A Michelle DeAngelis Dance School
About Us
Michelle's Dance Academy was founded by Michelle DeAngelis, professional ballerina and teacher, with the intention of creating and nurturing a community of people that all share a common love of movement and dance.
Our mission at Michelle's Dance Academy is to provide students with a safe environment to express themselves through artistry and creative movement. We strive to inspire a lasting love and appreciation for dance for the younger generation.
While our main focus is ballet, we offer a variety of dance classes ranging from ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, tumbling, and adult classes. Classes are offered to students 16 months and older. Each and every one of our teachers has a professional dance background, and is eager to share their love of dance with the next generation!
Teachers
Michelle DeAngelis
Founder, Director and Teacher
Michelle is originally from Warren, New Jersey. She has been teaching ballet to students professionally for over eight years in various places throughout the United States. She received her early ballet and teacher training with the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre, School of American Ballet, Princeton Ballet School, and Ballet Central New Jersey. Michelle started her professional dancing career with the Montgomery Ballet and Virginia National Ballet, and then moved to Los Angeles to join the American Contemporary Ballet as a soloist. She is now dancing professionally with Ballet Project Orange County, and is the founder & director of Michelle's Dance Academy.
Kristin Steckman
Teacher
Kristin is originally from Hollidaysburg, PA. Kristin began her pre professional ballet training at Allegheny Ballet Company and The HARID Conservatory. She began her professional ballet career with the Richmond Ballet in Virginia, and then moved on to be a soloist with American Contemporary Ballet in Los Angeles, where she has had the opportunity to dance in various repertoires. She has previously taught dance with the Richmond Ballet's Children's Division in the Invitation to Dance, Pre-Primary Ballet, and Primary Ballet programs before moving to Los Angeles. Kristin teaches Saturday morning Tumbling at Michelle's Dance Academy.
Shannon Fitzgerald
Teacher
Shannon began dancing at age three, at a local studio very similar to Michelle’s Dance Academy in Rumson, NJ. She received over ten years of professional training from the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, and Princeton Ballet School, learning from many of New York City Ballet founding company members. She has performed in numerous NYCB productions such as Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Balanchine’s 50 Year Anniversary Presentation on PBS. Shannon has been teaching for over six years and loves sharing her lifelong love for dance with her students. Shannon teaches Level 2 Ballet & Sunday morning ballet at Michelle's Dance Academy.
Autumn Taylor
Teacher
Autumn hails from South San Francisco, California, where her love for dance blossomed at the age of 2 at Schumacher’s School of Dance. She honed her skills in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and musical theater through training and competitions. Autumn pursued a dance major at the School of the Arts High School San Francisco and was the first high school student to be accepted into the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance program at San Jose State University. While performing nationwide, she also maintained a teaching career in high school and college. Following graduation, Autumn continued her professional dance and teaching journey. An accomplished choreographer, Autumn relocated to Los Angeles in 2022 to further her teaching endeavors.
Lydia McDonald
Teacher
Lydia Marie McDonald is originally from Longwood Florida. She began her dance training at the age of 12 and has trained in styles such as modern, ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre, improvisation, and more. Lydia received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of North Texas in 2018 and spent two seasons dancing as a company member of imPULSE Dance Project during college. Immediately after graduating college, she became member of Ad Deum Dance 2nd company for 2 seasons. Now in L.A., Lydia is a company member of Benita Bike’s Dance Art and Geometry 2. Lydia teaches Monday afternoons at Michelle's Dance Academy.
Annabel Macdonald
Teacher
Annabel is originally from Washington DC. Annabel started dancing at 3 years old and completed her professional training at the Washington School of Ballet as well as around the country at Miami City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and the Rock School. She recently graduated from USC with degrees in Business and Communication. Now a professional freelance ballet dancer based in Los Angeles, Annabel has performed in a variety of creative projects as well as with esteemed companies such as The Washington Ballet, American Contemporary Ballet, and City Ballet of San Diego. She loves sharing her love for ballet with her students and aims to create a positive environment in all of her classes. Annabel is excited to bring her passion for ballet and extensive experience to Michelle’s Dance Academy!
Claire Bednarek
Teacher
Originally from Denver, CO, Claire began dancing at 4 years old under the training of Jennifer Jones Micek and Staci Kinkead-Fox at the Dance Conservatory of Denver. Here she trained in a variety of dance styles, performed principal and soloist roles, and placed an additional emphasis on choreography, setting numerous solos and group pieces for studio productions. In 2019 Claire graduated cum laude from Butler University with a BA in Dance Pedagogy, fulfilling ballet performance aspirations, and a long time goal of learning the most constructive ways to be an encouraging and inspiring instructor for dancers of all ages. Claire is now a professional ballet dancer with American Contemporary Ballet in Los Angeles.
Marion Maclou
Teacher
Marion Maclou began her dance journey at the age of five in Conflans Sainte Honorine, France, where she first trained in ballet at a local conservatory. Her passion for dance quickly grew, leading her to the USC Dance Academy, where she spent over 13 years mastering Jazz, Modern Jazz, Hip Hop, and Contemporary. Throughout her time at USC Dance Academy, Marion had the opportunity to perform extensively, further refining her craft. She later pursued a Bachelor's degree in Arts to deepen her understanding of the discipline. In 2019, Marion made the significant move to Los Angeles to advance her professional dance career. She is now a valued member of the dance company VASHT, where she continues to bring her diverse dance background to life on stage. In addition to her work with VASHT, Marion also collaborates on various projects, including commercials, shows, and music videos, showcasing her versatility as a dancer.
Anissa is originally from Hickory, North Carolina where she began dancing at her mother’s dance studio at the age of 3. Throughout the years she has trained in several genres of dance with a strong emphasis on tap and jazz. She has now lived in LA since 2018 where she began teaching dance and performing professionally as a dancer and musical theatre performer across several theme parks (Six Flags, and Knott’s Berry Farm) and regional theatres (Moonlight Stage Productions, and High Street Arts Center). Anissa is currently a preschool teacher and holds a certification in Early Childhood Education and Development. She believes there are performers and artists inside even the tiniest of humans!
Contact Us
Michelle's Dance Academy
8985 Venice Blvd
Suite H
Culver City, CA 90034
Inquiries Here!
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