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Our Board Members.
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Leslie Jeanne (Kremer) Roth
Director Leslie Jeanne (Kremer) Roth, Artistic Director for the Las Vegas Dance in the Desert Festival, Kremer Dance Collective, and Kiss Is 4Kidz Performing Arts Company. As Artistic Director for the Las Vegas Dance in the Desert Festival it is an honor to oversee the continuation of this Festival which has grown over the years to become a beloved and highly anticipated event during the summer months for so many concert dance artists and its dedicated audiences. Formerly on the dance faculty at the College of Southern Nevada for 23 years, Leslie continues to teach dance for Clark County Parks & Recreation. Leslie holds a BA in Dance from SUNY Brockport, and an MA in Humanities/Dance from Arizona State University, where she was subsequently invited to be on the faculty. As a performer, Ms. Roth has toured nationally and internationally with the award winning Kelly Roth & Dancers, as well as with A Ludwig Dance Theatre, Kei Takei, Laura Dean, Richard Bull, and Erroll Simpson and Dancers. Ms. Roth also loves serving as Artistic Director for Kiss Is 4Kidz, a performing arts company which focuses on the SPECIAL abilities of special needs and at-risk children and adults through the arts. She is also truly grateful for a second, very fulfilling career as a licensed REALTOR®!!
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Tobias Kremer Roth
Vice-President Tobias Kremer Roth, acclaimed 21st-Century violist, became the youngest member of the Las Vegas Philharmonic in history at age 17, the youngest founding member of the Chamber Orchestra of New York at age 18, and has been the principal violist of the L’viv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine from 2018 to the present day. Tobias grew up hearing the classical masterworks, eclectic jazz artists, and avant-garde crossovers that his father, Kelly Roth, was using to create choreographic masterworks that inspired Tobias to explore his own creative impulses as a composer, leading him on to collaborate with fellow composers, premiering the viola works of several of his colleagues at the Manhattan School of Music, and recording the chamber works of distinguished theory professors at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
As a teen, and later as a young professional, Tobias had frequent opportunities to perform classical masterworks as soloist and chamber musician providing backdrop for his father’s choreography and concert dance performances, a rare setting that in his formative years graced Tobias with the chance to deliver “delightful experience[s] in experimental theatre” and solo performances “of the highest order [that] would have graced the stage of any concert hall”(Hal de Becker). Tobias gratefully seeks to honor and continue the work of his father on the board of New Dance Foundation for the Arts. |
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Denise Darnell Porreca
Secretary Denise is a dance educator, professional dancer, and choreographer, with a career in TV, Stage and Film. Denise has choreographed for numerous artists including N.W.A, Lita Ford, and for the film “Mom and Dad Save the World.” She was in-house Choreographer for Sony and Interscope Records. Denise has danced with and performed for Winifred Harris, Martina Young-Levitt, Frit and Frat Fuller, Kin Dance Company, Jessica Simpson, Anita Mann Productions, Roy Johns “Girls on Stilts,” and Bud Friedman’s “Improv Spectacular.”
Her love of performing and creating work has taken her around the world. Along with her valued training with Carmelita Miracchi, Joe Tremaine, Alvin Ailey, Jaime Rodgers, Bella Lewitzky, Pina Bausch and Mia Slavenska, Denise attended California Institute for the Arts where she received her BFA in Dance. It was there where a love of choreography was ignited. After Cal Arts, she went on to dance in the professional world, then transitioned to Dance Education. For the last two decades Denise has dedicated herself as a dance educator and fostering programing. Currently she serves as the Interim Program Director for Dance at the College of Southern Nevada. |
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Jaime Velila
Treasurer Jaime, born in Puerto Rico, has been living in the states since 1988. After graduating High School in 1995 he began attending CSN, studying Business Management. Jaime took his first Jazz Class taught by Leslie Roth, who later introduced him to Kelly Roth. At age 18 he began dance training with Kelly, studying Mr. Roth’s style of modern and choreography, Nikolais/Louis technique, Graham, and other modern styles, as well as some training in ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop. Jaime started dancing for Kelly Roth & Dancers/CSN Concert Dance Company in 1997 and continued dancing there for nearly ten years. Jaime also began choreographing in 1998, taught at CSN and Clark County School District after-school programs. He has been a guest choreographer for CSN, Valley High School, and for the Black, White, and Red (a dance concert to benefit education – where all proceeds went to help “The Miley Achievement Center”). Jaime was invited to perform one of his works at the annual Dance in the Desert Festival in 1999. In June 2003, Kelly Roth & Dancers/Concert Dance Company was awarded first prizes in choreography and contemporary dance at the Grand Prix Italia 2003 in Cesena, Italy, where Jaime performed his original role in Roth’s celebrated “The Drummer Boy.”
Jaime’s business career began in 2003 at Manheim Auctions. For 13 years he held the positions of Dealer Registration Manager/Marketing Manager, support for Credit & Collections, and Front Office Supervisor. Promoted July of 2016 to a corporate position as an Operations Excellence Manager within Cox Automotive, he supported 22 Manheim Auction locations in the nation and many other projects for the company. In 2021 Jaime made a career move to Ascent Automotive Group in accounting, processing their vehicle titles and Vendor/Dealer Agreements. During his business career Jaime missed his most beloved passion, dancing. Attending the July 2008 Dance in the Desert, he met Marko Westwood and saw Marko’s work. After the meeting there was no doubt this would be Jaime’s next dance journey, performing with Westwood & Dancers in 2009 and continuing for almost 3 years. Jaime’s passion for the art of dance continues to live in his heart and body and he now finds himself part of the NDFA as their Treasurer to continue his support of the Festival, and dance! |
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Danny Mendoza
Grants Manager Danny was born in Mexico and raised in Las Vegas. His formal training took off at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts in downtown Las Vegas. While at College of Southern Nevada he trained under Kelly Roth and soon began touring with the CSN Concert Dance Company regionally and internationally. Danny also toured with Kelly Roth & Dancers, which won 1st prize in Cesena, Italy at the 2003 Dance Grand Prix. In 2006 KR&D won Silver and Bronze at the Barcelona Dance Awards. His other tours include Hasbro’s “My Little Pony Live!” and Vee Corp’s “Sesame Street Live.” He danced in Christopher Fleming’s “The Nutcracker” (Long Island Ballet), Rachel Klein Theater (NYC), Leslie Kremer Dance, Cynthia Dufault, Samuel Pott, Blakely White McGuire and Graham II - “The Rite of Spring ‘’ revival. Danny is a Licensed Massage Therapist and holds a recognition as a teacher of Martha Graham Technique from the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in NYC where he graduated in 2011.
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Carrie Lee Miles
Social Media Carrie’s signature dance style is based in ebb and flow in addition to relatable content that one can insert themselves into. Sweeping, fall and recover with sustaining moments all inside the anguish of the storyline. She perceives her movement as a way to escape into something bigger than herself.... to develop a world that needs to be viewed and experienced by the onlooker. She is greatly inspired and influenced by Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Pina Bausch and Akram Kahn.
Carrie Lee Miles graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Weber State University (UT). Co-Founder of Meraki Dance Theatre (UT/NV). She has also worked professionally with Orchesis Dance Theater, WSU Moving Company, American Dance Festival, American Dance Festival Association, Aerial Amore, Wasatch Dance Collective, Imagine Ballet Theatre, UNLV, CSN, CCSD Nevada, Repertory Dance Theater, Rafael Dance, Kairos Dance Company of LA, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Mendoza Project, Kelly Roth and Dancers (NV), and Wildy Brave (OK). |
