General Information
Our Faculty
Instructors
Jody Anderson-Miller (Miss Jody) started her serious ballet training at age 14 at the North Carolina School of the Arts and continued at the American Ballet Theatre School in New York City on full scholarship. She was invited to join the Kansas City Ballet at age 18 and was promoted to a principal dancer by age 19. As a principal dancer with the Kansas City Ballet for 16 years, Jody had the honor of performing some of the greatest works of the 20th Century. She had the privilege of dancing the steps of such esteemed choreographers as George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, Agnes DeMille, Anthony Tudor, Todd Bolender and Anne Reinking. Another highlight of Jody’s career was to be handpicked by Alvin Ailey to perform his ballet Flowers, and to perform as a guest artist with his company, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Jody also performed and was the Associate Choreographer and Community Chorus Director with Kansas City’s Starlight Theatre. She also performed with St. Louis MUNY Opera, Atlanta Theatre of the Stars and Houston’s Theater Under the Stars. Jody was previously co-owner and producer of the New Candlelight Theatre in Arden De., and she also teaches ballet technique, pointe, variations and musical theatre at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia and West Chester, PA. Jody is proudest of her finest production yet, daughter Julia, now two years old. Jody has choreographed for DDC and is happy to be on the faculty.
Joan Beatson (Miss Joan) is a native of Wilmington, Delaware and graduated cum laude from Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with a B.A. in Dance. Joan studied dance in New York with Michael Vernon, Ann Reinking, Sharon Romeyko, and Peff Modelski, among others, and danced professionally in such shows as West Side Story, Cabaret, Chicago and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. She has taught ballet, jazz, partnering, tap and lyrical to students of all ages in the area for over 10 years. Joan is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Joan has also attended the Teacher’s Workshop at CPYB in Carlisle, PA. This is Joan’s fifth year at DDC and she loves working with the dedicated DDC faculty and students.
Melissa Bessent-Rivera (Miss Melissa) graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance education, concentration in modern dance. She danced professionally with Philadelphia modern based company, the Anna Marie Mulgrew Dancers and Company. As a company member, she performed at Martha’s Vineyard and the Painted Bride Theater in Philadelphia. Miss Melissa was involved in outreach/education programs for schools in New Jersey and Philadelphia.
She has choreographed several modern pieces for DDC's various Spring Gala's, most recently reworking the modern version of “Little Red Riding Hood” for Tales from the Enchanted Forest. Miss Melissa and her husband Adolfo reside in Wilmington with their children Azrael and Mercy.
She has choreographed several modern pieces for DDC's various Spring Gala's, most recently reworking the modern version of “Little Red Riding Hood” for Tales from the Enchanted Forest. Miss Melissa and her husband Adolfo reside in Wilmington with their children Azrael and Mercy.
Allyson Cohen-Sherlock (Miss Allyson) has trained at the Delaware Dance Company since she was four years old. She joined the Performing Company in 1985 and rose through the ranks to principal dancer. Her many and varied roles include “Princess Aurora” in “Sleeping Beauty” and the “Sugar Plum Fairy” in the annual production of “The Nutcracker.” Miss Allyson has also studied at the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, Burklyn Ballet Theatre in Vermont, University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Boston Ballet School and the Hartford Ballet School. In addition to her teaching and dancing duties for DDC, Miss Allyson has also contributed as a choreographer for the Performing Company with a jazz ballet “Swingin’ and Jumpin’”, a classical ballet “Vivaldi”, and a solo piece, “Waterfall,” in the contemporary ballet Elemental Rhythms that was performed at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in August 2002. She graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a certification in Special Education. Miss Allyson teaches high school dance at Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington. She and husband Adam are the proud parents of Hayden and Ava Rose.
Kathleen Gallant (Miss Kathleen) began her dance training in New Jersey and continued in Paris, France through an international study program. She earned her B.A. from Skidmore College and an M.A. in Literature and Pedagogy from the University of Delaware. She has worked extensively with children and adults in summer camps, after-school programs, and community theatre groups. Miss Kathleen joined the DDC faculty in 1992 and is also the Dance Coordinator of the Western Family YMCA School of Dance. Because of her affinity for all things French and her love of ballet history and vocabulary, in 2005 she received the French Advocate of the Year Award from the faculty of the University of Delaware. Miss Kathleen and her husband John reside in Old New Castle and love to travel.
Samantha Gartley (Miss Samantha) began her training at DDC at the age of 4 and has been a member of the Performing Company since 2006. She graduated from Cab Calloway School for the Arts where she majored in Dance and is currently at the University of Delaware, majoring in Food Science. She has volunteered as a teaching assistant and camp assistant for many7 years and in September 2009 became a junior member of the Faculty. Samantha has performed in the annual Nutcracker ballet as well as numerous other DDC performances including Peter Rabbit and Other Tales, Tales from the Enchanted Forest, Cinderella and DancEmotion. She has suplimented her training by attending summer programs and workshops at DDC, the Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theater and elsewhere. Samantha enjoys sharing her love of dance with younger dancers and looks forward to her classes this year.
Jenifer Haggarty (Miss Jenifer) joined DDC in 1997 as a faculty member and a Principle dancer with the Performing Company, having danced professionally with Philadanco, Dancefusion, Swarthmore Ballet Theatre and other companies in the Philadelphia area. She has choreographed and directed the First Act in DDC's “The Nutcracker” for the past nine years, and has also choreographed various modern and contemporary pieces for the Performing Company's repetoire. She is certified in both Pilates and Balletone and is looking forward to another exciting year with all the DDC dancers. She an husband Michael are the proud parents of 3 children, Amanda, Matthew and newly arrived, Nicholas.
Sherry Hiott (Miss Sherry) Sherry Hiott (Miss Sherry) was awarded a full scholarship at the Boston Ballet School under the direction of E. Virginia Williams and at the prestigious Harkness House for Ballet Arts under the direction of international teacher David Howard. She was invited to join the American Festival Ballet for their second European tour with Rudolph Nureyev. She has performed with regional and professional companies including Mercury Ballet Company, Ithaca Ballet Company, Dance Circle, Festival Ballet of New York, Galveston Ballet and Corpus Christi Ballet Company, in all manner of roles including character and comedic. Miss Sherry also served as Ballet Mistress for both the Galveston Ballet Company and the Corpus Christi Ballet Company. She has trained to teach in the Russian method with Kirov trained ballet masters Constantin Russo, Ute Metreuter, Janina Cunova and Jurgen Schneider and has also trained in the Vagonova method and Royal Ballet style with Kathleen Crofton. She has also studied the Balanchine style. In 1998, Miss Sherry moved to Delaware with her husband David who became the captain of Delaware’s Tall Ship, the Kalmar Nyckel. She has taught at The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Rock School West. In recent summers, Miss Sherry has attended the David Howard Teacher Training Workshop at the University of North Carolina, the teacher’s workshop at Julliard N. Y. , and the teacher training course at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in Carlisle PA. Mrs. Hiott has two children, Eva and David, who also enjoy dancing!
Shannon Lynch (Miss Shannon) trained in ballet in New York with the Greenwich Ballet School and Lorna London School of Ballet. She taught creative movement in Westchester, NY for the White Plains Department of Recreation and taught 4 years at The Preschool Workshop in Kemblesville, PA. Miss Shannon is pleased to begin her 8th year with DDC, working with dancers in the Childrens’ Division. She has always loved singing and dancing and recently performed in her first musical, a local production of Godspell. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with a minor in dance at West Chester University. Miss Shannon lives with her husband Nathan and daughters, Isla, and newly arrived, Tessa, in Landenberg, PA.
Nichole Masters (Miss Nichole) is a graduate of Cape Town University Ballet School, where she studied Ballet, Modern, Spanish Dance, choreography and choreology. She taught with the Western Cape Education department for nine years, specializing in ballet and creative dance. During those years she also organized RAD examinations and staged and choreographed student performances. In 1999 she moved to the USA and joined the faculty of the Shore Ballet School, Island Heights, New Jersey. While at Shore Ballet she taught ballet, modern dance and choreographed/ staged numerous dances for student performances. Ms. Masters has been examined successfully in RAD and Cecchetti methods and holds the Royal Academy of Dance’s Teachers diploma. She is a member of the American Academy of Ballet run by Mignon Furman and is also a Certified Fitness instructor. Ms. Masters is very excited to be teaching at DDC.
Kelly Millar (Miss Kelly) was raised in Elmer, NJ and now owns a home in Milford, DE with her husband Jason. She began her dance training at the age of nine under the direction of Maxine and Kimberly Chapman. Kelly became a member of the Vineland Regional Dance Company and danced lead roles, including the “Sugar Plum Fairy” in The Nutcracker. As a dancer with the Northeast Regional Company, she traveled the United States for the Regional Dance America Festivals. Kelly has worked with many companies as both a guest teacher and choreographer. She has served as the Ballet Mistress for Delaware Ballet, contributed as a choreographer to DancEmotion in 2009 and has taught summer Intensive Workshops at DDC for several years.
Heather Reynolds (Miss Heather) graduated with honors from Wilmington University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 2006. Miss Heather began her training with the Delaware Dance Company in 1991. Through the years as a Performing Company member, she participated in numerous productions including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel & Gretel, and Peter Rabbit, to name a few. Miss Heather completed DDC’s Teacher Trainee Program in the spring of 2000 and joined the faculty that fall. She currently co-directs the Youth Dance Ensemble with Miss Kimberly Schroeder.
Kimberly Schroeder (Miss Kim) grew up in Iowa where she started training in ballet, tap and jazz. She had the opportunity to study with numerous guest artists working on many different techniques including African, Fosse, Graham, Humphrey-Weidman, Limon, and Horton while completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in dance and vocal music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She moved to Delaware in 2005 after completing a 12 month tour of the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Canada with the Missoula Children’s Theatre. She has been teaching dance, voice and theatre for 12 years and is a certified AFPA pilates instructor and a NCBTMB licensed massage therapist. Kimberly will be starting her 6th year with Delaware Dance Company and has been on the University of Delaware dance faculty since 2008. She has directed DDC’s summer musical theatre camp for the past four summers and is the co-director of DDC’s Youth Dance Ensemble. She has been a part of many dance, musical, and opera productions as a featured singer, dancer, and choreographer including performances in the 2009 Dance and the Child International conference, Jamaica, and the Waterford Light Opera Festival, Ireland. She has performed with Loose Screws Contemporary Tap Company, Nova Dance Company, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. She will be performing with the Richmond Symphony and Charlotte Symphony Orchestras this coming season.
Teagan Thomas (Miss Teagan) is currently a sophomore Elementary Education major at the University of Delaware. In addition to being a teacher at Delaware Dance Company, she also teaches ballet at First State Gymnastics. Teagan has performed in many of DDC's productions including The Nutcracker, Cinderella, DancEmotion, The Spring Gala, Peter Rabbit and Other Tails, and Tales from the Enchanted Forest. Besides dancing, she has an interest in style and is the Style Editor for UD’s fashion publication UDress. Teagan is looking forward to another great year of classes and performances!
James Zynda (Mr. James) has performed professionally with American Ballet Theatre, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, and Radio Music Hall. His formal ballet training in New York City included the schools associated with American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. He has worked with choreographers, Eliot Feld, Leonide Massine, Agnes de Mille, Jerome Robbins, Michael Smuin, and Anthony Tudor, appearing in their ballets, as well as in works by George Balanchine, Birgit Cullberg, Michael Fokine, Harold Lander, Eugene Loring, and Kenneth MacMillan. Mr. Zynda has choreographed original works, restaged classical and romantic ballets and other well known works as well as providing choreography for local and regional opera companies. His performing career provided opportunities to travel to all but one of the United States, many countries around the world, and to perform at the White House for President Lyndon Johnson. Mr. Zynda has performed a character role in DDC’s Premier production of Cinderella and has contributed his costuming abilities to that production as well as DDC’s annual production of Nutcracker. He is looking forward to the continued development of a dance program for boys and young men that he initiated in 2008, as well as continuing the partnering and pas de deux training that was available as a special program early this year.
Our Curriculum
DDC is committed to providing the finest in dance education for dancers of all ages from 2 ½ through adult. Our curriculum is designed to train dancers to reach their highest technical and artistic potential in a positive and nurturing environment. Our ballet program does not rely on one specific syllabus of training, but brings together elements of the Russian, Royal Academy of Dance and the CPYB systems of training. Focus is placed on correct body alignment and placement and on proper technique. Students’ artistic development is carefully nurtured and developed as they progress through the syllabus. DDC also offers a broad curriculum in other styles of dance including Modern, Jazz, Tap, Theatre Dance and Hip Hop. Students are encouraged to explore other forms of dance.
At the Delaware Dance Company we strive to create an atmosphere of professionalism and discipline throughout our school. Our dedicated staff work to insure that our students are being challenged according to their ability. The Delaware Dance Company counts on the commitment of both students and parents to maintain consistency in class throughout the year.
The Delaware Dance Company is a non-profit arts organization administered by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees. In-house volunteers generously contribute their time and talents to our productions. Set design and construction, costuming, promotions and box office are just a few of the all important aspects of presenting a performance and bringing it to the stage that are contributed by volunteers at DDC.
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with these helpful tips and policies:
The importance of attending class on a regular basis cannot be stressed enough! Students must complete 30 out of 35 classes to be considered for promotion. Missed classes MUST be made up within 4 weeks of the absence.
Please arrive early and give yourself enough time to get ready for class. If a student arrives late it is disruptive to the class and the student may miss an important aspect of the lesson.
Dress code requirements are expected to be followed. Only students who are being evaluated for placement are exempt from this rule. Please remember that dancewear is not street attire. Dancers MUST wear clothing over their dancewear to and from the school. Dance shoes are NEVER worn outside.
DDC is is an institute for learning and school etiquette is expected. Noisy behavior is extremely distracting, so please be courteous of others and remain quiet in and around the classrooms.
Please pick up students immediately after class. Children should not be left unattended at the studio. Please notify the school if you are going to be late picking up your child from class so proper supervision of your child can be arranged.
Artistic Director
Sunshine Webster-Latshaw (Miss Sunshine) began her training with Anna Schaeffer, near Baltimore, and continued serious ballet training with DDC. Ms. Latshaw also trained at the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet School and the Burklyn Ballet Theatre, working with such noteable teachers as Lupe Serrano, Trinette Singleton and Cherie Noble. She was honored to be chosen for a Special Workshop with the late, Margot Fonteyn while training at The Joffrey Ballet. Ms. Latshaw joined The Maryland Ballet and later attended The University of the Arts, receiving a BFA in Fine Arts with a concentration in Dance Education. While attending the University, Ms. Latshaw worked with local Modern Companies, including Archetype Dance and Koresh Dance Company, and developed a passion for modern and contemporary forms of dance. She returned to DDC as a faculty member and Ballet Mistress of the Company in 1993, before becoming the Artistic Director in 1999. As an educator, Ms. Latshaw draws on years of experience to develop her own unique style of modern, focusing on a fluid and expressive style of movement. Her choreography is featured in DDC’s annual productions and Galas and includes Snow Scene and Act 2 of The Nutcracker, Passing Through and most recently, Night Sky which premiered at last year’s Spring Gala. She recently choreographed a modern piece for the newly formed Dance Program at Cecil Community College; entitled Too Much is Never Enough and hopes this venture will lead to more projects and opportunities in the future. Ms. Latshaw is dedicated to providing a broad spectrum of dance forms and learning opportunities to DDC and the community and works to instill an appreciation and passion for the art of dance in her students. She has attended the Teachers’ Workshop at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.
Theatrical Hair and
Make-up Tips
Regular Stage Make-Up
*Begin with a clean face. Apply moisturizer, otherwise the make-up will be difficult to remove.
*All make-up and lines should arch up and away from eye, never down.
1. Foundation - match skin tone
Apply make-up to the face, blending below chin line
2. Eyeshadow - medium blue eyeshadow
Apply in arc and fill in.
3. Eyeliner - black or dark brown
Apply to upper lid, extending line outward and upward slightly beyond eye. Add second line, parallel to and below first line.
May begin lower line halfway under eye.
Avoid Cleopatra look.
4. Mascara - black or dark brown
5. Blush - pink
Have child smile and apply on apples of cheeks, upward toward temples.
6. Lipstick - true red
Hair
Tip: You may want to trade children with another mother.
It works better!!
Hair must be worn in a bun (unbraided) and MUST be completely secured without any pins showing.
Buns should be centered in the back of the head slightly above the midpoint. It should not be seen from the front.
Avoid the "doorknob". Bun should be wound into a large circle and flattened.
For thin flyaway hair or layered hair, dampen hair first with a wet comb. Do not get hair too wet or the teeth of the brush or comb will leave "furrows".
Pull hair into tight ponytail and secure. Twist ponytail slightly and wind it so that it stay together like a rope. Over twisting will result in a doorknob effect. Use bobbypins around edges of bun and flatten with hairpins. Secure with hairnet. NO wisps of hair may be free.
Smooth it all down and spray entire head.
Tip: Do not touch until hairspray is completely dry. Touching it can make it sticky.
Dress Code Requirements
General Grooming
A dancer should always be carefully dressed and groomed. A neat appearance demonstrates a student's self-discipline and seriousness towards her or his training. Overall, the dancer should appear clean and neat with properly fitting leotard and shoes.
Hair
Girls should choose a neat hairstyle with long hair tied back into a bun to show the line of the head and neck. Long bangs should be pinned back to show the face clearly and no jewelry should be worn during class. Jewelry can be a distraction and cause injury during a class.
Totdance 1 & 2
GIRLS: pink leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, blacktap shoes
BOYS: shorts, shirt, black ballet shoes, black patent leather tap shoes
Kinderballet 1 & 2 / Kindercombo 1, 2, & 3*
GIRLS: light blue leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes / *black tap shoes. Hair must be off the face and in bun
BOYS: black shorts, white T-shirt, white socks, black ballet shoes / *black patent leather tap shoes
Pre-Ballet 1 & 2
GIRLS: royal blue leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes. Hair must be off the face and in bun
BOYS: royal blue shorts, white T-shirt, black ballet shoes
Ballet 1 & 1X
GIRLS: navy blue leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes. Hair must be off the face and in bun
BOYS: black tights or leggings, white T-shirt, black ballet shoes
Ballet 2 & 2X
GIRLS: red leotard, pink tights, pink split sole ballet shoes. Hair must be off face and in bun
BOYS: black tights, ballet briefs, white T-shirt, black ballet shoes
Ballet 3 & 3X
GIRLS: burgundy leotard, pink tights, pink split sole ballet shoes, pink point shoes.
Hair must be off the face and in bun.
BOYS: black tights, dance belt, white T-shirt, black ballet shoes
Ballet 4 & 4X
GIRLS: periwinkle blue leotard, pink tights, pink split sole ballet shoes, pink pointe shoe.
Hair must be off the face and in bun
BOYS: Black tights, dance belt, white T-shirt, black ballet shoes
Ballet 5 & 5X
GIRLS: black leotard, pink tights, pink split sole ballet shoes, pink pointe shoes.
Hair must be off the face and in bun
BOYS: black tights, dance belt, white T-shirt, black ballet shoes
Advanced Ballet
GIRLS: any color leotard, pink tights, pink split sole ballet shoes, pink pointe shoes.
Hair must be off the face and in a bun
All Modern Levels
GIRLS: black leotard, black footless tights, barefoot, Hair off the face
BOYS: black footless tights, dance belt, white T-shirt, barefoot
All Tap Levels
GIRLS: black leotard, tan tights, NOTE new requirement - black tap shoes (not patent leather).
Hair in pony tail or bun
BOYS: black pants, T-shirt, black tap shoes
All Theatre Levels
GIRLS: black leotard, black tights, black jazz shoes
BOYS: black pants, white T-shirt, black jazz shoes
