Our Team

Executive/Artistic Director and Founder

Albertossy Espinoza

Born in Ecuador and raised in Chicago, Albertossy is an internationally known actor, dancer, choreographer, director, producer and instructor. He is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and AGMA. His dance career began as a Theater Dance major at Northern Illinois University (NIU). After three semesters at NIU, he was scouted by Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theater and offered a company scholarship. Albertossy soon became an apprentice and started touring with the company, nationally and internationally. He also toured nationally and internationally with Soul y Duende Spanish American Dance Theater, Walt Disney Productions, Regina Klenjoski Dance Company, Djanbazian Dance Company, Jazz Antiqua Dance & Music Ensemble and Los Angeles FUSION Dance Theater. His other credits include teaching abroad, guest choreographing for various dance companies and performances in West Side Story, Annie Get Your Gun, Babes in Toy Land, The Pajama Game, and El Barbero de Sevilla. In Chicago he was also a proud member of Joel Hall Dancers, Teresa y Los Preferidos Spanish Dance Company and Winifred Haun & Dancers. Albertossy’s works as a choreographer have been presented nationally from Chicago to California and internationally in Spain, France, Guatemala, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands.

In Los Angeles, Albertossy has choreographed for the Canadian TV series "Boystown,“ a feature film, “HEELS” and three music videos, "Life is for Living," featuring Julissa Aguirre, “Una Vez Mas,” featuring Elena Andujar and “Fuego Malagueña” featuring internationally acclaimed artist Esteban. Albertossy has worked with Lula Washington Dance Theater, Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre, Zina Bethune Theatre Danse, Djanbazian Dance Company and Santa Clarita Ballet. Currently he works with Mojácar Flamenco and San Gorgonio Ballet. In 2004 he founded Los Angeles FUSION Dance Theater (LAFDT) and made his company debut at SOLA Contemporary Dance Festival. The company has performed in various Los Angeles based dance festivals and was invited to Guatemala to perform the piece “TRAPPED.” LAFDT was also nominated for a prestigious Lester Horton Award. In 2008 Albertossy founded FUSION Performing Dance Academy (www.fpdacademy.org), a 501(c)3 non-profit dance facility to share the art of dance with the underserved community. In 2010, Albertossy was invited by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre dancer, Vernard Gilmore to perform in New York City for Summer Stage. His experience of sharing the stage with Alvin Ailey dancers was a dream come true. In January 2011, by the request of the Board of Directors of Dance Resource Center of Greater Los Angeles, Albertossy stepped in the role of President for the organization after serving on the board for three and a half years. He served another three years as President. 2011 also brought Albertossy to the Malibu Stage Company as a principal dancer and choreographer for the incredible “Victor Victoria” musical. His highlight was when the Legendary Dick Van Dyke expressed how impressed he was with the choreography. In 2012, Mr. Van Dyke asked Albertossy to choreograph the production of “Cabaret” which he was producing. 2013 brought Albertossy the opportunity to teach Master Modern, Latin Rhythm Cardio and Flamenco Fusion classes throughout Los Angeles, and he was invited by the LA Opera to perform in their production of Carmen with Maestro, Placido Domingo. Albertossy joined the LA Opera again in February of 2015 for “The Barber of Seville.” He was asked to play a principal character of the opera, Ambrogio. He recently returned to LA Opera for their production of, “El Gato Montes”. In 2017 he was invited to join the Ballet Hispánico (BH) team as a teaching artist from BH's network of affiliated artists for their CAP program. 2018 brought a certificate of recognition from the City of Los Angeles recognizing his contribution to sharing the arts in the community. This same year his nonprofit organization received a certificate of recognition for 10 years of service by the City of Los Angeles and City of Commerce. 2019 brought Mr. Espinoza more recognitions from the City of Los Angeles and the City of Monterey Park. He was also asked by Comisión Permanente de Fiestas Patrias Ecatorianas to be a Marshal and to lead the 21st Ecuadorain Parade in Los Angeles. At the request of the board of directors, In September 2019, Mr. Espinoza was asked to return to the Dance Resource Center of Greater Los Angeles organization as its Board Chair. In 2022 Mr. Espinoza was invited by the prestigious Chicago dance company, Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater to perform with the company at the historic Auditorium Theatre. Another dream come true for Mr. Espinoza. In 2023 Ensemble invited him back to work with the prestigious, world renown choreographer, Antonio Najarro.

As a versatile dancer, Modern, Jazz, Ballet, Flamenco, Musical Theater and Folklore, Albertossy has been able to share the stage with some incredible and prestigious dancers and choreographers.

In his pursue of acting, Albertossy made his debut in one of the lead roles in an independent film, “The Price of the American Dream.” Since then, he has had a lead role on five more features, three short films and a Canadian TV series. Currently he is preparing to start work on a feature as, choreographer, dancer and actor.

Albertossy credits his mother for giving him the strength, will and drive to push onward in all aspects of life. He is tremendously grateful to his family, friends and teachers for their love and support and especially recognizes his good friend and foremost supporter, Carolyn James.

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Hip Hop Instructor

Executive/Artistic Director and Founder

Elizabeth "Liz" Altamirano

Elizabeth Altamirano, aka Essence, is a dancer, choreographer, teaching and performing artist in Los Angeles. She began training in street dance styles at age 15 and continues developing her skills as a company member of Versa-Style Legacy. Elizabeth’s drive to pursue a dance career began when she realized she could use dance as a form of self-expression and language. As an artist, Elizabeth fuses her passion for dance and her heart for social justice change and uses her voice in dance to bring to light social justice issues such as racism, Islamophobia, homophobia, and xenophobia, to name a few. Through dance, Elizabeth learned compassion and empathy for those around her and for problems she didn’t relate to, prompting her to want to teach others that as well. Elizabeth began teaching Hip Hop for Fusion Performing Arts Academy in 2020, and she is also currently the director and lead coach for the after-school program Rhythm Impact at East Los Angeles Performing Arts Magnet. As a former student, she now leads this program to empower the next generation of artists from her community.

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Our Team

Dance 2 Make A Difference

D2MAD

Dance To Make A Difference (D2MAD), was created with the sole purpose of inspiring and motivating the youth of the community to use the art of dance as a form of self-expression. A tool to teach basic life skills such as positive thinking, teamwork, promoting unity, diversity and discipline. We encourage artistic expression using music and movement through out their lives. Thanks to the California Arts Council, the LA County Arts & Culture and our donors we are able to offer this program to the community.

Board of Directors

Carolyn James - Secretary

Lisa Levingston - Treasurer

Ms. James was raised in the northern suburbs of Illinois and has studied dance (tap, ballet and jazz) since age five. Ms. James received her Bachelor’s of Science in Fashion Merchandising from Northern Illinois University (NIU). During her tenure at NIU, she excelled in modern, ballet and African dance classes. Ms. James joined the dance troupe Orchesisand served as President for one semester. Following graduation, she moved to California to pursue her dream of working behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. Since her arrival in the city of bright lights and “take twos,” Ms. James has worked on productions such as “Boys Town” and the features “Heels” and “Crossing Frontiers” as a production assistant. She is currently working in the entertainment industry and remains an advocate of the arts, and, specifically, FUSION Dance Theater and FUSION Performing Dance Academy.

Lisa Levingston - Treasurer

From an early age Ms. Levingston has embraced two passions: numbers and the arts. She worked as a restaurant book keeper in high school and progressively worked her way through college in the capacity of accounts payable and receivable positions. Lisa maintains a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting from CSU Dominguez Hills. In addition, she is a licensed financial planner and tax preparer in the state of California. Lisa is elated to contribute to the success of FPDA and part of the creative collaboration of music, body, and interpretation of story through the movement of dance.

Angelica Arredondo

Lisa Levingston - Treasurer

Angelica Arredondo

Bio coming soon

Erika Lopez

Jorge Perez - Advisory Board

Angelica Arredondo

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Erika Lopez now resides in South Pasadena and is still pursuing her career in the arts.

At age 6 Erika Lopez began her dance journey under the wing of Albertossy Espinoza, Executive/Artistic Director of Fusion Performing Dance Academy. She was inspired by the dance movements and music of the East Coast. That is when she began her emphasis in hip hop and street dance.

In 2015 Erika became involved with an organization funded by the Flourish Foundation, Urban Movement. While attending Abraham Lincoln High School and participating in the group, Urban Movement, she began her professional career by beginning to give back to the community in the Los Angeles County. She began teaching in 2016 as Co-Captain of Urban Movement.

She later was determined that she wanted to continue pursuing opportunities to give back to the community. She was able to fulfill that goal thanks to the Non-Profit organization, where she had her start, Fusion Performing Dance Academy. Erika now teaches the styles of Hip-Hop, Popping, Locking to the students at Fusion.

Erika Lopez is a teaching artist looking to push the boundaries of street dance and contemporary by fusing these forms based on her lifestyle. Her work is heavily influenced by her educational and street background and she wishes to give back to her community around the world to new generations

Teresa Aguilar

Jorge Perez - Advisory Board

Bio coming soon

Jorge Perez - Advisory Board

Jorge Pérez, Executive & Associate Artistic Director of Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He began his formal study of Spanish dance with Dame Libby Komaiko in 1985, through a scholarship opportunity. He continued his artistic training in the United States and in Spain, studying with such dance legends as Edo, Paco Alonso, Victorio Korjhan, Juanjo Linares, Roberto Lorca, Timo Lozano, Manolete, Carmela Greco, Paco Romero, Candela Soto, and Juan Mata and Ana González, founding members of the National Ballet of Spain.

Jorge studied ballet with Anna Czajun. He is a graduate of Northeastern Illinois University, receiving a B.A. in Speech Communication/Performing Arts, and a minor in dance. He has been honored with the Artistic Ambassador Award from the Ruth Page Foundation and NEIU in recognition of his artistic achievements and contributions to dance internationally. In 2002, he received an Appreciation Award from Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago, for his exceptional contribution to the arts in Chicago. In 2004, Jorge was honored with the Twentieth Anniversary Award from the St. Louis Cultural Flamenco Society. In 2014, he graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, and has led the company through its recent success and growth. Jorge also serves on the executive board of Audience Architects.

His accomplishments are listed in Who’s Who among Hispanic Americans, Who’s Who among Business Leaders of America, Who’s Who in Dance and, Who’s Who among Hispanic Entrepreneurs in Chicago, as published by Negocios Now.

Raélle Dorfan- Advisory Board

Ms. Dorfan was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. She immigrated to California in 1999, where she graduated from UCLA World Arts and Culture Dance Department, Summa Cum Laude. After training under the Royal Academy of Dance ballet program & continued studies at the Pretoria Technikon School of the Arts, where the program included Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Flamenco, Modern, Pilate's, Singing, Musical Theater & African dance, Raélle continues to pursue her passion for the arts - producing, performing, choreographing and teaching at various schools and studios in and around the Los Angeles area. Raelle has performed at various venues such as the Levitt Pavillion, Hermosa Beach Playhouse, Japan American Theater, LA Convention Center and UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Raélle was education director of RKDC's residency program at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, Associate to the director of Cadence Arts Network, an agency representing renown dance companies and world music ensembles. She is currently serving as Executive Director of Dance Resource Center of Greater Los Angles. Raélle is thrilled to be a board member of Fusion Performing Dance Academy, where she believes hard work is the essence, and dreams will be born!