Sharon has been involved with dance and ballet for over 25 years.  She also has training as a figure skater and as a gymnast.

Sharon received training in ballet, jazz and modern, she has completed the Royal Academy of Dance training and has also received training in Vaganova, Bournonville, Cechetti and Balanchine techniques.  She has trained under David Howard, Cynthia Harvey, Kennet Oberly, Wes Chapman and Roger Van Fleteren.

Professionally, Sharon was a principal dancer with Metropolitan Ballet of Wichita and Wichita State Performing Arts Company (Kansas), she also danced with White Street Arts Center and the Royal Academy of Ballet School (Illinois) and for Studio 3100 and ArtisTree in Hutchinson, Kansas where she also taught intermediate, advanced and adult ballet, pointe and variations.  Sharon also has taught various levels of ballet, pointe and pilates at Woodstock Ballet Studio and The Dance Academy of Cary (Illinois).

In addition, Sharon was co-coach of the Level 5 and Level 6 Junior Olympic Gymnastics Team at the YMCA in Hutchinson, Kansas where she also taught ballet and jazz.  Before moving to Kansas, Sharon taught gymnastics and dance at the Illini Gymnastics Club and was assistant choreographer for the Illini Figure Skating Club.

While dancing and teaching, Sharon received a B.S. in Ecology, Ethology and Evolution and a M.S. in Wildlife Research/Ornithology from the University of Illinois, a Legal Assistant Certificate from Wichita State University and a Paralegal Degree from Elgin Community College.

KATRINA LOCHRIDGE

Katrina has been dancing for many years and is our children’s ballet teacher. She has trained at Faubourg School of Ballet, Lou Conte Dance Studio, College of DuPage and Ballet Camp Illinois. Teachers have included:  Watmora Casey, Tatyana Mazur, Ernesto Quendit, Luda Lupu, Rieda Dobi-Hite, Nickie Del Re Masino, Camille Turner, Laura Gates, Steve Ewing and Katherine Skleba.  Katrina has taught at Faubourg School of Ballet, Center Stage Dance Studio and Danz-On Salsa Company.  Stage experience includes:  A Celebration of Dance, A Spirit-Filled Christmas, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Les Ballets D’Ete, The Art of Dance, Coppelia, Une Nouvelle Generation De Danse, Raymonda, Les Danses, Le Corsaire, and College of DuPage Dance Showcases

 CHRISSY ROSSI

Chrissy is our tap, jazz and hip hop teacher.  Chrissy has been dancing since she was three years old.  She has training in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and hip hop.  She danced for ten years at Dancers Workshop in St. Clair Shores, Michigan.  She was a member of the Woodstock varsity pom squad from 2003-2005.  Chrissy choreographed the 2006 Sarah Grace Lydia McCullough clinic routine, as well as the 2006-2007 competition routine.  Chrissy continues her work as a pom coach and also teaches at the Cary Park District.  Chrissy is also proficient at musical and sound editing and prepares all of the Center’s music for recitals and company shows and she prepares all the studio’s slide shows and recital shows.

CAREN BALTASI

Caren Baltasi LDN, CCN -Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist received her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics at Purdue University. Her traditional education was supplemented with integrative nutrition training at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Wellness Institute and at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare’s Integrative Medicine Program as well as the Chicago College for Healing Arts to become a Certified Medical Herbalist. She is currently working with several physicians including a neurologist at a headache clinic and a surgeon for healing and weight loss. Caren’s expertise in both integrative functional nutrition and medical nutrition therapy allows her to apply a holistic and medically sensible approach to diet and lifestyle. This innovative approach to diet structure, which takes into account a person’s biological make up, provides the basis for developing an individualized plan to fit into a person’s lifestyle.

Some additional services provided include Body Composition Testing (Bio Impedance Analysis) to assess body water, fat and fat free mass as well as Food Intolerance Testing to address dietary triggers that may be preventing optimal health.