Meet the Faculty
Ana Miladinova (Associate Professor)
Kinesiology, Athletics and Dance - Dance
Biography
Ana Miladinova has worked as a fitness/dance associate professor at Cañada College since 2007. Her dance education and experience is extensive. At an early age, she performed in the Macedonian National Ballet Theater and competed in ballroom dancing on the national and international level. She won many awards including the Macedonian Ballroom Dance Championship.
She has also studied dance in Slovenia where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education and Dance Training. Currently she owns a Master’s degree in Kinesiology.
She has taught the following classes at Cañada College: Personal Trainer, Step Aerobics, Dance Conditioning, Yoga, Pilates, Ballet, Social Dance, Dance Appretiation and Walking Fitness.
Cassie Begley (Dance Adjunct Faculty)
Kinesiology, Athletics and Dance - DanceBiography
Cassie Begley is the Founder and Artistic Director of Bliss Dance Company and Visionary for Bliss Dance Festival. Cassie is also an Associate Professor in Contemporary Dance at Ohlone College and Jazz Dance at Cañada College. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from San Francisco State University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Saint Mary’s College of California. Her training includes jazz, modern, contemporary, ballet, and Dunham technique. Cassie’s movement and teaching philosophies have been influenced by Dr. Susan Sandri, Wendy Diamond, Derek Mitchell, Richard Pierlon, Reginald Savage, and Dana Lawton. Cassie’s performing credits include works from Wam!net.com, Speaking of Dance, Club La Bomba with Sofia Vergara, Petroushka with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, A Love Symphony, Lumminessence, One, and Imagine It!. Her choreography credits include A Love Symphony, Footnotes, Suite Dreams, Starving Artists, Woman In Love, Music Man, Romeo and Juliet, Ohlone College Spring Dance Productions/Winter Dance Showcases, and many pieces for Bliss Dance Company. Cassie is currently excited to launch her series of dance workshops (Chair Affair and Rope Play) with a focus on female sexual empowerment.
She has taught the following classes at Cañada College: Jazz Dance, Hip Hop, Cardio Dance, Dance Production.
Vera Quijano (Assistant Professor)
Kinesiology, Athletics and Dance - DanceBiography
Since 1984, Vera has taught thousands of children tap, ballet, jazz, acrobatics, and after-school science, and thousands of adults salsa dancing, yoga, chakra meditation, and healthy lifestyle strategies via Ayurvedic remedies and Isagenix nutrition throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
She has taught the following classes at Cañada College: Salsa and Yoga.
Coleen Lorenz (Adjunct Faculty)
Kinesiology, Athletics and Dance - DanceBiography
Coleen received her Bachelor and Master’s degrees from UCLA in dance choreography/performance, dance/movement therapy, and somatic psychology. She has been teaching dance, mind/body awareness, and psychology at university, high school, middle school, and elementary school levels for over 35 years. She has worked as a dance/movement therapist and group psychotherapist in hospitals and clinics with adult and senior populations since 1990.
In 2009 Coleen founded NewGround Theatre Dance Company and currently operates as Artistic Director. She is also Founder/President of ArtsUnityMovement (AUM) non-profit. A Wellness Center located in San Mateo providing outreach services in behavioral health, as well as on-site classes, workshops, performances, and events.
Coleen served as Faculty/Director of Dance in the Theater & Dance Department at Notre Dame de Namur University from 2003-2017. She is currently dance faculty at Cañada College and Director of the Dance Program at Notre Dame High School in Belmont.
She has taught the following classes at Cañada College: Contemporary Modern Dance Class.