Fern
studied from early childhood to become a dance teacher and to develop
interest in the arts with children. She has studied with many of the
dance world's famous artists and is certified to teach by Dance Masters
of America. She has taught in Spain, and owned dance studios in her
native California before relocating to Nevada. Fern and her husband,
Ray Criddle, opened a studio in Las Vegas in 1974, which has become the
largest school of the arts in the state. She has taught at national and
regional conventions and seminars. As a dancer and singer, Fern toured
with her own single act in the West as well as in Asia, Pacific Islands
and Alaska. Fern Adair is biographed in Distinguished Women in Southern Nevada,
was the recipient of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Achievement in
the Arts Award, recipient of Clark County Commissioners Proclamation of
Appreciation, and 1996 Fern Adair Day proclaimed by the City of Las
Vegas. Dance Educators of America recently honored Fern with lifetime
membership
Travis Pullins
Travis has taught dance for the past 11 years. He has directed and been featured on shows at Opryland USA, on the cruise ship S.S. Norway, in numerous industrials, and also appeared on CBS' Touched By An Angel. He teaches high school Spanish and is part of the TamJams Dance Convention and dances with the Solstice Dance Theater
Debbie Freeman
Debbie Freeman has performed and toured with Will Rogers Follies, 42nd Street and was a member of the Altanta Hawks Dance Team. She has been seen on numerous TV specials including David Letterman, Richard Simmons, Good Morning America, The Today Show, FOX New Year's Eve Special, Victor Awards, Peter Allen Tribute, and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Debbie had been a member of the Radio City Rockettes in New York, on Tour and was dance captain for their Las Vegas Show at the Flamingo Hilton. She is certified member of both Dance Masters of Amercia and Dance Educators of America and has been a member of Actor's Equity and Actor's Guild of Variety Artists. She was choreographer of the Beats of Passion Show at the Venetian Hotel and Casino. Debbie's background also includes many industrials, commercials and trade shows. Debbie enjoys sharing her talent with students and has been teaching for 19 years.
Sean Cronin
Sean trained and graduated from Carmichael’s School of the Performing
Arts. From there, he joined Capital City Ballet in Sacramento, CA,
which led him to start working in Hello Hollywood, Hello! in Reno. Sean
joined the Lido de Paris and later performed in Follies Bergere in Las
Vegas, where he was the principal understudy. Under the direction of
Don Arden, Sean was swept to the Lido de Paris in Paris, France, where
he and his adagio partner, Pamela Langevin, were the stars of the show.
After 4½ years in Paris, Sean returned to the United States and
performed in Miami before his return to the Las Vegas stage. Sean’s
expertise in adagio is sought after by professionals and aspiring
professionals. He has performed principal roles in Spain, France,
Japan, Korea and on cruise ships and in numerous ballet companies.
Sueann Townsend
Sueann trained at the New York Conservatory of Dance and the
Interlochen Arts Academy where she received the ‘Fine Arts Award.’ As a
featured ballerina in productions across the U.S., Sueann is a master
in classical and contemporary ballet.
Lesley Bandy
Lesley Bandy is known for staging, directing, choreographing and producing performances. She also danced with Edinburgh Ballet Theatre, the Scottish Opera, the Royal Opera Ballet at Covent Garden. Lesley has also danced as principal and adagio dancer in Paris, Hong Kong, Australia, and US. She has worked with such diverse performers as Pavarotti, Carol Channing, Ann Margret, Juliet Prowse, and more. Lesley has held positions of Entertainment Co.Mgr. for MGM Grand, Entertainment Director for Harrah’s Sky City New Zealand, Project Manager, and Manager, Show Development for Universal Studios Florida. Lesley stages and choreographs for theme parks, ballets, musicals, opera, and television; in the corporate world she is part of the creative Entertainment team at MGM. She teaches master ballet and contemporary dance classes. Lesley is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance, and a member of the International Dance Council, CID (UNESCO). "Lesley Bandy Day" May 25, 1986 was awarded in honor of cultural contributions.
Tina Lederman
Originally from England, Tina started dancing at the young age of two
at the Butler Horner School of Dance in Portsmouth. She started her
professional career at 16, performing in theatre, cabaret and floor
shows in England, Japan and Spain and then traveled with Sitmar Cruise
Lines for several years. After years of staying home and raising a
family of four, Tina returned to dancing and began teaching for the
City of Henderson.
Angelina Russo
Angelina has studied dance for 14 years in Las Vegas, eight of which were spent at the Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts. She attended the University of Utah as a ballet major and has danced professionally for the MGM Grand Resort, Dan Nelson Productions, Redken and Paul Mitchell Hair shows. She was soloist and principal dancer with the American Dance Company, the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center, Inc. Productions, and the Cuyahoga Community College Dance Festival in Ohio. She has taught ballet and modern in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. Angelina has professional photo credits for Dance Spirit Magazine and Innovation Flooring and Design. She is now attending UNLV for sports injury management.
Kelly Ontiberos
Most recently, Kelly has danced in Jubilee
and understudied principal roles. Kelly moved here from Connecticut to
dance with the Nevada Ballet Theatre for their 99-00 season. In
Connecticut, Kelly danced with the Hartford Ballet as well as trained
at the School of the Hartford Ballet. Other training came from Pacific
Northwest Ballet School in Seattle and Central Pennsylvania Youth
Ballet. She joined our faculty this season.
Renee Barela
Renee grew up in Denver, Colorado, where she studied tap, ballet and
jazz at the Kit André Dance Center. She also studied voice and piano.
Renee attended the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.
She has performed in several operas and musicals, including The Wizard of Oz, The Music Man, Brigadoon, and Hello Dolly! She’s danced for MGM’s Studio 54, was dance captain for five years at the Steve Wyrick Magic Show, performed with Legends In Concert,
and currently freelances. Renee has studied tap with Savion Glover and
the Tap Dogs. She is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the
Fern Adair family and looks forward to the coming year.
Jennifer Jennings
Jennifer, "J.V." Goecke. In Huntsville she wasthe Ballet Company and Competition Director for Birmingham Dance Theatre for 12 years. She received her B.A. in Dance from the Uof A at Birmingham where she was also on faculty. She has directed, choreographed, and produced original full-length ballets and musical theatre shows and has won numerous awards both regionally and nationally. She has many students working in television, movies, and on Broadway. She is a convention teacher/judge for The Pulse, Dance Olympus, Int'l.Dance Challenge, Dance Educators of America, and Dance Masters of America to name a few. She has won the Co. Dance Nationals Jr Performance of the Year Award for the second time. J.V. is a Board Member for DMA. She is the creator and director of the "Jumpstart Boot Camp", a weekend program to motivate, advance, and excellerate dancers. She is a faculty member of "The Pulse", a convention based with Broadway Dance Center, teaching alongside Brian Friedman and Mia Michaels from "So You Think You Can Dance" and Wade Robson of "The Wade Robson Project".
Christine Haynick
New to Las Vegas, Christine has owned her own dance school for twenty-eight years in Pennsylvania and proudly tells of her students’ accomplishments performing on world tours, on Broadway, studying on scholarships and performing with major ballet companies. Her students hold prestigious titles through Dance Masters of America. Christine was chairman of the Pennsylvania Cecchetti Council, is an active member of Dance Masters of America, a choreographer for Dance Masters finalists presentations and teaches all phases of dance. Christine has moved to Las Vegas to enjoy the company of her daughter who is a dancer in Jubilee and also a dance teacher.
Nicole Shay
Nicole is returning to Las Vegas after a stay in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she taught all forms of dance, acrobatics and gymnastics. With a vast resume of experience in musical theatre, Nicole has also performed as a dancer at Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and the Crown Odyssey World Cruise. In Las Vegas her credits include Enter the Night, Spellbound, Folies Bergere and the EFX at the MGM staring Michael Crawford. Modeling, television and films also contribute to Nicole’s experience. Top honors have awarded from Dance Masters of America for Nicole’s choreography.
Holly Haynick
H
olly receibed her BFA in Dance and Theatre from Wright State University. She is a popular judge for Star Systems Nation Competitions as well as a Master Teacher for Dance Masters of America’s National Conventions. Holly was also the Co-Artistic Director, teacher and choreographer for Christine’s School of Dance in Pennsylvania. She is certified to teach by Dance Masters of America and holds numerous choreography awards. She also has choreographed for the Jr. Cecchetti Ballet Company of Pennsylvania. Upon moving to Las Vegas, Holly joined Donn Arden’s Jubilee and has presented choreography in the annual Ribbon of Life Benefit Show.
Gymnastics Faculty
Sherri Shipp Competition Team Coach
Sherri brings over 25 years of coaching experience in competitive
USAIGC and USA Gymnastics Levels 4-10. Sherri is a choreographer and
has consistently produced state, regional and national champions on
floor exercise and balance beam. She has produced three National
winners in the prestigious T.O.P.S (Talent Opportunity Program), which
tests and ranks the top 100 six to eight year-olds in the United
States. She has also coached an international athlete to the 2001
Maccabea Games in Israel. Training since the age of 10, she became a
Class I competitive gymnast, (equivalent to today’s level 10).
Expanding on her opportunities, she toured with the International Dance
Company “Pizzazz” as a lead acro-dancer. The recipient of the Reebok
and Mervyns of California “Coach of the Year” award, she was also
recognized by the Women’s Sports Foundation in New York City in 1998.
She has been invited to be a national clinician; and as a member of USA
Gymnastics, she also holds certifications as a USAG Meet Director,
Safety and CPR certified. She is also a proud mother of two.
James E. Jerrell
Jim has over 20 years experience in coaching gymnastics, tumbling and
teaching tap. He is past president of the Illinois Tumbling
Association, a past member of the U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling
Association Technical Committee, and is USAG Safety Certified. His
students have qualified for the national and world tumbling
championships. Jim owns and operates Pest Plus–Pest & Termite
Control
Chelyn Sawyer
Chelyn graduated from the Las Vegas Academy as a dance major. She was
with Flyers prior to attending the Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts
eight years ago. Cheylyn joined the coaching staff at the Conservatory
three years ago and is Safety Certified by USAG. She attends the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas majoring in performing arts.
Nina Highsmith
A graduate of UNLV, Nina studied gymnastics at the Conservatory and was
a competing member of the first Adair-Ettes Gymnastics Team. Nina
presently is an elementary school teacher in the Clark County School
District.
Crystal Fulton
Crystal is alumni of Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts and a native of Las Vegas. She has experience in tap, ballet, and gymnastics and was a member of Fern Adair’s performing groups and the first Adair-ettes Gymnastics and Cheer Teams. Crystal holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from UNLV in Criminal Justice and Communications and also works full-time as the Community Relations Specialist for Bally Technologies.
Nichole Bordi
Nichole has coached recreational gymnastics for five years and
competitive gymnastic for two years. Nichole has been in gymnastics for
14 years. She was also a competitive gymnast. Nichole has placed in the
Vermont State Championships
Barbra Kordest
Barb is director of Aerobic Fun! A registered nurse, Barbara has been
involved in aerobics for ten years. She studied with Trish Evans,
former aerobics teacher here at the Conservatory and was her assistant
for two years.
Theatre Department
Maggie Saunders
As an accomplished theatrical practitioner, Maggie has toured globally.
She has lived and worked in Las Vegas for the past 17 years. During
this time Maggie and Chuck Rounds have collaborated on many projects.
Her first professional directing position was offered to her by Chuck.
Maggie’s credits include Lend Me a Tenor, Lover’s Leap, Run for Your
Wife, Beyond Therapy, and I Hate Hamlet.
Chuck Rounds
Chuck has been working in the theatre and entertainment industry for
over twenty years. During this time, he has had the good fortune to
have worked in the professional theatres across the country, and in
virtually every aspect of the theatre—acting, directing, designing,
producing, writing and technical theatre. Currently, Chuck is the
editor for the Las Vegas Entertainment trade paper, Callback and the
entertainment writer and host for Charleston Communications. His
reviews of Las Vegas productions can be read on www.igoshows.com.
Music Department
Frank LaSpina
A popular TV and radio personality in our community for the past 15 years, Frank LaSpina originally came to Las Vegas as a musical entertainer and has performed at most of the major hotels. Early on, he discovered he also had a knack and a passion for sharing his craft of voice and piano with others and has had the reward of seeing many of his young students go on to become professionals themselves. One of Frank's specialties is teaching showy - yet not overly difficult - numbers for recitals and competitions, as he did for a winner of the Miss Ohio title in the Miss America Pageant. A number of well-established singers credit Frank with saving their careers by correcting the vocal damage done by improper mechanics. Among Frank's own instructors was one who studied with the same coach who taught Frank Sinatra. Currently, you can see Frank every Tuesday morning at 5:30 on the UPN television network (cable 14, broadcast 25) hosting his "Tops in Town Awards" program. The Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts is proud to have been a recipient of this award and is equally proud to, now, count Frank LaSpina as one of our esteemed faculty members.
Erin Breen
Erin is nearly a life-time resident of Las Vegas and has been performing and directing musical theater for twenty-five years. An accomplished vocalist, Erin loves to have the opportunity to be "on the stage-side" of a performance but is also looking forward to being on the instructing side of vocal performance. In over ten years of vocal training, Erin has studied at UNLV, Tony and Jeanne Costa, Marguerite Hall and also a new Conservatory teacher Frank LaSpina. As a founding member of Las Vegas Little Theater, the oldest community theater in Las Vegas, Erin found her true avocation. She is currently directing "On Golden Pond" for LVLT. Her time at the Conservatory will increase when that production opens. Several years ago Erin was first acting teacher at the Conservatory and is looking forward to returning. Erin is also the director of UNLV’s Safe Community Partnership which focuses on injury prevention and transportation safety.
David Wold
Vocal, Piano and Instruments
David’s nearly twenty year professional experience is vast and has included everything from musical director for a major showroom production to electronic scoring for local theatre productions. Mr. Wold has worked in every major property in Las Vegas. His experience includes musical conducting and arranging for many performers, musical director and keyboards for touring productions throughout the United States and internationally. David also charts music for everything from rhythm sections to full orchestras. David has been the Musical Director for several theatre productions of the \"The Fantastics\", You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown\", \"Bat Boy: The Musical\" and \"Something’s Afoot\".
Victoria Panzarella
Victoria started her training in New York in Okinawan Go-Ju Ryu Karate
and Judo and currently has studied Shaolin Kempo for the last eleven
years with United Studios of Self Defense and holds a Shodan rank. She
has been a chief instructor in two schools in Orange County,
California, and currently teaches the Tiny Tigers and Juniors program
and at the Conservatory as well as classes in the Arts Day Camp. Also
she trains in the Iadio which is the traditional art of Japanese Sword.
Competitive Ballroom Dancing is also a passion as she will again visit
Argentina to study the Tango. Also, she is the coordinator for the
Teaching Assistant's program and this year Victoria recieved her CTM
(Competent Toastmaster ) from Toastmasters International.
Ballroom and Salsa
Ballroom and Salsa
Angelina and Freddy
Angelina studied dance for eight years at the Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts, and later attended the University of Utah as a ballet major. Her professional credits include: soloist and principal roles with the American Dance Company, Las Vegas Performing Arts Center Inc., Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio, MGM Grand Resort, Dan Nelson Productions, Redken and Paul Mitchell Hair Shows, Master Ballet Teacher, Guest Teacher in Utah and California, freelance print and runway model. Angelina graduated from UNLV with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Injury Management.
Alfredo (Freddy), originally from Mexico, is a well respected Ballroom, Latin & Salsa instructor in Las Vegas with 12 years of dance experience. He received his training from a highly acclaimed franchised dance studio where he also taught for 4 years. He is a certified NDCA competitor. Freddy performed at the 2001 World Salsa Congress and was a member of the "Paragons of Salsa Magic" dance team. Along with his partner Angelina Russo, he performed in "Fiesta Caliente" at the Edgewater Resort & Casino as well as for numerous corporate events. Freddy is looking forward to ablishing an active ballroom program at the Conservatory and hopes you will join him in his passion for dance.
Fern Adair, Director
Fern
studied from early childhood to become a dance teacher and to develop
interest in the arts with children. She has studied with many of the
dance world's famous artists and is certified to teach by Dance Masters
of America. She has taught in Spain, and owned dance studios in her
native California before relocating to Nevada. Fern and her husband,
Ray Criddle, opened a studio in Las Vegas in 1974, which has become the
largest school of the arts in the state. She has taught at national and
regional conventions and seminars. As a dancer and singer, Fern toured
with her own single act in the West as well as in Asia, Pacific Islands
and Alaska. Fern Adair is biographed in Distinguished Women in Southern Nevada,
was the recipient of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Achievement in
the Arts Award, recipient of Clark County Commissioners Proclamation of
Appreciation, and 1996 Fern Adair Day proclaimed by the City of Las
Vegas. Dance Educators of America recently honored Fern with lifetime
membership
Travis has taught dance for the past 11 years. He has directed and been featured on shows at Opryland USA, on the cruise ship S.S. Norway, in numerous industrials, and also appeared on CBS' Touched By An Angel. He teaches high school Spanish and is part of the TamJams Dance Convention and dances with the Solstice Dance Theater
Debbie Freeman has performed and toured with Will Rogers Follies, 42nd Street and was a member of the Altanta Hawks Dance Team. She has been seen on numerous TV specials including David Letterman, Richard Simmons, Good Morning America, The Today Show, FOX New Year's Eve Special, Victor Awards, Peter Allen Tribute, and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Debbie had been a member of the Radio City Rockettes in New York, on Tour and was dance captain for their Las Vegas Show at the Flamingo Hilton. She is certified member of both Dance Masters of Amercia and Dance Educators of America and has been a member of Actor's Equity and Actor's Guild of Variety Artists. She was choreographer of the Beats of Passion Show at the Venetian Hotel and Casino. Debbie's background also includes many industrials, commercials and trade shows. Debbie enjoys sharing her talent with students and has been teaching for 19 years. 
Sean trained and graduated from Carmichael’s School of the Performing
Arts. From there, he joined Capital City Ballet in Sacramento, CA,
which led him to start working in Hello Hollywood, Hello! in Reno. Sean
joined the Lido de Paris and later performed in Follies Bergere in Las
Vegas, where he was the principal understudy. Under the direction of
Don Arden, Sean was swept to the Lido de Paris in Paris, France, where
he and his adagio partner, Pamela Langevin, were the stars of the show.
After 4½ years in Paris, Sean returned to the United States and
performed in Miami before his return to the Las Vegas stage. Sean’s
expertise in adagio is sought after by professionals and aspiring
professionals. He has performed principal roles in Spain, France,
Japan, Korea and on cruise ships and in numerous ballet companies.
Sueann trained at the New York Conservatory of Dance and the
Interlochen Arts Academy where she received the ‘Fine Arts Award.’ As a
featured ballerina in productions across the U.S., Sueann is a master
in classical and contemporary ballet.
Lesley Bandy is known for staging, directing, choreographing and producing performances. She also danced with Edinburgh Ballet Theatre, the Scottish Opera, the Royal Opera Ballet at Covent Garden. Lesley has also danced as principal and adagio dancer in Paris, Hong Kong, Australia, and US. She has worked with such diverse performers as Pavarotti, Carol Channing, Ann Margret, Juliet Prowse, and more. Lesley has held positions of Entertainment Co.Mgr. for MGM Grand, Entertainment Director for Harrah’s Sky City New Zealand, Project Manager, and Manager, Show Development for Universal Studios Florida. Lesley stages and choreographs for theme parks, ballets, musicals, opera, and television; in the corporate world she is part of the creative Entertainment team at MGM. She teaches master ballet and contemporary dance classes. Lesley is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance, and a member of the International Dance Council, CID (UNESCO). "Lesley Bandy Day" May 25, 1986 was awarded in honor of cultural contributions.
Originally from England, Tina started dancing at the young age of two
at the Butler Horner School of Dance in Portsmouth. She started her
professional career at 16, performing in theatre, cabaret and floor
shows in England, Japan and Spain and then traveled with Sitmar Cruise
Lines for several years. After years of staying home and raising a
family of four, Tina returned to dancing and began teaching for the
City of Henderson.
Angelina has studied dance for 14 years in 
Most recently, Kelly has danced in Jubilee
and understudied principal roles. Kelly moved here from Connecticut to
dance with the Nevada Ballet Theatre for their 99-00 season. In
Connecticut, Kelly danced with the Hartford Ballet as well as trained
at the School of the Hartford Ballet. Other training came from Pacific
Northwest Ballet School in Seattle and Central Pennsylvania Youth
Ballet. She joined our faculty this season.
Renee grew up in Denver, Colorado, where she studied tap, ballet and
jazz at the Kit André Dance Center. She also studied voice and piano.
Renee attended the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.
She has performed in several operas and musicals, including The Wizard of Oz, The Music Man, Brigadoon, and Hello Dolly! She’s danced for MGM’s Studio 54, was dance captain for five years at the Steve Wyrick Magic Show, performed with Legends In Concert,
and currently freelances. Renee has studied tap with Savion Glover and
the Tap Dogs. She is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the
Fern Adair family and looks forward to the coming year.
Jennifer, "J.V." Goecke. In Huntsville she wasthe Ballet Company and Competition Director for Birmingham Dance Theatre for 12 years. She received her B.A. in Dance from the Uof A at Birmingham where she was also on faculty. She has directed, choreographed, and produced original full-length ballets and musical theatre shows and has won numerous awards both regionally and nationally. She has many students working in television, movies, and on Broadway. She is a convention teacher/judge for The Pulse, Dance Olympus, Int'l.Dance Challenge, Dance Educators of America, and Dance Masters of America to name a few. She has won the Co. Dance Nationals Jr Performance of the Year Award for the second time. J.V. is a Board Member for DMA. She is the creator and director of the "Jumpstart Boot Camp", a weekend program to motivate, advance, and excellerate dancers. She is a faculty member of "The Pulse", a convention based with Broadway Dance Center, teaching alongside Brian Friedman and Mia Michaels from "So You Think You Can Dance" and Wade Robson of "The Wade Robson Project". 
Nicole is returning to Las Vegas after a stay in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she taught all forms of dance, acrobatics and gymnastics. With a vast resume of experience in musical theatre, Nicole has also performed as a dancer at Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and the Crown Odyssey World Cruise. In Las Vegas her credits include Enter the Night, Spellbound, Folies Bergere and the EFX at the MGM staring Michael Crawford. Modeling, television and films also contribute to Nicole’s experience. Top honors have awarded from Dance Masters of America for Nicole’s choreography. 
H
Gymnastics Faculty
Sherri brings over 25 years of coaching experience in competitive
USAIGC and USA Gymnastics Levels 4-10. Sherri is a choreographer and
has consistently produced state, regional and national champions on
floor exercise and balance beam. She has produced three National
winners in the prestigious T.O.P.S (Talent Opportunity Program), which
tests and ranks the top 100 six to eight year-olds in the United
States. She has also coached an international athlete to the 2001
Maccabea Games in Israel. Training since the age of 10, she became a
Class I competitive gymnast, (equivalent to today’s level 10).
Expanding on her opportunities, she toured with the International Dance
Company “Pizzazz” as a lead acro-dancer. The recipient of the Reebok
and Mervyns of California “Coach of the Year” award, she was also
recognized by the Women’s Sports Foundation in New York City in 1998.
She has been invited to be a national clinician; and as a member of USA
Gymnastics, she also holds certifications as a USAG Meet Director,
Safety and CPR certified. She is also a proud mother of two.
Jim has over 20 years experience in coaching gymnastics, tumbling and
teaching tap. He is past president of the Illinois Tumbling
Association, a past member of the U.S. Trampoline and Tumbling
Association Technical Committee, and is USAG Safety Certified. His
students have qualified for the national and world tumbling
championships. Jim owns and operates Pest Plus–Pest & Termite
Control
Chelyn graduated from the Las Vegas Academy as a dance major. She was
with Flyers prior to attending the Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts
eight years ago. Cheylyn joined the coaching staff at the Conservatory
three years ago and is Safety Certified by USAG. She attends the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas majoring in performing arts.
A graduate of UNLV, Nina studied gymnastics at the Conservatory and was
a competing member of the first Adair-Ettes Gymnastics Team. Nina
presently is an elementary school teacher in the Clark County School
District.
Crystal is alumni of Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts and a native of Las Vegas. She has experience in tap, ballet, and gymnastics and was a member of Fern Adair’s performing groups and the first Adair-ettes Gymnastics and Cheer Teams. Crystal holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from UNLV in Criminal Justice and Communications and also works full-time as the Community Relations Specialist for Bally Technologies. 
Nichole has coached recreational gymnastics for five years and
competitive gymnastic for two years. Nichole has been in gymnastics for
14 years. She was also a competitive gymnast. Nichole has placed in the
Vermont State Championships
Barb is director of Aerobic Fun! A registered nurse, Barbara has been
involved in aerobics for ten years. She studied with Trish Evans,
former aerobics teacher here at the Conservatory and was her assistant
for two years.
As an accomplished theatrical practitioner, Maggie has toured globally.
She has lived and worked in Las Vegas for the past 17 years. During
this time Maggie and Chuck Rounds have collaborated on many projects.
Her first professional directing position was offered to her by Chuck.
Maggie’s credits include Lend Me a Tenor, Lover’s Leap, Run for Your
Wife, Beyond Therapy, and I Hate Hamlet.
Chuck has been working in the theatre and entertainment industry for
over twenty years. During this time, he has had the good fortune to
have worked in the professional theatres across the country, and in
virtually every aspect of the theatre—acting, directing, designing,
producing, writing and technical theatre. Currently, Chuck is the
editor for the Las Vegas Entertainment trade paper, Callback and the
entertainment writer and host for Charleston Communications. His
reviews of Las Vegas productions can be read on 
A popular TV and radio personality in our community for the past 15 years, Frank LaSpina originally came to Las Vegas as a musical entertainer and has performed at most of the major hotels. Early on, he discovered he also had a knack and a passion for sharing his craft of voice and piano with others and has had the reward of seeing many of his young students go on to become professionals themselves. One of Frank's specialties is teaching showy - yet not overly difficult - numbers for recitals and competitions, as he did for a winner of the Miss Ohio title in the Miss America Pageant. A number of well-established singers credit Frank with saving their careers by correcting the vocal damage done by improper mechanics. Among Frank's own instructors was one who studied with the same coach who taught Frank Sinatra. Currently, you can see Frank every Tuesday morning at 5:30 on the UPN television network (cable 14, broadcast 25) hosting his "Tops in Town Awards" program. The Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts is proud to have been a recipient of this award and is equally proud to, now, count Frank LaSpina as one of our esteemed faculty members.
Erin is nearly a life-time resident of Las Vegas and has been performing and directing musical theater for twenty-five years. An accomplished vocalist, Erin loves to have the opportunity to be "on the stage-side" of a performance but is also looking forward to being on the instructing side of vocal performance. In over ten years of vocal training, Erin has studied at UNLV, Tony and Jeanne Costa, Marguerite Hall and also a new Conservatory teacher Frank LaSpina. As a founding member of Las Vegas Little Theater, the oldest community theater in Las Vegas, Erin found her true avocation. She is currently directing "On Golden Pond" for LVLT. Her time at the Conservatory will increase when that production opens. Several years ago Erin was first acting teacher at the Conservatory and is looking forward to returning. Erin is also the director of UNLV’s Safe Community Partnership which focuses on injury prevention and transportation safety.
Vocal, Piano and Instruments
Victoria started her training in New York in Okinawan Go-Ju Ryu Karate
and Judo and currently has studied Shaolin Kempo for the last eleven
years with United Studios of Self Defense and holds a Shodan rank. She
has been a chief instructor in two schools in Orange County,
California, and currently teaches the Tiny Tigers and Juniors program
and at the Conservatory as well as classes in the Arts Day Camp. Also
she trains in the Iadio which is the traditional art of Japanese Sword.
Competitive Ballroom Dancing is also a passion as she will again visit
Argentina to study the Tango. Also, she is the coordinator for the
Teaching Assistant's program and this year Victoria recieved her CTM
(Competent Toastmaster ) from Toastmasters International.
