Our Instructors

Lisa Sutton -- Founder, Artistic Director & Award-Winning Ballet Instructor & Coach

Lisa Sutton, Founder & Artistic Director of Burbank School of the Ballet, is an award-winning instructor, who has been recognized for her work with dance students for decades. Ms. Sutton’s high standards, eye for detail, and regard for artistry is reflected in her students’ excellent technique and performance skills. Her students have been recognized with highest honors by Youth America Grand Prix, Music Center Spotlight Awards and by the popular dance conventions -- Dance Masters of America and NUVO.

Ms. Sutton began dancing as a young girl in Bethesda, Maryland. After being spotted at a local parks and recreation program, Ms. Sutton was asked to attend Maryland School of the Ballet where she trained throughout her childhood.  As a young adult, she attended intensives at American Ballet Theater. But it was a trip to Costa Rica, where she participated in a dance outreach project for children, that she realized that her true calling was teaching. 

Ms. Sutton started her dance program in Burbank in 1996. Since then, the program has developed into an award-winning studio that has mentored many fine young dancers. Several have been recognized for their excellence receiving awards including: Youth America Grand Prix’s Grand Prix Award and Hope Award; Music Center's Spotlight Finalists and Winner. This Summer, Ms. Sutton’s long-time student, Natalie Krakirian, was accepted to participate in the International Ballet Competition where Ms. Krakirian made it to the 2nd round.

Ms. Sutton's students have been accepted to dance programs, including: American Academy of Ballet, ABT, The Ailey School, Bolshoi Ballet, Colburn Dance Institute, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, the Rock School, San Francisco Ballet, State Street Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Nation Ballet of Canada, Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy, Ballet West, Walnut Hill, UC – Irvine and Gelsey Kirkland Academy.

Ms. Sutton’s approach is traditional – with a focus on discipline, excellent technique and proper physical development.  As a result, her students experience important lessons that not only develop character, but healthy, bright young dancers.

In 2009, as a tribute to the support she received as a young dancer, Ms. Sutton started Burbank Youth Ballet Company (www.burbankballet.org), a nonprofit organization devoted to nurturing young dancers and inspiring dance appreciation within the community through education, scholarships and community outreach.

Jason Coosner -- Master Teacher, Choreographer in Residence

Jason Coosner is a master teacher and national award-winning choreographer residing in Los Angeles, California. Jason’s approach to teaching and dance making is focused on opposition, alignment, strength and transitional phrasing. He firmly believes that it is only through the mastery of technique and stylistic elements in choreography that the dancer begins to organically tap into the emotional life of the dance, generating performance from a place of absolute truth. It is this philosophy that fuels his passion for teaching, tirelessly working to help individual students reach their full artistic potential.
He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance with a concentration in Choreography from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. SMU’s Dance Program is one of the top 5 in the nation and Jason was one of four, internationally, to be accepted as a 2007 candidate; he was awarded a Full-Artistic scholarship for the duration of his studies by the Meadows School of the Arts. During his tenure he had the privilege of studying under award winning jazz dance legend Danny Buraczeski and contemporary jazz master Max Stone.
Jason also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theatre from the Professional Training Program at Elon University in North Carolina where he studied dance under Nina Wheeler, Rebecca Hutchins, Linda Sabo, Margaret Rowland and Cherie Bower.
Jason has taught master classes for the University of Indiana-Bloomington, Elon University, Collin County Ballet Theatre, Long Beach Ballet, Southbay Ballet, SoCal Ballet, Dancing Images, The Next Step, New World Dance and students in Cape Town, South Africa majoring in Dance for grade 12.
Currently Jason teaches contemporary technique, throughout the Los Angeles area. He is a national adjudicator for dance competitions, is the 1st Vice President of Dance Masters of America Chapter 1, and was on faculty at the prestigious Dance Masters of America National Convention in 2012.
Jason’s students are consistently achieving top results at various competitions; most notably finals qualification at the Youth America Grand Prix and various 1st place, and choreography awards at Showstoppers, Hall of Fame, KAR, Cathy Roe, Move, Bravo, DMA and Jump. Readying student’s for acceptance into elite summer programs and universities is a major focus for Jason and his students are consistently admitted into the most prestigious summer dance programs and academic institutions including School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Lines Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet School, the Kirov as well as The Juilliard School, Southern Methodist University,
University of Michigan and Butler University.

Jason’s contemporary ballet “Composition VII” commissioned by Collin County Ballet Theatre was selected for The Regional Dance America’s southwest regional gala performance and received the National Choreography Recognition Award placing the work on the RDA National Choreography Plan and was featured in Pointe Magazine.

Michelle Clow -- Performance Team, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical & Contemporary

Originally from San Jose, California, Michelle Clow moved out to Los Angeles to pursue dancing and acting in 2000. She has been dancing from the age of three years and is proficient in tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical/modern, and jazz. After graduating college with a major in massage therapy /sports medicine she decided get back into the two things she loves the most -- teaching young souls and choreographing brilliant masterpieces. Michelle believes every masterpiece you dream up is just a portrait or story to your heart.

Starting at the young age of 17 years, Michelle caught the teaching bug and has been teaching dance and choreographing for the last 13 years. She currently teaches dance to kids from the ages of 3 yrs- adult as well as directing nationally ranked competitive hip- hop, jazz, lyrical, cheer and song teams throughout California for both high school and studio dance teams. Michelle’s classes are uplifting and eclectic -- making it fun for any age. “Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another” -- one of her favorite quotes -- really gives you a sense of what will happen when taking one of her classes.

Some of Michelle’s personal professional achievements are dancing on various dance teams such as the San Jose Sabercat “SaberKittens”, LA Avengers “A-team”, and Anaheim Arsenal “A-List”. Other places that you might have seen her are on American Dreams or Boston Public as well as performing on various award shows like the MTV movie awards. She has also been in many music videos for artists such as Gwen Stephani, Billy Corgan, and Angie Stone. Michelle is also theatrically trained and has been in such stage performances such as Alice in Wonderland, Annie, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Once On This Island. She has studied under the likes of Benny Smith, Barbara Bengford, Carol McCallum, Jane Carter, Robert Shultz, Dante7, Nick Zborowski, and Kevin Maher to name a few.

This California native will be sure to make you cut a rug…Be sure to come check her out!!!!

Angelina Prendergast -- Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, Stretch & Conditioning

Born in Citta de Castello, Italy, Angelina has trained nationwide with Woodbury Dance Studio (Royal Academy of Dance Repetoire) U.K., Kansas City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Perry Mansfield School of the Arts, and Gelsey Kirkland's Academy of Classical Ballet NYC. She began teaching at age 14, and since moving to Los Angeles, she has continued to share her knowledge and love of dance in studios and public schools across the city. Angelina believes in approaching each student as an individual with unique goals and specific needs. In her classes, she thrives on bringing each student to his/her full potential. "If you want something enough, you will be willing to work for it and I believe that hard work can also be fun!" Angelina is also certified in Yamuna Body Rolling, an innovative technique that combines stretching and deep massage therapy, which she teaches privately and in studios all over the U.S.A. She has perfomed on stage all over LA and NYC with ACFCLA, LA Choreographers and Dancers, and is currently working with Stilt World and Silverlake Contemporary Ballet. Her work credits include numerous music videos, commercials, short films, web series, and recently made her television debut in MTV's DisConnected. She just finished shooting her first lead in the feature film Unpeacable and is excited for her upcoming role as Odette in SCB's Swan Lake.

Yasmine Elli -- Floor Barre

Yasmine Elli grew up as a dancer trained by such schools as Burbank School of the Ballet, American Ballet Theater, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Orlando City Ballet. Thus, when she experienced her first yoga practice, the strength and flexibility required to maintain the postures came relatively naturally. What she couldn't do at the time was to get her mind to do the same. Within this duck-footed, hyper-extended, over-ambitious body was a mind that struggled to find the kind of freedom her body had. Curious about this practice that seemed to crawl through her limbs and into her heart, she began studying the ancient and contemporary texts with internationally acclaimed instructors along the lineage of T. Krishnamacharya, only to find herself immersed in a rich cultural philosophy that cannot be mastered even with a lifetime of study. Eventually having received a B.A. in World Arts and Cultures / Cultural Studies from UCLA, a certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM-CPT) as a health professional, and one from Yoga Alliance's 200-Hour Teacher Training with Annie Carpenter (who also grew up as a dancer), she now finds joy in the continuous processes of study and of watching her career manifest accordingly. She currently teaches Hatha Yoga classes at multiple studios, works as a personal fitness trainer, and writes for her own website.

Alexa Fung -- Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical & Stretch & Condition

Alexa Fung has been dancing since the age of 6 in various styles including jazz, contemporary/lyrical, tap, ballet, and ballroom, while specializing in hip hop. She has studied under various teachers and choreographers including Michelle Clow, Jayson Wright, Leslie Scott, Matt Tseng, Teresa Espinosa, Phlex, Tony Czar, Chuck Maldonado, and Tucker Barkley to name a few. Currently with DDO Artists Agency, Alexa’s professional credits include Nickelodeon’s “Victorious” & “Big Time Rush”, Justin Bieber, and Clipper’s Basketball. She has performed in Carnival Choreographer’s Ball with Anthony Thomas’ Rhythm Nation and will currently appear in Gina Starbuck’s Art4Life Cancer Benefit Show, choreographed by Leslie Scott. She has been honored to receive various scholarships and awards throughout her career thus far, including full-ride scholarships to Monsters of Hip Hop Dance Convention, LA Danceforce, Urban Legends Dance Convention, and iHollywood. Currently, Alexa attends Cal State Northridge, majoring in broadcast journalism.

Emma Mesrobian -- Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical & Contemporary

Instructor biography coming soon!