Meet the Coaches...
Leah Bagheri - Dance Director
Leah Bagheri has been dancing since of the age of five and has trained in the styles of ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, hiphop, samba, afro and contemporary Brazilian. She has studied, performed and competed with various studios and conventions across Southern California including New West Ballet School, Georgia's School of Dance, San Marcos High School Varsity Dance Team, Unity II Dance Ensemble, Tremaine, SHARP, ShowStopper, CADTD, MDDT, USA, Millenium OC, Tropicaleiza Dance Company, Infuse Dance Collective and more. In 2013 she graduated from the University of California Irvine where she received her B.A. in Art History and in 2015 earned both Multiple Subject and Physical Education credentials. While earning her teaching credentials, Leah worked as a dance coach and choreographer at San Marcos High School. She has also worked as a choreographer with Streetlamp Studios, an L.A. based arts non-profit that brings to life the stories of inner-city youth. From 2015-2018, Leah founded a full time dance program and dance team at Landmark Middle School. In her spare time Leah can be found taking dance classes, drawing, painting, reading, choreographing or hiking all the mountains. Leah is extremely excited to be returning to her roots her 5th year at SMHS and can't wait to share her love of dance with her students! |
Lalo Espinoza - Assistant Dance Coach
Lalo began dancing since he "came out of the womb." He always loved dancing to Mexican music. Before joining the dance team at San Marcos High School, he played soccer and football, but injuries prevented him from doing contact sports. That's when he took the opportunity to try out for the All Male Dance Team at San Marcos where he was on the team for 3 years and was captain his senior year. His passion for dance led him to audition for a dance team outside of school, GWOWNUPS, where he continued growing as a dancer and more importantly as a person. Lalo was asked to return to SMHS to coach. In addition to coaching, he spends his time working for the Boys and Girls club of San Marcos in which his mission is to impact kids and teens so that they can have a great future. Lalo continues to further his abilities to grow as a choreographer, leader and mentor. He is currently attending Palomar College to pursue his goal of becoming a police officer, but also a dance coach. He dreams of helping his community and those that have little opportunity to overcome adversities. Lalo is very charismatic and you can always catch him with a smile on his face because like he says, "Life is too short so be happy and spread positivity. Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart. You're capable of doing more than you imagine. Respect all, fear none." |
Kendall Glassman - Assistant Dance Coach
Kendall began dancing at the age of four and has been trained in the styles of ballet, pointe, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, and tap at Starlight Dance Center and New West Ballet School. She was on the San Marcos Varsity Dance Team for three years and was captain of the team in her senior year, as well as danced, performed, and choreographed for the New West Ballet Company and School. Additionally, during the early parts of the pandemic, Kendall co-established a nonprofit online program for students to remotely learn the art of dance, in which she had various students from both local areas and across the country participate. She now attends San Diego State University where she is pursuing her education in business and dance, while also coaching at San Marcos High School and teaching at New West Ballet. Kendall hopes to inspire her students to dance with joy above all things, to always challenge themselves, and to always remember their worth. She is excited for years to come with SMDT, and can’t wait to work with all of the amazing and talented individuals that are a part of it. |