About Us
History
Studio B Academy of Classical Ballet was established in July 2007 by Jilleen Foy-Menghini. The mission of Studio B is to aspire to build strong foundations for dancers, not only in ballet, but also in everyday life.
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The professional staff of Studio B studied ballet under the direction of Carolyn Foy-Hoffer, a respected ballet instructor in the Yuba Sutter area for over 40 years. Carolyn and her late husband, Jack Foy, opened Foy Dance Studio in 1962. The quality of instruction they provided to area dance students set the bar high for current and future area dance studios.
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Jilleen Foy-Menghini, daughter of Jack and Carolyn Foy, continues to teach with the high standards, values and quality that her parents gave to area students for over three decades. Although tap and jazz were a large part of her training, ballet was the groundwork for all dance styles studied.
A note of community history…
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Studio B opened originally in the former dance studio of Colleen Weber-Holt. Colleen began her dance training with Jack and Miss Carolyn over 45 years ago. Like Colleen, many of Foy Dance Studio students went on to become professional dancers and instructors themselves.
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Now located in the Hillcrest Plaza, Studio B will strive to continue to add to this community history.
Director: Jilleen Menghini
A life long member of the local community, Jilleen began her dancing career at age three under the instruction of her parents, Jack and Carolyn Foy. The Foy Dance Studio served the Yuba-Sutter area for over 30 years, instructing thousands of students with the highest quality of dance available in tap, jazz, ballet, Pointe, baton, hula and ballroom. Jilleen literally grew up in the studio, receiving direction from not only from her talented parents, but also from many other nationally esteemed dance instructors.
Jilleen briefly left the Yuba-Sutter area to pursue her career in dance and modeling. She completed modeling courses at Manikin Manor in Sacramento and soon found herself on the east coast, represented by the Elite Modeling Agency in New York. Jilleen placed second in the Elite Agency “Look of the Year” in 1988. In addition to modeling, Jilleen was also cast as a chorus singer and principal dancer in “Mark
Twain, A Musical Drama”. The production ran for three months with eight performances weekly. Jilleen returned to the west coast to audition for Disney. After receiving an offer as a principal dancer at Disneyland, Jilleen decided that she would prefer to return to the Yuba-Sutter area to be closer to her family and friends. She soon found herself married with two beautiful children, Shay and Cailen. She also returned to the family dance studio and instructed along side her parents from 1989-1996. Sadly, Jilleen’s father Jack passed away in 1995 and the Foy Dance Studio closed its doors in 1997.
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A new marriage placed Jilleen’s career on a different path. She and husband, Craig Menghini, opened Butte Therapy Systems in 1997, offering quality medical equipment rentals and service throughout the Yuba-Sutter region, Auburn, and Stockton. During this time, Jilleen volunteered many hours of chorography to local students and groups. She also continued to instruct at area dance studios.
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In short, Jilleen has always found herself returning to dance. Ballet has been the core of her training, giving her discipline, strength, grace and confidence. Jilleen would like to pass that experience and knowledge on to new students. Studio B is a lifelong dream for Jilleen and an opportunity to continue training others in the art of ballet.
Jilleen Foy Menghini is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National training Curriculum.
Instructors
Artistic Director: Allison Unpingco
Born in Redding, California, Allison S. Unpingco began her ballet training with Carolyn Foy-Hoffer at age eleven. She continued her studies at the Crockett Dance Studio, under the direction of Barbara Crockett. Her teachers also included Alison Deane, Robert Kelley, and Diane McLarty, among others. In 1988 she joined the Crockett Ballet Company. Her roles with the Company included corps de ballet in Fragments, Paquita, and Stars and Stripes (choreography by Crockett). She also performed various roles in The Nutcracker for the Sacramento Ballet. In 1990, Miss Allison attended the Fort Worth Ballet and Fort Wayne Ballet Summer Intensives. While attending San Jose State University, she performed as a guest artist with Opera San Jose in La Traviata.
Miss Allison began teaching with her mentor, Carolyn Foy-Hoffer, at the Foy Dance Studio. She has also taught for the Hawkins School of Performing Arts and for Jacques’ Dance Expressions. Miss Allison was the Dance director and Ballet instructor for the Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts
Landon Barrow
Landon began dancing at the age of nine at Studio B Academy for Classical Ballet. Native to Yuba City, she is now a high school senior and teaches Pre-Primary Ballet classes at the studio.
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With seven years of experience as a Ballet teacher's aide and nine years of high level training at Studio B, Landon has honed her natural ability to help young dancers grasp the basics of Ballet. She has a talent for finding joy and laughter in her work, never straying from the best that she can be while making sure to create a fun and happy environment for those around her.
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Landon was one of the first Yuba City Youth Ballet company members founded within Studio B in 2013. Over the past three years Landon has auditioned, and been invited to attend, several top Ballet School summer intensives including: San Francisco Ballet and The American Ballet Theatre two years running.
These experiences have given Landon the opportunity to understand firsthand what it is like to dance as a professional.
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In the future Landon hopes to transfer her love of teaching to her studies at the college level as she pursues a teaching position in high school math. Along with her many other dreams Landon would like to attain degrees in Social Work, Physical Therapy and perhaps fulfill a dream of taking over Studio B.
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Outside of the studio Landon enjoys raising her "fur babies", fostering kittens, babysitting her favorite "munchkins" and working out when she has a chance.
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Landon's enthusiastic personality and knowledge of the importance of discipline melds nicely with her genuine and caring soul as evidenced in the following quote; "I know what it's like in the real dance would. I also know what it's like to grow up in this studio and atmosphere. There is no shortage of love and respect here and I strive to go beyond the expectations. Every child deserves to feel the joy of dancing freely to music while having a supportive mentor to help them along the way."
Rebecca George
Rebecca began dancing at the age of three in Roseville, California at the Roseville School of Dance. She trained exclusively in Ballet and Jazz until the age of eight when she chose to attend an all ballet studio in Sacramento- Capitol Ballet Company, to further her dancing career. There she trained extensively five days a week in Ballet and Pointe under the direction of Principal Dancers Stuart Carrol and Sharon Newton. Rebecca took part in various roles in the Nutcracker and Swan Lake. At the age of twelve, Rebecca left Capitol and began her studies at Roseville School of Dance where she trained with Tami Shamblin and Shelley Crowley. She took part in the Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary dance companies where she competed all over California.
At the age of fourteen entering Oakmont High School, Rebecca tried out and made the High School dance/drill team and the advanced dance class. There Rebecca learned many new styles of dancing including hip hop, african and military. Her Drill team competed in Disneyland and won second place in the nation under the military category. Her Sophmore year she attended the USA dance camp where she won in first place and became an All American Dancer. She was invited to dance in the London Disney Parade that summer. She also became captain and coach of her Drill team when her coach unexpectedly quit. The next three years she went on to leading her team, becoming a student director in her school dance class, and directing many shows for her peers. Her senior year she was hired and taught at Tricks Dance studio where she went on to teach there for eight years and became Manager over her staff and students. There she taught Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, and Contemporary to all ages in various levels. She produced and directed numerous dance shows and enjoyed every second of it!
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During her time there in 2012, Rebecca married her Husband, Kaleb and lived in Roseville and Lincoln. Rebecca and Kaleb have three beautiful children together- Kayden (2013), Tucker (2016), and Savanna (2018). Rebecca and Kaleb moved to Yuba City in 2014 and while there, Rebecca was commuting back and forth to Granite Bay to teach. Rebecca and Kaleb decided to plant her roots in Yuba City buying their first home and left her Management and teaching position to stay closer to home and be more present for her children. After six months at home recovering from having her third baby, Rebecca had the itch to teach and reached out to Studio B for the opportunity to share her love and passion for dance.
Outside of the studio Rebecca enjoys raising her young children, running, fitness, and volunteering in her son’s classroom. She hopes one day to better herself in yoga and pilates when she gets the chance.
She finds that Studio B is such a happy and safe environment for dancers of all ages and abilities. She hopes to be able to teach and enjoy watching her daughter grow in the art of ballet and dance when the time comes. “Dancing should be something that comes from the heart and brings a spark to everyone’s life. No matter if you are a beginner or have danced for 25 years, everyone deserves a chance to feel the happiness and creativity that it can bring to your soul. I am extremely blessed to take part in Studio B and can’t wait to make a difference in my dancers heart, mind and soul.”
Guest Instructors
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While in college, Candee also represented the Yuba-Sutter community as Miss Yuba-Sutter 2002/2003 and the California State Fair Industry as Miss California State 2004/2005. Candee has been dancing since she was four years old with various dance studios in Sonoma, Sacramento and Sutter counties, including Foy’s Dance Studio, Colleen’s Dance Factory and Jacque’s Dance Expressions of Yuba City. She was a member of the Phares’ Theater Ballet Company in grade school and later trained (by invitation only) for two summers with the Music Circus Summer Dance Class Series (both in Sacramento). She danced competitively in middle school and high school.
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After graduating from UC Davis, Candee completed an entertainment internship at Walt Disney World, Florida. Candee has held the jobs of choreographer, director and actor for many plays in the Yuba-Sutter community and was honored with the “Don Award” at the ninth annual Way, Way, Way Off Broadway fundraiser, which was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Yuba City and the Sutter Performing Arts Association. In 2011, Candee was part of the first ever Dance with Our Stars event produced at Colusa Casino, benefitting the Fremont-Rideout Health Group and the American Red Cross of Northeastern California. She and her dance partner won the “People’s Choice Award.”
Candee has received two Leading Actor Elly Award Nominations with the Sacramento Area Theater Alliance for her portrayal of Peppermint Patty in Snoopy (The Acting Company) and Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun (The Acting Company), as well as two Choreography Nominations for Brigadoon and Hairspray (Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts). She also received an Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship nomination by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for her role as the Social Worker in the U.S. premiere of The Lady in the Van (Yuba College). She was flattered to be asked to sing as a soloist with the Yuba-Sutter Symphony for four years at their annual, Spring Pops Concert and she’s been known to sing the National Anthem a time or two for such places as the Marysville Gold Sox, UC Davis Basketball, the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter 582 car show, county fairs and the California State Fair.
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Candee taught jazz, tap, and musical theatre at the Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts for eight years. She has worked at City Dance Center, Charisma School of Dance, and Jacque’s Dance Expressions, all from Yuba City, CA and Barefoot Dance Company of Gridley, CA. She also opened and operated Candee’s Dance Shoppe in Fall River Mills, CA for 4 years. Candee was a part of the founding cast for the Rideout Healthy Kids Team, a performance troupe that offers interactive musical and acting entertainment for Yuba, Sutter and Colusa elementary and middle schools, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. She was accepted into the National Dance Education Organization, Online Program, working towards a dance teacher certification. Some of the classes that she has completed include creative movement and lesson planning for early education and pedagogy and body anatomy.
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Candee and her husband Joshua live in Williams, CA with 2 boys, 1 girl, their dog Chewie and one more baby on the way!
Candee Parker
Candee Parker graduated from Yuba City High School where she cheered on the Honkers for two years as a varsity (and “most spirited”) cheerleader. She was awarded an Associate's Degree in Music at Yuba College and finished her education at the University of California, Davis where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dramatic Art. While studying there, she was a member of the UC Davis award winning Dance Team.
Samuel Fulk
Samuel Alden Fulk is a professional ballet dancer currently living in Sacramento. He is experienced in a wide range of dance styles and methodologies, with a focus on classical ballet, modern, and contemporary dance. Born and raised in California, he grew up performing in dance, musical theatre and dramatic productions, later joining the pre-professional company Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, directed by Robert Kelley and Diane Cypher.
Samuel then went on to perform professionally with Utah Regional Ballet for six seasons under the direction of Jacqueline Colledge. During this time, he also attended Utah Valley University, from which he graduated with honors in 2014 with a BFA in Dance. While in Utah, Samuel also taught at Academy of Ballet directed by Lynne Thompson, and served as the Director of their second company Ballet Utah II North.
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Since relocating to Sacramento in 2016, Samuel has become a highly sought after dance instructor in the region. In January of 2018 he became a professor of dance at CSU Sacramento, teaching upper division ballet. He teaches master classes and private lessons in classical and contemporary ballet, pas de deux, modern dance and broadway jazz. Samuel choreographs works on dancers with varying levels of experience, from beginning to professional. Samuel also performs as a guest artist for professional and pre-professional companies. He is proud to be a company member with Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theatre, a company which donates all proceeds to charity.
Stephenie Rodwell
Stephenie's passion for dance began at the Marysville Charter Academy of Arts. After graduating she furthered her studies at the New York Film Academy, attending a one year conservatory program majoring in Musical Theatre. After New York she moved to Southern California and enrolled in the Millennium Dance Complex certificate program studying various styles of dance. Stephenie is excited to share her many talents with our Studio B students.
Hannah Hawkins
Hannah Hawkins is a dancer/choreographer/teacher from Sacramento, Ca. she trained in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Tap and Hip Hop with Kelli Leighton of Leighton Dance Project. After being a member of Kelli's professional dance company "CORE contemporary Dance" for two years, Hannah moved to Los Angeles in 2017 to further her professional career.
She is currently represented by McDonald-Selznick Associates (MSA). Recently she had the opportunity to work under Emmy Award Winning Choreographer Kathryn Burns on a new major television show coming soon to Apple TV plus. Also, entering the commercial world in Tessa Violets upcoming "I Like (The Idea of) You" music video dancing Kayla Kalbfleisch's choreography.
Hanna is a company member of the all female contemporary company "MashUp" under Artistic Directors Victoria Brown and sarah RodenHouse. She is also a member of Cat Cogliandro's "CATASTROPHE!" company. With CATASTROPHE! she has performed at the Los Agneles Dance Festival, choreographer's Carnival, Club Jete, and was featured in Duelle's music video, "Louder". Additionally, Hannah has wored alongside Matt Cady on a Sony Music Label video, been apart of Megan Laawson's work "Morning Bird" with was presented at Dance Camer West Night on the Santa Monica Pier. She worked with Phillip Chbeeb and D-Trix in the Mountain Dew Kickstarter campaign, and was a part of Ribley Roberts peice in the Capezio Ace Awards at The Dance Teacher Summit in New York City. Other performance credits include: "RAWRTISTS: Orange County", "Posers", and corporate events for "Intel" and "Caldwell Banker".
Ikolo Griffin
Ikolo was introduced to balled in 1983 through San Francisco Ballet School's dance in School Program, and after ten years of training was the first outreach student to join the San Francisco Ballet company. Ikolo won the Princess Grace Award for Dance in 1993, and went on to dance professionally for over 20 years as a Principal Dancer with , Dance Theatre of Harlem in NYC, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Smuim Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and The San Francisco Opera. He now brings his passion, classical training and world class experience to students in a fun and energetic way.
For the last three years (2015-2018) Ikolo has been teaching full time in Los Angeles, SF Bay Area, Central Californaa and Portland. Teaching Ballet Technique, Pointe, men's
Technique, Pas de deux, and Adult ballet. Attended the World Class teachers training program at central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) in Central Pennsylvania in 2014.
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In 2011, Ikolo created Just Turns based on classical ballet, but is geared toward students of all ages and dance backgrounds. Over 150 successful workshops have been taught throughout the US and Japan. The list of schools include: Westside School of Ballet, Santa Monica, Shirley Winters Dance, Fresno CA, Dance Theater of Harlem, NYC, Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of Arts, West Pal beach, The Portland ballet, Portland OR, Colorado Youth Ballet, Colorado Springs, CO, Forever Dance, South Lake Tahoe, Classical Ballet Frias Kagoshima, Japan.
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For more information visit JustTurns.com
