Shelley took her first ballet class at the age of seven, not knowing it would be the beginning of a lifetime filled with dance. By the time she was fourteen she had already started her professional career as a soloist with Santa Clara Ballet Company. Classically trained, in both Vaganova and Royal Academy styles of ballet, she was an apprentice for San Francisco Ballet, and later became a member of Pacific Dance Theatre and Peninsula Ballet all before graduating from high school. After graduation, she attended UCLA as a Dance major, and continued her dance career, in Southern California as an industry dancer. Years later she decided to return to the Bay Area to continue her education at San Jose State University in the Theater Arts Department.

Shelley started teaching dance while attending SJSU, and later moved to the Sacramento area where she founded Roseville School of Dance in the 90s. She was the director and choreographer for Valley Dance Repertoire, a pro/am performance and competition company. Shelley has had the honor of judging for many national dance competitions, including KAR and Starbound, and has taught master classes throughout Northern California. She has taught classical ballet, commercial & musical theater jazz, lyrical, and contemporary for many studios in the Sacramento Valley.

Currently, Shelley is an instructor and choreographer for Christian Youth Theater, and is excited to be on the staff of Aria’s to the Pointe. She is also the proud mother of three amazing adults, and feels so blessed for all the opportunities she has had to share her dance expertise and experiences. 

Susan has been teaching classical ballet for over 30 years. Originally from Los Angeles area she studied classical ballet with Helga Monson de Kansky, Upon high school graduation Susan spent a summer school course at Stirling University in Scotland where she studied and performed as a soloist in Swan Lake in Edinburgh Scotland. Susan was a ballet company member for The Long Beach Ballet, Francisco Martinez Dance Theatre, The Eugene Ballet and Ballet Oregon. She later went on to Sevilla Spain to study and perform Spanish flamenco and classical Spanish dance. After discovering a natural enjoyment for teaching she started her own dance, music, and theater school in Prescott Arizona. After relocating to Northern California she received a grant through Mendocino County arts program to share the music and dance culture of Spain to local school children. She has also taught ballet for the Sacramento Ballet, Napa Valley Dance Company, Bay Pointe Ballet, Mendocino Ballet, Eugene Ballet. Susan is happy to have been able to share her love of dance with the ATTP Dancers through teaching all ages and levels of classical ballet.