Shanda began her dance education at Carla’s Dance Factory fifteen years ago, under the direction of Miss Carla. Shanda’s dance skills and natural teaching abilities allowed her to begin assisting classes at the early age of eleven. At seventeen, her small group choreography won the Teacher’s Choreography award at Applause National Talent Competition. Shanda has competed for fifteen years, winning top awards in all disciplines of dance. She recently won “The Future Star Award”, the Senior Overall highest score, and was one of five dancers to receive a scholarship to NYC for a workshop. Her solo routines and choreography have consistently earned both her, and her students, top overall awards and the coveted Platinum Award. Her students are awarded for expression, intensity ,and showmanship all a reflection of her work. Shanda has an intense drive and loves the competition circuit. She expects her students to achieve and excel and works diligently and tirelessly on her ideas, costumes and prop designs.

Shanda continues to study at local conventions, most recently Tremaine, The Pulse, Nuvo, Southeastern Tap Explosion and Jump. This summer she will be attending the Pulse and Broadway Dance Center Teacher’s Workshop. Shanda has taken classes with some of the best, including Mike Minery, Josh Hilberman, Robert Reed, Misha Gabriel, Mia Michaels and her all time favorite, Doug Caldwell.

Shanda studied for one year with The Dance Arts Centre an intense pre-professional dance company. This season she has continued her training under the tutorage of Angie Clark and has partnered with Jeffrey Duffy a sixteen year old dancing sensation that is a company member of the elite Pebblebrook High School Performing Arts School. We were excited to see them perform in this years recital. Shanda’s dances and choreography are forever morphing into something new and fresh. She is looking forward to sharing her passion and style of dance with all of her students.

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