STAFF & COACHES

Lonna Albert is the Principal Coach and founder of South Coast Freestyle Dance, and has over 25 years of experience teaching all levels of dance.  She has trained, choreographed, and mentored thousands of young people to reach their full potential.
 

Lonna doesn’t measure success by trophies, even though she has multiple State, National, and World championships. Inclusion and hard work are Lonna’s blueprint for success. Her career includes supporting numerous high school song programs throughout Southern California at the varsity and junior varsity levels.
 

She has also pioneered a space for persons with disabilities to dance in a safe place, and express their light through dance, while teaching her other students about sharing and finding a shared love for dance together through the Dance Abilities Buddy program.

Morgan is a highly decorated dance coach, working in the dance industry for over 15 years. Morgan grew up in Huntington Beach, CA where she trained extensively in competition dance and cheerleading. She attended the University of Southern California, earning a bachelors degree in Communication, and was a three-year member of the university’s Trojan Dance Force. 

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She is currently a teacher at Corona Del Mar High School teaching dance and yoga, as well as serving as the head of the Performing Arts and Multimedia Academy and the Corona Del Mar Song and Cheer teams. Morgan is always thrilled to share her passion of dance with her students and considers the blue walls of SCF home!

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A native of Southern California, Rika Piper began her training under Lila Zali of Ballet Pacifica in Laguna Beach. She continued her training with Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Steps and Finis Jung. Ms. Piper has performed professionally with various ballet companies including Ballet Pacifica, Anaheim Ballet, South Coast Ballet and Los Angeles Ballet. She has been featured in many principal roles in ballets such as Coppelia, La Fille Mal Gardee, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.

Although she has trained in ballet, she has also danced nationally and internationally in Fil, Television and Musical Theater. As a professional dancer, Ms. Rika has worked with award-winning choreographers and artists including Chet Walker, Bill Hastings, Anne Reinking, Stanley Holden and Mark Morris.

Mr Rika is also certified as a Fitness Specialist and Personal Trainer and has been teaching for the past 20 years.  She directed the dance company Orchesis at Corona Del Mar High School and has taught and coached at many other studios and schools.

Savannah has been dancing competitively for the past 15 years, spending 8 of those years on All Star teams. She has traveled to the Dance Worlds 7 times to compete in the Pom, Jazz, and Hip-Hop divisions and has earned a total of 8 Worlds medals. Savannah joined the SCF family while in high school and competed on SCF Senior and Open Worlds teams. She was a four-year member of Capo Valley High Schools Song team and captain her senior year. After high school, Savannah went on to join Orange Coast College dance team, where she won three UDA College National Championships in pom and jazz. She recently graduated with her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and is now working towards her Master’s degree in Health Psychology. Today, Savannah is the Song coach at Trabuco High School and is delighted to be back in the blue walls of SCF.

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Selena has been dancing since before she can remember.  Her parents told her she was dancing before she could walk, but started formal training at the age of 7. 

She is currently the cheer coach at Costa Mesa High School, an Esthetician, and now coordinates SCF's social media.

Selena danced in high school and with the St Joseph Ballet in Santa Ana.  Hip Hop is her main 'jam' but is also skilled in teaching Waltzes, Salsa, Swing and Pom.
 

• Enrolled in dance classes at the age of 7

• Jointed her High School Cheer team for all 4 years and was named team choreographer 

• Coached High School Song for 5 years

• Crowned Señorita Jalisco LA 2016-2017

• Licensed Esthetician

• Has an amazing son

Her passion is working with kids and helping them become their better self. Selena is excited to start the new season with SCF!

Coach Lynn was born and raised in Southern California. Coach Lynn was a competitive gymnast through college. She received her teaching degree from University of Houston.

Coach Lynn owned and operated Katy Kips Gymnastics Club (Texas) ,for 14 years, before returning to California.

In 2004, Coach Lynn opened Monkey Business Gymnastics. In 2017 , she retired from full time teaching.

Cris has been a cheer coach for over 41 years, working with numerous schools across Orange County, including:

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• Capistrano Valley

• Trabuco Hills

• Tesoro

• Mission Viejo

• Aliso Niguel

• Cypress

• San Juan Hills

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He was also the Owner and Head Coach of Orange Crush All-Stars Cheer and Dance. Cris cheered at Cal State Long Beach and was a member of the LA Rams Stunt Team. As a judge, he has officiated cheer and dance competitions nationally and internationally for many years.

His choreography credits include:

• The cheerleaders in Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” music video

• The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

• My Name Is Earl

• Coca-Cola commercials

• The LA Laker Girls

Cris’s legacy in cheer, dance, and performance spans coaching, judging, and choreographing at the highest levels.