Meet our Staff
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Owner/Instructor: Shanon Cherny Stibor Favorite Color: black Favorite Song: A Little Respect - Erasure Favorite Movie: White Nights Favorite Food: steak Favorite Quote: "I don't want dancers who want to dance, I want dancers who need to dance" - George Balanchine |
Shanon has over 30 years of dance experience and 25 years of teaching experience. Shanon’s experience includes being the Dance Director of Living Arts Dance Center as well as teaching and choreographing Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop and Lyrical for multiple ensembles including Fantastic Feet in Rohnert Park, California. Shanon studied dance at Sonoma State University in California and earned her BA in Child Psychology from Oakland University. In 2002, Shanon's dream of opening her own studio became a reality and she has been loving it ever since.
Instructor: Martha Jane Brooks Favorite Color: black Favorite Song: Passenger Seat - Death Cab for Cutie Favorite Movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas Favorite Food: Anything sweet! Favorite Quote: "Do it with passion or not at all" - unknown |
Martha has over 19 years of dance experience, including more than 8 years of choreographing and teaching as well as 5 years of professional performance. She is experienced in teaching all levels of Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Tap and Contemporary. Martha attended Oakland University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance. As well as studied with the Kirov Ballet in their Master program. She was a member of Oakland Dance Theater. Before choreograhing for Shanon’s Dance Academy, Martha has choreographed for Bella Pointe Dance, Troy Dance Studio, Insanity Dance Force and the Oakland Dance Theater. Martha has worked with renowned choreographers such as Frank Hatchett, Debbie Reynolds, Laurie Eisenhower, Jon Lehrer, Gregory Patterson, Lori Belilove, and Sergey Vikulov to name a few.
Instructor: Julie Wilson
Favorite Color: purple
Favorite Song: Run to you - Whitney Houston
Favorite Movie: Erin Brockovich
Favorite Food: Sushi - Sashimi
Favorite Quote: "To get what you desire, you must do whatever it takes" - unknown
Julie has been dancing for as young as she can remember to R & B and Motown music. As a young figure skater, she excelled in ballet as part of her conditioning off the ice, where she became more involved with her own freestyle choreography. After high school, she began to study dance more in depth in Chicago attending master classes, workshops, conventions and competitions, as well as Los Angeles where she sang and danced professionally. Studying voice, acting and dance, commercial work provoked her creatively to write and choreograph. Mentoring from Hama, Richard Perry and Jaime Rogers, she evolved as a dancer and singer/songwriter. Julie teaches street/hip hop, jazz, ballet, lyrical, pointe, latin and voice helping her students to discover their own gifts.
Instructor: Sam Stephens
Favorite Color: purple
Favorite Song: Tiny Dancer - Elton John
Favorite Movie: The Notebook
Favorite Food: Greek Salad
Favorite Quote: "The things that make me different are the things that
make me" - Winnie the Pooh
Sam has been dancing since she was 2 ½. She has danced and competed all genres. During her dance career, Sam won Most Improved for Jazz, Tap and Ballet. She attended multiple dance camps and workshops. Sam graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan under the direction of Cameron Basden, former Director of Joffrey Ballet. Sam's junior year she was invited to attend Joffrey Ballet’s training program for jazz in New York but chose to complete her high school years at Interlochen. Sam has performed The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Swan Lake and many others. She has also danced at the White House (honoring Judith Jamison the Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater).
