About Us
Welcome to Capistrano Academy of Dance !
Our company is dedicated to the development of each student’s individual potential and is committed
to bringing your child the finest dance training. All of our teachers are dancers who love to teach.
Each teacher has been personally selected and trained by our nationally recognized Artistic Director
Sharon Kinney.
Our Goal
Our goal at Capistrano Academy of Dance is to establish positive self-esteem and passion for the art
of dance in all children and adults alike. We strive to achieve this by providing a high quality dance
program recognized for its excellence and integrity.
Our company is dedicated to the development of each student’s individual potential and is committed
to bringing your child the finest dance training. All of our teachers are dancers who love to teach.
Each teacher has been personally selected and trained by our nationally recognized Artistic Director
Sharon Kinney.
Our Goal
Our goal at Capistrano Academy of Dance is to establish positive self-esteem and passion for the art
of dance in all children and adults alike. We strive to achieve this by providing a high quality dance
program recognized for its excellence and integrity.
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Our Artistic Director, Sharon Kinney
Sharon Kinney is the Artistic Director/Owner of Capistrano Academy of Dance and has over 45
years experience in the Performing Arts. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama and Dance
from the University of Detroit Mercy College, Detroit, Michigan. Sharon has also studied dance at
Adelphi College, New York. As a professional dancer, Sharon has performed throughout Europe with
the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia and the Warsaw Opera House in Poland. As a former resident
choreographer of the Michigan Ballet Theater she has put together full length ballets such as the
Nutcracker, Copellia, and Swan Lake. Formerly, Sharon was the Artistic Director for the Houston
Dance Theater and on staff at the University of Houston’s dance department. Sharon's dance
program for children was given the "Award of Excellence" by The International Dance Teachers
Association, in August 2000. She has directed and performed in numerous radio and TV
commercials as well as been photographed by Life Magazine. Sharon has also judged many national
dance competitions throughout the country. One of Sharon's professional affiliations is involvement
with the The National Dance Education Organization. Other affiliations include the Michigan Opera
House in Detroit Michigan and DanceMakers, Inc.
years experience in the Performing Arts. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama and Dance
from the University of Detroit Mercy College, Detroit, Michigan. Sharon has also studied dance at
Adelphi College, New York. As a professional dancer, Sharon has performed throughout Europe with
the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia and the Warsaw Opera House in Poland. As a former resident
choreographer of the Michigan Ballet Theater she has put together full length ballets such as the
Nutcracker, Copellia, and Swan Lake. Formerly, Sharon was the Artistic Director for the Houston
Dance Theater and on staff at the University of Houston’s dance department. Sharon's dance
program for children was given the "Award of Excellence" by The International Dance Teachers
Association, in August 2000. She has directed and performed in numerous radio and TV
commercials as well as been photographed by Life Magazine. Sharon has also judged many national
dance competitions throughout the country. One of Sharon's professional affiliations is involvement
with the The National Dance Education Organization. Other affiliations include the Michigan Opera
House in Detroit Michigan and DanceMakers, Inc.
Our Talented Staff
Elizabeth Kinney began the study of dance at the age of five, and at age 9 began performing
with the Michigan Ballet Theater. Performances included full Ballet productions of the Nutcracker,
Peter and the Wolf and Swan Lake. At the age of twelve, Elizabeth received a summer scholarship
to attend the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. Elizabeth attended the High School for the Performing Arts
in Houston, Texas, participating in masters classes with Margo Marshall. She has studied dance
at the University of Texas under Yacov Sharir and John Sanford. Elizabeth has also performed
and studied dance at Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Elizabeth holds a Bachelors
of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin, minoring in Dance Choreography and also holds a
Masters from the University of Pittsburgh. Professional memberships include: The National Dance
Education Organization.
with the Michigan Ballet Theater. Performances included full Ballet productions of the Nutcracker,
Peter and the Wolf and Swan Lake. At the age of twelve, Elizabeth received a summer scholarship
to attend the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. Elizabeth attended the High School for the Performing Arts
in Houston, Texas, participating in masters classes with Margo Marshall. She has studied dance
at the University of Texas under Yacov Sharir and John Sanford. Elizabeth has also performed
and studied dance at Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Elizabeth holds a Bachelors
of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin, minoring in Dance Choreography and also holds a
Masters from the University of Pittsburgh. Professional memberships include: The National Dance
Education Organization.
Lacey Yell-Pattison earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from San Francisco State
University. While studying at SFSU, Lacey was a student teacher in Pilates and Dance Conditioning
and an after school mentor and teacher for under privileged youth in the Bay Area. Her training
began at age 3 studying Jazz, Tap, Ballet, and Ballroom. She has been teaching Jazz, Tap, and
Ballet to all ages for 6 years. She has studied privately with Nationally Recognized Tap Instructors,
Eddie Brown, Bob Caroll, Steve Zee, and Fred Strickler. She has been a part of numerous
professional and semi-professional Tap companies such as “Rhapsody in Taps” directed by Linda
Sohl-Ellison, “Sound Effects” directed by Christy Hernandez and “Stepology”, located in the Bay
Area and directed by John Kloss. Lacey was voted best performer in the Dance Collective at
Saddleback College in 2003 and served as guest choreographer in the Fall Faculty Concert in
2002. Currently, Lacey is an apprentice with “Rhapsody in Taps”, a professional Tap Company
directed by Linda Sohl-Ellsion. Lacey is also a faculty member at Saddleback College and Irvine
Valley Community Colleges. Along with her weekly dance classes, Lacey also heads up the Tap
competition team for Capistrano Academy of Dance.
Miss Lacey will be teaching Tap, Leaps & Turns and Pilates
University. While studying at SFSU, Lacey was a student teacher in Pilates and Dance Conditioning
and an after school mentor and teacher for under privileged youth in the Bay Area. Her training
began at age 3 studying Jazz, Tap, Ballet, and Ballroom. She has been teaching Jazz, Tap, and
Ballet to all ages for 6 years. She has studied privately with Nationally Recognized Tap Instructors,
Eddie Brown, Bob Caroll, Steve Zee, and Fred Strickler. She has been a part of numerous
professional and semi-professional Tap companies such as “Rhapsody in Taps” directed by Linda
Sohl-Ellison, “Sound Effects” directed by Christy Hernandez and “Stepology”, located in the Bay
Area and directed by John Kloss. Lacey was voted best performer in the Dance Collective at
Saddleback College in 2003 and served as guest choreographer in the Fall Faculty Concert in
2002. Currently, Lacey is an apprentice with “Rhapsody in Taps”, a professional Tap Company
directed by Linda Sohl-Ellsion. Lacey is also a faculty member at Saddleback College and Irvine
Valley Community Colleges. Along with her weekly dance classes, Lacey also heads up the Tap
competition team for Capistrano Academy of Dance.
Miss Lacey will be teaching Tap, Leaps & Turns and Pilates
Sara Flynn was trained as a young girl at the Ballet Conservatory of Saddleback Valley, where
she became a dance instructor at 16 years old. While cultivating a strong background in hip hop
and urban dance, Sara has worked with and danced for the Culture Shock Dance Troupe, the City
of Anaheim, KC and the Sunshine Band, and various choreographers from the highly esteemed
Jimmie DeFore Dance Center and Millennium Dance Complex.
Sara also incorporates international mission trips into her dance career. She spent the summer of
2006 in Rwanda, Africa and Burundi. There she spent weeks teaching at schools and at the
National University of Rwanda along with spending time with village orphans and doing rural
hospital evaluations. Sara also takes high school students to Mexico regularly to do mission work
and leadership training. Sara joined Capistrano Academy of Dance in the Fall of 2007. She
teaches weekly classes at the studio and is the lead competition coach for hip hop and lyrical.
Sara holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Irvine.
Miss Sara will be teaching Hip Hop, Lyrical and Preschool Dance
she became a dance instructor at 16 years old. While cultivating a strong background in hip hop
and urban dance, Sara has worked with and danced for the Culture Shock Dance Troupe, the City
of Anaheim, KC and the Sunshine Band, and various choreographers from the highly esteemed
Jimmie DeFore Dance Center and Millennium Dance Complex.
Sara also incorporates international mission trips into her dance career. She spent the summer of
2006 in Rwanda, Africa and Burundi. There she spent weeks teaching at schools and at the
National University of Rwanda along with spending time with village orphans and doing rural
hospital evaluations. Sara also takes high school students to Mexico regularly to do mission work
and leadership training. Sara joined Capistrano Academy of Dance in the Fall of 2007. She
teaches weekly classes at the studio and is the lead competition coach for hip hop and lyrical.
Sara holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Irvine.
Miss Sara will be teaching Hip Hop, Lyrical and Preschool Dance
Dayse Tarakdian was born and raised in Brazil where she studied Ballet at Vera Bublitz Dance
Company and School for 10 years performing different roles like Paquita(principal), Swan
Lake(Odette), Nutcracker (Sugar Plum Fairy), Don Quixote(Kitri), La Bayadere(corps), Le
corsaire (Pas de trois and Medora) where she won a first place in a dance competition/advance
level, ,and partnered with Peter Boal (NYCB) at the age of 17 performing Dialogue Impossible
(contemporary ). She moved to USA in 1999 and has been performing with different Dance
companies :La Danserie(LA), San Pedro City Ballet, Media City Ballet(LA), Les Ballets Persian,
Motion Tribe (OC),Glory of Christmas(OC), Disneyland(OC), City Ballet of Los Angeles, Namah
Ensemble(Persian, modern, Flamenco USA, Canada and Europe tour), Brasil Brazil show
(Special solo Samba Ballerina),Costa Victoria cruise ship (Mediterranean sea),Samba Dancer for
many different groups and Restaurants all over USA ,ballet teacher over 10 years (Brasil and
USA), tv shows: Telemundo LA, NJ and Miami; KTLA Morning news; Channel 5 Morning news LA;
Univision LA;CW11 NY; She moved to NY in 2006 when she was an apprentice at NYTB where
she performed the Spanish coffee in the Nutcracker 06 and performed different roles at Margot
Fountein Academy, Ballet for young audiences and Leggz Nutcracker 07 and 08, she has
recently taught ballet at Dance Source (Queens), Debi's Dance Studio(Suffern) and performing
Samba and Belly dancing in restaurants, and Concerts. Dayse comes to Capistrano Academy of
Dance fresh from New York.
Miss Dayse will be teaching ballet and pointe.
Our Executive Director, Elizabeth Kinney
Tracey Larsen comes to Capistrano Academy of Dance from Philadelphia, PA, where she was
extensively trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern. She has performed in various venues
throughout the Philadelphia area including the Marion Anderson Awards, the Republican
National Convention Opening Ceremonies, and the Naming Ceremony for the Kimmel Center
for the Performing Arts. She also danced with Break the Floor Productions in NYC under Gil
Stroming. Tracy graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ohio State University with a BFA in
dance. While in Ohio, she was tap director for the Columbus Dance Theatre. This will be her
8th year teaching dance. She currently is Team Coach for the Junior Tap competition team,
which has earned top choreography and performance awards for the past two years. When
Tracy is not dancing, she is a dedicated mother of two.
Miss Tracy will be teaching tap and jazz.
extensively trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern. She has performed in various venues
throughout the Philadelphia area including the Marion Anderson Awards, the Republican
National Convention Opening Ceremonies, and the Naming Ceremony for the Kimmel Center
for the Performing Arts. She also danced with Break the Floor Productions in NYC under Gil
Stroming. Tracy graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ohio State University with a BFA in
dance. While in Ohio, she was tap director for the Columbus Dance Theatre. This will be her
8th year teaching dance. She currently is Team Coach for the Junior Tap competition team,
which has earned top choreography and performance awards for the past two years. When
Tracy is not dancing, she is a dedicated mother of two.
Miss Tracy will be teaching tap and jazz.