About Our Instructors.

Miss Marcia has been dancing as long as she can remember. While growing up, she performed all over the Midwest, for USO shows and toured Poland as a folk dancer. She performed as a professional tap dancer in Northern Nevada. She has a Bachelors Degree in elementary education and utilizes that knowledge when working with the variety of ages and learning styles of her students. She is constantly taking classes for professional dance educators in all areas of dance, is certified by Dance Masters of America and is part of a network of highly respected dance teachers throughout the West. She has choreographed for musical theater productions at the high school and is co director of the summer children’s theater program on the South Shore. Her choreography could also be seen at dance galas in Reno and at pageants. Miss Marcia received the “Champions For Children” award from The El Dorado Child Abuse Prevention Council and carried the Olympic Torch representing the spirit of the City of South Lake Tahoe. It is a continuing goal to build the dance and performing arts outreach programs. She has been married to Dennis forever and they are the parents of Lisa, who graduated from UNLV with a BFA in dance, is certified in Yoga and Pilates, is pursuing an elementary teaching credential and is a dancer in Las Vegas. Their son Evan, who graduated from UCSB in Business and Spanish is pursuing his Masters Degree. She is grateful every day for her wonderful family, staff, dancers, parents and friends who are truly the ones who make our dancers “The Shining Stars of Lake Tahoe”.

Miss Angie brings a dynamic hip hop and creative contemporary jazz style to her classes and her choreography. In addition to her dance background, Angie has been studying extensively with the top hip hop and jazz choreographers in the nation. Miss Angie is a gifted singer, who studied with an esteemed vocal coach in New York. She was one of the lead organizers in the Diabetes fundraisers. Angie was diagnosed at 10 years old with Type I diabetes and is an advocate for children with this lifelong illness. Angie is a talented cosmetologist and the owner of RAH hair salon where she held a Princess hair day and donated the proceeds to Diabetes Camp. Her beautiful daughter Aurora turned 12 this year and assisted in her mom’s elementary hip hop class and with the young theater program. She married Herbert Aguirre in August.

Miss Nicole incorporates her extensive ballet training and brings an artistic style to her choreography in the variety of classes she teaches. She has danced professionally for Eli Kerr’s show that toured Northern California, Northern Nevada and Oregon, the “Chipper Lowell Show” and continues to perform for special events. She assists in organizing the vast number of props, costume pieces and logistics for the studio’s productions. Nicole was also a lead organizer for the diabetes fundraisers and loves to volunteer at her children’s school. Her son Kasey, was diagnosed with diabetes in March of 2006 at the age of 2. Kasey and sister Alyssa are “Shining Stars” and little brother Tyler shares his adorable smile with everyone he meets.

Miss Robin is one of the most sought after ballet instructors in the Tahoe-Carson area. From the time she started taking classes, she was recognized for her exceptional talent as a dancer. She studied with various ballet schools and performed in ballet companies all over the United States. She also has a long career as a performer in other dance styles. She loves sharing her vast knowledge and background with her students and is proud that her ballet students have gone on to join professional ballet companies all over the country. Miss Robin is also a seamstress and photographer and the co-owner of Tahoe Photographic Tours. She and her husband Keith have a home in Christmas Valley.

Jayme Lowe received her Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Organizational Leadership with a minor in dance from Chapman University. She grew up dancing at the studio and attended workshops in Las Vegas, Portland and Disneyland and danced at both Chapman and UNR. Jayme worked at the SOCAPA performing arts camp in Los Angeles as the dance director, where she not only taught, but hired and worked with top name dance instructors and choreographers in Southern California. She performs and choreographs professionally for corporate events. She danced with Essence Dance Company in Reno at Arttown. She works in the Day Treatment Program for troubled youth with Alliance Family Services in Reno and also is employed by Harrahs Tahoe.

Jenna Ervin grew up in South Lake Tahoe and studied a variety of dance styles at the studio She attended dance workshops in Portland and Disneyland and has worked with many guest instructors, particularly tap guru Mike Wittmers. She has a degree in Education from Pacific Lutheran University where she was part of the dance program and is pursuing a Masters Degree in Education from USC. She is an exceptional tap dancer and teaches one of the elementary tap classes and assists in one of the pre-school classes. Jenna is also a substitute teacher for Lake Tahoe Unified Schools. She and husband Gunnar are the proud parents of a new baby boy.

Kassi Dennis joined our faculty this year after attending some of our summer ballet classes. She studied dance in Grass Valley and has been on scholarship at numerous conventions. She was also a scholarship student at the Cal Arts summer intensive in dance. Her specialties are contemporary, jazz and hip hop. She works with Miss Jayme in the technique and contemporary classes and teaches the elementary girls, elementary boys and middle school boys hip hop classes. She also performs for corporate events. Kassi loves children and works at a local day care.

Chesi Cooley grew up dancing at the studio and attended a workshop for dance teachers. Chesi has taught hip hop and assisted in the preschool and couples class. She graduated from the Fire Academy, is continuing her education and works at the Fresh Ketch.. Miss Becky and Miss Toni are the teaching assistants and substitute teachers in a variety of classes. Their ability to work with the children with genuine caring and kindness is always obvious. Miss Toni is certified in early childhood education and continues to study dance at the studio and Lake Tahoe Community College. She “loves learning every style of dance.” Her son Nick is in the theater, hip hop, tap and couples classes. Miss Becky is a teacher at Little Flower Pre-School and is pursuing a degree in early childhood and elementary education. She grew up dancing at the studio where she was involved in workshops and performances and she participates in the adult tap class. Becky and her husband Justin are active in the South Shore community.

The studio often brings guest faculty including: Mike Wittmers, Erin Lamont, Lizz Plotts, Angela Smith, Lisa Sarosik, Josh Miller, Karl Woodland, Erin Hagerty, Chelsea Wightman, Jessica Broyles, Kelsie Rae Stewart, Missy Miller

Once again, we will be bringing in a variety of guest instructors from all over the country.