Teachers

Our current teachers, Alverna Bautista and Cassie Dizon, are highly qualified to teach our youth.

Alverna Bautista is a graduate of California State University, Hayward in Liberal Studies, Life Science Option teachers credential track and dance minor track and also graduate of Southern College of Seventh-day Adventist in Nursing and a current lincensed Registered Nurse and a Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist. Alverna has extensive background in dance, stage performance, and teaching Philippine dances and culture to all ages. Experiences include 30+ years of Philippine dance and stage performances, 20 years of teaching Philippine Folk dances to all ages and backgrounds--Instructors comprised of prominent and well respected leaders of the Filipino community: former Philippine Normal College Folk Dance Group dancer and Kapit Bahay Dance Group Director Gloria Arellano, former Bayanihan Philippine Folk Dance Troupe dancer, Filipinana Dance Group dancer, Perlas Ng Silangan Dance Group director, and currently Director of a Washington state Philippine Folk Dance Group Menchi Cayetano, former dancer of Barangay Dance Group and current Filipinana Dance Group member, Helen Cuya, former Silayan Dance Group Instructor and director Carol Alconcher, and Palabuniyan Kulingtan Ensemble founder and Kulintang Master "Danny" Kalanduyan.

Cassie Dizon is a graduate of the University of California Davis with a B.S. in Human Development and currently works for the Department of Public Health. Cassie has a varied and extensive training in teaching community members of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Her experience includes 18 years with Maharlika families, ABA therapy and education with autistic children in the Bay Area, 2 years of service as a site coordinator and mentor for the Acorn Mentoring Project in South Sacramento serving underprivileged youth ages 4-16, and 2 years tutoring and teaching for UC Davis’ Neurology, Physiology, & Biology, Physics & Astronomy, and Molecular & Cellular Biology Departments to disadvantaged students. Cassie has also earned awards in community service and leadership from UC Davis as well as scholarships from the Soroptomists International of Pleasant Hill and the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program.