Staff

Celebrating 20 years in business. Register now for summer! 2023

31734 Rancho Viejo Road, Ste. A, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675, us

Committed to develop courage, passion & joy for life

OUR DEDICATED STAFF

ELIZABETH KINNEY MARCO, Executive Director

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.

SHARON BEEMAN KINNEY, Artistic Director

ELIZABETH KINNEY MARCO, Executive Director

Sharon Kinney is the Artistic Director/Owner of Capistrano 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.

LAURA FLYNN, Head Coach/Dance Instructor

ELIZABETH KINNEY MARCO, Executive Director

ANTHONY TUASON, Dance Instructor/Team Coach

Laura Flynn began dancing at the age of four at Ballet Conservatory of Saddleback Valley. There she studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Modern styles of dance. Throughout the years she branched off and danced at several different studios such as Jimmie DeFore Dance Center, South Coast Freestyle, Edge Dance Studio, and Millennium Dance Complex. In high school, she was a four year member and captain of the Aliso Niguel High School Dance Team. While on the team, they won several National titles three years in a row. She also holds a third place title from the Festival of Champions for her solo. Laura also has used her dance for charity fundraising performing at Disneyland to support children who have had a hemispherectomy, a rare surgery where half the brain is removed and in Hollywood at the Beverly Hills Hilton. Laura has also had the opportunity to train with well known choreographers such as Alex Wong, Lauren Froderman, Dominic Sandoval, Tabatha and Napoleon, Twitch, and several more at the iHollywood Convention. Laura received the “All-Star” scholarship at the CADTD California State Competition for Leadership, Dedication, and Technique. Her scholarship is going towards her UCI tuition where she is currently attending to study Business Economics and Cognitive Psychology. Miss Laura will be teaching preschool dance and hip hop.

ANTHONY TUASON, Dance Instructor/Team Coach

ALYSSA WALLACE, Dance Instructor and Team Coach

ANTHONY TUASON, Dance Instructor/Team Coach

Anthony Tuason has been teaching and choreographing for nearly 10 years. He has also been performing and dancing for nearly 15 years. Some of his performance credits include “Chino” in West Side Story, “Ching Ho” in Thoroughly Modern Millie, “Audrey II” in Little Shop of Horrors, “Japeth” in Children of Eden, “The Cowardly Lion” in Wizard of Oz . He has also been seen in "Chicago", "Shrek", "Music Man", “Godspell”, “Nothing Happens in Bethlehem”, “Your a mean man Mr. Scrooge”, and “The Sound of Music”. Anthony has also performed and choreographed in several Saddleback Dance shows, winning awards for “Best Choreography” and “Best Performer”. He has been chosen to represent Saddleback College and attend The American College Dance Festival. Anthony has also performed at Disneyland and California Adventure. He has performed as a dancer in “Parade of Dreams”, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, “Celebrate! A Street Party”, “Mickey’s Halloween Parade”, “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee”, and “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade”, and several other shows and special events. He has coached multiple nationally ranked competition teams which have won awards for best concept and originality. Anthony has also been a guest choreographer at San Juan Hill High School, Aliso Niguel High School, Saddleback College Theater Arts Dept.and the Dance Department where he choreographed “Children of Eden” and a Saddleback College original production of “A Christmas Carol”. He also works for Revolution Talent Competition. Anthony's philosophy is too push his students to be their best with positive reinforcement and hard work.

JASMINE DIDEBAN, Dance Instructor/Team Coach

ALYSSA WALLACE, Dance Instructor and Team Coach

Jasmine Dideban started her dance training at a musical theater studio in La Habra, CA at the age of 10. She attended OCSA, a performing arts school in Santa Ana where she was part of the Commercial Dance Conservatory. After graduating high school, she continued her education and passion for dance at Cal State Long Beach earning her BFA in dance on scholarship. Through high school and college Jasmine has been trained in Modern, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet and Contemporary. She has worked with prestigious ballet instructors Lorin Johnson and Sophie Monat, and renowned choreographers, Rebecca Lemme, Rebecca Bryant, and guest artists Kevin Williamson and Micaela Taylor. Jasmine has trained at intensives with BODYTRAFFIC, Danielle Agami Gaga workshop and L.A. Contemporary Dance Company. Through vigorous training and research throughout Los Angeles, Jasmine continues to explore movement in the contemporary dance field.

ALYSSA WALLACE, Dance Instructor and Team Coach

Alyssa Wallace has been dancing since the age of 3. From the ages of 7-17 she trained at Capistrano Academy of Dance. During her middle school and high school years she danced competitively with Capistrano Dance, Dance Dynamics and was a member of the Advanced Dance Production at SJHHS for four years. Her passion for dance lead to expanding her training in commercial dance, and taking classes at; Maple Ballet Conservatory, Jimmie Defores Dance Center, and The Edge Performing Arts Center. At 18 she got her first professional dance job at Legoland California in shows “Brick or Treat”, “Hubble Bubbles Dance Party”, “Character Holiday Dance Party”, and “Christmas Celebration”. Her career continued as a parade performer at Disneyland in “Paint the Night” and as a dancer and aerialist in “Circo Etero”. While with “Circo Etero” she performed in the West Coast Aerial Arts Festival, “Pirate Festival” and several parties and events. Alyssa received an Aerial Arts certification at Ruby Karen Project and worked as an apprentice. She also received a Yoga and Yoga-Sculpt certification through CorePower Yoga. She continued her education with Actors Models and Talents for Christ where she was signed as an actress, dancer and commercial model. She participated in the Guided Study at the Edge Performing Arts Center, where she studied commercial dance under Hamilton Evans, Marcus Sheilds, Melissa Miles, Matt Cady, Sabrina Phillips, Megan Sannet, Nicole Kirkland, and Lianna Blackburn. She also trained at Millennium Dance Complex LA, Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio, The Playground LA, and IDA Hollywood. Recently, she has been training in Latin ballroom. Over the years she has been in musicals such as: Annie, Beauty and The beast, and Guys and Dolls. She has also had the opportunity to work on screen in several short films. Her background includes training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, jazz funk, heels, and ballroom.

STEPHANIE CONTE, Dance Instructor

Stephanie Conte was enrolled in her very first dance class at the age of 3 and danced competitively for over 16 years with extensive training in all styles. Stephanie started her teaching & choreography career at the age of 16 and has been working with young dancers for the past 14 years. Stephanie has helped mold dancers that are not only technically trained but also young, professional entertainers. Her students have been featured on the hit TV series, So You Think You Can Dance, landed positions performing with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, the Tampa Bay Lightning Girls, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders, Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders, Miami Heat Dancers and have even been spotlighted on the Justin Bieber ‘Purpose’ World Tour. She has helped numerous others continue their dance careers into college and beyond—she takes great pride in the accomplishments of her students!
As a former NFL Cheerleader with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and most recently the Head Coach of the University of South Florida SunDolls Dance Team in Tampa, FL, she continues her passion for dance by teaching and choreographing. Stephanie strives to be a positive role model to all young individuals through dance and is looking forward to watching her students grow for years to come!

KIMBERLY HO, Dance Instructor

STEPHANIE CONTE, Dance Instructor

Kimberly was born in California but moved to New York at a young age, where she began dancing at her aunt’s dance studio. From then on, she has continued to live and breathe dance, theatre and performing. Along with her training in tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical and ballet at her aunt’s studio, she frequently trained in NYC at the Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. At the age of 21, Kimberly moved back to California where she quickly joined the Orange County dance scene and hasn’t stopped since. She majored in Dance at Saddleback College where she choreographed and performed in numerous productions, was voted “Best Performer” and “Best Choreographer”, participated in a variety of performances with the Theatre Department and organized the College’s National Dance Day workshops. After college she took on numerous guest choreography projects throughout Orange County’s schools and colleges and performed with various companies and venues, including Architexture Modern Dance Company, Tap Overload, Loose Cannons & more. Kim has also successfully directed and performed with her own company, Urban Blush. She has been teaching all levels and ages for 19 years and has choreographed and coached nationally ranked competitive teams, solos, duos and trios. She currently works for Revolution Talent Competition and is happy to add Capistrano dance to her schedule. Her personal philosophy in dance is to work hard for your goals and never stop evolving as an artist. Her goal as a teacher is to instill a passion for dance, encourage positive energy and build self-confidence within each and every student.

SUZIE POETSCH, Dance Instructor

STEPHANIE CONTE, Dance Instructor

SUZIE POETSCH, Dance Instructor

Suzie Poetsch started her dance training at the age of 5. The Chechetti method built her foundation of strength and focus of safety to the joints with proper technique. She received a full scholarship to Stanley Holdens' dance center. At the Holdens' center she learned the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) method of dance. She also danced with the San Francisco Ballet and Milwaukee ballet on full scholarship during their summer programs for two consecutive summers. Suzie professionally danced with Ballet Pacifica for ten years under Molly Lynch working with great teachers like David Allen who also taught at UCI, Charles Maple from ABT and Diane Deifenderfer from NYC Ballet who set Balanchine on our company and trained us with Pilates to assist in dance. It was this experience that inspired her to become certified in Pilates to teach through the Physical Mind Institute in 2001 while she was dancing with David Taylor Dance Theater in Denver Colorado. Suzie also did a season and tour with the Los Angeles Chamber ballet, and danced and taught for Ormao Dance Co. (a regional company in Colorado Springs, CO). She loves to teach the joy of dance and will be teaching ballet on Saturdays.