Spencer John Powell (Artistic Director) –

Spencer John Powell is the Artistic Director of Mounarath Powell Dance (formerly Visionary Dance Theatre and Visionary School for the Performing Arts). More than thirty years of experience as a performer, choreographer, teacher, director, and producer have earned him awards and guided the studio’s success. Powell’s early background in musical theatre, ballet, and modern dance, along with performances in all dance genres, led to his passion for choreography that empowers artists and performers.

Originally from Utah, Powell attended Weber State University (full ride talent scholarship), studied dance and theatre in Houston and New York (including with Penelope Dudleston, former New York City Ballet dancer), was mentored by Jeanne Travers (University of South Florida, School of Theatre and Dance), and served as Education Coordinator (Utah Head Start Program). He performed with Utah Musical Theatre, Orchesis Dance Theatre, Weber State Performing Arts, Discovery Dance Theatre, Junction City Theatre, and Another Language Performing Arts Company, and was Artistic Director of Ogden Contemporary Dance Theatre. Powell also co-founded and directed Tanner-Powell Dance Theatre and in 1994 founded Kidz Danz Kompany. After moving to Southern California, he re-established KDK as San Diego’s first – and only – children’s modern dance company, which performs in association with Visionary.

Powell’s work continues to have an impact in the arts, both locally and internationally. He has been guest teacher for North Coast Repertory Theatre and was invited to teach master classes in African-American dance form and in collective choreography at Soul Music and Performing Arts Academy in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Also in Vietnam, his piece “Son of Cain” – that was commissioned by The Movement Kitchen and sponsored by the American Embassy in Vietnam – made its debut there in 2019. Though now retired from performing on the professional stage (after playing the lead role of Edna in a 2015 production of Hairspray), Powell is in demand as a choreographer, director, and producer for professional and community theatre musical revues and plays. Most recently, he directed and choreographed the Coronado Playhouse production of Ain’t Misbehavin’, for which he earned a 2022 Best Director nomination.

By collaborating with authors, musicians, and visual artists, as well as welcoming all participants – whether able-bodied or of varying economic, ethnic, gender, racial, or social status – Powell advocates for the wider arts community.  Co-creating Mounarath-Powell Productions (with Visionary Business Director Mickey Mounarath) promotes that vision by producing works from emerging and professional artists in all disciplines. And, seeing the accomplishments of former students that are performing on the Broadway stage, dancing with major ballet and modern dance companies, or becoming teachers, college professors, and arts professionals, is why Spencer John Powell is passionate about empowering artists and performers.

Mickey Mounarath (Business Director) – Mickey Mounarath is the Business Director of Mounarath Powell Dance (formerly Visionary Dance Theatre, Visionary School for the Performing Arts, and Mounarath-Powell Productions). He co-produces all of the dance concerts, recitals, and musical theatre productions and manages the lighting design and direction in studio. Mounarath also coordinates and arranges performance events for Visionary at other public venues.

As a former member of Ogden Contemporary Dance Theatre and performer with Orchesis Dance Theatre and Another Language Performing Arts, Mounarath’s earlier experience as a dancer prepared him for his current work in the arts. He has co-produced numerous plays in the Directors’ Showcase Series and has done lighting projects for other dance companies and colleges as well.

Mounarath and his decades-long career in the computer industry is what maintains both the financial solvency and the technical artistry necessary for operations with Mounarath Powell Dance.

Caley Hernandez (Studio Manager, Dancer) – Caley began dancing at the age of eight and at thirteen became the youngest member of the dance company La Diego II.  Caley went on to earn scholarships at The Academy of Performing Arts for professional training and she performed in San Diego Ballet’s Nutcracker before moving to the Pacific Northwest.  She danced professionally at Polaris Dance Theatre, trained at Northwest Dance Project and The Portland Ballet, and participated in film and other dance projects.  Caley returned to San Diego as a company dancer, choreographer, and instructor for Visionary Dance Theatre in 2018 and in 2020 also became the Studio Manager.  She has performed in San Diego Dance Theatre’s Young Choreographer’s Showcase, Jason Mraz’s 2020 musical production Shine, and La Jolla Playhouse’s 2021 Pop-Up WOW Festival.  In 2022, Caley made her directorial debut with an original production, The Nutcracker: In A Nutshell, for Visionary Dance Theatre.  This year Caley performed as a featured dancer in the rock musical, Light My Fire, and presented new choreography for The Gathering hosted by Kevin Jenkins and Ballet Counterpointe.

Khamla Somphanh (Master Teacher) – Faculty of Visionary Dance Theater, The Kennedy Center Dance Lab, Lynch Dance Institute, Inspired Movement, Lecturer at San Diego State University and holds open community movement classes throughout San Diego. Somphanh received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Performing Arts from St. Mary’s College of California, graduated from Duke Ellington Performing Arts High School in Washington, D.C. and attained Certification in Theory and Practice of Horton Pedagogy from The Alvin Ailey School in NYC. Her choreographic works have been commissioned by dance companies, conservatories, performing arts high schools and competition dancers across the country. Some of Somphanh’s performing credits include ODC/San Francisco Dance Company (San Francisco), Wylliams/Henry Dance Ensemble (Kansas City), the Broadway production of “The King and I” and 1st national touring company, Na-Ni Chen Dance Company, East/West Repertory Ensemble, Soundance Dance Company (New York City), Dance Esaias (Miami), New World Dance Company (Washington, D.C.), Malashock Dance Company, San Diego Opera (San Diego).

Trixi Anne Balinggan Agiao (Dancer) – Trixi’s first experience dancing was with traditional Igorot dance she learned from the Northern California chapter of BIBAK. BIBAK is the acronym for the subgroups of Cordillera Country in the Philippines: Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao, and Kalinga. Trixi later studied dance at the University of California San Diego with Allyson Green, Margaret Marshall, Judy Sharp, Terry Willson, Liam Clancy, and Eric Geiger. She also performed for and learned from directors Corey Madden and Cirque du Soleil’s Jacques Heim. She is a UCSD graduate with a BA in dance and psychology and was awarded the Stewart Prize in Choreography and the Kendall Laurel Lui Scholarship Award. Trixi has danced with [the] movement initiative, Continuum Dance Project, The Corps Dance Crew, and performed for choreographers such as Jeanne Travers, Gina and Kyle Sorenson, Isabel Beteta de Cou, Jeremy Zapanta, Greg Sample and Marcella Torres-Sánchez. Trixi danced as a core member of Visionary Dance Theatre for five years and served as Visionary’s Assistant Artistic Director in 2018.  She is currently the Artistic Coordinator of Visionary’s V2 Pre-Professional Training Program.

James LaRose (Dance Manager, Dancer) – James joined Visionary Dance Theater in 2016 and trained with Spencer John Powell. In 2019, he performed Powell’s choreography for “Son of Cain” at the Soul Music & Performing Arts Academy for Holding Common Ground: Pathways to Cultural Exchange in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. James has also worked with Jeanne Travers, Kiona Daelyn, Emily Navarra, and Trixi Agiao. In 2019, he played Puck in Opera Neo’s production of The Fairy Queen. More recently, James was selected to participate in the Virtual LA Dance Festival and served as the artistic director for Powell’s Kidz Danz Kompany where he directed a sold-out production of Matilda Jr. As an actor, he gained praise for his 2022 lead performance in the award-winning short film, Cronch.  James currently holds the position of Dance Manager for Visionary Dance Theatre.

Gianna May (Dancer) – Gianna is an award-winning performer with three National Youth Arts Awards for the roles of lead dancer. She has been a student of Kids Danz Kompany since she was six years old and transitioned to become a member of the professional adult company, Visionary Dance Theatre, at the age of fifteen. Gianna has been a working actress and dancer in movies and television since the age of seven. Her resume includes parts in Yes Day, 911, Animal Kingdom, The Neighbors, The Romanovs, Wonderful Wizard of Quads, Verizon, Wells Fargo, and Samsung Commercials, along with many other major network and studio projects.

Minaqua McPherson (Dancer) – Minaqua was first introduced to dance and the stage in her youth with classes in ballet and jazz at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts. As a young adult, she began to study Modern Dance at UCSD, where she graduated with a BA in dance and theater in 2007. Since then, Minaqua has trained and performed in arts communities both nationally and internationally with a multitude of outstanding choreographers including Evelyn Thomas of Nuba Dance Theater, Barbara Fritsche Danza, Gabe Mason, Lavina Rich of Push Process Movement, Monica Bill Barnes, Diego Pinon’s Body Ritual Movement, Greg Sample of Sample Dance, Jean Isaacs San Diego Dance Theater, and Kata Pierce Morgan’s Golden Corpse Ensemble. She is thrilled to join the professional company of Mounarath Powell Dance and work with their diverse group of company members.

Danielle Muckle (Dancer) – Originally from San Diego, Danielle attended SDSCPA where she studied ballet, modern, tap and jazz with Aida Anderson and Cynthia Morales. Danielle’s New York training included ballet with Zvi Gotheiner and Peter Schabel, and contemporary with Salim Gauwloos and Nina Buisson. Professionally, Danielle was a company dancer with Nina Buisson Contemporary Movement. Since returning to San Diego, Danielle has been fortunate to perform with H2O Dance Co, Todd Mitchum, IsadoraNOW, Get Down/Pick Up, and Continuum Dance Project. Additionally, Danielle’s theatre credits include Spamalot, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Matilda. Choreography credits include Rent, Fun Home, and Every Christmas Story Ever Told. Danielle is also a Grey Matters certified Teaching Artist and leads Memory Care residents in movement.

DeVonté Murphy (Dancer) – DeVonté’s passion for dancing has led him to become a noteworthy performer in the San Diego dance community. His has had disciplined training in hip-hop, modern, contemporary, ballet, and jazz and showcases a variety of styles with performances.  At Grossmont Community College, DeVonté danced in concerts and trained under Colleen Shipkowski and Blythe Barton. He has performed with Jean Isaacs San Diego Dance Theater, Common Ground Theater, and Bite Dance Company. DeVonté became a professional company dancer with Visionary Dance Theatre in 2020.

Drew Ornelas (Dance Manager, Dancer) – Drew was born in Quincy, Washington and began doing musical theatre when he was sixteen.  After performing the role of Rolf in The Sound of Music, he began taking dance more seriously and received a full ride scholarship as a Bachelors in Fine Arts candidate at Belhaven College.  There, Drew was introduced to modern dance, trained vigorously in ballet, and was a part of the college dance company.  In 2007, he moved to San Diego, continued to train in a variety of dance styles, and co-founded and co-directed the dance company Dark Horse Dance Productions.  Six years of running his own dance company, led Drew to meet and collaborate with Spencer John Powell for several projects.  In 2014, he joined Visionary Dance Theatre as a company member and danced professionally with them for three years performing in works by Jeanne Travers, Caryn Ipapo-Glass, among others before following other interests in administration and business.  During that time, Drew continued to dance and perform around town in pieces by Marty Dorado, Ramon Montes and Trixi Agiao.  Now, Drew is happy to have returned to Visionary Dance Theatre (now known as Mounarath Powell Dance).

Jaír Ramírez (Dancer) – Jaír (he/they), from California’s Imperial Valley, was educated at the Southwest Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts in El Centro. He learned contemporary, lyrical, hip hop and jazz from Jessica Stroech Brooks. Over the past decade, Jaír performed at Disney World, under Dimitr Marinov, and Jeanette Knight musical productions, as well as collegiate hip hop competitions in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He directed and choreographed for KidzNextDoor and FemNextDoor and trained with Greg Chapkis and Chapkis Dance Family. Jaír joined Visionary Dance Theatre in 2021 where he has studied under Spencer Powell, Tanya Lewis, Caley Hernandez, Trixi Agiao, and Khamla Somphanh.

Isaac Stoudmire (Dancer) – Isaac, born and raised in San Diego, was introduced to modern dance at Mission Hills High School under the instruction of Heather Almanza. He studied and performed at Palomar College with Molly Faulkner and Patriceanne Mead and Southwestern College with Mary Jo Horvath and Dana Maue. Later, he trained and performed with Faith Ismay-Jensen and the Mojalet Dance Company. His experiences and passion for percussive and dynamic movement carried him into Visionary Dance Theatre. As a vital member of the dance company for the past two years, Isaac has continued to grow and develop his artistic abilities with Spencer Powell, Tanya Lewis, and Khamla Somphanh.