The Artistic Directors
Aaron Girlinghouse has trained in the art of dance for over twenty years with notable and nationally-recognized studios
in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and Houston. His performing experience in musicals, industrials, video, and television
exposed him to a variety of choreography and dance styles. He has performed professionally with dance companies such as
Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, New Dance Group (Houston, TX), Florida's First City Dance Theatre, and Kennedy Dancers (NY/NJ).
After having performed, taught, and choreographed across the nation, he came home to Louisiana and opened Shreveport's Dance Arts Studio.
An exuberant and progressive teacher, Aaron has choreographed for other dance companies and over twenty musical productions such as Evita,
Sweet Charity, and The Aristocats. Early on, his choreography "Scat's the Way Ya Feel" was chosen for the gala performance at the
American College Dance Festival. More recently in 1994 and 1996, the internationally-recognized and highly selective Jazz Dance World Congress
chose to showcase his choreography. Aaron has also been awarded an artist's grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts. In October 2002
he was awarded the Shreveport Regional Arts Council Fellowship Award for Dance. His administrative and artistic ability are demonstrated through
his directorship of a successful studio for 12 years, two studio dance companies, and as artistic director of La JAZDANZ. Aaron has served
on the state advisory panel for the Louisiana Division of the Arts and was on staff at Centenary College/Louisiana for 9 years.
He is now on faculty at St. John's School in Houston.
Frank Vega trained in all disciplines of dance in Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Florida. His years of performing have
taken him across the US and Europe. An accomplished actor and singer as well, Frank has been seen on television, in motion pictures,
and in numerous professional musicals. He has graced the stages of over 30 productions, such as Cinderella, with Ruth Buzzi, Paint Your Wagon,
with George Lindsey and Roy Clark, and Chess with director/choreographer Rob Marshall. As a professional dancer, Frank danced with the
Delia Stewart Dance Company in Houston and First City Dance Theatre in Florida among others. He was one of sixteen choreographers
selected internationally to showcase his choreography at the Jazz Dance World Congress '94 in Chicago. He has choreographed for
dance companies, theater productions, as well as college dance companies. Frank served as Jazz faculty at the Southwest Regional
Ballet Association Festival, and at American College Dance Festival. His expertise in teaching, choreographing, and performing,
is further strengthened by a BFA from the University of Houston. Frank was awarded the Shreveport Regional Arts Council’s 1999 Fellowship Award
in dance for artistic and community merit. And in December 2000 Frank was awarded the Louisiana Division of the Arts Fellowship for Dance.
He has served on the state advisory panel for the Louisiana Division of the Arts. Frank was also director of Dance Arts Studio in Shreveport, LA
for 12 years and is artistic director/choreographer of La JAZDANZ. Frank is also on faculty at Episcopal High School/Houston.
