Crissy Apgar-Martinez, Instructor
Years of Teaching Experience: 12
Years of Dance Experience: 20
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to be over, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” Author Unknown
“My goal is to help children see that they each possess their own unique gift that can be expressed through the joy and love of dance.”
When Crissy stepped onto the dance floor at the age of two for her first ballet lesson, her passion for the art of dance had begun. During the more than 20 years that followed her initial ballet lesson, her studies have expanded to include tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop and creative movement. Throughout her pre- and teen years, Crissy was enrolled at studios as well as master classes throughout the Bay Area, continuing to refine her technique and style. In addition to being the dance captain for her high school and college musicals, Crissy starred as Bonnie in the production of Anything Goes as well as Kathy in Company.
Southern California called and she was lured to Orange County and a year of studies at California State University, Long Beach. After a year she returned to the Bay Area to finish her traditional education at California State University, East Bay. It was during this time that her creative choreography attracted the attention of the local high schools’ creative staff. She was asked to train students as a coach for the award winning Granada Dance Team and to choreograph for Livermore High’s Show Choir, as well as their productions of Godspell and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
For more than ten years, Crissy excelled in designing and delivering long- and short-term curriculums for dancers of all ages which included: pointe, ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop and creative movement. She is proficient at assessing students’ dancing abilities and creating individual training techniques to capitalize on their talents. Crissy and her students have traveled to competitions and performances all over the Bay Area, Southern California and Nevada, winning numerous top awards at national dance competitions such as Encore Performing Arts Showcase and Kids Artistic Revue.
Crissy currently teaches in Livermore, Pleasanton, Fremont and San Ramon, spending most of her time in Twinkle and hip-hop classes. Who knows what the future holds for Crissy, but it WILL involve dance!!
One of Crissy’s favorite dance memories was when she was attending the awards ceremony of a national competition in Las Vegas, where Mia Michaels was a guest judge, and a dance she had choreographed was chosen to receive the prestigious Choreography Award.
