MANILA, Philippines - Bench is bringing in L.A. Dancers to spice up “Bench Uncut: the Denim and Underwear Show (A Bold Look at the Future)” on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The L.A. Dancers trained and won much-coveted scholarships at the Edge Performing Arts Center, a center for dance right in the heart of Hollywood. Edge attracts the industry’s best teachers and professionals. Classes for adults and teens are held by renowned Hollywood-based teachers who train and choreograph today’s leading dancers and entertainers.
The teachers work with the world’s biggest total entertainers such as Madonna, Janet Jackson, Destiny’s Child, Prince, TLC, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, the Backstreet Boys, Ricky Martin, Miley Cyrus and the late Michael Jackson. They have performed in numerous music videos, commercials, television shows, film, live concerts and stage productions. They have also shared the spotlight with the American Ballet Theater, the Joffrey Ballet, the Cleveland Ballet and the Tokyo Ballet company.
Professional to the core, the L.A. Dancers have varied and diverse tones and techniques such as jazz, ballet, modern dance, hip-hop, organic hip-hop, organic contemporary, tumbling, flamenco, tap and jazz funk. The members are Paulo Perez Alcedo, Jonathan Allen Gonzales, Casey Allen Johansen, Andrew Jeffrey Diolata, Daniel Paul Axley, William James Harris, Jeremy Arnold Barthel, Denna Lynn Thomsen, Samantha Abrantes, Jessica Rae Cropper, Nina Dyan McNeely and Liana Blackburn.
William James Harris has danced at the Oscars, works extensively with acclaimed choreographer Debbie Allen, performed with Queen Latifah, CeCe Winans and Chaka Khan. The multifaceted performer has also appeared with Natasha Beddingfield in her video Obama Rock.
Nina McNeely has performed alongside Adam Lambert, Norah Jones, Fergie, Queen Latifah, will.i.am, Bustah Rhymes, Mary J. Blige, B52 and Britney Spears. Her special skills are choreography, directing, Final Cut Pro, After Effects, Avid, rotoscoping, editing, special FX, singing, drumming, stilt-walking, roller-skating, costume design and creation, painting, drawing and makeup.
The strawberry blonde Denna Lyn Thomsen is a member of the Hysterica Dance Company. She has appeared in the music videos of Kesha and Girlycious. She has also performed live with Kanye West and at the American Music Awards with Adam Lambert.
Paulo Alcedo, proudly Pinoy, worked with Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones: The Search for the Crystal Skull, appearing as a dancer/warrior in the film. Alcedo was also a Top 40 finalist in So You Think You Can Dance. He was in the local production of Trumpets’ The Little Mermaid, went on tour with Powerdance, toured Brunei with Grease and A Chorus Line, and has performed in several theaters around California. He also teaches adult advanced contemporary and modern fusion classes as well as African Dance and History.
Samantha Abrantes is another Filipino making waves in the American dance scene. She is adept in hula dancing, Filipino folk dancing, salsa, musical theater, cheerleading, adagio, rollerblading, yoga, hoola-hooping, jump-roping, bike-riding, basketball and track. She appeared in Disney Summer Dance Promo, Burlesque, Magic’s Secrets Revealed, Fired Up, Jamie King’s Rock Your Body video and A Lesson in Biology. Abrantes also did stage and live performances in productions of Viva Elvis Cirque du Soleil Premiere, San Diego Homeless Teenager Benefit, High School Musical La Fete Paris, Cabaret, The Nutcracker and Toy Story and with the Karilagan Filipino Folk Dance Troupe.
Liana Blackburn is a specialist in Dalit stilts, aerial and harness work, singing, recording, songwriting, tumbling, cheerleading and modeling. She was in the film 17 Again, and on TV shows like Jimmy Kimmel, Jamie Kennedy Blowin’ Up, America’s Best Dance Crew and So You Think You Can Dance. She is also highly trained in comedy improvisation, voice and gymnastics.
Jeremy Barthel’s special skills include gymnastics, juggling, Spanish Web, Poi balls and trampoline work. He has performed in Dancing With The Stars, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Miley Cyrus VH1 Divas Live, VH1 Divas Live with Paula Abdul, Jordin Sparks and Miley Cyrus, at the 81st Academy Awards and Miss Universe 2006. He also did The Disaster Movie and Hypocrisy.