31654 Rancho Viejo Rd., Suites M/N
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Main Line: 949-429-2662
Email: office@capistranodance.com
Hours:
Mon: 2:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Tue-Thu: 3:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Fri: 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Sat: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Sun: Closed
STAFF
Meet Our Dedicated Staff
Our team is committed to nurturing your passion for dance and helping you achieve your fullest potential.
Elizabeth Kinney Marco
Executive Director
Elizabeth Kinney started her dance journey at the age of five, later performing with the Michigan Ballet Theater and earning a summer scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago at the age of twelve. She attended the High School for the Performing Arts in Houston and studied dance at the University of Texas and Point Park College. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin with a minor in dance choreography and a Master's from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a member of The National Dance Education Organization.
Sharon Beeman Kinney
Artistic Director
Sharon Kinney has been in the industry for more than 65 years. Miss Sharon did not start out in ballet as most people think; she started out as a tap dancer and singer. Her father was a self-taught tapper, and he passed that on to his daughter. She was already a weekly performer on the live television show "Make Way for Talent" singing and tapping at 8 years old, when she started her ballet training. She was Miss Michigan Water Wonderland and Miss Hot Jazz, which gave her the opportunity to travel all summer to the many jazz Festivals throughout the United States with such jazz greats as Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie, Al Hurt and the Four Lads, to name a few. At 16, she was chosen to tour Europe to train and perform with the Bolshoi Ballet and the Warsaw Opera House.
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In 1964, she traveled the United States as the Chrysler Imperial LeBaron spokesperson. For over 20 years, she graced the box of Mr. Bubble. Besides her professional Ballet experience, she has performed in musicals like Kiss Me Kate, Oklahoma, Desdemona in Orthello, Sound of Music, West Side Story and Showboat.
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She opened her first dance studio in conjunction with a modelling agency in Lansing, Michigan. She was selected to host a TV show that focused on community events, fashion, and health. Sears was the show's sponsor, and Miss Elizabeth, at age 3, was the little Sears girl in 1968.
She has taught at the University of Houston's dance department. Sharon's children's dance program earned the "Award of Excellence" from the International Dance Teachers Association. She's judged national dance competitions and is affiliated with The National Dance Education Organization.
Laura Malvar
Head Coach/Dance Instructor
Laura Malvar began her dance training in Orange County, California, and expanded her experience at renowned studios such as Jimmie DeFore Dance Center, Edge Performing Arts Center, and Millennium Dance Complex. She has had the privilege of training with industry-leading choreographers, including Alex Wong, Stephen “Twitch” Boss, and Dominic Sandoval. With over 14 years of teaching experience, Laura has instructed a wide range of styles, from ballet and jazz to hip-hop, for dancers of all ages and levels. She has used her expertise in the studio classroom and as a director of a nationally recognized high school dance team, where she provided choreography, performance development, and competition preparation. In addition to teaching, Laura has been a judge for several years, bringing a professional eye for technique, musicality, and performance quality to the competition circuit. Her commitment to education is reflected in her Master’s degree in the Art of Teaching, which enhances her ability to provide constructive, meaningful feedback to dancers. Passionate about both artistry and education, Laura continues to dedicate her career to inspiring dancers to reach their fullest potential.
Jasmine Dideban
Dance Instructor/Team Coach
Jasmine Dideban began her dance journey at a musical theater studio in La Habra, CA, at age 10. She honed her skills at OCSA, a performing arts school in Santa Ana, and later earned her BFA in dance from Cal State Long Beach on a scholarship. Jasmine's training encompasses modern, jazz, lyrical, ballet, and contemporary under the guidance of renowned instructors and choreographers. She has also participated in intensives with BODYTRAFFIC, Danielle Agami's Gaga workshop, and L.A. Contemporary Dance Company, further deepening her exploration of contemporary dance.
Tessa Bella
Dance Instructor
Tessa Bella has 10+ years of experience working in the television, commercial, and live performance industry. She grew up training in all styles of dance and is most recently an NBA Dancer in Los Angeles, CA, and a commercial actor. Tessa’s extensive dance training includes West Coast competitive programs, Pulse on Tour, and LA-based Hip Hop Crews.
Her professional credits include LA Clippers Spirit, Justin Bieber, Lil Mama, Pharrell Williams, ABC Mouse, Nickelodeon, Disney, Mattel, Sea World, ABC, KCA, KCSA, and BET!
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Tessa is respected throughout the entertainment industry and known for her work ethic, professionalism, and positive mindset. She enjoys teaching and is an inspiration to all.
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Tessa looks forward to sharing her passion for dance and life with you all soon!
Anthony Tuason
Dance Instructor/Team Coach
Anthony Tuason, with nearly 10 years of teaching and choreography experience, has also been dancing and performing for almost 15 years. Some notable credits include "Chino" in West Side Story, "Ching Ho" in Thoroughly Modern Millie, "Audrey II" in Little Shop of Horrors, and "The Cowardly Lion" in The Wizard of Oz. He has also appeared in various productions such as "Chicago," "Shrek," "Music Man," and more. Anthony has performed at Disneyland, choreographed award-winning shows at Saddleback College, and coached nationally-ranked competition teams. He has been a guest choreographer at San Juan Hill High School, Aliso Niguel High School, and Saddleback College. Anthony's philosophy is to inspire his students to achieve their best through positivity and hard work.
Paris Smith
Dance Instructor
Paris Smith is a choreographer from San Clemente, California. Her love for dance started when she was just 3 years old and has grown ever since. Paris trained at PAVE School of the Arts and studied jazz, hip hop, musical theater, ballet & contemporary. She is currently signed with BLOC Talent Agency and has worked with choreographers such as Holden Maples & Ali Pfleger. From performing “Lip Sync Battle” to training with “Hollywood Vibe” Pro Company, Paris can do it all.
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Look for Paris on our Summer 2025 and Fall 2025 schedule
Brooke McNamara
Dance Instructor
Meet Miss Brooke – "MamaB"
We’re thrilled to introduce our newest hip-hop teacher, Miss Brooke—affectionately known as "MamaB" by her dancers! Brooke’s dance journey began at the age of four in Los Angeles at a studio much like CDA, called Ciara, where she trained until high school graduation. She started in a tap and ballet combo class, just like CDA’s preschool program, and quickly fell in love with all styles of dance, including lyrical, jazz, modern, funk, and—of course—hip-hop!
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During high school, Brooke was a dedicated member of both the dance and cheer teams, competing at the national level in both disciplines. She also trained at the renowned Millennium Dance Complex in the heart of LA, where she participated in workshops, auditions, and summer intensives.
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Brooke continued dancing throughout college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she was part of the Street Heat dance studio and choreographed award-winning Lip Sync performances for Greek Week all four years.
With a deep passion for dance and the joy it brings, Brooke is beyond excited to share her knowledge, creativity, and love for movement with CDA’s young dancers. She is honored to be part of a studio that feels like home and looks forward to inspiring the next generation—one beat at a time!
Sheri Giller
Dance Instructor
A native of Southern California, Ms. Giller started ballet classes in La Habra, CA. under the private instruction of Marie Hite, from whom she received her training in the Vaganova method. In 1991, she joined Balet Pacifica in Laguna Beach and Irvine as a company dancer under the directorship of Molly Lynch. She continued to dance and teach for the company until 2003.
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Throughout her dancing career, she had the privilege of working with many well-known ballet masters and choreographers throughout their seasons and during their annual Pacifica Choreographic Project, performing at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Her performance credits include many of the classical ballets such as The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, and Paquita, as well as works by George Balanchine, Anthony Tudor, and many more contemporary works by both we l established and up-and-coming choreographers. Many of the roles she performed throughout her career were created for her, and she received much recognition for her precise footwork, musicality, artistic quality, and the strength and fluidity of her movement.
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With a teaching career that has spanned over 35 years, Ms. Giller has continued to fine-tune her teaching skills through education, careful study, and drawing from her own dancing experience. Her knowledge and instruction of classical ballet technique includes instruction of all levels and abilities. She has held the positions of Co-Artistic Director and Ballet Mistress of both Tucson Regional Ballet in Arizona and Piedmont Ballet Theatre in North Carolina, respectively. Many of her students have been accepted to and attended such summer intensive programs and year-round schools as Juilliard, Harid Conservatory, Ballet West, The Bolshoi Academy, School of American Ballet, Ballet Austin, Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Conservatory, The Ailey School, Ballet Met, The Joffrey Ballet School, and American Ballet Theatre. Many of those students have continued on to achieve professional dance careers with their adjacent companies.
Ms. Giller has earned certifications in Bikram Yoga as well as Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), both of which she uses to enhance her students’ learning experience and physical conditioning. She currently enjoys staying physically fit by participating in CrossFit classes.
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As a dance educator, she is committed to providing high-caliber ballet training for all students, regardless of future career goals, and a motivating environment that promotes dance’s unique ability to increase each person’s self-esteem through discipline, physical awareness, and the joy of movement.