Our Team
The guiding forces behind our mission
Ava Chen, Artistic Director
Ava Chen serves as the Artistic Director of MODAZZ Performing Arts Booster, bringing over two decades of professional experience as a choreographer, performer, and master teacher in both New York City and on international stages. Her background includes extensive training in classical ballet, modern dance, and musical theater, holding a Master of Fine Arts degree in Choreography, and she has a remarkable track record of developing curricula that successfully merge technical rigor with profound artistic expression. Ava is responsible for setting the creative vision for all MPAB programs and productions, mentoring the faculty, and overseeing the artistic development of the advanced student ensembles. Her approach is characterized by a demanding yet deeply compassionate style, insisting on the highest level of professionalism from her students while simultaneously creating a safe space for vulnerability and creative risk-taking. She views her role not just as teaching steps or lines, but as mentoring young humans to find their most authentic voice, ensuring that every student who works with her graduates with an unparalleled sense of discipline, self-worth, and readiness for their next professional or academic chapter, truly embodying the spirit of MODAZZ.
David Miller, Program Coordinator
As the Program Coordinator, David Miller is the organizational backbone of MODAZZ Performing Arts Booster, expertly managing the intricate logistics that ensure smooth and efficient program delivery across all disciplines, including scheduling, facilities management, and coordinating large-scale production needs. David holds a degree in Arts Administration and has previously worked in operations for a major regional theatre company, giving him a unique, practical understanding of the infrastructure required to support high-level performing arts education. He is the primary point of contact for family inquiries, manages the volunteer network, and works closely with the Artistic Director to translate creative needs into achievable operational plans, ensuring that all resources are allocated strategically to maximize student benefit. David’s calm, systematic approach and tireless dedication to detail are instrumental in maintaining the supportive and professional atmosphere that defines MPAB, allowing the artistic faculty to focus entirely on teaching while knowing that every administrative necessity is handled with diligence and a caring, service-oriented attitude, making him an invaluable advocate for both students and staff.
Sarah Rodriguez, Lead Vocal & Drama Mentor
Sarah Rodriguez is our Lead Vocal and Drama Mentor, an exceptional educator whose passion lies in unlocking the expressive potential of every student through technique and emotional honesty. Sarah is a working professional vocalist and actress with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and several years of experience performing in touring musicals and regional dramatic productions, bringing current, real-world industry knowledge directly into the classroom. She specializes in musical theatre repertoire, classical voice technique, and Stanislavski-based acting methods, training students to master breath control, projection, and the nuanced art of character development. Sarah is renowned for her ability to create immediate trust with her students, encouraging them to explore complex emotional landscapes and use their voice and body to tell compelling stories with truth and confidence. Her curriculum emphasizes vocal health and longevity, ensuring that while students are pushing their expressive boundaries, they are learning safe, sustainable techniques that will serve them throughout their entire performing career, fostering a deep respect for their craft and their instrument.
Robert Lee, Jazz and Contemporary Dance Instructor
Robert Lee is a highly regarded member of the MPAB faculty, specializing in teaching advanced Jazz and Contemporary Dance, known for his dynamic choreography and meticulous focus on technical precision and musicality. Robert’s training is rooted in the Vaganova method of ballet, providing a strong classical foundation, which he seamlessly blends with the fluidity and athleticism required for contemporary movement and the sharp, rhythmic precision of jazz. He earned his degree in Dance Performance and Education and has performed extensively with various modern dance troupes and commercial performance teams across the West Coast. Robert is particularly skilled at adapting his teaching style to the individual needs of his dancers, helping them to refine lines, improve turns, and achieve challenging acrobatic feats safely, all while encouraging them to inject their unique personality and performance quality into every phrase of movement. His classes are challenging and highly structured, but always infused with an energy that makes hard work feel deeply rewarding, inspiring students to pursue a level of mastery that is both technically flawless and emotionally resonant.
Community & Engagement
Partnering with Parents to Support the Artistic Journey
At MODAZZ Performing Arts Booster, we strongly believe that the success of our young artists is profoundly influenced by the active and supportive involvement of their families, viewing parents not just as supporters but as essential partners in the artistic journey. We maintain open, frequent lines of communication through regular progress reports, parent-mentor conferences, and informational workshops designed to educate families about the developmental stages of artistic training, production schedules, and the commitment required. The booster aspect of our organization is entirely volunteer-driven by parents, who contribute their invaluable time and diverse expertise to everything from costume creation and set building to managing ticket sales and organizing fundraising events. This structured family involvement not only helps secure the necessary resources for our high-quality programs but also creates a tight-knit, supportive community network that celebrates every student’s achievement, fosters a positive home environment for practice, and demonstrates a powerful model of commitment and collaboration for the young artists to follow.
Join Us/Work With Us
Become a Mentor and Transform Lives Through the Arts
MODAZZ Performing Arts Booster is continually seeking passionate, qualified, and dedicated performing arts professionals to join our esteemed faculty and administrative team, offering challenging and rewarding career opportunities in a supportive and mission-driven environment. We look for individuals who not only possess a high level of technical mastery and professional experience in their specific artistic discipline, but who also embody our core values of integrity, dedication, and collaborative mentorship, recognizing that teaching and performance are two distinct yet complementary skills. Available roles may include specialized technical instructors in various dance styles, vocal coaches, drama mentors, and administrative support staff dedicated to program coordination and development. Working with MPAB means contributing to a positive, dynamic organizational culture that values continuous professional development, provides competitive compensation, and offers the profound satisfaction of directly impacting the life trajectory of young artists, preparing them for future success both on and off the stage.