Ms. Shelley

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. 

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