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 under the direction of her aunt, Leslie Kenfield, and Shannon Mather. At age 16, Molly started her journey as a dance teacher, working with the minis at her studio. She quickly found 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. Her work has been showcased on television shows including America’s Got Talent, Raising Asia, and Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition. She has won numerous choreography awards, an Industry Dance Award for her jazz piece “Fever” and Best Jazz piece at The Dance Awards.
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 inside the walls of an already existing dance studio, McCoy Rigby Conservatory of the Arts. Molly rented space from McCoy Rigby for 4 seasons until Project 21 found its own space in October 2019. In these 5 short years of being in business. Project 21 has become a world-wide success. Project 21 has become national champions every summer since 2015 and is home to three national title holders: Dyllan Blackburn as Mini & Junior Radix Core Performer Winner 2017 & 2019, Selena Hamilton Junior & Teen Radix Core Performer Winner 2017 & 2019, and Gracyn French Mini Female Best Dancer at The Dance Awards 2019. 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 touring dance conventions such as Jump Dance Convention & Revel Dance Convention. Most recently, Molly taught for Teddy Forance’s CLI Studios virtual platform. 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.
Cory Barnette
Cory Barnette began dancing at the young age of three. He received his formal training from the Tempe Dance Academy in Tempe, AZ. Here, he had the opportunity to compete and perform around the US, as well as tour to both Europe and China. While in high school, Cory received the National Outstanding Dancer scholarship from NYCDA in 2010, and he toured with them regionally as an assistant for the following year. Additionally, Cory was accepted to The Juilliard School, where he received his BFA in 2014. Upon graduation, Cory joined the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet for a season and then Les Grands Ballets des Montreal for another two seasons. Throughout his time in school and in dance companies, Cory has performed in NYC, Jacob's Pillow, Paris, Germany, Colombia, Holland, Scotland, and over 20 other cities in the US. He even performed as an extra in the movie "Match" starring Patrick Stewart. He was a faculty member for FRESH dance intensive, based out of Toronto, and has taught and choreographed for multiple studios around the US. He is thrilled to be a part of Project 21 and is excited to continue growing as a teacher, choreographer, dancer, and artist.
TROY HERRING
Troy Herring was born and raised in the small town of Owasso, Oklahoma. Troy was always interested in performing arts, but became captivated with dance at the age of twelve. His first professional gig was in the original cast of the Broadway tour of Oliver!. He attended many summer intensives to receive his technical abilities, such as American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Quartz Mountain, and Juilliard. Troy was accepted into the BFA program at The Juilliard School and graduated in 2014. While at Juilliard, his most formative works were choreographed by Twyla Tharp, Pina Bausch, Jose Limon, Loni Landon, and Alex Ketley. After graduation, Troy joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. He spent three years with this company and enjoyed working with choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, Didy Veldman, Jiří Kylián, Mats Ek, and even performed the leading role of “Romeo” in Jean Christophe’s Romeo and Juliette. Troy moved back to his home state of Oklahoma and taught under a pre-professional dance program called "THR!VE" at South Tulsa Dance Company. He has since relocated to Southern California and continues to choreograph for professional companies all across the country while working weekly with the students at Project 21.
perris amento
Perris Amento began dancing at the age of nine under the training of Bonnie Velasquez. She then joined Project 21 and Yorba Linda Academy of Ballet by the age of twelve where she trained and competed until graduation under the direction of Molly Long. She began teaching contemporary, jazz, and technique classes at Inspirations Dance Studio when she was sixteen years old and found her love for teaching and choreographing. She then began working with the minis at her home studio, Project 21, at age eighteen and will continue to do so throughout this season.
Perris has trained and performed in shows such as Josie Walshes “transmute” for Joffrey Ballet in San Francisco in 2016, with choreographers Anh Dillon, Yusha Sorzano, and more. She is also featured in “Dancers Among Us” a book by Jordan Matter.
She is very excited to continue working with her home studio as a teacher and learn with the staff and students of Project 21.
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