Meet Our Team
Christy Hernandez
Owner and DirectorChristy Hernandez is a professional tap dancer, master teacher, choreographer and producer in Southern California, holding a BA in Creative Arts and Dance from SJSU and a teaching credential in Elementary Education from CSUF. At SJSU she studied extensively in Modern, Contemporary, and Jazz under Gary Masters and Fred Matthews of the Limon Company. Christy danced as a principal member and featured soloist with the L.A. based company, Rhapsody In Taps, for eight years and was mentored by Sam Weber, Fred Strickler, and Linda Sohl-Ellison. Christy recently finished 21yrs of teaching at the Academy for the Performing Arts at Huntington Beach High School where she directed the tap dance program, dance tech 1 & 2, and Unified Arts in Dance, an inclusive program for dancers of all abilities. Christy is also the Founder and Executive Director of Dance 4 Joy. Launching DIOC is a new project with the goal of providing Charter School families in OC an opportunity to integrate the academic and arts education of their children with excellent dance education using their Charter School Funds.
Jessie Hernandez
Administrative CoordinatorJessie Hernandez is a dedicated dance educator and performer whose work is rooted in the belief that dance inspires a mind body spirit connection which fosters the pursuit of joy, authenticity, and transformation. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a B.A. in Dance and minors in Philosophy and Education, earning multiple awards including Dance Honors, Program Scholar, and department recognition in Dance Teaching and Service. During her time at LMU, she served as president of the collegiate chapters of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and Movement Exchange. She was also twice honored as an Arnhold Summer Fellow with the 92NY Dance Education Laboratory as a student of dance pedagogy. For more than eight years, Jessie has been a dance educator and performer working with nonprofits and studios including Dance 4 Joy Ministries, LA County Arts Commission, Anointed Feet Dance, and the American Youth Dance Theater. Beyond the studio, she has served as an Administrative Director and Coordinator for Dance 4 Joy Ministries and the Loyola Marymount University Dance Department, as well as an administrative intern with New York Live Arts.
Stephanie Benson
Administrative AssistantStephanie Benson believes in the arts’ power to positively shape young people’s lives to be active members of their community, fostering joy and hope. Originally from Southern California, Stephanie holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Dance and Theatre and a minor in Education from Loyola Marymount University. At Loyola Marymount, she served as the President of Gryphon Circle, a service organization dedicated to promoting equitable and accessible education as a way to work for justice. She has worked as an educator and administrator for several performing arts organizations including Dance 4 Joy Ministries, Joffrey Ballet School, Greenhouse Art Center, Anointed Feet Dance School, Dance Works OC and Creativities Studio. Stephanie is passionate about serving her communities, especially within the intersection of art and education, recognized through numerous esteemed service awards, including the Marian, RSHM Senior Service, Presidential Citation, and Raymunde McKay awards.