The Project 21 Faculty
The mission of Project 21 is to maximize the potential of each dancer by providing opportunities for them to develop into exceptional technicians, expressive artists, and creative interpreters of movement. The Project 21 staff will challenge each student in order to support progress toward achieving their potential as a dancer, performer, and team member.
Founder & Director: Molly Long
Molly Long started her dance training at age 3, in her mom’s studio, California Dance Academy. At the age of 5, California Dance Academy merged with Dance Precisions where she continued to train until graduation. At age 16, Molly started her journey as a dance teacher quickly finding success as a choreographer in the competitive dance world, most notably “My Boyfriend’s Back” and “Single Ladies” which garnered her worldwide recognition.
Between the ages of 18 and 22, Molly began to freelance her choreography at studios across the country. She has set work & held workshops across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, & New Zealand.
In 2015, Molly started Project 21 to provide a more intense and focused training program she felt was lacking in the Orange County dance scene. Project 21 started with 20 eager dancers and has now become become a world-wide success in just 10 years. Project 21 has been named national champions every summer since 2015, earning the title of Best Jazz Studio in 2021 and 2023, and is home to four national title holders, including two current Project 21 students, Gracyn French and Regan Gerena. Project 21 has been featured on World of Dance and on the cover of Dance Spirit Magazine.
Since starting Project 21, Molly continues to freelance her choreography at studios across the country. She travels more than half of the year while balancing her Project 21 dancers back home. Molly has taught for Teddy Forance’s CLI Studios virtual platform and currently tours with Jump Dance Convention. In 2022, Molly was named "America's Favorite Choreographer" by the Industry Dance Awards. In 2024, Molly's choreography made its way from the competition stage to the NBA as she set routines for the Los Angeles Laker Girls and New York's Knicks City Dancers. Since then, her work has reached the music industry as jazz singer and jazz choreographer unite for Grammy award winner Laufey's music video "From The Start", as well as Laufey's performance on Dick Clark's New Year's Eve special in 2024. Most recently, Molly's choreography to "Pop Muzik" quickly went viral on social media and captured the attention of all audiences world-wide. From celebrities to influencers to sports teams, Pop Muzik became a trend reaching thousands of people. Molly was interviewed about her viral choreography on FOX 11's "Good Day LA" morning show.
While traveling the world sharing her craft is a privilege and a job she is incredibly grateful for, Molly gets her fulfillment from working daily with her Project 21 dancers; building relationships with them & watching them blossom.
Jazelle Torre
Jazelle Torre began dancing at West Coast School of the Arts at the age of three and has trained/competed there until graduation under the direction of Paula Kessinger. Jazelle trained in jazz, lyrical, modern, ballet, tap, hip-hop, and contemporary under many top choreographers. She attended Rosary High School and was on their nationally ranked dance team for four years coached by Dan Sapp. At the age of seventeen, Jazelle began teaching for the recreational program at her home studio which is when her love for teaching and choreographing began. After graduating high school, she decided to further her dance education and was on the Orange Coast College dance team, winning numerous national titles there as well. In 2019 Jazelle began freelancing her choreography around California. She currently choreographs and teaches master classes all around the United States at various dance studios and high schools. Her goal in teaching the next generation of young dancers is to build confidence in their movement while creating a positive environment in the classroom.
Jazelle is very excited to work with the dancers at Project 21 as it has been a dream of hers for awhile. She is looking forward to learning from the staff and being inspired weekly by the dancers’ talent and dedication.
Renee Baldwin
A Southern California native, Renee enjoys creating empowering movement. She is known for her unique blend of classical and commercial movement, with aims to bring strength and inspiration to the community. As a performer Renee was previously a company member of Dana Foglia Dance, a Los Angeles/New York based company under the direction of Dana Foglia. And has performed for artists such as Beyonce’, and has had her work premiered on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance.
Additionally, she has toured as faculty on a convention, and taught at prominent studios including Movement Lifestyle , stomping ground LA , Broadway Dance Center NY, Tmilly, Millennium and more. Renee has showcased her work four years running at VIBE dance competition, and created work for MashUp's international women’s day showcase representing best female choreography in LA.
Recent commercial work includes choreography for STANCE SOCKS spring campaign. As a performer and a choreographer, Renee is passionate and raw. She is precise, honest, and genuine as a teacher, dedicated to her students and their craft. Her goal is to ensure each and every dancer understands, embodies, and is proud of what they do.
Kelsey Millar
Kelsey Millar discovered her love for dance at just two years old when she began training at Club Dance Studio. From there, she went on to further her training with Master Ballet Academy, The Studio of Arizona, Danceplex, Alexa Moffett’s programs, and ultimately graduated from Project 21 Arizona.
By 14, she was already assisting and teaching, gaining valuable experience in choreography and mentorship while continuing her pre-professional training.
Kelsey currently travels throughout California and Arizona to teach, sharing her passion for dance through a balance of strong technique, artistry, and confidence-building mentorship. She is excited to begin her next chapter with Project 21—ready to inspire, innovate, and grow within this incredible community.
BRADY ROWAN
Brady Rowan is a dancer and choreographer from Northeast Ohio. After high school, he began choreographing and has earned numerous awards including 2 World Choreography Nominations with Star Dance Alliance. He currently is a company member of MusEffect, a dance company based in Los Angeles, where he performed in the 2022 Industry Dance Awards with Derek Hough and Haley Erbert for Dancers Against Cancer.
Brady travels across the country choreographing and teaching, not only independently, but with MusEffect as well. He regularly assist choreographers such as Katie Hazard and Matthew Fata. He is a principal dancer for Denver based contemporary company, Vitality the Company, directed by Katie Hazard and has performed at many festivals such as Red Rocks and Dumbo Dance Festivals and the Intrigue Closing Gala in Orlando in 2024.
In Los Angeles, he has taught at many prominent studios such as Eighty Eight Studios, Avanti Dance Company and Project 21. He is a professional assistant for Ben Bigler’s new dance convention, Reinforce Dance Experience, where he assists Nikki Charest, Lonni Olson, Jason Martin and many more. He is also on Matthew Fata’s new contemporary dance company, He(art) Dance Company.
He most recently presented work at Los Angeles’ Choreographer’s Carnival in April 2025 and at the Journey Dance Awards where he won Standout Choreographer. He was also selected to showcase work at the World of Dance Summit Los Angeles and Dance Educators Collective’s Choreographer’s Cup in Nashville this summer!
Sandrine Mattei
Sandrine Mattei is a French-born dance artist and dance educator . She received her classical training on full scholarship at the “Conservatoire National de Musique et de Danse” in Nice, France, under the direction of Mademoiselle Janine Monin, where she completed her formal studies with a Baccalaureate in Art, Literature, and Language.
As a young dancer, Sandrine earned top placements in national competitions run by the CND (Confédération Nationale de Danse), before continuing her training under Béjart Ballet Lausanne former Etoile Rita Poelvoorde. At 16, she was invited to study at the Royal Ballet of Flanders School in Antwerp under the direction of Robert Denvers.
She began her professional career with the “ Ballet National de l’Opéra de Bordeaux” under the direction of Charles Jude before freelancing with diverse companies throughout Europe. Her work later expanded when she joined Cirque du Soleil as a soloist and aerialist in the two-time Grammy Award-winning production of The Beatles LOVE. Later on Sandrine was offered the principal role of The Black Widow in Mystère. Sandrine served as Dance Captain and Artist Coach for the company, Dance Spirit Magazine published a feature article on her leadership in”Leading the cast of LOVE”.
Sandrine’s commercial credits include guest performances on America’s Got Talent Finale, the Latin Grammy’s , MusiCares Person of the Year Grammy Tribute honoring Sir Paul McCartney, the GLAAD Awards, the NHL Awards, and other national live broadcasts. She has collaborated with choreographers such as Sonya Tayeh, Mandy Moore, Daniel Ezralow, and NappyTabs, and has worked with high-profile directors including Franco Dragone, James Cameron in the “World’s Away” 3D movie.
Sandrine studied Horton Pedagogy through the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Teacher Conferences under Ana Marie Forsythe as part of her continued professional development.
Sandrine is on faculty at OCSA (Orange County School of the Arts), where she teaches in both the Commercial Dance and Ballet & Contemporary Dance Conservatories. She also coaches at several respected studios across Orange County and serves as an advisory board member for The Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center. Her students have placed at YAGP, UBC, CDC, and earned scholarships to institutions such as The Ailey School, Juilliard, and the Paris Opera Ballet School, Princess Grace Academy, Rosella Hightower Pole National Superieur…
Jay Markov
Jay began his ballet training at age 7 under Slawomir and Irena Wozniak at Master Ballet Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. Through training, he earned full scholarships and invitations to train at prestigious schools, including Royal Ballet Academy, American Ballet Theatre JKO, and John Cranko Schule in Stuttgart, Germany. He ultimately pursued his training at Nutmeg Conservatory, Harid Conservatory of the Arts, and San Francisco Ballet School.
At 16, Jay began his professional career with Ballet Arizona under artistic director Ib Anderson. Jay’s career later took him to Los Angeles Ballet, Festival Ballet Providence; later Ballet RI, Ballet Palm Beach, and Ballet San Antonio, as well as guest appearances with pre-professional companies nationwide. He has had the opportunity to perform Principal and Soloist roles in classics such as Swan Lake, La Bayadère, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, La Fille Mal Gardee, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the first full-length U.S. production of Napoli. His repertoire also includes numerous Balanchine works such as Western Symphony, Violin Concerto, Prodigal Son, Who Cares?, Tarantella, and The Four Temperaments as well as contemporary pieces by Aszure Barton, Alejandro Cerrudo, Meghan Lou, and Christoper Wheeldon.
Jay’s career highlights include dancing Waltz Boy in Balanchine’s Serenade, Oberon in Ashton’s The Dream, Basilio in Patrick Armand’s Don Quixote, and Prince Désiré in The Sleeping Beauty. He has been privileged to have the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers including Alexei Ratmansky, Alejandro Cerrudo, Bruce Wells, Sofiane Sylve, and Colleen Neary.
In addition to performing, Jay is a dedicated teacher who has trained hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to achieve significant successes in their own dance careers receiving invitations to train at leading institutions. He prides himself on inspiring and empowering dancers of all ages. Outside the studio, Jay is also a composer, most recently creating an original full-length ballet score for the Arizona Grand Gala of the Stars.
Jessica Markov
Jessica began dancing at the of age 3 in Scottsdale, AZ in multiple styles before focusing exclusively on classical ballet at Master Ballet Academy under Slawomir and Irena Wozniak. As a student, she performed competitively receiving accolades and awards including National Titles, Arizona Young Artist Award, scholarships, and training at intensives including Ballet Arizona and American Ballet Theatre.
Her professional career has taken her all around the country starting as a commercial dancer represented by Bloc LA Talent Agency and Movement Talent Agency in Los Angeles where her credits include features in national commercial ads, Paramount TV, and Apple TV shows. She’s danced with companies such as Festival Ballet of Providence; now Ballet RI, Ballet Palm Beach, and Ballet San Antonio. Her performance highlights include soloist roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, Firebird, Carmen, Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, Paquita, Peter Pan, Snow White, Don Quixote, Bruce Wells’ Beauty and the Beast, and The Nutcracker. Her diverse repertoire also includes Balanchine’s Serenade and Tarantella, along with contemporary works by renowned choreographers such as Yury Yanowsky, Viktor Plotnikov, Houston Thomas, Misha Djuric, and Kurt Douglas.
In addition to performing, Jessica is an accomplished teacher and choreographer, versed in the Vaganova, RAD, and French syllabi of ballet training. She serves as a Judge for several national dance competitions, including Impact Dance Adjudicators. Inspired by the strong mentors from her own training, she is passionate about inspiring the next generation through her attention to detail, artistry, and love of the art form.
Project 21 Guest Faculty
LEAH SILVA
Project 21 Resident Tap Teacher
Cheyenne Murillo
Project 21 Resident Ballroom Teacher
ricky maalouf
Project 21 Resident Hip Hop Teacher