Getting to know our new ballet teacher Shannon!

New Ballet teacher, Shannon, enjoying famous cheese fondu in Zurich

PS: What inspires you as a dance teacher?

SC: For me, the biggest inspiration always comes when I see my students genuinely 

working hard to achieve their goals, both big and small— you can see it in their 

faces, as well as in their dancing. You can tell their drive to succeed originates from a 

place of pure passion, a love for ballet that slowly burns brighter and stronger with 

each and every class or opportunity to improve, and it ignites an internal flame of 

motivation and perseverance that infuses a student’s every movement. When I see 

this in my students, it inspires me to push myself as a teacher, so that I can better 

assist them in achieving their goals and push them to realize their full potential. 

PS: Tell us about your introduction to dance?

SC: As a toddler, I was constantly moving and dancing around the house, and at every 

family function I would instruct everyone to formulate an audience and watch me 

perform. My mother decided dance class would be the perfect place for me to 

pursue my visceral desires, so, at the age of three, I found myself in my first ballet 

class— I haven’t looked back ever since. 

PS: Tell us about a moment in your dance career that you are really proud of or 

learned something really important from?

SC: My proudest moment, and probably my most amazing life experience, was when I 

danced the lead role of Fritz with Alberta Ballet. I was 13 at the time, and being able 

to dance alongside professional company members was beyond a dream. I can still 

vividly remember the nerves backstage on opening night, the brief inhalation of awe 

experienced as I looked out at the massive expanse of blackness that was my 

audience, and the melancholic moment of exiting the stage as Fritz for the very last 

time. I had the rare opportunity of learning at a young age what it’s like to be a 

professional ballerina, along with the high expectations that are tied to every show. I 

kept the pair of blue ballet shoes I wore for the role as a memento of this 

unforgettable experience. 

PS: As a dance teacher, what is something you strive to pass on to your students?

SC: From the moment I first began teaching, I have always strived to pass on to my students 

a genuine love for ballet. Ballet often comes with the stereotypical image of being a 

mercilessly strict form of dance that requires cookie cutter dancers; I take it upon 

myself to show each and every one of my students that ballet doesn’t have to be 

confined to that image. I strive to show my students, both as a teacher and a 

choreographer, just how thrilling and rewarding ballet can be, and how you can come to 

fall in love with it just as much (or moreso!) as you can with jazz or contemporary or 

lyrical. Ballet is no doubt a challenging form of dance, and this can be intimidating to 

some dancers. I strive to help students build the confidence they need to tackle the 

challenges ballet poses head-on, and to show them that these challenges are 

invigorating and fulfilling rather than daunting and unattainable—ultimately, I show 

them that they can enjoy the beauty and intricacies of ballet, and for those who already 

love it, I strive to compound this love and keep the passion burning. As a teacher, it’s my 

duty to provide my students with the tools to succeed, and fostering a love of and 

appreciation for ballet, I believe, is the most crucial and beneficial tool I can offer. 

PS: For new students, how would you describe your classes or your teaching style?

SC: My classes are built around providing you with the tools to succeed as a dancer. I 

provide both verbal corrections and hands-on feedback, and often incorporate 

stretch or strengthening exercises into my classes. I design my classes to go beyond 

teaching you “the syllabus exercises” by exploring musicality, artistry/self-

expression, and dissecting the nitty-gritty bits of technique in a way that’s not 

boring or confusing, but makes the technical demands of ballet seem approachable 

and easily understood. Be prepared to work hard in my classes, both physically and 

mentally; if you have a goal you want to achieve, I will definitely help you make it a 

reality. 

PS: Tell us about your dance background, training, education, performance 

history, etc.

SC: I began dancing when I was three years old, and for about seven years trained and 

competed in a wide variety of dance styles. Early on I discovered a strong love for 

ballet, and so I shifted my focus to studying intensively under world-class ballet 

instructors. This led me to train in the Professional Division at the School of Alberta 

Ballet, the Miami City Ballet School, and the International School of Ballet, where I 

trained in both the Royal Academy of Dance and Cecchetti methods. I had initially 

planned on becoming a professional ballerina, but, after discovering a natural 

passion and talent for teaching, I quickly learned that this was a better career path 

for me, and so I shifted gears and began training to be a ballet instructor at the age 

of 15. 

I was also a member of various performing troupes at a young age, one notable one 

being the Calgary Dance Express. With CDE, I traveled and performed in all styles of 

dance at a wide variety of events and venues, such as cruise ships, festivals, and 

theme parks, and in places such as Australia, Greece, and Turkey. I also have 

experience dancing for film, my biggest gig being the lead dancer in a video series 

filmed in Sendai, Japan. Once my focus shifted to ballet, I was performing lead roles 

with Alberta Ballet and Jeunesse Classique Ballet in productions such as The 

Nutcracker and Coppelia. 

Academically, I am currently finishing up a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University 

of Toronto Scarborough, where I major in Linguistics. 

PS: Do you have a favourite piece of choreography, film, quote, dancer, company?

SC: Since I grew up in Calgary, I am a big fan and supporter of Alberta Ballet, and also 

consider the artistic director, Jean Grand-Maître, to be one of my all-time favorite 

choreographers. One of my favorite ballets of his is “Fumbling Towards 

Ecstasy”—the first and only ballet to ever bring me to tears. Some of my other 

favorite companies include Ballet Zurich, American Ballet Theatre, and the National 

Ballet of Canada. 

I am also, of course, very fond of all the ballet classics, such as Swan Lake, Coppelia, 

and The Nutcracker, and enjoy seeing different companies and dancers performing 

these masterpieces. 

Fun Facts about Shannon:

I can speak, read, and write Japanese—not quite fluently, but it is my life goal to 

become fully fluent. 

I am a professional voice actor, and have been the voice for characters in 

internationally-aired cartoons as well as popular Japanese video games. I can even 

voice boy characters!

I have an immense passion for writing, and am currently in the midst of writing my 

first novel.

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