Rachel Strong

Owner

In 2007 I had the opportunity to take over my childhood dance studio. Even as a young dancer, I knew my studio was a huge part of building my sense of discipline, tenacity, love of community, physical fitness, and that it gave me so much confidence. As an adult, I recognize that I can help recreate this for a new generation of kids and families. Teaching over 12 styles of dance in group and private settings with a proven and world-renowned method of pedagogy, we proudly offer Cypress' only non-profit dance Academy. All the ins and outs of running a growing business aside, the most important things I do each day revolve around those funny, amazing moments I have with children who know without a doubt that I love and believe in them. The honor of being their teacher and mentor means that every day I go to work I love what I do.

rachel@strongdancestudios.com

Sarah Cashmore Hummel

Staff & Production coordinator

Sarah Cashmore Hummel has been dancing for over 30 years. Originally from San Diego, she danced for several local studios studying ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, and musical theatre dance.  She competed & performed regularly from a young age till her high school graduation.  She attended San Jose State University where she expanded her dance scope focusing on modern, jazz, and musical theatre.  She also studied choreography and received department awards and scholarships.   

Sarah received her B.A. in Dance with a minor in Kinesiology, and began professional work in the bay area.  Performing at theme parks and dancing for professional sports teams.  She moved to Los Angeles to continue her professional career and stumbled upon Egyptian Cabaret belly dance.  She soon was invited to join a top professional company in the area.  She trained and performed on a weekly basis at high end private parties and events, Middle Eastern restaurants, professional concerts with Middle Eastern artists, and competed in several belly dance competitions.  

Simultaneously, she began working toward a higher degree, receiving her M.F.A in Dance from the University of California, Irvine.  While writing and researching for her thesis she was a teaching assistant for several theory courses such as Dance History & Labanotation.  She also taught Jazz & Ballet.  

Upon receiving her M.F.A. in Dance she immediately began teaching in the university and community college systems where she taught for thirteen years teaching a variety of dance courses as well as choreographing for dance concerts. She has taught at Strong Dance Studios for fifteen years (and counting) and loves coordinating all Strong productions and staff!

Sarah@strongdancestudios.com

Esther Jung

Ballet Mistress, Pre-Professional/Jr. Company Director

ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Acrobatics

Esther Jung began dancing at the age of seven at The Dance Spot where she studied ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical and tap. While at The Dance Spot, she won numerous awards at regional and national dance competitions. In addition, she trained in ballet, pointe, modern, choreography and composition, pilates, and costume design at OCHSA. After graduating from OCHSA, she attended Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle where she studied ballet, pointe, modern, and choreography composition. She has previously danced with with Delineation Dance Company and ViHu Dance performing in LA/OC area. Now she is performing with DAGDAG dance where she has been performing with them for the past 2 years. Esther has been teaching at Strong Dance Studios for the past six years where she is highly motivated, enthusiastic, and believes in pushing her students to reach their fullest potential.

esther@strongdancestudios.com

Nicole Loken

SOCIAL MEDIA, Musical Theatre, adaptive

Nicole Loken (Miss Nicole) has been performing for “audiences” since she could walk. She started dancing around the age of 5 in actual classes and even though sports took over as far as other activities go, she has never stopped. 

Musical Theatre came into her life on a more serious level at the age of 12 (in junior high). She took on her first “big role” as Veruka Salt in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. She continued theatre all throughout high school and starred in quite a few productions such as, Sleepy Hollow, The Breakfast Club and The Wizard of Oz to name a few. While attending Fullerton and Cypress College she performed in Les Miserables, and Sweeney Todd and was also apart of the theatre programs at both campuses and performed in numerous plays and at theatre festivals.

She is currently a Special Education instructor and loves it! She and her daughter Brooklyn have been a part of the Strong Dance Studios family for the past ten years. If you can’t find them at the studio (which is rare), you can find them at Disneyland or the beach with their dog Pyper.

nicole@strongdancestudios.com