Get to know the girls of L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K
Melissa O.
Melissa has been dancing since the age of 5. It turned into a passion when she was accepted into a performing arts high school in Newport News. There, she studied ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, free movement, and African dance, among a host of other styles. It was here that she discovered a hidden talent; choreography. She progressed to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond where she joined a professional hip-hop dance company that competed in annual competitions; danced at local events, organized dance competitions, and danced back-up for local artists. During this time, Melissa traveled to different studios along the East Coast including Broadway Dance Center, EVSPA, Gotta Dance Atlanta, and Dance 411, to improve her skills and ability to learn different styles of dance. She danced briefly as a member of The Honey for The Virginia Hornets Semi-Pro Football Team. She has provided choreography and artistic direction for local artists which include, Niya (lyricist), Lani (R&B vocalist), and Embassy (r&b/pop/hip-hop group). She has also been featured as an instructor at MOVE! Dance workshops & Seminars.
In 2009, Melissa was introduced to Diana, Lois, and Sarah while working with an artist who was scouting for dancers. Sharing the same passion and unique vision, they founded L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K in fall of 2009. Through L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K, Melissa is able to share her choreography and artistic vision with her community. In addition to L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K, Melissa teaches hip-hop at Encore Performing Arts Studio in Virginia. She also continues to provide choreography as well as dance for local muscians. She is currently a back-up dancer for J. Artist and was featured in his music video for "My Girl'. She was most recently featured in Imani Blair's video, "Who Gone Check Me?" Melissa continues to train as well as learn new techniques to help develop her distinctive dance style. Melissa's enthusiasm and love for performance and community is evident in L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K. She hopes that L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K will continue to encourage and eventually become a valuable resource for budding performers in the Richmond area and beyond. |
Lo S.
Lois Séffu is the songbird of L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K and also one of the group’s founding members. Though her dance background started in middle school, Lois has always taken any opportunity to perform in everything from musicals to open mics. Performance of any form is her passion, but singing is her first love.
Her involvement with L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K began when she was back up dancing for rap artist Niya, with two other group members, under the direction of choreographer Melissa O. Since helping found L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K, Lois has become an avid part of the group's goal to be a service to the Richmond arts community, mainly through their self-produced live stage shows. Upon completion of her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications at Virginia Commonwealth University, Lois has been eager to devote more attention to the group and its presence in the creative and magical world of dance. Currently, Lois is living in the Washington, DC area working for entertainment unions, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). |
Diana T.
Diana Tan loves the knowledge and development L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K. has given her in her professional career. Although she dabbled in dance as a young girl, she didn't fall in love with the art until she became a freshman in highschool. As a teen she dedicated her free time to her two dance teams: James River High School's Rapid Motion and The Dance Force team with Jessica Morgan School of Dance. Those two teams afforded her the opportunity to dance at various competitions and camps like: UDA, Stars of Tomorrow, Dance Masters, Dance Caravan, Dance Educators of America, and many more!
After graduation, Diana continued to take local dance classes while attending college at East Carolina University. Occasionally she would return home to perform at local events such as The Virginia Dance Festival and help raise funds for The Children's Hospital. Through these performances she was reunited with her high school teammates, Lo S. and Sarah Q. While back up dancing for local aspiring artists, their paths eventually crossed with Melissa O. and thus began the birth of L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K. Through the production of two live stage shows, several local events, and the addition of member Carri G., Diana has gained a firsthand look at what it takes to make an event successful. Due to limited budgets and funding, the girls have had to be their own directors, stage managers, graphic artists, web developers, accountants, and promotions team. This trial-by-fire learning has taken Diana down her new path as an entertainment agent with ECE Touring. Currently she works with several well known artists such as The Second City, TAP: The Show, The Harlem Gospel Choir, The Masters of Motown, The Kenya Safari acrobats, and others to build successful nationwide tours. |
Sarah Q.
Carri G.
Carrington began dancing at the age of five at Dance & Theatre Unlimited in Powhatan, VA and has been dancing ever since. She has studied various styles of dance to include ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, character and pointe. While at Dance & Theatre Unlimited, she began competing in annual dance competitions around the age of nine with the studio’s competition squad known as Premiere Dance Company. She performed at well-known dance competitions, including Hoctor’s Dance Caravan and Stars of Tomorrow, in Tennessee, New York, Maryland and Virginia. In 2003, she received the Best Costume Award and a High Gold, the highest trophy to be received, for her solo performance to “Wild Wild West” at Stars of Tomorrow in New York City. Carrington also participated in a cheer/dance camp for the Richmond Speed and performed at one of their home games. Throughout high school, Carrington was a member of the Powhatan Indianettes Dance Team and served as co-captain her senior year. It was during her senior year when she began dancing at Premiere Dance Studio.
After starting college in 2005 at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, Carrington was on the VCU Dance Team for the Fall 2005 semester and for her sophomore year from 2006-2007. She later became a Darling for the Richmond Revolution Arena Football Team in 2010. In 2011, the Darlings of the Revolution became “The Diamond Dolls”, a promotional dance team that performs at sporting events, expos, charity galas, nightclubs and private parties. Carrington is still currently a member of The Diamond Dolls Dance Team. In the Spring of 2011, Carrington was introduced to Diana, Melissa and Sarah. The four of them danced together on the Virginia Hornets Semi-Pro Football Team. It was then that she was asked if she would be interested in joining their dance group along with its other founder Lois. Carrington accepted and became the newest member of L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K in June 2011. Since joining L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K, Carrington has been given the opportunity to perform as a backup dancer in front of major label executives, be in local video shoots and many other dancing opportunities. Under the direction of Melissa O.’s choreography, she was a backup dancer for Niya, a local rapper, and Lani, a local R&B singer. In July 2011, Carrington attended the MOVE! Dance Workshop in Charlotte, NC along with Sarah and Melissa, who was featured as one of the instructors. As a member of L.I.P.S.T.I.CK, Carrington expects to excel as a dancer and continue to build upon the vision the group was founded on back in 2009. |
Kiara C.
In early 2011, on the set of the Kenna video for "Chains", we met Kiara, a fun-loving passionate girl from Florida. She was staying in Richmond, VA while she interned at a local law firm. Through the love of dance, we immediately hit it off and Kiara soon joined L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K in performances throughout the Richmond area. To date, Kiara has performed in our Adventures of Eve showcase, participated in various flashmobs, and has performed with local female rapper Niya.
Aside from dance, Kiara has attended the University of Florida, modeled for various clothing lines and companies, and has been featured in videos for national music artists. While in Richmond, Kiara rediscovered her passion for dance and is now currently pursuing her dreams of being a professional dancer in L.A. The girls of L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K miss her and wish her the best of luck in her career. |