MEET OUR TEAM
Our instructors are not only accomplished artists but also exceptional educators. With a blend of expertise, enthusiasm, and an unwavering passion for the arts, they foster a dynamic, inspiring environment where students are motivated to learn and grow.
Elyssa Dru Rosenberg, Artistic & Executive Director, Teacher: Duncan Dance, Ballet
Elyssa Dru Rosenberg (she/her) holds a Master’s degree in Dance and Dance Education from New York University and a B.A. from Tufts University. As a dance educator, she brings her passion for historical context and artistic development to her students in her Isadora Duncan technique, Ballet, and Creative Movement classes. Elyssa is a world-renowned expert in the legacy of Isadora Duncan and has presented her research, choreography and historical restorations at dance education and dance history conferences and in numerous venues around the United States. She has also taught Master classes and workshops at universities including UCSD, Tufts University, NYU, and SUNY Purchase. As a performer and choreographer, Elyssa’s work has been presented at various venues in New York City, San Diego and Boston. Elyssa founded Seaside Arts Center as a creative space for children of all ages and means to express themselves and gain confidence through art.
Hollie delaMontaigne, Managing Director
Hollie delaMontaigne (she/her) is a Southern California native and graduate of the University of California Santa Barbara. She studied Art History and Early Childhood Education and has worked for various non-profit organizations in communications and development. She also has more than a decade of experience working with children, which taught her how essential it is for children to have a creative outlet and to find their own voices. As Director of Operations at Seaside, Hollie oversees everything from tuition and billing to scheduling and communications. When not at the Seaside studio, Hollie can be found with her energetic toddler, James, her husband, Brian, and their rambunctious boxer dog, Rudi.
Andi Villa Stover, Development & Fundraising Manager
Andi Villa Stover (she/her) is an accomplished theater educator and non-profit arts fundraiser. Working with organizations such as The Cherry Lane Theater, Rosie’s Theater Kids, Hold Your Crown, she has helped raise over $1.9 million in institutional funding and over $2 million in individual gifts. As an educator at Montclair State University, she taught courses such as Dramatic Text Analysis, Dramaturgy, Modern Theater History, and Research Methods and produced panels, talkbacks, and the inaugural New Play Festival of work created by student writers. She is also a playwright and her latest project, an immersive adaptation of Wedekind’s Lulu, is being developed by Sutton Square Entertainment. Andi graduated with a BA in English and Theater Studies from Yale University and an MFA in Dramaturgy and Criticism from Brooklyn College.
Lucia Padilla, Studio Administrator
Lucia Padilla (she/her/they) was born and raised in National City, California, and began her dance training at transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project. From there she practiced a variety of dance styles such as contemporary, Horton technique, and improvisation. She attended San Francisco State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Minor in Women’s Studies. After moving back to San Diego, she reconnected with transcenDANCE as a Teaching Artist, and has been teaching special needs students of all ages through their off-site Artist in Residency program. In addition, she spread her passion for the arts in other communities such as Malashock Dance School and Sesame Place’s Entertainment Department. Lucia’s current purpose is to spread the joy and importance of dance education to San Diego communities.
Olesya Antonio, Teacher: Private Voice Lessons
Olesya Antonio (she/her) (Mezzo Soprano) is a graduate of the Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she studied with Sergey Aleksashkin, an internationally renowned singer with the Mariinsky theatre. After graduation, she moved to Vienna, Austria, where she made her debut with Neue Oper Wien, in a production of Orpheus by Check-Monteverdi. In 2008, Olesya moved to Lisbon, Portugal, where she continued her carrier as an opera soloist in the Theatre Nacional de Sao Carlos. Olesya is a laureate of several international Opera competitions in Spain, Italy, and Bulgaria. She works with voice students of all ages, and her specialties include breathing, tone creation and placement, diaphragm support, resonance, performance and much more. In 2014, Olesya moved from Lisbon to San Diego, where she currently resides with her family, including three young children.
Danielle Behrens, Teacher: Ballet, Jazz/Musical Theater Dance, Tap
Danielle Behrens (she/her) was born and raised in Visalia, California. She works professionally as a musical theatre performer and dance instructor in both California and New York City. She has been dancing since the age of 3 and teaching and choreographing since the age of 16. While studying dance at Sierra Performing Arts Center, Danielle quickly discovered that she wanted to pursue a career in the arts and began training in voice and acting as well. She continued her training at College of the Sequoias, and then transferred to Marymount Manhattan College in New York City where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre. After graduation, Danielle joined the North American touring cast of The Wizard of Oz working as a swing. She then performed on the Disney Wonder cruise ship where she appeared onstage as Aurora, Cinderella, Belle and more. Danielle has also had the pleasure of performing at many regional theaters around the country. Some of her favorite credits include: Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, Clara Johnson in The Light in the Piazza, Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain, and Meg Giry in Phantom of the Opera. She has worked as an instructor and choreographer at Broadway Dance Center, Thommie Retter’s NYC Tap Crew, Lopresti Dance Theatre, Sierra Performing Arts Center and College of the Sequoias. She loves sharing her passion for the arts as well as everything she has learned along the way!
Stacie Birky Greene, Teacher: Visual Arts
Originally from Colorado, Stacie Birky Greene (she/her) received degrees in Art and Art History from the University of Kentucky. She also studied in Florence, Italy, and at the Art Institute of Chicago. Although painting was the focus of her training, she has explored her art in a wide variety of media, including drawing, installation and mixed media work. Since 1998 Stacie has been teaching art to children and adults throughout San Diego county, though non-profit organizations, private studios and private lessons. Stacie believes in providing a warm and open classroom environment where students learn the fundamentals of art, for example, portraiture, still life, landscape, color theory and art history. These subjects are explored while fostering a sense of creativity and personal expression. She feels the visual arts open doors that can empower a student, helping them to develop confidence and individuality by embracing both the intuitive and the rational, and providing a framework for creative thinking that is applicable to a broad variety of study.
Uriah Brown Teacher, Piano, Voice, Acting, Musical Theater
Musical Theater
Uriah Brown (he/him) (Bass-Baritone) is a graduate of San Diego State University where he earned a BM in Music Education and a BA in Spanish for Education. He is a classically trained Singer and has performed in a few operas, but is deeply rooted in Gospel and R&B as he grew up and learned to sing at church. Uriah has an extensive background in musical theater both on-stage and behind the scenes. Some of his favorite leading roles were in The Wizard of Oz, Rent, and The Music Man. Although he loves to be on stage, Uriah’s true passions are Education and Advocacy for the Music and Dramatic Arts. He has served as an ambassador and mentor for Youth Entertainment Stage Company (Y.E.S. Co.), a Musical Theater Arts Education program of the Stanislaus County Office of Education in partnership with Gallo Center for the Arts and is annual lead performer for UC Merced’s Children’s Opera, an outreach program servicing the neighboring schools and districts.
Uriah is originally from the San Fransisco Bay-Area, but spent his most important and formative years in Turlock, California. Uriah is thrilled to share his passion for the stage and music with the children of Seaside Arts Center and it’s community.
Erica Kahn, Teacher: Acting, Musical Theater Dance
Erica Kahn is a San Diego-based director, choreographer, and teaching artist with a passion for musical theatre. She holds a double bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Dance from UCSD with an emphasis in choreography and directing, and a minor in Education Studies. She believes strongly in advocating for the importance of the arts and is passionate about creating safe and accessible spaces for youth of all backgrounds and experience levels. Erica also runs a volunteer youth theatre group she co-founded, called Scripps Onstage, that aims to educate and provide opportunities for students to get involved in the arts and produce original works. She has 10+ years of experience working with youth and currently works with various youth theatre companies and educational arts programs across San Diego County.
Xander Liszt, Teacher: Ballet, Duncan Dance
Xander Liszt (they/them) is a San Diego County native and recent graduate of San Dieguito High School Academy. They have trained in and performed classical ballet, Isadora Duncan Dance, musical theater, and singing. Some of their favorite roles have been the Rat Queen and the Dew Drop (The Nutcracker), Ms. Hannigan (Annie), Mother Abbess (Sound of Music), and Mrs. George (Mean Girls). They are currently pursuing a degree in Theater and Dance. Xander has always found their second home to be the dance studio and performances, and hopes to extend this same experience to their students at Seaside. They are excited to share the beauty and skills integral to dance, including artistry, story-telling, and technique.
Wen Song, Teacher: Pre-Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary Dance, Sewing
Wen Song (she/her) has developed a great passion for the arts through the years. She is a graduate of the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SDSCPA) where she trained in numerous dance styles which include, ballet, Horton, Limon, Graham, jazz, tap, Fosse, and Bennett. Along with dance, she has trained in acting and voice, as well as design and visual arts. She plans to work toward her teaching credential to help youth grow their
passion for the arts as her teachers have done for her. She is currently pursuing a B.A. in dance at U.C. San Diego and is excited to teach at Seaside Arts Center.
Megan Wasniewski, Teacher: Hip Hop, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Fiber Arts, Acting
Megan Wasniewski (she/her) is a San Diego-based dance professional, choreographer, and teacher. Originally from San Jose, CA, Megan began her dance training at the age of two and has studied extensively in the styles of ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and modern throughout her career. In 2016, she received a B.F.A. in Dance from San Diego State University and was a member of the SDSU Dance Company where she continued to perform and adapt her personal movement aesthetic. She has attended programs including the American Dance Festival and the American Dance Festival Winter Intensive. In 2016, Megan spent a year furthering her dance career in New York City. While in NYC, Megan performed as a company member on Bryce Dance Company, collaborated and performed in work by Sandra Kramerova, and danced in multiple music videos for various music artists. Since moving back to San Diego, Megan has performed and collaborated in dance shows throughout San Diego, as well as choreographed and produced work herself. Megan teaches dance styles including ballet, hip hop, jazz, and musical theater and is excited to start a new teaching journey with Seaside Arts Center!
