Professional Choreographer Dance Athlete Coach Dancer
Talent Model Actress Brand Ambassador
Dance Social Media Influencer Content-Creator Live-Streamer
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
Preprofessional Extended Education-Training (Transferred)
American Music & Dramatic Academy; College of Performing Arts, Los Angeles
Credits in Performance, Choreography, and Theater
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
Training/ Representation:
(2021-2023)
Ari Mayzick, ARIM Dance (Modern/ Ballet)
Danielle Maas, Nevada Ballet (Ballet)
Christopher Huggins; Alvin Ailey (Jazz Dance)
Alison Kravenko; Silver State Ballet Co. (Ballet)
Laura Brennan; Photography Art: Black & White (Documentary, Self Portrait, True Lies/Fantasy, Editing)
West Mcdowell; Film Production (Direction, Cinematography, Producing, Planning, Editing)
Justin Velarde; Justin Velarde Designs (Costume Design)
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
Michael Jarett; Stage Management & Production (Design: Lighting, Projection, Sound, Set, Business)
2018-2019
Janice Rosario; Alvin Ailey
Michael Nickerson Rossi (Modern Dance)
Daniel Gwirtzman; Gwirtzman Dance (Modern Dance/ Choreography)
Sarah Swenson; Director/Founder at Vox Dance Theater (Modern Dance)
Heidi Latsky, Heidi Latsky Dance; Segerstrom Center of The Arts, (Modern Technique)
Teressa Jankovic; BARE Dance Company/ Delineation Dance, Body 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)
(2009-2012)
CSUF Salsa Competitive Team Member & Secretary /Competitive Sports Team Council Rep.: Summer 2011- 2013
Kazumi DeVarie; CSUF Salsa (Competitive/ Performance Salsa - On1, On2, Rueda)
(2009-2012)
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)
Sophie Monat (National Ballet of Portugal)
Michael Nickerson-Rossi (Nickerson-Rossi Dance Co. Artistic Director)
2010/2011
Colin Connor (Limón Dance Company)
Sarah Swenson (Vox Dance Theatre, Artistic Director)
Garfield Lemonious (Dallas Black Dance Theatre)
Jeffrey Gerodias (Alvin Ailey)
Alaine Haubert (American Ballet Theatre)
(2009-2010)
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)
Alaine Haubert (American Ballet Theatre)
Marie de la Palme (Alvin Ailey, II)
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (Jean-Philippe Malaty, Executive Director)
Colin Connor (Limón Dance Company)
Sarah Swenson (Vox Dance Theatre, Artistic Director)
Robert Wood (Merce Cunningham Co., Martha Clarke)
American Music & Dramatic Academy; College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles
August - July (2007); June - August (2008)
In addition to:
Nicolosi; Ballet / Lyrical / Contemporary
Paso De Oro, Steps of Gold Dance Company: Summer 2006- 2010 (Latin Jazz Dancer Level 2-Performance Team)
Frannie Jaskoviak; Buena Park High, Dance Production (Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Hiphop, Cultural Dance)
Craig Smith; World of Dance (Commercial Dance; Company Training in Hip Hop/ Fitness)
American Ballet Theater; Leanne Underwood, Sarah Smith, Cynthia Harvey - 2020/2021
American College Dance Association (ACDA) - University of California, Irvine -Spring 2019
Culture Shock Las Vegas - Culture Shock Professional Dance Troupe (Trevontae Leggins & Ezra Johnson) (2022-Present)
Millennium Dance Complex - Los Angeles/ Las Vegas (2004 - Present)
Movement Dance Studio - Los Angeles (2006 - 2019)
After Hours Dance Studio (2018-2019)
Studio One (2003 - 2006)
Boogiezone (2000 - 2001)
Maxine; Freckled Frog Dance Co, (Ballet)( 2017-18)
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)
Farmers, San Diego, CA - Gymnastics Team (1996)
California Ballet Company, San Diego, CA (1996)
Additional TRAINING
Acting for Camera
Audition Techniques
Interview Skills
Runway / Photo Movement
Rachael Murray - TALENT INC USA
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
Business of Entertainment
Entertainment Management
Arthur Massei - TalentINK / NY & LA
Emotions of Acting
Rich and Amy Hersey - Manikin Worldwide
TALENT INC USA
Film Acting
Colby Lewis
Improvisational Acting
Shawn Carter
TV Commercial Acting
Larissa Klinger
Building Your Team and Support
Lynden & Teddy Orr - Los Angeles, CA
Industry Networking
Gentry White - Los Angeles, CA
Journey from TALENT INC to TV
Brianna Reed - Los Angeles, CA
Joy of Improv
Elizabeth Byland - Virginia Commonwealth University
Life On Set
Brooke Sorenson - Los Angeles, LA
Moving To A Major Market
Brett Zimmerman - Los Angeles, CA
Others:
Making Your Agent’s Job Easier.
JoAnn Smolen - Rage Talent / LA
Perfecting The Self-Tape
Craig Holzberg - Avalon Artists / NY & LA
Runway Technique
Nomad Models Worldwide
Working In The UK Market
Warren Bacci - Top Talent Agency, London
American Models & Actors Agency, Orange County - Studio 210; (Graduated, August 2018 - December 2019)
Representation:
Manikin Talent & Model Agency (August 2021 - Fall 2022)
Talent Inc - USA (December 2020 - August 2021-Present)
Talenture Agency (May 2020- Present)
Koala Models Agency (2019 - Present)
American Models & Actors Agency, Orange County - (December 2019-Present)
Atlas Global Entertainment (2012-2017)
Casting360 (2000-2010)
LA Casting (2000-2010)
LCC Dance Krew (2000-2004)