Biography

Marin Rose Helppie is a professional dancer and choreographer with a diverse dance portfolio and more than a decade of experience and dedication as a dance educator. With a background rooted in Classical Ballet (American Ballet Theatre Curriculum), Marin earned her BFA in Dance, cum laude, from the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University, with studies in Modern Dance, Classical Ballet and Choreography (Artistic Achievement Scholar and Dean’s Academic Scholar). Marin’s training also includes The Ailey School (Professional Division), Interlochen Center for the Arts (Merit Scholar – Summer) and The American Dance Festival.

Performance credits include working with renowned choreographers Helen Pickett, Michelle Gibson, Ronald K. Brown, The Martha Graham Trust, Garfield Lemonius and Natalie Malotke. Marin also has performed professionally in feature and short films, commercials, formal dance concerts and regional musical theater, and toured internationally for three years with Lightwire Theatre under the direction of Ian Carney (Twyla Tharpe’s Movin’ Out on Broadway). Choreography credits include Stagedoor Manor (AC), Suffolk Dance Brand, Cumberland Theatre, Pittsburgh Musical Theater Conservatory, Distinguished Young Women of America (formerly America’s Junior Miss) and teaching at pre-professional dance schools in Texas, Pennsylvania, Maryland and California.

Here in Los Angeles, Marin is on faculty at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy under the direction of multi-award-winning dancer, choreographer, producer and director, Miss Debbie Allen. Marin is an ABT® Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Marin also enjoys working individually with actors and singers who want to improve their total body awareness, physicality and performance while on stage. Marin is a proud member of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and the California Dance Education Association (CDEA).