Western Nevada Performing Arts Center marks 25 years

On June 18, Western Nevada Performing Arts Center (WNPAC) will celebrate 25 years of dance and performance instruction, serving Carson City and Western Nevada dancers and performers of all ages.

“Our mission is to provide professional dance instruction and instill an appreciation for the art of dance in a safe, high-quality studio environment,” said Gina Davis, WNPAC’s owner and creative director.  “Our Carson City studio is home to so many talented dancers from Western Nevada, whether dancing for fun or as a career.”

WNPAC was started in 1998 by Gina Davis in its studio on Winnie Lane and has known several locations in Carson City, before moving to its current location at 951 N. Stewart Street, that offers 3 raised floor studios.

Ms. Davis started dancing in her hometown Morecambe in England when she was 8 years old. At 18 years of age, she auditioned for and then worked at The Moulin Rouge in Paris for a year. While in Paris she auditioned for Hello Hollywood Hello/Reno and moved to the United States in 1978.  She danced in Hello Hollywood Hello for 10 years before opening her own dance studio in Carson City - "The Gina Kaskie Dancers." Gina then danced in Sugar Babies Lake Tahoe and Spellbound in Reno and 10 years later she moved her dance studio location and re-named it "Western Nevada Performing Arts Center."

WNPAC will celebrate at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Bob Boldrick Theatre at the Carson City Community Center with the annual Dance Recital.

WNPAC is a Nationally recognized, award winning studio offering instruction ranging from beginners to their competition team.  The competition team performs in competitions throughout the county, bringing home top awards in all categories.  WNPAC also provides musical theatre instruction with students performing in local, regional and Broadway musicals.

Many WNPAC students have gone on to professional careers whether performing or teaching:

• Caitie McCarthy - Radio City Rockettes (Broadway)
• Charlie Hodges - Personal Assistant to Twyla Tharp, Moving Out (Broadway) & Sacramento Ballet
• Zach Hensler - Wicked (Broadway and Los Angeles)
• Kate Hutter - Director/Owner choreographer for LA Contemporary Dance Co.
• Chip Abbott - On the Town (Assistant Choreographer) Broadway) Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Broadway) West Side Story, NYC Dancer, Dance Instructor Steps on Broadway, dance competition judge
• Sara Moore - Professional dancer Los Angeles, Teacher at WNPAC
• Jessica Broyles - Owner Champagne Productions
• Alisha Kaskie - Holland America Cruise Line, Italy USO, Las Vegas Harrah’s
• Nicole Miller - 42nd St, The Producers, Oklahoma (Chicago)
• Georgia Wright - Licensed ballroom teacher
• Erica Chip - Smuin Ballet San Francisco - Festival Ballet - co owner of Dance Workshop Minden, Providence - Sierra Nevada Ballet
• Scott - Casting Director Film TV Los Angeles, Director Wild Horse Theater Company
• Erica Kaskie - Magique - Atlantic Cit, dance instructor Las Vegays and Carson City
• Alex Kaskie - "V" Variety show, Bottoms Up, Branson MO, Dreamstreet, Hip Hop Instructor Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City, Minden, Branson
• Eric Larson - Sacramento Ballet, cruise ships, New York songwriter musician
• Alex Biber - Sacramento Ballet, Sierra Nevada Ballet, WNPAC
• Pedro (Peter) Rangel - Royal Caribbean Cruise lines, Dance NYC
• Danielle Williams - Crazy Girls, Dance instructor Las Vegas
• Michael Kaskie - Madam Houdini, Magique, Norwegian Cruise lines, Dance Instructor Reno, Carson
• Ryan Vettel - Fergie Music Videos, Dance Instructor Los Angeles, Tap teacher Dance workshops, dance competition judge
• Haley Davis - Assistant Revive/Adrenaline, Step One, Winter Wonderland Tokyo, dance competition judge
• Whitney Giron - Crazy Girls
• Rex Kline - LA Dancer (music videos), LA Dance Instructor
• Bryce Hartley - Norwegian Cruise Lines, Todrick, Las Vegas Dancer
• SNB Ballet Company - Alex Biber, Alex Kaskie, Anthony Mcmenamy, Kaitrin Wilde, Kaitlyn Vairo, Abrianna Vietti, Karrina Ferris
• College Dance Teams - Tess Corda, Cassidie Turlan, Taryn Encinas, Lisa Fillipone, Sami Busey, Sophia Cacioppo, Karrina Ferris, Lily Nelson, Abigail Herrera, Annika Chryssos, Laura Dale
• Professional Dance Teams – Erika Kaskie, Katelyn Francour, Alyssa Corda
• Andie Anderson Wilkerson – Singer, dancer, actress, Artistic/Creative Director Youth Theatre Carson City
• Briana Valley - Singer, dancer, actress, Music Director Youth Theatre Carson City
• Diana Sweeney - Director Creative Edge
• Ryan Maw - Tap Instructor ADE, Disney Dancer
• Ryan Walker – Professional Ballet Dancer, San Jose and San Diego Ballet
• Andie Murrey - Dance instructor Escape Performing Arts