Professional Choreographer Dance Athlete Coach Dancer
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Dance Education & Sports Advocacy
About Me.
Ruby "MzRuby" Messina
Since arriving on the professional scene, with 27 years & in counting of performance, choreography, competitive and commercial dance, Ruby began her work in her early youth. She has taken a journey in the dance world and commercial sectors as an Artist and Creative. Ruby has spent time working hard to capture and intrigue the performing arts community commercially; through her service as an instructor / coach. MzRuby gathers much of her inspiration from personal experiences, her trainings, the environment, her roots, as well as cultures around the world. Ruby Messina has training in various dance styles / genres but she is known to be an influence in the World of Dance Community as a contemporary dancer & hiphop dancer. She has also spent ten years as a "soloist" and has studied modern dance as her preferred classical dance in addition to cultural diversity of dance. MzRuby has studied in Business Entertainment; Dance performance, Choreography, Ensemble including Dance Production Management. She has continuously surprised her audience with dance films as a director, producer, cinematographer, editor & collaborator. "TIME", is currently one of her latest dance on film works displayed in 2022 film festivals internationally.
MzRuby creates primarily for commercial, competitive & performance; her works has been well received by students, fanatics and critics alike; a fact she is optimistic about. She is encouraged to keep creating!
For collaborative efforts in Choreography, Dance on Film, Performance or Features, etc...; Do you have a specific project you would like to propose!?
contact: mzruby@koalamodelsagency.com
History
Born in (1990) Sicily, Ruby Messina was raised in an of multiple ethnic, cultural, and blended backgrounds. Ruby's father is Italian and her mother is from the Caribbean coast of Barranquilla, Colombia. Ruby was almost four years old when she moved to the United States with her family to be raised in the Southern California diverse communities. Although Ruby considers herself Mediterranean-Caribbean, she comes from a Spanish, French, Asante decent. These are factors in Ruby's life that have driven her to learn about Culture & Diversity of Dance. At the age of three, Ruby was exposed to classical music. She began learning to sing in Opera as well as Italian musical style under the influence of grandmother and easily integrated her appreciation for song with Disney classic musicals. She also learned to play musical instruments such as the piano, triangle, tambourine, castanets, maracas, and later in her adult life, she learned to play the African drum (Jinbei). Her mother inspired Ruby to become confident and comfortable with her self and became too comfortable behind the camera. Even before turning one, Ruby was constantly favored for photography; she became everyones adored model. Today, Ruby models for commercial use in portrait, print, product, movement, athletic, bikini, and sample modeling. Ultimately, dance has been a greater shine in her life for many years and recognized amongst the dance community. Her confidence has driven her ability to perform at a very young age as she began learning the dance custom of her blended culture thanks again to the influence of her mother. Ruby began performing in carnival at the age of three while moving to the United States, she continued presenting herself in many cultural festivals representing her own identity. Her mom taught her cumbias from Colombia's traditional nationally celebrated dances as well as the mapale (a national African tribal celebrated dance of South America). Ruby's grandmother began teaching Italian traditional steps to the Tarantella when Ruby began preschool but did not began performing the traditional styles until she was in fourth grade but what she did learn at a young age was ballroom dance. By the time Ruby began Kindergarten, she was introduced to ballet & gymnastics.
Education
2021-2023
Bachelors of Fine Arts
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Degree in Dance / Production & Managment
with CFA credits in Photography Art & Film Production
2018-2019
Associates in Arts (Transferred)
Irvine Valley College
Degree in Dance Choreography & Performance
with credits in Commercial Dance, Repertoire & Ensemble
2009-2012
Extended Education (Transferred)
California State University, Fullerton
Credits in Entertainment Management & Business with Concert Managment / Stage Production in Music
Minor in Dance performance with an emphasis on Cultural Diversity of Dance
2007-2008/2020-2021
Preprofessional Extended Education-Training (Transferred)
American Music & Dramatic Academy; College of Performing Arts, Los Angeles; New York Extension for Acting
Credits in Performance, Choreography, Theater and Acting
2005-2009
High School Diploma
Buena Park High School
Avid High School Academic Achievement with credits in the Fine Arts of Dance; Production for Performance, Choreography, & Company / Ensamble
CV Training/ Representation:
Studio Training/ Representation:
Representation/ Affiliations:
Burbayne UGC Partner Agency - Modeling (2025-Current)
ATN Agency (2018-Present) - Ambassador
Activation Pro (2021-Present) - Ambassador
Manikin Talent & Model Agency (August 2021 - 2023)
Talent Inc - USA (December 2020 - August 2021)
Talenture Agency (May 2020- 2023)
Koala Models Agency (2019 - 2023)
American Models & Actors Agency, Orange County - Studio 210; Graduated, August 2018 - December 2019)
LA Casting (2000-2010)
LCC Dance Krew (2000-2004)
Choreographers Guild (Current)
Dance USA (Current)
National Dance Coaches Association (Current) - Coach & Judge
National Society of Leadership & Success - Epsilon Alpha Pie Alumna
World of Dance
CSUF Salsa Competitive Team Member & Cabinet /Competitive Sports Team Council Rep.: Summer 2011- 2013
Pivot Modern Contemporary Dance Company Alumni
DaniMaloney Dance Company (2021-Present)
Millennium Dance Complex - Los Angeles/ Las Vegas (2004 - Present)
Movement Dance Studio - Los Angeles (2006 - 2019)
American College Dance Association (ACDA) - University of California, Irvine -Spring 2019
After Hours Dance Studio (2018-2019)
Pivot Modern Contemporary Dance Company
Paso De Oro, Steps of Gold Dance Company
Studio One (2003 - 2006)
Boogiezone (2000 - 2001)
Farmers, San Diego, CA - Gymnastics Team (1996)
California Ballet Company, San Diego, CA (1996)
Dance Training:
Ari Mayzick, ARIM Dance (Modern/Ballet)
Danielle Maas, Nevada Ballet (Ballet)
Christopher Huggins; Alvin Ailey (Jazz Dance)
Alison Kravenko; Silver State Ballet Co. (Ballet)
Jenna Wurtzberger, (Ballet & Dance of Film/ Choreography)
Victoria Dale; Dunnum (Jazz Dance / Afro movement)
Dolly Kelepecz; (Ballet)
Cathy Allen; (Modern Dance/Choreography)
Louis Kavouras; Erick Hawkins, Modern Dance
Janice Rosario; Alvin Ailey
Michael Nickerson Rossi (Modern Dance) Nickerson-Rossi Dance Co. Artistic Director) 2010/2011/2018/2019
Daniel Gwirtzman; Gwirtzman Dance (Modern Dance/ Choreography)
Sarah Swenson; Director/ Founder at Vox Dance Theater (Modern Dance) 2009/2010/2011/2019
Heidi Latsky, Heidi Latsky Dance; Segerstrom Center of The Arts, (Modern Technique)
Teressa Jankovic; BARE Dance Company/ Delineation DanceBody Traffic, (Modern Dance)
Monik Jones; Ka-Ron Lehman Dance Company, Monik’s Creative Movement Co. (West African Dance/Commercial Hip Hop)
Gaby Angeles; The Syrenz/Fire & Ice Entertainment/Wilderbe/ Lux Aeterna (Acrobatics & Aerial)
Raul Cruz; MTV / MADD TV (Commercial Jazz & Hip Hop)
Jennifer LaCuran; IVC Artistc Director & Department Chair (Ballet/Choreography/ Improv Dance)
Michel Gervais; National Ballet School of Canada (Ballet)
Victoria Barrett; (Ballroom)
Kazumi DeVarie; California State University, Fullerton Salsa Competitive Team (Competitive/ Performance Salsa -On1, On2, Rueda)
PHD Courtney Kross; (Cultural & Diversity Dance)
Shay Layman; Dancing With the Stars (Technique/ Choreography)
Gladys Kares 2011/2012
Jeff Slayton (Merce Cunningham Dance Co.)
Alaine Haubert (American Ballet Theatre) 2009/2010/2021
Sophie Monat (National Ballet of Portugal)
Nina O’Conner & Lonnel O’Conner (PIVOT Dance Company)
Colin Connor (Limón Dance Company)
Garfield Lemonious (Dallas Black Dance Theatre)
Jeffrey Gerodias (Alvin Ailey)
Tadej Brdnik, (Martha Graham Company)
Nora Reynolds, (Bella Lewistky Company, Lar Lubovitch & Dancers)
Lionel Popkin (Trisha Brown Company)
Carolyn Hall (Bessie Awarded soloist NYC)
Melissa Gillespie, (Oni Dance, Artistic Director)
Marie de la Palme (Alvin Ailey, II)
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (Jean-Philippe Malaty, Executive Director)
Colin Connor (Limón Dance Company)
Robert Wood (Merce Cunningham Co., Martha Clarke)
Nicolosi; Ballet / Lyrical / Contemporary
Alicia & Hundo; Paso De Oro, Steps of Gold Dance Company: Summer 2006- 2010 (Latin Jazz Dancer Level 2-Performance Team)
Frannie Jaskoviak; Buena Park High, Advanced/Dance Production Performance Company (Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Hiphop, Cultural Dance) 2005-2009
Craig Smith; World of Dance (Commercial Dance; Company Training in Hip Hop/ Virtual Fitness)
American Ballet Theater; Leanne Underwood, Sarah Smith, Cynthia Harvey - 2020/2021
Maxine; Freckled Frog Dance Co & Leap Academy (Ballet) (2016-2019)
Erin Landry; Cypress College, Afro-Carribean (2006/2008/2011/2019)
Ortiz; Nicolas Jr. High, HipHop / Lyrical / Ballet / Cheer (2002-2004)
Roxanna Martinez; Valencia Park, Hiphop / Drill (1999-2002)
Training Acting:
Rachael Murray; Acting for Camera, Audition Techniques, Interview Skills, Runway / Photo Movement (TALENT INC USA)
Colby Lewis, Film Acting
Shawn Carter, Improvisational Acting
Larissa Klinger, Commercial Acting
Lynden & Teddy Orr, Building Your Team and Support (Los Angeles, CA)
Gentry White, Industry Networking (Los Angeles, CA)
Brianna Reed, Journey from TALENT INC to TV (Los Angeles, CA)
Elizabeth Byland, Joy of Improv (Virginia Commonwealth University)
Brooke Sorenson, Life On Set (Los Angeles, LA)
Brett Zimmerman, Moving To A Major Market (Los Angeles, CA)
Arthur Massei, Business of Entertainment - Entertainment Management (TalentINK / NY & LA)
Rich and Amy Hersey, Emotions of Acting (Manikin Worldwide)
JoAnn Smolen, Making Your Agent’s Job Easier. (Rage Talent / LA)
Craig Holzberg, Perfecting The Self-Tape (Avalon Artists / NY & LA)
Warren Bacci, Working In The UK Market (Top Talent Agency, London)
Additional Training
Acting For Stage & Screen
Making It On Broadway
AMDA / NY & LA
Auditions for Stage and Screen
New York Film Academy
Audition Techniques
New York Conservatory for Dramatic
Arts
Runway Technique
Nomad Models Worldwide