Melissa Hinz- Born in western Montana, Melissa has been passionately dancing, singing, and loving the creative process for most of her life. She trained and performed with the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre under the direction of Charlene Campbell Carey before studying on full scholarship at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. In NYC she worked professionally in dance and musical theatre. Favorite performance credits include the national tour of The Will Rogers Follies and the following regional productions: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie), 42nd Street, Crazy For You, South Pacific, Mary Poppins, Annie Get Your Gun, Damn Yankees, Gypsy Love, and Kismet.

In NYC she studied with many master teachers at Steps On Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, and Circle in the Square Theatre School. She also attended the Broadway Theatre Project directed by Ann Reinking and received her Yoga Teaching Certification from Laughing Lotus NYC. She's proud to have been an original member of the House of Roses directed by Jeff Shade, performing in their first show at Symphony Space in NYC.

Rima Greer started ballet at 3 1/2, and never looked back.  She performed with Main Street Ballet and American Ballet of California in the Los Angeles area.  

In 1989 she joined interntational touring show Campanile, and performed with them until its retirement in 2006, touring throughout the United States, Canada, and Asia.  While with Campanile, Rima served as performer, arranger, choreographer, and costume designer.  Campanile's last album charted in the top 10 of the New Age charts, and their DVDs are still widely available.

She is currently working with North Coast Dance as the head of the Costume department, Producer, and Choreographer.   She produced NCD's first full lenght original ballet based on The Wizard of Oz in 2016, and has produced NCD's Zombie Ballet for the past four years.

Rima is also a compulsive entrepreneur, who owns a talent agency, a retail store, and is a published author.    She spends her leisure time doing fiber arts, and spending time with her husband, who continues to put up with her.  Oh, and dreaming up her next crazy project, like DSH....

Since moving to Humboldt County to live with the love of her life she's become a choreographer, teacher, and producer. She is honored to be a guest teacher at Sunrise Studios (Vienna, Austria),  Vienna International Ballet Experience (VIBE)  (USA and Austria), and Ballet Beyond Borders (BBB) (USA.)  She won gold, silver, and bronze as a competitor and choreographer at VIBE & BBB. Favorite local chorography credits for the Humboldt Light Opera Company: Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mary Poppins, Wizard of Oz, and Damn Yankees; for North Coast Dance: Wizard Of Oz Ballet, West Side Story Excerpts, and many original works; for Arcata High: Singing in the Rain; and a flash mob for a birthday surprise!  She has the pleasure of passing on her training and experiences through teaching at local studios in Humboldt and beyond.

To learn more about her upcoming projects and view her class schedule click here- www.melissahinz.com   

Melissa is forever grateful to her amazing teachers, fellow performers, and students for being part of her life as a dancer.

DSH exists to educate, promote, and encourage the talented dancers of Humboldt County while providing low cost cultural enrichment for the community. We give dancers the experience of auditioning and performing in a professional setting, which will help prepare them for entering the professional dance world. 

DSH welcomes Executive Producer John Ash to our 2019 lineup!

John was born in Vallejo, California and raised in Detroit Michigan. After graduating from High School he joined the Navy as a photographer and served for four years during the Vietnam War with primary assignments in aerial photography and photo intelligence. Upon discharge John returned to Michigan to attend Oakland Community College where he served as Student Body President for a one-year term before transferring to San Diego State University.

At San Diego State he served on the Student Council, and as managing editor of the Daily  Aztec newspaper. It was at San Diego State that John first turned his interests to architecture. While attending summer classes at U.C. Davis, John studied under architectural professor, Sim Vander Ryn. It was this event that exposed him to an art form and profession that ignited both his mind and creative spirit. After graduating from San Diego State John transferred to the Boston Architectural Center (BAC) for his graduate studies in architecture.

The BAC provided an opportunity to work and teach architects on the adaptive re- use of  important buildings. Upon completion of work at BAC John moved to Los Angeles where he founded John Ash Group, Architects.  John has over 30 years experience as a registered architect and principal of his own firm.

John takes an active interest in community activities. He served for several years as a running coach for the Special Olympics and still finds time for adventure sports,  including running, swimming, kayaking, bicycling, and flying.  The highlight of his athletic career was completing the Ironman Triathlon in 1990.

John is an avid dance enthusiast, takes ballet class every week, and has been known to appear on the Arkley Center stage as Grandpa and Wolf in the Nutcracker.