Johanna Sapakie’s passion for dance and love for choreography have
always played an important role in her life. Her diligent work
ethic and dedication to the craft have gotten her far in the
ever-expanding worlds of dance and entertainment. While coming from
a strong ballet background, Johanna is an athletic dancer schooled
in a variety of forms including jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, tap,
modern, partnering, point work and aerial acrobatics. She was
trained from a very young age and has worked with such master
teachers as Joe Tremaine, Debbie Allen, Liz Imperio, Marguerite
Derricks, Wade Robson and Savion Glover.
More recently, on the performance side of her career, Johanna has
been involved in many projects on stage and on camera including the
newest Cirque Du Soleil shows in Las Vegas “Michael Jackson ONE”
with Jamie King and “Viva ELVIS” with Vincent Paterson, the
Arabesque Festival at the Kennedy Center, “One Love...” with Franco
Dragone, “Songs of Soul and Inspiration” with, among others, Debbie
Allen, Queen Latifah and Chaka Khan, MEIFF with Otis Salid, The
Mexican Billboard Awards with Liz Imperio, The MTV Movie
Awards, Slime Time Live, Radio Disney Live,
The Rosie O'Donnell Show, New Year’s Eve Live at Mandalay
Bay, the first animated ring tone for “Boom di Boom di”, the
lead female pole acrobat in Kevin Stea's music video “Domino”, Jazz
Dance World Congress 2001-2004 & 2007, “The Professional
Dancers’ Society Benefit” with Dick Van Dyke, “Steps in Time” for
Disneyland, the grand opening of “The Highlands” with Alex Magno,
“The Closing“ and “Bound” with Terry Beeman, the Hysterica Dance
Company with Bubba Carr, “NY’s Performance Outlet” with Dee
Caspary, Gucci, Redken, Volvo and Tarbell Realty industrials, a
Rhino Records Commercial, photography for the Dance Resource Center
and much more. Johanna has been a member of Liz Imperio’s
Instincts Live Media Dance Company which has toured
throughout the U.S. and Europe and Mark Meismer‘s
Evolution Dance Company.
With her choreography, Ms. Sapakie has worked on So You Think You
Can Dance, “Miley Cyrus: Live in Concert 2009”, “The Gioi Tinh Yeu”
with ASIA Music Group, “Michael Jackson: A Tribute to the King of
Pop” and “Michael Jackson at B.B. King’s Club”, Jean Ann Ryan
cruise lines, “Viva Los Dodgers” at Dodgers Stadium, the Upper
Manhattan Lounge, “Jazz Dance L.A.”, promotional showcases for EMI
recording artist Oryon, and choreography for professional dance
companies, studios and schools around the world and much
more.
Also, Johanna has been an associate choreographer for Madonna: The
Confessions Tour and Madonna: The Reinvention Tour, “Q'Viva: The
Chosen” with Jamie King for Fox and Univision, “Latin on Ice” for
NBC, “Your Mama Don't Dance” for Lifetime Television, Filippa
Giordano: The Prima Donna Tour, Premio Lo Nuestro, the Latin Grammy
Awards, the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the feature film
“Dus”, industrials, burlesque shows, animated ringtones, showcases
and performances for recording artists Jennifer Lopez, Olga Tañon,
Aventura, Jenni Rivera, Los Tigres Del Norte, Nonny and Alexandra
Monir and routines for the Los Angeles Clippers, to name a
few.
Along with performing and choreographing, Johanna takes much pride
in her teaching. While always trying to expand her horizons, she
teaches all forms of dance including jazz, lyrical, ballet, hip-hop
and tap. She has taught at studios all around the world for
children and adults of all levels and abilities. Johanna also
enjoyed teaching as part of the LADF and Hollywood Vibe convention
faculties. She is currently sharing her knowledge and love for
dance at Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood and The Rock
Center for Dance in Las Vegas, as well as many other
places.
Most recently, Johanna has found a new love in the world of aerial
acrobatics including tissu, lyra, straps, hammock, pole and cube.
She has already performed all over North and South America and the
Middle East and is excited to add these new media to her credits.
She can be seen as a featured acrobatic performer twice nightly in
“Michael Jackson ONE” by Cirque Du Soleil at Mandalay Bay Casino in
Las Vegas.