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MEET OUR L-SHIP
AUDREY BORDALLO
(She/Her)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
3rd Year | Dance
Tamuning, Guam
Hafa Adai! I'm Audrey and I am so proud to say I am NSU Modern's Executive Director! I grew up on Guam dancing at my mother’s studio, where I first trained in ballroom, breakdancing, and ballet. I went on to join SKIP Entertainment Co. and danced in mainly jazz, hiphop, and commercial, and got the chance to represent Guam in various competitions such as Hip Hop International and the Dance World Cup. I also took part in World Theatre Productions' RENT and Frozen the Musical.
Dance has always been an essential part of my life so after moving all the way from Guam, I found my home in NSU. Aside from my dance fix, I got a safe space to express myself without fear of judgement or isolation, so it has been an honor to share and further my passion with this team.
CHRISTIAN MONSIVAIS
(They/He)
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Graduate | Biochemistry, Biomedical Research Minor
Paramount, CA
Hello everyone! My name is Christian and I am very excited to be one of NSU’s Assistant Directors this year! NSU has played a big role in my dance journey as the first competition team I am a part of. I started dancing my junior year of high school when I took the class as an elective. I was extremely shy and terrified to take it, but art class was full and I knew I couldn’t sing so…but, because of the welcoming environment my teacher created (s/o Mrs. King!!) I ended up liking it so much that I returned my senior year as a TA for the class. I also tried out for the dance team my senior year and got in. That was where I got introduced to different styles of dancing and found my interest in choreographing. I became a co-vp for Muevete that same year, where I choreographed latin partner dances for the org to perform at school rallies. My favorite time to dance, however, was during our spirit rallies where we would perform a small set in front of the whole school. After high school I knew that I wanted to continue dancing for as long as my (now aching) body would allow. So I joined NSU my freshman year and could not have made a better decision. I have met so many amazing people and found a really supportive community within the team. NSU has brought upon so many wonderful memories that I will definitely look back at later on in life.
But yeah, outside of NSU I really enjoy doing research in the biosciences, traveling to my fridge and back and the occasional midnight Bird rides across campus hehe. You can also catch me at the movies, malls, outside, and sometimes at the gym.
CHEYENNE AMAR
(She/Her)
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
3rd Year | Physiological Science
Honolulu, HI / Silverdale, WA
Hi everyone! I’m Cheyenne and I am so excited to be one of the assistant directors this year! I began my dance journey with ballet and hula at a very young age, but it didn’t really stick until a few years later. I later joined a small studio in Washington State and began dancing competitively at 7 years old training in many styles including ballet, hip hop, modern, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, acrobatics, tumbling, musical theater, and tap over the years. I was the typical die hard studio kid. I picked hula up again my freshman year of college and have been doing it ever since. Hip hop and hula have always been my favorites though. Outside of dance, I love to spend time by the ocean, go on hikes, rot on TikTok, try new restaurants, go to In N Out lol, and spend time with my family including my dog Koda.
Being Hawaii born and raised in a small town in Washington, my dance opportunities growing up were pretty limited. I knew I wanted to continue my dance journey in college and I am so glad I did. I joined NSU Modern my freshman year of college because I saw a post in a UCLA student Facebook group (s/o Naomi). I thought this was exactly what I had been looking for. I went to pre-auds and audition workshops and knew this is where I wanted to be. I loved the diversity and energy of the team from the very first workshop. I have been on the team ever since and am so grateful for the family and community I have found here. I have loved my time on this team and the opportunities it has provided, my favorite being our experience as cast members in the Super Bowl LVI halftime show at SoFi Stadium. NSU Modern has helped me grow so much as a dancer both technically and artistically. I love dancing in such a free and supportive environment surrounded by some of my best friends. I cannot imagine my college experience without being on this team and can’t wait to see what the future holds.
MIA JAMES
(She/Her)
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
2nd Year | Economics major, Environmental Systems and Society Minor
Dubai, UAE
Hi everyone! I'm Mia and I'm NSU's Financial and Administrative Coordinator. I started dancing when I was 12 years old at Diverse Performing Arts Center in Dubai where I trained in Hip Hop, Commercial Pop and Jazz Funk. Dance has been a huge part of my life and I knew I wanted to continue doing it in college. NSU Modern is the first competitive team I have been on and it has really become my home away from home.
Joining NSU in my freshman year of college introduced me to a group of talented, kind and supportive people who share my passion for dance and have become like family to me. This is my second year on the team and I had the wonderful opportunity to be the Administrative and Financial Coordinator for the team which has pushed me to be a better version of myself. I've learned so much from everyone on this team and I continue to grow every day because of them.
Besides dancing, I love to read, watch formula 1, and bake. I also love trying out new restaurants with friends!
DARLA GALL
(She/Her)
DANCE CAPTAIN
3rd Year | Human Biology and Society Major
Toronto, Canada
Hi everyone! My name is Darla and I couldn’t be more grateful to be NSU’s Dance Captain! I started dancing when I was 4 years old and started dancing competitively when I was 12 years old. I’ve learned many styles of dance including ballet & pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, acrobatics and hip-hop. My competitive dance studio became my home and is where I made some of my most meaningful friendships and memories! A highlight from my dance career would definitely be competing with Team Canada at the Dance World Cup in Spain where I also took on the role as Dance Captain for the ballet group!
I absolutely loved UCLA my first year but I was missing dance and most importantly the community a dance team provided. After having SO much fun doing the audition piece and being completely welcomed into the audition space by team members I knew I could see myself on this team. While I was very intimidated at first to join a competitive team that focused on styles I hadn’t trained extensively in, it quickly became a home for me and Lot 4 quickly became a place I looked forward to going to every Tuesday and Thursday! This team has pushed me to expand my dance skill and knowledge and has provided me a group of people who feel like my home away from home <3
Outside of dance, I love spending my time with family and my dog, eating good food and taking pictures of my friends on my digital camera :)
RENA WU
(She/Her)
INTERNAL RELATIONS COORDINATOR
3rd Year | Psychobiology
Torrance, CA
Hey everyone, my name is Rena and I’m super stoked to be NSU Modern’s Internal Relations Coordinator for this year! A little about me: I started my dance journey when I was 6, and did all the styles of dance a studio kid could: ballet, jazz, contemporary, musical theater, etc. In middle school I started to focus more on ballet & pointe, but my ballerina ambitions slowly died as I joined my high school’s dance drill team. Our team competed competitively across the greater Los Angeles area, and we specialized in all sorts of dance styles—this was where I learned so so many hip-hop fundamentals. I loved the supportive environment that my team brought me, as well as the bonds we formed with other high schools.
Coming into college, I knew I wanted to rekindle my love for dance & the dance community, and NSU Modern was the perfect fit for me. Joining a collegiate dance team may seem intimidating at first, but NSU (& the parking lot floors) quickly felt like a second home <3 This team has brought me so much comfort and laughter, and I wouldn’t wish to trade this experience for anything else!!
Outside of dance, I love spending my free time driving to the beach, solving jigsaw puzzles, going to concerts, chasing sunsets, and thrifting :)
KAYLEE LEE
(She/They)
EXTERNAL RELATIONS COORDINATOR
3rd Year | Public Affairs, Environmental Science Minor
Los Angeles, CA
Hi, my name is Kaylee and I am so happy to be NSU Modern’s External Relations Coordinator for the year! I began dancing in middle school cause my mom forced me to take open hip-hop classes on the weekends (rip IDA</3). Then, in my freshman year of high school, I joined the school’s dance program where I began to take dance more seriously. I focused mostly on jazz but was exposed to other styles in the program like contemporary and ballet. I also began choreographing for the first time for our concerts. A few years later, I joined my school’s hip-hop dance team where we performed at half-time shows and pep rallies.
I was pretty intimidated about joining a competitive dance team in college but NSU has become my happy place and even on the worst days can bring up my mood. I have met some of the best, most talented people on this team and I value the environment it's created to do what we love together. I wouldn’t want to dance in a parking lot with anyone else<3 Outside of dance, I like thrifting, hanging out with my dog Zeus, and collecting stickers and blind boxes!!
LAYLA VAN BUREN
(She/Her)
DESIGN AND MEDIA COORDINATOR
4th Year / 2nd Year Transfer | Sociology
Los Angeles, CA
Hi, I'm Layla and I'm so excited to be design and social media coordinator for NSU this year! I have always loved dance, but I didn't start getting involved in dance until my sophomore year of high school where I was apart of my high school's dance program, which consisted of jazz. During my senior year, I joined my school's dance team which was mostly hip-hop.
I transferred from Santa Monica College and was super interested in joining another dance team, and NSU was my first choice. Joining this team has been one of the best things I have done at UCLA and NSU has really helped me come out of my shell when it comes to dance. I've made some of my closest friends on the team and some amazing memories. I've learned so much from everyone on this team and I continue to grow every day because of them.
Outside of NSU, I love film, making playlists, my cat that I rescued, and fashion! :3
ZALEAH HENDERSON (She/Her)
TEAM STYLIST
3rd Year | Public Affairs Major, Film Minor
Carlsbad (San Diego), CA
Hi everyone!! My name is Zaleah (she/her/hers) and I’m so excited to be your team stylist this year! I'm a second-year Public Affairs major Film minor from Carlsbad, San Diego. I’m an RA for Dykstra so feel free to come say hi :). My favorite films are The Shining, US, and Black Swan…if you have any movie recommendations with a good plot twist please let me know! Ask me about anything related to film (especially cinematography and psychological horror), thrifting, pinterest, my cat named drake, spotify vs. apple music (spotify on top).
I started dancing my freshman year of high school on a junior varsity competitive team with styles like jazz funk, hip hop, pom, musical theater and contemporary. It was a bit of a hostile environment so I was so unsure of whether or not I wanted to dance in college! After seeing NSU’s vibe at a pre audition, I knew it was the place to be! I’ve always been so welcomed and everyone treated me with so much kindness! I want you guys to feel comfortable coming to me with anything at all. I am always here for you and even if it’s just to show me your fit or rant, I am here !! Cannot wait to meet all of you <3
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