Staff
The dedicated EBDC staff brings years of dance performance, choreography and teaching experience. We love what we do and always strive that our joy of dance inspires our students.
Bonnie Sita Lateef Swain Debbie Sternbach Katie Polanshek Wendy Haddock David Richards | STUDIOS
Bonnie Sita - Founder, Executive Director and President
Bonnie Sita has been teaching, performing and choreographing in the Bay
Area since 1976.
Starting in ballet at age 4, she trained extensively in New York, Los Angeles and finally the Bay Area primarily in Ballet, Modern and Jazz.
A two-time CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL Artist-in-Residence, she has worked extensively to bring dance into the public schools as a dance and movement specialist for the cities of Oakland, San Rafael and Richmond and as a gifted and talented teacher for the Richmond Unified School District.
Bonnie created JAZZ: AN AMERICAN DANCE FORM, a multi-cultural assembly program for elementary school age children and presented it in numerous Richmond and Oakland public schools.
In 1984, with (the late) Toney Pennewell, she founded Move Dance Theatre, a locally-based jazz dance company which received a Mayoral Proclamation in 1994 and funding from the City of Oakland. She performed in and directed many productions with Move Dance Theatre
In 1990, she became Executive Director of the East Bay Dance Center, and in 1992, she became Executive Director and President of the Board of the newly incorporated Move Dance Theatre at the East Bay Dance Center. She founded MDT II, a young people’s performing company and has served as its Artistic Director since 1991, taking them into the public schools and to many community events. In 1996, she was part of the Mayor's Sister City Delegation to Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
Bonnie maintains an active role with young people in the community as
an outreach teacher, guest choreographer and mentor. Her philosophy is
to make dance accessible to everyone as a physical, creative, spiritual
and emotional outlet and to instill self-esteem and character in young
people through the discipline of dance.
Debbie Sternbach - Instructor (Tap)
Debbie Sternbach has been a tap teacher and performer, as well as an
accomplished jazz dancer, for over 20 years. As a tap soloist, she
has performed in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and throughout Nevada, California
and New England.
She has produced and performed in opening act shows for such stars as Julio Iglesias, Little Richard and Wynona Judd. Her larger productions include such venues as Harrah's Hotel in Reno, the Concord Pavilion, and Moscone Center in San Francisco. She has performed in shows with such tap artists as Sam Weber, Dianne Walker, the Nicholas Brothers, Tommy Tune (San Francisco Opera House) and cast members from "Noise Funk" and "Riverdance" (London).
Debbie has performed in partnership with tap virtuoso Sam Weber, appearing in London, Reno and throughout the Bay Area. She has taught Master classes at dance conventions and studios throughout the East and West coasts. As a private tap coach, she has trained teachers, professional dancers, and other performers throughout the Bay Area (such as San Francisco's "Beach Blanket Babylon"), in Las Vegas and throughout the East coast .
As the director and producer of Fascinating Rhythm Productions, her company specializes in customized dance productions for major hotels, industrials and corporate events. Her clients range from Visa International to the MIKI Corporation of Japan. She is also the producer of the Northern California Tribute to the Great Masters of Tap Workshop, where she taught with Sam Weber and Namita Kapoor.
Debbie is a former student of the late, great tap Master Stanley Kahn
of San Francisco. She has studied privately and/or taken class with such
tap Masters as Eddie Brown, Steve Condos, Honi Coles, Gregory Hines and
Savion Glover. She presently works with tap Master Sam Weber, whose choreography
and dancing continue to challenge, inspire and amaze her.
Studios
Our spacious studios offer hardwood floors, air-conditioning, a small
stage, and a lobby for parents and visitors. We are located in the
Glenview District of Oakland just off Park Blvd. which is lined with
restaurants, cafes and a variety of shops and businesses for your enjoyment
and convenience.
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