Teaching Artists

Harold Akyeampong of North Las Vegas was born and raised in Ghana, West Africa, he moved to Las Vegas from New York City. His passion for Ghanaian ceremonial music, dance, folktales, and rituals has been shared with students and audiences at the Brooklyn Arts Council, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, City Lore, the Lincoln Center, the Apollo Theater, and many other prominent arts and cultural organizations.  Akyeampong’s work in Nevada as a Ghanaian African dance teacher and performer, drum master, choreographer, ethnomusicologist, producer and citizen folklorist has been focused in “hands-on” school and community-based workshops that explore the profound impact of African music on world music styles. He presents the creative, rhythmic, and musical aspects of Ghanaian music-making as a vital, integral, and essential element of community life.  Harold is the2022 recipient of the Nevada Arts Council’s Folk Arts Fellowship which celebrates the vitality of Nevada’s Folk and Traditional Arts. It recognizes artists living in Nevada who demonstrate excellence in their work.

Steve Clark is a percussion professional with over 35 years of experience as a touring artist and instructor for both traditional and special needs students. He has delivered music workshops for intellectually and developmentally disabled adults, parents and teachers of homeschooled pre-K students in collaboration with The International House of Blues Foundation. Steve has recorded over 100 released songs and has performed on stages around the world. He founded Junior Drummer Music Education and authored The Junior Drummer Kit. Steve is affiliated with the Percussive Arts Society and the Vic Firth Private Drum Teacher Program. In 2000, he was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

China Hudson is a writer, director, performing artist and educator. She is a Disney Musical Theater Teaching Artist and Southern Nevada Wolf Trap Teaching artist in partnership with the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas. China is an African dance instructor and a member of Olabisi African Dance and Drum Ensemble. She is currently the Performing Arts Center coordinator at the West Las Vegas Performing Arts Center. China resides in Las Vegas.

L.A. is an accomplished percussionist, who has performed around the world with notables, such as Eubie Blake & Lenny Godfrey, Winton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson. L.A. performed for Nelson Mandela at the United Nations World Summit, accompanied Maya Angelou, and performed as a solo act for Oprah’s 50th birthday tribute. She currently serves as the musical director of the Austin Dancers Academy and has developed a musical percussion program for autistic youth and adults.

Jay Nagle recently moved to Las Vegas from Chicago where he worked for the park district for 15 years teaching theater, dance and early childhood development. Prior to that Mr. Nagle ran an original Musical Theatre Company from 1990 to 2002. Jay’s acting credits include National tours of Jesus Christ Superstar, Beauty and the Beast, N.Y.C. Lincoln Center Town Hall and Off-Broadway as well as off off Broadway. Currently, Jay is involved in numerous education and outreach programs of The Smith Center.

Marcia Raquel Robinson has a background in opera and dance. She performed in Treemonisha at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Jubilee and Hallelujah Hollywood in Las Vegas, and performed with the world famous vocal group The Platters. Her passion is researching African culture and philosophy, and its influence and positive character building effects on African American youth. Marcia received her Masters of Fine Arts in Theater from the University of California, San Diego and a Doctorate of Education from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Graciela Strahan is an actor who grew up in Las Vegas, studied theatre at Southern Utah University, and completed a year-long internship in events, hospitality, and technical theatre with The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. She served as a Regional Coordinator for StateraArts Las Vegas Mentorship Chapter. Some of her favorite credits include: August: Osage County (Johnna Monevata), Twelve Angry Jurors (Juror 3), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Tragedian), Romeo and Juliet (Lord Capulet), The Lover (Director), The Spit Fire Grill (ASM), and Into the Woods (ASM). She started teaching in an arts integration program with fifth grade literature and theatre in Cedar City, Utah. She is grateful for the opportunity to advance the arts in her hometown!

Erin Baltsar is a native of Whitehall, Pennsylvania, and holds a BFA in Music Theatre from The Hartt School. Regional: The Wedding Singer (Julia), Merrily We Roll Along (Beth), Mame (Gloria), Grease (Sandy), Les Miserables (Madame Thenardier). Off-Broadway: Cuff Me: The Unauthorized 50 Shades Parody (Anastasia Steele), Girls Night: the Musical (Carol, Liza). Cruise Line: NCL, AIDA. Las Vegas: FRIENDS! the Musical Parody (Monica, Phoebe), Bridesmaids the Movie Musical Parody (Helen). Founder: The Swing It! Girls (www.swingitgirls.com). 

China Hudson is a writer, director, performing artist and educator. She is a Disney Musical Theater Teaching Artist and Southern Nevada Wolf Trap Teaching artist in partnership with the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas. China is an African dance instructor and a member of Olabisi African Dance and Drum Ensemble. She is currently the Performing Arts Center coordinator at the West Las Vegas Performing Arts Center. China resides in Las Vegas.

Rashida Jordan is a Grammy award winning artist from Phoenix, AZ who is passionate about singing and playing classical and jazz music. She began piano lessons at age 7 which inspired an affinity for creating music. She has toured the globe with the legendary Gladys Knight and various other artists. In 2021 she graduated from the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences for audio engineering. Her professional background includes private vocal coach, choir director, arranger and music director for numerous performing groups and production companies.

Jay Nagle recently moved to Las Vegas from Chicago where he worked for the park district for 15 years teaching theater, dance and early childhood development. Prior to that Mr. Nagle ran an original Musical Theatre Company from 1990 to 2002. Jay’s acting credits include National tours of Jesus Christ Superstar, Beauty and the Beast, N.Y.C. Lincoln Center Town Hall and Off-Broadway as well as off off Broadway. Currently, Jay is involved in numerous education and outreach programs of The Smith Center.

Kathy Ortiz has an extensive background in dance and theater. She graduated as Valedictorian with a BFA in Jazz Dance and Musical Theater from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and went on to perform for Epcot Center, Princess Cruise Lines, The American Gladiators, The Atlantis Resort and Casino, and Les Folies Bergere at the Tropicana. Not only has Kathy performed in numerous local productions such as Hairspray, All Shook Up, West Side Story, and Peter Pan…she has also choreographed for local productions of Next to Normal and The Music Man. Currently, she is a Music Specialist and Musical Theater Director/Choreographer for Las Vegas Day School, an Assistant Stage Manager for Camp Broadway, and runs a nonprofit organization called Parts for the Arts which assists high needs schools in creating sustainable musical theater programs.

Rommel Pacson has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance and Choreography from Towson University, MD. He began his dance career performing at King’s Dominion in Richmond, VA and King’s Island in Cincinnati, OH. He moved on to Orlando, FL, dancing at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT Center as a World Dancer and as a Kid of the Kingdom at the Magic Kingdom. He has performed in the US and abroad. His choreography credits include The King and I and Hairspray with Signature Productions, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with PSFX Productions, Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, The Wedding Singer, The Sound of Music, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at Palo Verde High School, Urinetown at West Tech and Career High School, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at Coronado High School, and Leader of the Pack with Super Sumer Theater. Both Hairspray and Leader of the Pack were nominated for best Off-Strip Show by Broadway World Las Vegas. His choreography was also featured in the Cirque du Soleil/Nevada Ballet Choreographer’s Showcase. He was dance coach for Cirque du Soleil’s Love at the Mirage and has taught at the Nevada Ballet Academy. Not included are the numerous commercial, industrial, and touring shows he has performed with various production companies including Elton John, Charo, CHAZZAM, Chicago Tourists Bureau, Amtrak, Met Life, and Wynn Resorts just to name a few.

Trevor Rounds is very excited to work with Disney Musicals in Schools! He loves all musicals and you may have even seen him performing with theaters in the community. Trevor has taught at different children’s theaters for several years and has enjoyed teaching and directing. He also teaches preschool for the YMCA and loves it so much! Trevor is so grateful for everyone at The Smith Center for the great opportunity, the amazing schools we get to work with, and for all others who have supported him. 

Graciela Strahan is an actor who grew up in Las Vegas, studied theatre at Southern Utah University, and completed a year-long internship in events, hospitality, and technical theatre with The Walt Disney World Resort ® in Orlando, Florida. She served as a Regional Coordinator for StateraArts Las Vegas Mentorship Chapter. Some of her favorite credits include: August: Osage County (Johnna Monevata), Twelve Angry Jurors (Juror 3), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Tragedian), Romeo and Juliet (Lord Capulet), The Lover (Director), The Spit Fire Grill (ASM), and Into the Woods (ASM). She started teaching in an arts integration program with fifth grade literature and theatre in Cedar City, Utah. She is grateful for the opportunity to advance the arts in her hometown!

Shaquida Vergo is from California and has lived in Las Vegas for twelve years. She holds a BA in Dance Production Management from UNLV and an AA in Dance from Cypress College. She is the dance teacher at Las Vegas High School, a Disney Musicals in Schools Teaching Artist, and part time instructor at UNLV. She has been dancing since age eleven and teaching for over fifteen years.

Mary Beth Zentner holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University and a Master’s Degree in Teaching from Sierra Nevada College, and has been participating in and teaching theatre and voice for most of her adult life. As an actress, she has appeared locally in numerous productions such as The Sound of Music, Les Misérables, The Secret Garden, Mary Poppins and Company. As a theatre educator, she has combined her passion for teaching with her lifelong love of theatre in the direction of over twenty elementary and middle school productions. Mary Beth currently teaches youth theatre classes through her program, Downstage Center Theatre for Youth and is a private vocal coach. Having witnessed so often the transformative power of the arts in children's lives, she is grateful for the opportunity to continue her favorite kind of work at The Smith Center.  

Edith E. Ellithorpe, originally from Germany, has been living in Las Vegas for over 15 years; her performing arts career includes international credits and spans more than 30 years. Edith has worked in Musical Theatre as a dancer/singer/actress, a choreographer and assistant director; one of her favorite productions was “From Broadway with Love” at the Smith Center with Broadway in the Hood, and one of her proudest accomplishments is choreographing the Super Summer Theatre season opener “Hooray for Hollywood”. Edith holds dance teacher level 1 & 2 certificates from UNLV and is a licensed dance teacher with CCSD; she currently teaches dance and coaches the dance team at Shadow Ridge High School.

Karlee Jones is a professional dancer based in Las Vegas, NV, where she has made a name for herself in the city's vibrant entertainment scene. Originally from Rogersville, MO, Karlee's passion for dance began at a young age fueled by years of training and competition. For the past nine years, she’s built a dynamic career performing in a variety of settings. She is currently a featured performer in Unity at the Sphere and Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino. Karlee is dedicated to her craft and passionate about inspiring the next generation of dancers. She believes in the power of following your dreams and works to instill that same belief in her students, showing them that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.

Ashley is a three-time Las Vegas Valley Award recipient for her choreography in Signature Productions Mary Poppins (2015), Thoroughly Modern Millie (2018), and Newsies (2019). She has choreographed well over 30 musicals for various past and present theatre companies in Las Vegas including Signature Productions, PS Productions, Broadway Bound, Broadway Kids, and Hynes-Sight Entertainment. Even though her main love is the stage she can also be found at Bunker Dance Center where she teaches almost 200 children how to dance each week. She received a BA in Dance from Brigham Young University with an emphasis in folk and modern dance but always knew her heart belonged to the vast world of musical theatre.