About Capistrano Academy Of Dance

San Juan Capistrano, Dance Instruction

Capistrano Academy Of Dance has always maintained a distinguished reputation throughout the dance academy industry.  It is a privilege for us to highlight our talented staff.  All teachers hold degrees and certification.

Express yourself through the art of dance. Call Capistrano Academy of Dance today at 949-429-2662 to register for our classes, or browse our website for more information about our instructors, academy and upcoming events.

Check out the Capistrano Academy of Dance Blog!

	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.
	Our Executive Director, Elizabeth Kinney 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.
	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 and 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.
	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.
	Bonnie Delbridge began her dance career in San Diego, California under the instruction of Louis McKay, a top choreographer for Debbie Reynolds. Training in Jazz, Ballet, and Tap were attained in her 7 years of classes in Louis McKay’s San Diego studio to include experience competing in the very early years of Competition Teams in the dance industry. Training for Ms. Delbridge continued in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Hip Hop, Tap, Salsa, Cha Cha, and Swing in numerous studios through out San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles in the following 15 years. Bonnie Delbridge began her professional dance career touring the Country in a Theatre production of “The Best of Burlesque” at the young age of 18 years. Following her road tour of the USA, Bonnie auditioned and was accepted to dance in Japan in a Jazz Theatre Show along side of the current year Miss Nevada, at age 20.   Between the ages 22 & 26, Bonnie (Porter) Delbridge danced as a San Diego Charger Cheer Leader. In addition, Bonnie succeeded with opening her own dance studio and Competition Team, Cutting Edge Dance Company. She ran her own dance studio for an additional 10 years of her professional dance career, choreographing unforgettable Production Pieces such as: Star Wars & The Wizard of Oz. Currently, Bonnie has returned to the dance floor, following a leave of absence in the dance industry for the past 2 years.  Ms. Delbridge is eager to share her love and passion in the art of dance at Capistrano Academy of Dance, with the youngest of dancers… to adults, both men and women, who are ready to boogie down while getting their bodies into shape. Ms. Delbridge will be teaching Small Fry Hip Hop, Jazz II, Ballet/Tap Combo, Adult Cardio Jazz and Zumba for children and adults.
	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.
	Erika Fernandez has over 15+ years of teaching and choreography experience.  She has traveled throughout the United States sharing her talents with students of all ages.  She was a member of the L.A. Clippers Dance Team.  In 1997, Erika received a scholarship from Jimmie DeFore Dance Center in Costa Mesa, CA.  Soon after her training, she was offered a teaching position.  In 2000, she accepted a contract to work for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, ported in New York, NY.  Since her return to southern California, she has choreographed videos for many new and upcoming artists.  Erika is also very busy choreographing for several high schools,  productions and shows and is back at Defore’s working with some of the best talent around.  Capistrano Academy of Dance is very pleased to be adding Erika to our staff.  Erika will be teaching Advanced Teen Hip Hop.
	Will Tran has been dancing and tumbling for about 8 years. He started in gymnastics and trained at Newhope Gymnastics. He continued with his tumbling and started dancing at Fountain Valley High School and Saddleback Dance Center. With his high school dance team, he won numerous solo and group awards. In 2005, he was a finalist out of 400 students at United Spirit Association Dance Camp. With his studio, he won many solo awards and group dances including winning platinum in the Acrobatic category and Mr. Starpower with his solo.  He currently dances in various parades at the Disneyland Resort and teaches around Southern California for area high schools and dance studios. Will is a 2010 graduate from Chapman University, with a major in dance. Will is also the founder and president of the nationally ranked Chapman University Dance Team.  Capistrano Academy of Dance is thrilled to add Mr. Tran to our teaching staff.  Will teaches jazz, lyrical, tumbling and hip hop.

"Thank you Miss Sharon, for another wonderful year of dance.
Your talent is obviously tremendous and
I am so pleased you are fostering the growth of my
daughter's passion for dance."
Carrie K.