Cherissa Rodriguez Chastain
                                                             PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE

Bachelor of Arts degree (on 4-year Full scholarship in Dance)
~ Far Eastern University in Manila, Philippines -Bachelor of Arts degree

   Major in English, Minor in Spanish (on 4-year FULL Dance Scholarship)
~ Education hours from East Central University in Oklahoma, USA

Philippine Airlines (5 years)
~ Executive Secretary to the Station Manager-International & International Ground Stewardess

Member - FEU Folkdance Group; FEU Modern Jazz Group; FEU Cheerleaders (UAAP)
Lead/Principal Dancer -
FEU FolkdanceTroupe, Polynesian Cultural Dance Company
    of the Philippines;  Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company
      
Professional Dancer/Choreographer (Jazz & Hula-Tahitian Dances)
~ 10 years on major Philippine TV networks for top-rated TV musical :
    Nora Aunor's Superstar, Guy & Pip, Pip Show, Victor Wood,   Vilma Santos, Pepe Pimentel,
    road shows for Pepsi, 7-Up, Procter&Gamble & many others

Member, Dance Masters of America (certified by test to teach) -28 years in the USA teaching 3 years old & Up
~ Taught Ballet, Jazz, Tap Hula, Modeling and Belly Dancing at Ft. Smith YWCA
~ Taught Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Hula at Ft. Smith Girls Club; dance and aerobics at Senior Citizens Center
~ Dance conventions and workshops with Master Teachers in Jazz, Ballet, Tap and Hula,
    - Luigi, Al Gilbert, Jo Rowan, Frank Kilei,  Keith Awai , et al (in state, regional and national  conventions)
~ Many students winning in the top 3 and top 10 of DMA Competitions & others

Pageant Coach for numerous state and national winners of 12 different American Pageant Systems and
   5 Filipino & Asian Pageants  since 1978 - Weekly local pageants, state, regional and national levels  
          
~ Interview, Modeling, Personality Singing & Dance Routines
~ Pageant Coach/Mentor (helping contestants from application to actual competition)

Pageant Director-Producer-Choreographer-Emcee-Judge
~ Our Little Miss; Cinderella; Charisma Girl; other children's pageants
~ Mrs. RP-USA; Little Miss RP-USA; Miss RP-USA Pageants;  Miss Philippines-America
~ Miss Philippine Centennial-USA at Harrah's in Las Vegas
    Official Chaperon and Pageant Coach of the 4 USA delegates to Ms. Philippine Centennial International
~ Miss Philippines-Texas; Miss Asian-American-Texas and Miss Latina-Texas (1996-2006)

Show Choir Choreographer for four Jr. and High Schools in Oklahoma City
~ For city, state, regional and national competitions
~ Choreographed for many musicals like "Hello, Dolly",  "Music Man",  "Oklahoma" for Arts
Councils &  other area high schools  

Cheerleaders Camp, Oklahoma
~ Conducted week-long cheerleading camps for area high schools in the summers ( chants and dance routines)

Folk Artist Presenter for Arts-in-Education Program
~ in Dallas-Tarrant  counties area schools, colleges and universities in Texas:
   lecture, demonstration, performance and teach - program entitled "Glimpse of Philippine Culture
   through its Songs and Dances" and “Our 50th State of Hawaii”

Artistic Director/Choreographer/Performer
- Pacifica Dancers
~ Maharlika Dancers USA (1996-2006; Pacifica Polynesian Revue
    (Philippine Cultural Group funded by Texas Cultural Commission &  City Arts Councils)

Abbotsford Court in Addison, Texas
~ Events Director, Marketing Director, Banquet Manager
    (Planned/worked with parties for Dallas Cowboys NFL Football Team and Dallas Mavericks NBA Team,
     company parties, weddings, etc.)

Asian Beat News (Texas)
~ Associate Editor-in-chief, Culture Editor, Lifestyle Editor

Artistic Director-Choreographer, June 2006 to present

~ Far Eastern University Dance Company
    * 2nd runnerup in the Interpretative Competition at Philamlife Auditorium, September 2 with a score of 2.4 –
            .4 points behind UP who came in 1st runnerup with a score of 2.0
    * Finalist, Skechers Street Battle at Araneta Coliseum, December 2, 2006
    * Best Message in the Quezon Memorial Circle Interpretative Dance Competition, January 7, 2007
    * 3rd Runnerup, Lyceum Hip Hop competition, September 20, 2007
    * 2nd Runnerup, Central Events HipHop competition 14 unjiversities participatings
    * Grand Champion, Prime Time Events HipHop competition - 13 universities participating
    * GRAND CHAMPION  at the World-CARP Dance Competition, September 20, 2007 - 17 universities participating

Television Host - October 2006 toNovember 2007
- Co-host, with MUS'KA  of television show 'KAIBIGAN" on RJTV29, Saturdays, 8:00 to 9:00 P.M.
Dance Recitals Shows Pacifica Dancers Maharlika Dancers Pacifica Polynesian