Welcome to Ballet Kukan Academy
Our Story
"Kukan" is Japanese for "Space"
At Ballet Kukan Academy, our goal is to offer the San Gabriel Valley community a vibrant space where creativity and movement can blossom!
Founded in 2007 in Arcadia, CA, Ballet Kukan Academy has proudly served the Arcadia-Monrovia community for over a decade. We offer a comprehensive classical ballet program based on the Royal Academy of Dance method. To enhance our dancers' experience, we also provide a wide range of styles including Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Tap. By incorporating various dance forms into our curriculum, we encourage our students to explore different disciplines while having fun!
Our mission is to create an environment where students can have fun and grow as individuals in a positive, family-friendly atmosphere. With highly trained instructors, we aim to teach your child creativity, teamwork, technique, and confidence. From Ballet to Hip Hop, along with our wonderful Adult Ballet and Tap programs, we strive to deliver a quality experience for everyone, from beginners to advanced dancers and everyone in between.
Come join us in Monrovia and start your dance journey today!
Founder & Director
Noriko Malaby
RAD RTS-TDip, TTP-Dip(NBS), AISTD / Silver Swan Licensed Teacher / Progressive Ballet Technique Certified Teacher
Noriko is an Internationally Trained and RAD & PBT Certified dance professional. She started her dancing career in Tokyo, Japan in 1972. She studied modern dance as well as classical ballet at The Ballet Academy in Tokyo, and participated in performances since 1981.
In 1984, she joined the Yagishita Modern Ballet Group, dancing with them for over 10 years. Noriko started her own studio in Tokyo, Japan in 1991. There she taught a broad range of ages and levels.
From 1996 to 1999, she studied at the National Ballet School in Toronto, Canada. There, she learned all 3 major syllabi; Cecchetti, Vaganova, and Royal Academy of Dance. She also learned European National Dance (Folk Dance) under the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and became a teaching member.
Noriko is a certified Royal Academy of Dance teacher from The National Ballet School of Canada, and Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. She has more than 25 years of experience of teaching and offers training to all ages and levels, from 2 years old to senior adults.
She is also certified in Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT), which provides precise muscle training for dancers. She is a licensed teacher for Silver Swans which RAD offers for dancers who are over 55 years old.
Noriko is thrilled to have founded a studio here in the San Gabriel Valley to develop a culture in art. She welcomes new students who would like to share in the benefits of dance training as she has.
She recently started a non-profit organization called "Kukan Emerge" to promote Inclusive Dance. She believes that dance education is for ALL people. Her goal is to help enhance all students' abilities and open the door for everyone to grow through dance. Her belief in dance education is endless, and she hopes to help all children grow physically and emotionally through movement.
Faculty
Angie Dang
Teacher
Ballet, Youth Ballet, Modern Jazz
Angie is a dedicated dancer and instructor with over 15 years of experience in dance education and training. She specializes in Ballet, Modern Jazz, Contemporary, and Choreography, bringing a positive energy and professional approach to every class.
Angie received her training at the Ballet Symphony Orchestra & Opera HCMC and the Soul Music & Performing Arts Academy. She holds an Intermediate Imperial Classical Ballet certification from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (London, England).
With extensive experience teaching young dancers, Angie is skilled in creating engaging lessons and tailoring teaching methods to provide the best possible class experience.
Denise Donovan
Teacher
Ballet | BFA RAD-RTS, RAD CBTS PTS
Denise Donovan is a certified instructor for the Royal Academy of Dance as well as a Practical Teaching Supervisor. She educates new, ambitious teachers to be certified through the RAD.
Ms. Denise teaches ballet, tap, modern and jazz; she directs an adult Tap ensemble and Touring Ensemble, and she is an adjunct faculty in Dance at RCC, where she previously received the honor of Adjunct Teacher of the Year. She is a core member of the Taiko Center of Los Angeles.
Denise is also a board member of "Kukan Emerge - Dance for ALL" which is a non-profit Inclusive Dance Program.
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Alberto Hernandez
Teacher
Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz
Alberto is a dedicated dance instructor with over 20 years of teaching experience in Southern California. Trained in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Hip Hop, he brings a versatile approach to working with dancers, competition teams, and choreographing for stage performances.
He has studied and performed at esteemed institutions like Orange Coast College and El Camino College and renowned studios, including Millennium Dance Complex and Pasadena Civic Ballet. Alberto’s impressive stage credits include performances with notable acts like the Black Eyed Peas, Redfoo, and Weezer and appearances with organizations such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl and the National Folkloric Ballet of Spain at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Alberto is passionate about sharing his knowledge and works with students of all ages, inspiring them with innovative teaching methods and a love for dance.
Jenna Hernandez
Teacher (Ballet, Tap, Jazz)
Jenna Hernandez is a passionate dancer, choreographer, and educator with over 20 years of experience in the dance industry.
With a strong foundation in jazz, ballet, and tap, she brings a dynamic blend of technique, performance quality, and artistry into every class she teaches.
Having trained and performed extensively in Los Angeles, Jenna has worked with a variety of companies. Her background in performance and choreography allows her to connect with students of all ages and levels, helping them grow not only as dancers but as confident individuals.
Jenna’s teaching style is energetic, supportive, and inspiring. She is dedicated to creating a positive environment where students feel empowered to challenge themselves, build strong fundamentals, and express their unique artistry. Her goal is to instill a lifelong love of dance while fostering confidence, discipline, and joy in every student who walks into her class.
Romina Juarez
Teacher (Ballet, Youth Ballet, Contemporary)
Romina began her dance training at the age of 6 in the Royal Academy of Dance method under the guidance of Maria Luisa Montero in Mexico. She went on to receive extensive training in Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, and the Graham technique, building a strong and versatile foundation.
During her time in Mexico, Romina was selected to perform with the company Ballet de Cámara Puebla, where she danced in multiple productions. She earned her BFA in Dance and Contemporary from Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla before recently relocating to the Los Angeles area.
Now based in LA, Romina is excited to share her experience and passion for dance with the students of Ballet Kukan Academy. She looks forward to supporting young dancers as both a teacher and artist as she continues to grow her career in teaching and performance.
Natalie Lam
Teacher
Ballet, Youth Ballet
Originally from Hong Kong, Natalie began her ballet training at the age of 3 under the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus. She completed the full progression of RAD Graded Examinations from Primary through Grade 6 while still in Hong Kong.
After relocating to the US in 2022, she continued training at Ballet Kukan Academy, completing the RAD Advanced 2 examination in 2024. Alongside her own studies, she has built meaningful experience as an assistant teacher. Assisting has deepened her passion for dance education and her ability to support dancers with clarity, patience, and encouragement.
She is currently pursuing a degrees in Child & Adolescent Development and Psychology. She is also enrolled in the RAD Certificate in Dance Teaching (CDT) program and is working toward becoming a fully RAD Registered Teacher.
Her combination of rigorous classical training and formal child development studies uniquely positions her to guide students with excellence and care.
Natalie is thrilled to become a part of faculty at Ballet Kukan Academy, and she is so excited to share her passion with all the students at Ballet Kukan Academy.
Elena Montanez
Administration
Elena has been working as our Studio Administrator since 2014. She is just one of the familiar faces at Ballet Kukan Academy. Her work is remarkably broad from keeping track of the schedule, distributing important information, and preparation of our annual recitals and RAD examinations. She has friendly, casual, and warm attitude that our parents and students love. She always welcomes a chat, and makes sure everyone enjoys their time being at Ballet Kukan Academy.
Elena's career as an administration staff blossomed at Ballet Kukan Academy.
Mark Malaby
Assisting Director
Mark is one of the founding members at Ballet Kukan Academy. He is the director of the facility design and theatrical productions. His artistic approach towards the sets and props in each production has made all our performances reach highly professional levels. The creativity of his work allows our classes and performing art productions to shine to full potential.
Mark continues to pursue his creativity on a regular basis at Ballet Kukan Academy, and provides continual ideas for development of our studio and the effectiveness of our classes.