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Lisa Marie can best be described as ‘A dynamic performer with an incredible drive to succeed’. An accomplished dancer, choreographer, singer, and writer, she has performed all over the world, owns a production company, and currently runs her own high-energy show band, Belladiva. She was born Lisa Marie Furth in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and began dancing at the age of three.

By the time she was a teenager, it was clear that Lisa Marie was destined to entertain. She enjoyed singing and dancing in musical theater productions in high school. She then received her B.A. in Theatre Arts, Acting/Directing at Mankato State University, where she performed in over 30 productions in both lead and supporting roles. While earning her degree, Lisa Marie choreographed and performed for a variety of projects such as the Reebok Performance Team (now known as the Minnesota Timberwolves Dance Team), the Harlem Globetrotters, Dayton’s annual ‘Back To School Show’ featuring Brooke Shields, and was a featured dancer/model on Twin Cities’ local talk shows, ‘Good Company’, and the KARE 11 morning show. In addition, she landed a job as an aerobics instructor specializing in funk dance and club style hip-hop at The Firm in Minneapolis. After graduating, in addition to teaching at The Firm, Lisa Marie was hired as resident choreographer for Valley Fair in Shakopee, Minnesota. She also began choreographing for local recording artists, and eventually became a member of a Minneapolis recording group called Asia’s Wild. She then performed as a singer/dancer, and a tribute artist for the world famous ‘Legends in Concert’ based in Las Vegas, and ‘Stars in Concert’, based in Berlin, Germany. While on a world tour which included Germany, Switzerland and Australia, to name a few, Lisa Marie still found time to teach master classes in funk dancing and hip hop, and land a spot on Germany’s hit TV series, ‘House Party’ as a back up singer/dancer.

Lisa Marie returned to Minneapolis in 2000, and during a recovery period from knee surgery, stayed busy with many projects. She started her own production company ‘Hey Sugar Productions’, started singing with local corporate bands such as Temporary Heroes, and The Brian Kinney Band, and appeared in several commercials including B96 Radio, Best Buy, and Valley Fair, to name a few. She then started writing for her CD project entitled ‘Live Your Truth’, which she released in 2002. After that, Lisa Marie produced, choreographed, and performed in ‘Superstars In Concert’ at Valley Fair. In addition, she choreographed for professional and educational theater around the Twin Cities metropolitan area, including the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders. In 2003, wanting to produce a Las Vegas style show band in the Twin Cities, Lisa Marie, along with two partners, created ‘Sugar Divaz’. She also recorded a national voice-over for MasterCard, and was featured on four tracks for a national independent film entitled, ‘The Onion’. Currently, Lisa Marie runs, choreographs, and performs in Belladiva, among other corporate bands, and she still enjoys teaching at The Firm.

Lisa's enthusiasm for singing began when she started singing in talent shows and school productions at the age of 6. Throughout high school and college, vocal jazz was her passion, and her major. After attending the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, she began her professional singing career at Valley Fair in 1988. Since then, she has been a headliner in such well-known bands as The Rupert’s Orchestra, Temporary Heroes Orchestra, and the renowned vocal jazz group, Moore by Four. In recent years, Lisa has also enjoyed a successful career in the Twin Cities’ musical theater scene*. Theatrical credits include starring at the Ordway’s McNight Theater in "You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown", and in "8 Track - the Sound’s of the 70’s". After that, she enjoyed a 14-month run at the Hey City Theater, where she starred in "Smokey Joe’s Café". Currently, Lisa’s main gig is performing with the high-energy show band Belladiva. She also enjoys singing in a musical review of the "Andrews Sisters". In addition, Lisa also records jingles and voice-overs around town.

Originally from Beresford South Dakota, Abby went to college at Minnesota State University where she was a member of the MSU dance team, and the MSU dance company. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing and a minor in Dance. During the summers Abby appeared as a featured singer/dancer in Valley Fair show ensembles. She currently enjoys performing with top Twin Cities’ band Belladiva.

 

Originally from South Minneapolis, percussionist/drummer, producer, composer, dancer, choreographer and athletic trainer, Kirk Johnson, has enjoyed much success in the entertainment business for over 20 years. He started playing percussion, and street dancing at age 13, in his Minneapolis neighborhood. In the 80’s while attending the University of Minnesota, where he majored in business, Kirk was a ‘first call’ drummer in local bands around the Twin Cites. During this time, Kirk and his dance troupe were discovered by Prince at First Avenue in Minneapolis, and were selected as featured dancers in the film Purple Rain. Kirk continued performing/touring with Prince as a dancer/choreographer and percussionist, and starred in many music videos, and the film Graffiti Bridge. In the 90’s, Kirk worked at Paisley Park as a producer and drummer, and started his own company, Kitchen Records. His success continued in the new millennium, as he continued appearing/touring and recording all over the world with national and international artists Prince, Lorie Line, and Candy Dulfer. Currently, Kirk keeps busy playing drums with Twin Cities groups, Belladiva, and The Truth, and tours with European recording artist Candy Dulfer. In addition to his musical endeavors, Kirk is a driven business owner of a personal and boot camp training company called ‘Club Hipfit’. He also enjoys family life at home in Chanhassen, Minnesota with his wife Lori, and daughters Kayla and Lanelle.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, musician/composer/recording artist/producer David Eiland has enjoyed a successful career in the music business for over 35 years. He has recorded and performed with national artists such as Janet Jackson, David Bowe, Human League, Jonny Lang, Thelma Houston, Alexander Oneil, and Cherrel just to name a few. David moved to the Twin Cities when he was 8 years old and currently resides in Minneapolis where he performs with top local bands The Combo, TC Jammers, Doug Menard, and Ipso Facto, and Belladiva. He is also an active member and performer at Club 3 Degrees.

 

Eric graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a Bachelor's degree in Jazz Performance. A ‘first call’ trumpet for many national and local acts in Minneapolis, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, he has performed world-wide with horn players, from The Tonight Show, Tower of Power, and Maynard Ferguson bands to name a few. In 2003-2005, Eric toured with Bette Midler as lead trumpet player on her three Kiss My Brass tours. He appeared on The Tonight Show, the Ellen Degeneres Show, A&E Biography, and in Rolling Stone magazine, and Entertainment Weekly with Bette. These days Eric keeps busy with writing, arranging, and recording projects, and recently completed his debut jazz CD More. In addition to his successful music career, Eric enjoys a second career as a commercial pilot for Northwest Airlines based in The Twin Cities where he currently resides.

Originally from Baltimore, musician, composer, producer George Parrish has over 35 years experience in the music industry. Throughout his career, he has been in high demand touring and recording with various bands and national artists, such as Eumir Deodato, Cherell, Robert Robinson, Seals & Crofts, Sara Renner, and was musical director and tour and production manager for Alexander O’Neal for 11 years (1985-2006). George moved to Minneapolis in 1985, where he currently resides, and runs his production company, Make It Loud Inc., and enjoys performing and recording with Heart of the Cities, and Belladiva.

 

Saxophonist John Bertsch graduated from South Dakota State University in 1996. Since then, he has performed & recorded with top-rated bands such as Bus Nine, Spooncat!, the BKS Vine, Dixie and The Dreamers, and was a featured soloist with the South Dakota Acoustic ChristmasTour in 2002 and 2006. John has enjoyed performing with national artists such as Sam Moore, The Temptations, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Gary US Bonds, Peter No one of Herman's Hermits, Davy Jones of the Monkees, Lou Christie, The Drifters, The Coasters, The Platters, Tommy Roe, Leslie Gore, Sonny Geraci, The Shirrells, Freddie"Boom Boom" Cannon, Ben E. King, and Percy Slege. John moved to the Twin Cities area in 2002, and is currently first-call with top groups such as the TC Jammers, TC Horns, Nachito Herrera, Kimberly Michaels, Soul Tight Committee, High & Mighty, and Belladiva.

Born and raised in New York City, Shayde has been in and around music most of his life. Both a producer and a versatile singer/songwriter, he is also a talented musician and can be heard shedding out screaming guitar licks that feed his inner rock star. Since relocating to Minneapolis Shayde has been in high demand, serving as a warm up act for the nationally renowned GIN BLOSSOMS and for super star PRINCE!, fronting the groups BKS VINE and the world renowned cooperate band, SYNERGY, and appearing as a former member of the group HIGH & MIGHTY, nominated for “Best R&B Band” by the Minnesota Music Awards in 2006. From gospel choirs to rock bands, R&B groups to Jazz combos, Shayde’s past experiences have made him a master performer and a strong addition to BELLA DIVA. While these ladies obviously don’t need a man to handle their business, he is thrilled that when they desire the male perspective, they call on….. SHAYDE!

Born and raised in Chi-Town, Larry comes from a family of musicians and was encouraged to sing from a very young age. He started in church and joined his 1st band by the age of 12. Influenced by some of the greats like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, and Phillip Bailey (EWF), over the years, Larry has developed his own signature "silky soul" sound. He relocated to the Twin Cities in 1993 to pursue his musical dreams and, over the years, has worked with some of the best bands in the area, including Westside, Soul-Tight Committee, The Maxx Band, The Good Bad and the Funky, Synergy, R-Factor and, of course, Belladiva. He has opened for national R&B soul/funk acts like Cameo, the Dazz Band, and Lenny Williams, and is currently recording a collection of original soul and R&B songs.

Performing has always been Maria's passion. She grew up singing and dancing in Wichita, KS, and then went on to school at Emporia State University where she studied Theatre and Vocal Music. She has been living in Minneapolis since 2007 where she has been working steadily for various theatre companies and bands around town, including Shelby's Voyage, Rewind, Theatre L'Homme Dieu, Eightball Theatre, In the Basement Productions, Bottling House Theatre, Paul Bunyan Playhouse, The National Theatre for Children, Flying Foot Forum, Actor's Theatre of Minnesota, Minneapolis Musical Theatre and Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. Maria is also a teaching artist at Youth Performance Company, a freelance choreographer, a print, modeling, and commercial talent, and is thrilled to be performing full time with BellaDiva!

John has been a fulltime working musician since 1965, his junior year in highschool. He went to the University of Minnesota as a fulltime music-major, studying classical piano and composition. His teachers included world-class names, such as Paul Freed, Dominic Argento, and Paul Fetler. He has dedicated his whole adult life to nothing but his music (and raising his children). He's continued to study and learn on his own, while also working in many diverse styles of music over the years. He has played in several bands in the Twin Cities such as TC Jammers, The Stud Brothers, Legends Live, Patrick Allen, Alex Rossi and The Root City Band, and the White Sidewalls. He continues to read and study, especially in the field of serious composition.  In addition to playing keyboards, John is also a strong singer and is featured on vocals in Belladiva.