FACULTY
ABOUT
CASSIE COLE FOWLER
Owner/Artistic Director
Cassie grew up in the Santa Clarita Valley and has been dancing since the age of three. While growing up she received training at many different studios here in the Santa Clarita Valley as well as Los Angeles. She has been trained in all styles of dance including Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern and intensive training in Classical Ballet.
At the age of 13, she received scholarships to multiple ballet intensives such as School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theater, San Francisco Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet.
In 2001, Cassie joined the Valencia High School Dance Team where she became a four-time regional USA Soloist Champion and a two-time Miss National USA Soloist Champion. Cassie's dance achievements through her High School years led her to a dance scholarship to Loyola Marymount University. There she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance.
At LMU, she developed a passion for Pilates. She was introduced to Pilates through her dance career as a cross training program for dancers. During her senior year she completed the comprehensive certification course through Body Arts and Science International (BASI), founded by Rael Isacowitz.
Since her graduation in 2009, she has continued to pursue her passion in the teaching of dance and Pilates.
In 2014 she opened To The Pointe Dance and Pilates Centre with her longtime friend Briana Nelson. Together they created a high-level competition team and prestigious ballet program. Briana Nelson has since moved out of state, but Cassie is grateful that together they made their childhood dream of opening a studio come true. In 2018 Cassie partnered with Craig and Stephanie Large to expand the studio. The Larges have helped keep her dream studio thriving and is very grateful for their involvement.
Cassie is the Artistic Director behind our beautiful production of The Nutcracker. She has directed and choreographed alongside her amazing staff for the last seven years and given hundreds of dancers the opportunity to perform in a full-length ballet.
Cassie enjoys helping dancers meet their fullest potential by sharing her passion and intensive training.
FACULTY
Behind every dancer who believes in themselves is a dance teacher who believed in them first.
JULIAN TURNER
Julian started dancing and competing at the young age of nine years old in Bakersfield California, where he also began teaching when he turned 15. Two years later, at the age of 17, he moved to Los Angeles to start his professional career as a teacher and performer. He has appeared on TV shows such as 100 Things to Do in High School, EJ Johnson's Sweet Sixteen, Dance Moms, MTV’s Next, Olivia Rodrigo's live performance, and many more. Julian has choreographed for numerous television shows that have aired across the country, as well throughout China and Korea. He also toured on the Boys of Summer Pop Nation tour. Julian currently choreographs for the sensational Latina bilingual girl group, BellaDose. He prides himself on being a hard worker with a diverse background in tumbling, gymnastics hip hop, technique, and cheerleading. Julian has an infectious energy that ignites the passion in all his dancers.
KIMMI SCHOTT
Kimmi Schott began her love for dance when she was only 2 years old and hasn’t stopped since. Over the years she has trained, performed, and competed tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, tumbling, and is now a BASI Pilates Certified instructor with a specialization in dancers. In addition to teaching, Kimmi has performed and traveled internationally with the, "Masters of Illusions Live Tour," as both a dancer and magician's assistant. You can also catch her on CW’s Masters of Illusions, “Don’t Blink” on POPTV and “Extreme Escapes” on REELZ Network. Kimmi is currently a dancer, choreographer, and co-producer of multiple live shows for Six Flags & Busch Gardens theme parks. Along with performing, Kimmi travels with the staff of West Coast Elite Dance competition and World of Dance Convention.
ASHLEY TRABER
Ashley grew up in the Santa Clarita Valley. She is a former student of To The Pointe Dance Centre and began teaching and choreographing when she was just 18. She was on Saugus High School Dance Team all four years of high school where her team led the valley in National awards. She trained in all styles of dance and her solos received numerous top awards and national titles at competitions, conventions and YAGP. NRG Dance Project recognized the amazing technique and talent of Ashley and deemed her a National Prodigy. She toured with NRG as an assistant and was quickly promoted to faculty. With NRG, she enjoys touring, assisting, and teaching and is also the Lil Spark/Mini Co-Director for the convention. She is professionally represented by MSA Talent Agency. Her caliber as a dancer, teacher, choreographer & beautiful person has led her to teaching & inspiring young dancers all over the country. Ashley loves nothing more than sharing her technical knowledge and passion with them.
LONNI OLSON
From a top dancer on the competition circuit to a working professional dancer in Los Angeles, Lonni brings a unique dynamic to all she does in the dance world. She grew up training under some of the industry’s most renowned working choreographers. She is now making her mark in the professional dance industry as both a dancer and choreographer.
Lonni has appeared in numerous TV shows and films such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Voice, Latin AMA’s, World of Dance, THEM, The Affair, and many more. She had the opportunity to tour with Lindsey Stirling and also appeared in music videos for Hayley Warner, Derek Hough, Cait Fairbanks, and Megan Nicole. Lonni both choreographed and danced for Dove Cameron, danced in the national Gucci Showtime Campaign commercial, League of Legends World Championships and has also danced in industrials for multiple world-renowned companies such as Google, Sprint, Verizon, and Nuskin.
She is now expanding as a choreographer as she travels across the states and countries to set pieces and teach classes and tour with NRG Dance Convention.
Lonni is a young force to be reckoned with in the industry who brings a great relatable energy to all aspiring dancers and loves to share her passion with everyone!
LOUISE LOCKWOOD
Louise began teaching ballet in 1982 and has taught numerous master classes and workshops at dance schools and universities throughout the country. She was a professor at California State University Northridge in their Kinesiology department where she also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Deaf Studies. Louise was the first qualified instructor in Southern California to design and offer ballet classes specifically designed for deaf children in the area. Her students have been accepted and awarded merit scholarships to prestigious ballet schools, workshops, and ballet companies throughout the country. Louise studied and performed with American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet.
KARA HESS
Kara has worked and trained alongside leading names in the industry such as Marguerite Derricks, Sonya Tayeh, Stacey Tookey, Mandy Moore, Chris Scott, Mark Meismer, Liz Imperio, Tyce Diorio, Ray Leeper, Lindsey Nelko, Jen Hamilton, Joelle Martinec, Rob Schultz, and Alex Little. Kara can be seen on Gilmore Girls, Disney's Frozen, ABC Family Bunheads, Victorious, Criminal Minds, Modern Family, The Mindy Project, Nickelodeon's Teen Choice Awards, MTV VMAs, X-Factor and The Voice with Florence + The Machine, and more. In addition, Kara has a BFA in Dance from Loyola Marymount University and she enjoys inspiring young artists and making an impact in their lives.
IAN WASCHAK
Ian has studied dance since the age of 7 learning from master teachers from Santa Monica to Santa Clarita. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the prestigious University of Arizona dance department where he trained in all disciplines with a focus in ballet. After college Ian worked as a dancer with Royal Caribbean, dancing from Australia to Singapore. Since being off the ship he has found passion to pass on his knowledge of technique and love of dance to his students at TTP.
MARIA CARMEN DIAZ
Maria Carmen started performing at the age of 3. Born in Lima, Peru, but raised in Northern California, San Jose. As a child, she loved participating in dance competitions, local events, theatre, and conventions. Maria is trained in all styles of dance! She was a Tremaine Alumni and studied with some of the greatest dance educators/Choreographers! For acting she studied at Piedmont Hills Drama Dept, San Jose State University, Richard Brander’s School of Acting, Beverly Hills Playhouse, and GG Conservatory. Maria is currently the owner/founder of MC Acting Academy in Los Angeles, Ca!
Maria has also done over a dozen national commercials, which include, Dr. Pepper, Mc Donald’s, Carl’s Jr, Bally’s Total Fitness, Budweiser, Jack in the Box, & Pepsi, Comcast Xfinity , CROCS and more.. She has danced with artists such as Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Jordan Knight, P-diddy, Busta Rythms , Geardo, Tamia, Lou Vega, Brian McKnight, Alicia Keys just to name a few..dancing tv credits include Fuller house, Will & Grace, Splitting up Together, and more…Recently she appeared on Disney Fam Jam where her and her son won the show!
Besides dancing, she launched her career as an actress guest starring on award winning shows such as, Jane the Virgin, The Ghost Whisperer, Lincoln Heights, Six Feet Under, Nip/Tuck, The Division, & Strong Medicine. Her film credits include, Bring it On Again, Love Don’t Cost a Thing, What’s Cooking, The Elian Gonzalez Story, & Hot Chick.
She has trained and judged many actors and dancers in the U.S. and in Japan (ages 4-17). Many of her students have gone on to dance professionally and are signed with dance/acting agencies such as Abrams Artists, Buchwald, Media Artists group, MSA, GTA. MTA, and Clear Talent!! Students can be seen on BET awards, The Voice, N’Sync, AGT, Jane the Virgin, Flex and Shanice, Dancing with the Stars, Missy Elliot, CSI Miami, Laker Girls, Kung Fu Panda, American Horror Story, Sketchers Industrial, Lexus commercial, ESPN promos, Telemundo, LA Sparks kids, Clipper kids, ABC Mouse, Disney, Barbie Live show, SIA music video and recently upcoming Ebay, Target, Gymboree and Old Navy Back to School Commercials!! Maria’s choreography has placed in overalls in Regional and National Dance Competitions for groups and specialties! Many of her students are on SCV High school dance teams and were featured on AGT!!!
ALYSSA MASSIMIANI
Alyssa was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she trained in all styles of dance. Post-high school, she decided to head west to pursue a career in the performing arts. Alyssa was recently featured in Season 3 of the television show “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”, where she got to utilize both her dancing and acting skills. Alyssa later went on to perform in multiple live shows with the cast of HSMTMTS at Disney+ events. She has assisted many notable choreographers, including Tyce Diorio, whom she collaborated with on “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical” last spring. Alyssa has worked for many traveling dance conventions, which sparked her love for teaching and choreographing.
LINDSEY FLETCHER VICARS
Born and raised in Southern California, Lindsey Vicars spent her youth training in several genres of dance with an emphasis on studying ballet. At 18 years old, she began her professional career by signing with Bloc LA and dancing on commercial jobs based out of Los Angeles including ABC’s “Bunheads”, the Teen Choice Awards, and in a video game for Zumba Fitness. She also performed alongside Bruno Mars, Far East Movement, and Cee Lo Green in the Macy’s Glamorama Tour.
While continuing to audition and work as a dancer in Los Angeles, Lindsey began performing at Disneyland in “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular and Mickey and the Magical Map. From there, she started working on both coasts by performing at Radio City Music Hall in their Christmas Spectacular and well as their Summer Spectacular choreographed by Mia Michaels. Lindsey has also toured on the First National and International tours of “An American in Paris”, choreographed and directed by Christopher Wheeldon.
While continuing her performance career back in Los Angeles, she now focuses on sharing her knowledge and love for dance through teaching, mentoring, and adjudicating dance competitions.
TRISHA JONES
Trisha has been dancing her entire life and has almost 20 years’ experience teaching. She grew up dancing in Fresno, CA. By the age of 12, EDGE PAC and Millennium Dance Complex in Hollywood became like a second homes. Her time between Los Angeles and her home studio, in Fresno, was spent extensively training in ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip hop, and tap. When Trisha was 14 years old, she started auditioning and dancing professionally. She did independent studies through high school and traveled to Los Angeles 3 days a week for her dance and acting career. She graduated early at 16 years old, which gave more time for her training and auditioning. Trisha got to train under some of the best in the business such as Doug Caldwell, Mandy Moore, Terri Best, Andre Fuentes, Dave Scott and many more. Her credits include Nickelodeon dance spots and concerts for artist such as Dream, Avril Lavigne, Bow Wow, and Nick Canon; commercials, music videos, and some work in Film and print.
After graduating high school in 2002, Trisha started teaching at studios in Fresno and also began to travel to teach in other cities in California and Oregon as an instructor and assistant for Master Classes. At 17, she moved to San Diego for design school, continued to teach at studios in San Diego, but found herself continually being pulled back to Los Angeles. The commute became too much and eventually Trisha moved back to LA.
She joined a dance company in 2004 under the direction of Tymme and Aury Reitz, formerly at EDGE PAC.
At 19, Trisha realized her love for performing was hindered by the entertainment industry and she left her agency. She continued performing with her company and began teaching more.
Trisha met her husband during this time and was married by 22 and had her first child by 24 years old. Being a mom, has shifted her perspective! She loves being able to teach and share her knowledge and passion to her students, but her family now comes first. She stopped performing when her daughter, Michaela, was 4 years, after the first years of her life being spent traveling to performances and attending late night rehearsals with her mom.
Trisha first came to TTP as a Mom and soon became a part of the faculty. She doesn’t have her daughter at To The Pointe because she teaches there, but rather, she teaches at To The Pointe because it is also the best place for her daughter! Trisha has been with TTP since the very beginning and her daughter was one of the first students!
JESSICA WEBSTER
Jessica started dancing at the age of 2 in Corona, California. She continued her dancing all through her youth and competed with her High School Dance team. During college she pursued a degree in elementary education. She achieved her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies and credential for multiple subjects at California State University Long Beach. Jessica taught for three years in Redondo Beach in various grades, her favorite being Kindergarten. Now she lives in Santa Clarita with her husband Bryan, and three girls, Charlotte, Elle and Claire. Dance has been such a special part of her life and is now a part of her girls’ lives too. Teaching young dancers has become her passion. She feels that it’s not just important that she teaches the basics of dance technique, but that she helps develop the character in the lives of the little ones she teaches.
VICTORIA ROSS
Victoria Ross was born and raised in Valencia. She started dancing at the age of 4 years old. She was trained in many styles of dance including, jazz, contemporary, tap, character, heels, ballet, variations and pas de deux classes. Her skills in ballet were crafted as she trained under Ms. Louise Lockwood at Pacific Dance Academy and was also selected to dance in summer programs with Joffrey Ballet, Smuin Ballet, and Boston Ballet. As a young girl, she danced with both the founders of TTP, Cassie Cole Fowler and Brianna Nelson and was thrilled to join the incredible ballet program as a teacher at TTP in 2021. She is a proud mom of three; two boys who love soccer and a daughter who has been dancing at TTP since she was 18 months old and is now a member of the competition team. Ms. Vicky is passionate about ballet, teaching young ballerinas.
BRIDGET GROLLER
Bridget discovered a love of dance at the early age of three. She began taking ballet and tap classes after her mom enrolled her in dance to help with her extreme shyness. She instantly fell in love and came out of her shell. Her dance background is extensive, including ballet, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, and tap, and is complimented by performance experience, having competed throughout her youth. Her teaching career began at the age of 16 at her local home studio and it was then she realized she wanted to pursue dance. After high school, Bridget attended Loyola Marymount University where she continued her dance education. During this time, she was given the opportunity to study under several world-renowned choreographers.
After college, Bridget stepped away from dance and began focusing on her business career. She took a position in marketing, working for Warner Bros. for ten years. It was during this time, that she realized something was missing. She made her way back to dance and took a position as Coach/Advisor of her former Saugus High School dance team. Enthusiastic about nurturing their love of dance and confidence in themselves, Bridget created an upbeat and inviting learning environment for her young dancers. During her eight years with the team, they won numerous regional and national titles.
Bridget is excited to be a part of the TTP family as both a teacher and parent. Her youngest daughter is currently a member of the TTP competitive team. Bridget looks forward to sharing her passion for dance and joy of teaching with all ages and levels of dancers.
OFFICE STAFF
Behind every well run dance studio is one or two people who are doing EVERYTHING.
KARYN MALCHUS
Director of Operations
Karyn grew up in San Diego, California and was ecstatic when she was finally able to begin dance at the age of 12 years old. She begged for years to take dance lessons, but with a single Mom and two other siblings to care for, it was quite a while before this would happen. She fell in love with ballet and trained at the California Ballet School. Her passion and enthusiasm could not be stopped, and she earned her Pointe shoes in just eight months. She performed every year in The Nutcracker as well as multiple spring performances including her favorite, Giselle.
Karyn was a member and later president of her high school dance company. She had the best of times choreographing for her peers, organizing dance performances, and making memories to last a lifetime. She was also a member of the drama department during high school. She pursued this path through college after auditioning and earning one of just twenty-eight spots for the prestigious University of Southern California Bachelor of Fine Arts Acting program. She graduated and spent the next five years auditioning and doing theatre around LA. All the while she continued to dance.
However, it was her day job that brought her the most joy, she worked as a teacher at My Gym Children’s Fitness Center in Beverly Hills. She loved My Gym so much she bought her own in Encino, California. After ten years she sold her My Gym to stay at home with her kids. But she could never get enough of working with children and ended up developing and running a PE program for her children’s elementary school for seven years as well as working as Director of Family Ministries for her church.
Karyn was led to TTP by her daughter who danced at the studio extensively for many years. In 2018 she came on staff as the Director of Operations. She has three adult children, Max, Zach & Megan and a loving husband, Budd, who doubles as the studio handyman. Karyn loves her TTP dance family and strives to make every family’s experience a positive one. She loves the staff and believes with all her heart in this studio and each person in it!
TAYLOR SKINNER
Assistant Director
Taylor Skinner began dancing at the age of five and was trained in various styles of dance including Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Ballet. She competed in numerous regional and national competitions throughout her adolescence, and upon entering High School became part of the Valencia High School Dance Team.
Taylor went on to attend and graduate magna cum laude from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelors Degree in Communication Studies in 2010, as well as a Masters Degree in Communication Studies from CSUN in 2016. Over the past decade Taylor has continued to be an active part of the dance world, staying up to date and attending various competitions, conventions, and showcases. Additionally, Taylor completed the comprehensive Pilates teaching certification program through Body Arts and Science International. She was fortunate enough to study under the founder of BASI Pilates, Rael Isacowitz.
Taylor’s current phase of life is being wife to her husband Robert and mommy to their son Kane. She loves experiencing life as a “boy mom” while still getting her dance fix as an active member of TTP.