2016 Stay Fit Thru Dance Guest( Pharside and Phoenix)

Super Stars Pharside and Phoenix Bio: 
 

Artistic directors and choreographers, Christopher “Pharside” Jennings and Krystal “Phoenix” Meraz are most recently known for their hard hitting choreography and the latest additions to the Emmy award winning “So You Think You Can Dance” family. This soon to be husband and wife team believes that, “Though their works can speak volumes by what they can provide on any stage, Pharside and Phoenix pride themselves on their out of the box concepts, jaw dropping stunts, and high energy choreography that not only bring vision to life but also tells a story.” 

Their love story began when Christopher and Krystal met as performers at San Francisco Hip Hop Dancefest where he was a freestyle dancer and she was a member of a dance group. Krystal introduced Chris to the choreography scene and inspired him to enter a world with new possibilities and opportunities. In 2009, this creative powerhouse duo founded the world renowned performance group, “Pharside and Phoenix."
Christopher was influenced by the pioneers of styles such as popping, hip hop, krump, and strutting which allowed him to have a solid foundation to train and grow from in his dance career. After years of battling, he became one of the top freestylers in the nation winning over 40 titles and also helped form the group “Supreme Soul” who made it to the top 5 of MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew.” Krystal who has always been determined to pursue a career in dance, started dancing at 6 years old when she was diagnosed with a slight scoliosis and her mom placed her in ballet to hopefully be the solution to help her posture. Facing that obstacle taught her determination and perseverance and decided to elevate her dance journey and took on other styles of dance that included modern, jazz, international latin, Afro-Haitian, and of course hip hop.
 To date, they now have four companies who have not only become huge entities in the dance community but who have also won several titles and awards under their leadership and direction.

Upon moving to Los Angeles  in 2013 to further advance their careers as choreographers, they have choreographed several times for the television program, “So You Think You Can Dance,” co-produced and choreographed live performance shows for Elvira at Knott’s Scary Farm, and also won Breakthrough Choreographers of the Year at the 2015 World of Dance Industry Awards. 

 


 

CHUCK MALDONALDO(MASTER HIP HOP TEACHER 2012/13)

CHUCK MALDONADO
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER
 
Chuck Maldonado is a four time award winning Choreographer for his work with “Stomp the Yard,” the NAACP Image Awards, Chris Brown’s ‘Grammy’ Awards and Brighthouse’s Network Commercial. He is a graduate of a Historically Black College and University (North Carolina A&T Stage University) where he received his BS in Marketing Management. Upon graduating college, he received his very first 'steppin'/choreography job by auditioning as a steppin soloist for the late Michael Jackson's Artistic Director, Kenny Ortega. From there, Chuck went on to choreograph the 1996 opening ceremony in Atlanta for the Centennial Olympic Games utilizing 400 Steppers. As an International Master Dance Workshop Teacher, each summer, Chuck choreographs a one-week Steppin & Hip Hop Master Workshop for Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s ‘Hip-Hop Intensive.’ 
 
In Major Motion Pictures, Chuck Choreographed Stomp the YardBewitched, and Shark Tale. Chuck has appeared as a Dancer in many films including: Collateral, Dreamgirls and Indiana Jones 4, just to name a few. He has also choreographed two Major Motion Picture Promotional Videos for Disney Pictures, “G Force” and “Underdog.” Chuck has worked with many Major Recording Artists including Chris Brown, P. Diddy, Ne-Yo, Fergie, Tamia, Missy Elliott, Raven Symone, Ludacris, Lisa ‘Left-Eye’ Lopez and a countless list of others. As both a Choreographer & Dancer, his work can be viewed on “CSI: NY”, MTV’s “Super 16” and “Blind Date.” Additionally, Chuck’s has worked in several Commercials including Best Buy with Dr. D.R.E., McDonalds, Hanes, Wendy’s, iPod, AT&T, Chrysler, Sears an Nike. Chuck is also employed as MTV’s Choreography Consultant / Artistic Director for Nick Lachey’s “Taking the Stage.”
 
Chuck Maldonado is no stranger to the World of Reality Dance Shows.  Chuck choreographed the 2008 and 2010 finale for MTV's “America's Best Dance Crew," a Stepping and Top 8 Dance routine for “So You think You Can Dance,” “Dancing with the Stars” and can be seen on a July 2009 episode of HGTV's – “Design On A Dime,” choreographing and stepping prior to receiving a room make-over. Chuck has Choreographed Children’s Shows on Nickelodeon and Disney such as: “Just Jordan,” “The Fresh Beat Band,” “That's So Raven,"  “Victorious," and “Big Time Rush.” As far as Awards Shows are concerned, Chuck has choreographed the BET Awards, Vibe Awards, Soul Train Awards, Hip Hop Honors (2007) and Lil’ Romeo’s Nickelodeon performance. Chuck was the Assistant Choreographer for Kanye West at the 2005 Grammy Awards, Co-Choreographer for the 2004 Kylie Minogue Promo Tour and worked as a dancer at the Latin Grammy’s. Last Fall, Chuck Co-Choreographed a new Disney movie entitled Camp Rock 2 :The Final Jam, and has recently returned from Atlanta where he choreographed Stomp the Yard II (Homecoming).
As a proud member of both Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated & Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity Incorporated, Chuck draws on knowledge from his many experiences including having been a Percussionist in North Carolina A&T's Marching Band.
 
Whether Artistically Directing, Choreographing or Dancing, Chuck is Internationally known as the ‘Go-to Guy’ for both Stepping and Choreography.  He comes with high recommendations from the best in the business.  Chuck Maldonado’s professionalism, magnetic personality and perfectionist attitude make him a pleasure and a joy to work with. A Perth Amboy, NJ native, Chuck resides in a suburb of Los Angeles, CA.
 
 

Dave Scott (MASTER HIP HOP TEACHER 2014/15)

Dave Scott

Choreographer Dave Scott has danced his way straight into Hollywood and a multi-faceted career in dance and choreography spanning music, film, television, and commercials.
Dave is currently filming several projects for both film and television this year, including: So You think You Can Dance on Fox, and Bravo's Step It Up & Dance, and Step Up 3D. You can also see Dave's moves on the big screen in the horror thriller Prom Night and the romantic comedy Maid of Honor starting Patrick Dempsey. May of 2008 saw Dave working on a new film with the Wayans Brothers titled Dance Flick. Dave is also the man behind the moves in Disney's Step Up 2 The Streets and Sony Pictures Stomp the Yard. 2004's You Got Served won him the 10th Annual Choreography Award for Best Choreography in a Feature Film, and in 2008 he won the prestigious Astaire Award.

Scott has graced the covers of virtually every industry publication including Dance Spirit and Arena Magazine, as well as features in LA Times West Magazine, King, Vibe, and Grip, and has performed at nearly every major award show. Dave currently teaches sold out master classes across the country, with two tours including Monsters of Hip Hop and Pulse.
A self-taught dancer who cites Michael Jackson as his biggest inspiration, Scott began imitating the moves he saw in videos and films when he was a teenager. At six-foot-four, Scott was on a basketball scholarship at Weber State University in Utah when he got his first break as a dancer. A local dance troupe set to perform a 10-minute show before a concert by a known rapper invited Scott to replace one of their dancers. It was his first public performance.
"I always want to impress and be top notch.  I try to take myself outside of myself, try to become the audience and think about what's going to make people go oooohhh, try to give them that wow factor."

 

JESSICA PHOENIX(DANCEHALL/HIPHOP 2014/15)