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Instructors: |
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About
your Director :
VALARIE SIMPSON
-
Valarie’s dance
training began in Florence, SC. She was a soloist with the
Florence Civic Ballet Company and twice danced the leading
role in their production of ‘The Nutcracker.’ In Charleston, SC Valarie danced with the
Robert Ivey Ballet Company. She has owned and operated her
own dance studios in Nebraska and North Carolina.
Since living in Richmond, she has taught classes at the
Richmond Dance Center, directed a dance
program for competitive gymnasts at the Virginia
International Gymnastics School, Inc. and taught aerobics
classes as a member of the adjunct faculty of J.S.
Reynolds. Valarie has also worked as a producer and host of
several radio and television programs in the Richmond area.
The
School of Dance
Arts
is now in
its tenth year. Valarie is married and the mother of two
boys and a girl.
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Sarah
Cummings
–is a native of Boynton Beach, FL where she started her
dance training at the Southern Dance Theatre. Sarah’s areas
of study included ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern and
hip hop. She was a member of the award winning ACHS Eagle-etts
and Company whose performances included the Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day parade, Miami Dolphins half Time show,
Miami Heat half time show, and an invitation to perform in
the 1992 Summer Olympics in Spain. Sarah was also a dancer
for the Florida Beachdogs of the Continental Basketball
Association. In 1997, Sarah moved to Richmond, where she has
earned a B.S. in psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice
from VCU. She holds a degree in Forensic Science with
minors in Biology and Chemistry from VCU.
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Tracey
Clevenger
– Tracy has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Pointe. While at
Ferrum College she performed with the Ferrum College Dance
Company. Tracey holds a degree in Child Development and
minor in Psychology. Tracey has worked as a kindergarten
teacher, assistant Director of a Day Care, and as a Child
Care provider. Tracey is married and the mother of three
girls.
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Kattie Burke
Chabot - Kattie is a graduate of Atlee High School
where she danced and sang as a member of their award
winning show choir for 4 years. Kattie has danced with
School of Dance Arts since our opening in ’99. She has
worked as a teacher assistant and received special
training thru the Dance Revolution conference. Kattie
recently married in the Summer of ’05 and resides in
King William.
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Shannon Taylor
- Shannon is a native of Williamsburg Va. And a graduate
of VCU. Shannon has been dancing since she was a child
in her mom’s studios in West Point and Williamsburg.
She has trained in Ballet, Jazz and Tap. She also was
an instructor in both West Point and Williamsburg.
Shannon danced with us in “The Journey” last season at
SODA. She is married and the mother of 2 daughters.
She resides in Mechanicsville.
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Sara Hill - Sara has been dancing at School of
Dance Arts for 10 years. She began her teaching as an
Assistant Instructor, and in 2007 taught her first class
as an Instructor at School of Dance Arts. She has
attended workshops through Dance Revolution and DMI to
enhance her training. She currently is attending
College and working towards a degree in Psychology and a
Masters in Education.
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Karen Engel -
Karen began her early training with Margaret Johnson
School of Dance and later with James Lowell both in
Richmond. At age 14 she began studying with Nat’l
Academy of Dance in NYC. Karen has owned and operated
her own studio in West Point, Virginia and held
satellite studios in King William, Deltaville and
Gloucester. She has also danced professionally in a
number of roles throughout Virginia like Coppellia, The
Nutcracker, and Swan Lake as well as others. Karen is
the mother of Instructor Shannon Taylor and has 2
beautiful granddaughters!
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