TEACHERS
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Director Penny Young has been the director of Drill Team Hawaii since its inceception. She hails from Salt Lake City, Utah where she taught dance at Cyprus High School for two years, after which she moved to Hawaii to teach at BrighamYoung University of Hawaii and serve as Director of Student Activities and Dance Instructor. She then moved into town and began the First Priority at St. Andrews Priory.
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Febray Kaopua is Mrs. Young's daughter and has been with her as a student and now serves as the team choreographer. Febray attended Utah State University where she danced as a USU Aggiette and then after graduation returned home to teach. She has choreographed for such events as Ed McMahon's Star Search, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and numerous routines the team has taken to competitions.
- Cecila Chun has danced in the N.M.T.A. Bicentennial, Scottish/American Ballet, Metropolitan Ballet, the Opening Ceremonies of the Statue of Liberty Celebrations and episodes of the TV Series 'Fame'. She has danced principal roles with the Honolulu Dance Theatre, Ballet Hawaii, Hawaii Ballet Theatre, and Hawaii Opera Theatre. She is the 1996 recipient of the Hawaii State Dance Council Award recognizing her contribution to the arts in Hawaii and the 1999 Individual Artist Performing Arts Fellowship established by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Ms. Chun currently teaches at Mid-Pacific School of Performing Arts.
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Paul Maley has been with Drill Team Hawaii for many years. He received his initial dance training from the Richmond Ballet in Virginia and continued his studies as a scholarship student at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Mr. Maley served as Principal Dancer/Ballet Master for Ballet Hawaii, as well as an instructor. His former students have appeared with numerous ballet and contemporary companies.
- Brigitte Noguchi was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. She has been dancing over 20 years. She enjoys teaching and seeing upcoming young eager to learn dancers. She feels that Drill Team Hawaii has a great spirit and attitudes!
- Kamakoa
Page Zablan started her classical dance training with the
Hawai’i State Ballet under the direction of John Landovsky. She
has performed professionally with Ballet Hawai’i, The Pittsburgh
Ballet Theatre, Don Tiki Dancers and is currently with The Tau Dance
Theater. Miss Page has also gone on tour with the ECHO project that
is funded by the” No Child Left Behind Act”.She was chosen
to represent Hawaii as a native Hawaiian dancer. She along with six
other dancers from Alaska, the Wampanoag Nation, and the Cape Verde’
Islands performed at Smithsonian Museums and Schools in New York, Washington
D.C., Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, New Bedford, Salem Peabody Essex
Museum, Plymouth Plantation, Anchorage and Barrow Alaska. Where they
performed and educated children about song, dance, and native culture.
Kamakoa is also a freelance dancer who specialty is “Hawaiian Ballet”. She has performed with Teresa Bright, Olomana, Raiatea Helm, Tony Conjugation, Sean Tiwanack, Anita Hall and Makana. She has also performed a private performance for Linda Lingle and Mr. Jerry Cutter at his Wedding.
Currently Miss Page has been trained as an aerialist by the trainers of Cirque du Soleil. And has performed Nightly at the Waikiki night club Level 4. She is also Owner/artisic director of Page Academy of Dance. Where she teachers classical ballet to 3 year olds - Adults.
Besides dance, Miss Page enjoys a career in modeling. She has been on many covers of magazines and is also on the cover of Kim Taylor Reece’s New Ballet book “Eternal Dance”. In 2005 she was Crowned Miss Pikake and was runner up in the Miss Hawaii Pageant.She also offers etiquette classes to young ladies Above all, Kamakoa has a passion to share her knowledge of dance to others. She is very excited to be a part of teaching new and upcoming ballet dancers.
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John Peters is easily recognized as one of the nation's most innovative and award winning choreographers in the worlds of Dance, Cheerleading, and Sports Entertainment. He has choreographed for numerous pro sports such as Denver Bronco Cheerleaders, LA Lakers Girls and much more. In addition, John has choreographed countless winning routines for College, High School, Studio, and All-Star Cheerleading and Dance Champions, including the prestigious Drill Team Hawaii.
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Carlee Pufferis a native of California. She is a Professional Teacher /Choreographer /Dancer with over 20 years of Dance/Entertainment experience. She is presently a Teacher/Choreographer and Assistant Director for West Coast School of the Arts in Irvine. Stage credits include Saban Entertainment, Sketchers, City of Hope, Michael Barrymore Show, and Avante Garde. She has achieved three great aspirations of her life, the launch of her business "Custom Creations"; and the birth of her son, Sterling and the birth of her daughter, Kirklynn.
- Ryn Sabado is a Kaneohe based choreographer. He has danced with Brittany Spears, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and “So You Think You Can Dance?” He feels a great sense of OHANA with Drill Team Hawaii.
- Lake Smits Born and raised in Kaneohe. He has been dancing for the past 6 years. He enjoys working with the girls and feels lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of Drill Team Hawaii. His idol is Michael Jackson.
- Mia Town was born on the Island of Maui. She has been dancing and teaching for Drill Team Hawaii over 18 years. Ms. Town says “dance really allows you to express yourself.”
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We also often have guest instructors from the mainland.
