REJOICE! Alleluia Dance Theater (ADT) is a Christian, not-for-profit, public benefit corporation, founded in 1977. We encourage people of all faiths and denominations to participate in our dance retreats and classes. We also perform in concerts, worship services and celebrations. Stella Matsuda is the artistic director; other company members are Emmalyn Moreno, and Marti Ryan. Each dancer has trained in dance, danced professionally and teaches dance in studios, schools and/or colleges.
The Alleluia Dance Theater was founded by Stella Matsuda and Marti Ryan. Since that time, the Company has dedicated their talents to affirm God’s love through dance.
The Board of Directors include Sue Paulson, President; Barbara Wegher-Thompson, Vice President; Marti Ryan, Secretary; Stella Matsuda, Treasurer. Other members are Emmalyn Moreno, Marilyn Mosley-Gordanier, and Rita Warren.
STELLA MATSUDA
Founding Director, Artistic Director, Co-Administrative Director
Stella is the Founding Director of Alleluia Dance Theater. Stella earned her BA in Dance at UCLA and her MA in Education from California Lutheran University and taught at San Gabriel High School, UCLA, CLU, and Moorpark College. As Director of Dance at Moorpark, she retired as Professor Emeritus in 1997. Stella was a principal dancer for 15 years with Gloria Newman Dance Theatre. She has been the keynote speaker and taught and performed throughout the U.S. and Canada for various churches, organizations, and festivals. She also served as president of the International Sacred Dance Guild. She currently teaches dance and tai-chi in the Conejo Valley and Westlake areas and currently serves as a Co-Administrative Director for ADT.
MARTI RYAN
Teacher, Choreographer, Dancer, Co-Administrative Director
Marti, co-founder of Alleluia Dance Theater, received her BA in Kinesiology with Dance emphasis from CSU Northridge and her MS in Guidance and Counseling at California Lutheran University. She studied dance with Stella Matsuda, Sallie Whalen and Carolyn Barbian, as well as in private studios. In addition, Marti taught dance at CSUN, and directed programs at the Pacoima Magnet School for the Performing Arts, St. Maximillian Kolbe and Hughes Aircraft Company. She taught and served as a counselor for Century High School in Thousand Oaks, CA, where she also taught drumming and yoga. Recently retired, she now resides in Nevada and is a certified yoga instructor. Marti is currently serving as Co-Administrative Director.
EVELYN OKAMOTO
Guest Teacher, Choreographer, Dancer
Inspired by dance in her church, Evelyn studied dance under Fred Strickler and Cynthia Quinn at UC Riverside (BA) and under Judy Mitoma at UCLA (MA) with an emphasis in Dance Ethnology. She also taught and performed at Santa Monica College, UC Riverside, UCLA and CalArts in their Javanese dance dramas. A former member of Alleluia Dance Theater, Evelyn teaches, choreographs and performs at workshops and retreats at various venues and churches in Southern California.