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Meet Our Staff
Director & Owner: Miss Theresa Shine
Certified Acro-Dance Adjudicator: Founding Member ADTA
Certified to teach: Kids Yoga (ages 2-12), Acrobatic Arts- Module 1, Aerial & Backhandspring, Kinderdance, KinderGym, and KinderCombo
DEA Member: Performing Arts
USA Gymnastics Recreational Coach
CDC Heads Up Concussion Certified
Miss Theresa has lived and breathed dance and acrobatics since the age of two. With decades of training and performance experience, she brings both artistry and heart into the studio every day.
She holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and French from Southern Connecticut State University and is a 2021 graduate of Broadway Dance Center’s prestigious Pro-Sem program in Musical Theatre & Jazz. Miss Theresa’s technical foundation includes training with American Dance Experience and the New Haven Ballet. She has extensive experience in Acrobatics, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and Tap.
As a performer, she is actively involved in both the Connecticut and New York City dance communities, taking the stage in cabarets, appearing in music videos, and even making a brief appearance on Season 11 of So You Think You Can Dance. She is a decorated artist, holding two regional senior dance titles, the title of 2023 WIDC Pro-Am/Adult National Dance Battle Champion, and a Top 10 finish at DEA’s National Teen Miss Dance of Las Vegas.
Miss Theresa also brings a strong background in gymnastics, having competed for Yale University’s Club Gymnastics Team where she qualified for NAIGC Nationals on Floor in 2019. She currently competes as an Xcel Diamond gymnast for the NAIGC Alumni.
A passionate educator, she has choreographed musicals and school performances throughout Connecticut, sharing her love of storytelling, creativity, and confidence-building with young dancers. This past summer she received a national choreography award from Rave Nationals. Miss Theresa is dedicated to helping every student discover their strength, shine brightly, and fall in love with dance, just as she did.
Performance Credits: Elmwood NY Burlesque, The Shirts, The West End Lounge NYC, We the Heroes Ball, Broadway Dance Center Student Showcase, LipGloss Crisis Productions, The State House Cabaret, Deucebug Productions & Fullblast Booking, PRIDE New Haven, The Stonewall Inn NYC, Troupe 429
Choreography Credits: East Shoreline Catholic Academy 2022 & 2023, Ross Woodward Classical Studies Magnet School 2018.
Competition Coach and Dance Instructor: Miss Kate Shine
DEA Member: Performing Arts
Miss Kate has been both dancing and teaching dance for over 25 years. She started out at Myra's School of Dance in Hamden, CT. Upon graduating dance school, she went on to perform with The Judith Nilsson Ballet Company in Hamden, CT. Miss Kate had the honor of receiving an outstanding tap dance award, as well as placing in various competitions for Dance Educators of America and Dance Masters of America.
Throughout her teaching experience, Kate has always emphasized Ballet technique. She has a strong background in Ballet, Tap, and Jazz dancing. Her past classes have focused on pre-teen and teen dancers both competitive and non-competitive. She also was the head of the arts department at First Congregational Church in West Haven, CT teaching Liturgical Dance.
Miss Kate holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Financial Accounting from The University of New Haven, in West Haven, CT. She also holds nine years experience in International Marketing
Dance Instructor: Miss Jamie Grenet
DEA Member: Performing Arts
CT Certified Elementary School Teacher
Miss Jamie has over 20 years of dance experience in various styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, pom and kick line. She is also a graduate of American Dance Experience. In high school, she was a member of the Hamden High School Dance Team where she won 8 state titles at the CIAC States Competition. She also was named an All-American and placed nationally at the National Dance Team Championship. Outside of dance team, she competed at The World Dance Championship where she placed 5th in the world in the 2018. In college, she was a member of the nationally ranked Central Connecticut State University Dance Team while she earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education.
When teaching, Miss Jamie likes to bring her experience and knowledge to her students while inspiring a new generation of dancers to have fun.
Dance Instructor: Miss Sarah Caron
USA Gymnastics Recreational Coach
Miss Sarah has over 20 years of gymnastics and acrobatics experience. She has worked for All Stars Gymnastics Academy in Windsor, CT for 12 years from 2005-2016. More specifically, she worked with the pre-school program, intermediate recreational gymnastics program (levels 1-3) and tumbling and trampoline. In addition, she helped teach and spot back handspring clinics. She also assisted in choreography for the end of the year show every year which included all levels from pre-school to team.
Miss Sarah has also coached the competitive hip-hop team at All Stars along with a few seasons of dance team both at St. Bernard’s Elementary School and Enfield High School. In addition, Miss Sarah owns three strength and conditioning gyms in Southern California.
Dance Instructor: Kaitlyn Cheslock
Miss Kaitlyn has been dancing for 13 years and is currently enrolled at Shining Starz in our Senior Company. Her specialties include Ballet and Acrobatics. For the past few years, Miss Kaitlyn has volunteered in our summer camps and more recently became an assistant teacher in the Junior Company ballet and acro classes. You can find Miss Kaitlyn coteaching our Junior Company acro class this fall.
Demonstration credits: Acrobatic Arts 2025
Guest Instructors
Danny Vazquez: Hip-Hop
Brandon Gregoire: Musical Theatre & Contemporary
Kristen Cullen: Technique
Mr. Danny is a studio owner and competition director based in New York City. Holding numerous award-winning choreography pieces, Danny brings current industry standards and experience into the studio.
Performance credits include Disney World, and many worldwide performances.
Kristen Cullen: Technique
Brandon Gregoire: Musical Theatre & Contemporary
Kristen Cullen: Technique
Kristen grew up dancing in CT and has also trained in NY and Miami. She was a professional dancer with the WNBA Connecticut Sun and NLL Black Wolves. Kristen has been working with dancers for over 10 years now and is the Founder and Director of Rise Dance & Training. She is also going into her second season as the UConn Dance Team Coach.
Brandon Gregoire: Musical Theatre & Contemporary
Brandon Gregoire: Musical Theatre & Contemporary
Brandon Gregoire: Musical Theatre & Contemporary
Brandon D. Gregoire has been teaching dance technique, as well as choreographing youth and community musical theater for the past 20 years. As a concert dance performer, he’s had the privilege of dancing in works by national and international choreographers such as Pam Tanawitz, Larry Keigwin, Gary Galbraith, and Yvonne Rainer, just to name a few. He has also danced for River Valley Dance Project and Grant Jacoby & Dancers (MA). Regional professional credits include Ivoryton Playhouse, Hackmatack Playhouse (ME), and La Comedia Dinner Theatre (OH). Community theater credits include Lakewood Theater (ME), Castle Craig Players, Connecticut Theater Company, Square Foot Theater Company, Chestnut Street Playhouse, Artful Living Productions, Waterford Week, and Pfizer Players. Brandon holds a Master of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performing Arts from Wichita State University. Brandon is currently a Performance Dance Educator with Astra Studio of Dance and Performing Arts in Old Saybrook, where he teaches technique and choreographs for competitions. He will also be going back to school this fall to earn a Master of Science in Elementary Education with initial certification.
Sydney Grenet: Ballet, Tap and Jazz
Sydney Grenet: Ballet, Tap and Jazz
Brandon Gregoire: Musical Theatre & Contemporary
Sydney grew up training in various styles of dance and is a graduate of American Dance Experience. She is currently a junior at SCSU majoring in Special Education and is a member of their UDA dance team. Growing up, Sydney was also a member of the Hamden High School Dance Team, placing 5th in the nation and becoming and All American Athlete in 2021. She has also competed for the SDA attending the World Dance Championships in 2022.
Brianna Rusch: Contemporary
Sydney Grenet: Ballet, Tap and Jazz
Rachel de la Torre, RD: Nutrition
Brianna received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Dance from Manhattanville College in 2017. She has studied with choreographers such as Shawn Garnier, Peter Pucci, Marta Renzi, Shawn Bible, and Lawrence Goldhuber. Brianna was a featured dancer in a choreography documentary presented at The Jacob Burns Film Center in titled “Swag
and Bach”.
During her time at Manhattanville she choreographed two contemporary pieces for the Spring Dance Concerts in 2015 and 2016. This past spring she presented her senior thesis, “Setting Fire” the piece was an experimental contemporary piece that incorporated digital media. She has trained with dancers from the hit show “So You Think You Can Dance” through conventions such as Tremaine, Excel in Motion and Kids Artistic Revue.
Through the years she has studied jazz, modern, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, ballet, African jazz, and lyrical. Brianna has taught a variety of styles including tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop and lyrical for a range of ages, since 2015. Through her years of teaching, she has presented original choreography at Dancefest Stamford, DRA’s Stars of Tomorrow, and Broadway Dance Centers AIM Invitational and Directs the Elite Company at a dance studio located in Rye Brook,NY.
She has completed Broadway Dance Centers Teacher training and continues to expand her teaching knowledge.
Rachel de la Torre, RD: Nutrition
Sydney Grenet: Ballet, Tap and Jazz
Rachel de la Torre, RD: Nutrition
Registered Dietician
Miss Rachel is a registered dietician at Columbia University and a former collegiate gymnast for Southern CT State University. Working with student athletes, Rachel feels that food should always be priority in both dancers and gymnasts alike. By fueling our bodies, we are able to stay active and healthy as performers.
Jule Rotella: Acrobatics, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz
Jule Rotella: Acrobatics, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz
Jule Rotella: Acrobatics, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz
Jule Rotella grew up in New Jersey, dancing from age 3 through 18 years old at her home studio, New School of Dance Arts. She choreographed pieces and performed at Project Dance in New York City, an outdoor performance in Times Square that formed after 9/11 as a way to bring people together. She volunteered with Sharing the Arts, a program dedicated to teaching students with special needs dance, music and theater.
Jule found passion in dance, and went on to train as a teacher under her home studio at age 19. She became certified by Acrobatic Arts in 2016. She taught for 6 years, including Acrobatics, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Ballet. She also assisted and then led a competition team, with her competition choreography winning High Gold and Platinum awards.
