New York University. She also holds ACE accredited certifications in Stretch, Pre/Post-Natal Exercise, and Core Training. She is currently working toward certification with the International Youth Conditioning Association and Rhythms of Learning with Chris Brewer (Listening for Academic Advancement). If sheʼs not instructing and inspiring at the Center, she is running her own successful non-profit mobile Aerial Arts program called FOCUSfish or being a wife and mother of her two beautiful children. Email kristy@thepowerplantcenter.com. | |
  Donte Phillips (Aerial Arts Instructor)This Los Angeles native has been dancing, flipping and flying through the commercial and contemporary dance scene. He has been whipping people into shape "Aerial Style" for half a decade, independently and with FOCUSfish. Donte has danced for Myo Dance, Luminario & Los Angeles City Ballet. You may have seen him as assistant choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance. He is thankful to be able to share what he's learned with others; and, to be inspired and educated by such talented and wonderful people. Email donte@thepowerplantcenter.com. | |
  Lesley Vaughn (Aerial Arts Instructor)Lesley Vaughn was born in Mammoth Lakes, California. Her family then traveled and lived in Mexico and Guatemala until finally residing in Quito, Ecuador. Her family started and maintains a ministry that cares for abandoned children, called For His Children. She attended the University of California in Santa Barbara and received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a double minor in Spanish and Latin American Studies. She has been pursuing a dance career in the entertainment industry since her graduation and feels blessed to be able to do so. Lesley started out primarily as a dancer but once she saw her first aerial performance, she knew that she wanted to be performing up in the air instead. From the first class she took until the present, she is in love with anything that has to do with playing in the air. She trained extensively with Hollywood Aerial Arts learning silks, hoop and hammock, and is so grateful to be sharing what she has been taught to others who are excited to learn what aerial art is all about. | |
