Ellen Hummel - DIRECTOR

Ellen and her husband Philip, directors of Shadowridge Dance Center, established the studio in 1989. Ellen began her training as a child at Jerry Singers Dance Studio in La Puente, California. In 1975, Ellen attended UCLA and was a member of the UCLA Dance Company. She graduated in 1980 with a B.A. degree in dance. After graduating, Ellen furthered her dance training and studied with the Bat-Sheva Dance Company of Israel and became a member of the Bat-Sheva II Dance Company.

Ellen went on to perform in many shows including “Halleluyah Hollywood”, a show produced by Israel Stage Productions in Tel-Aviv. She also performed in the Israeli Opera Production of “Oklahoma”. With the Karmon Dance Company of Israel, Ellen danced at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas as well as Lincoln Center in New York. In Germany, Ellen was in the stage production of “Halleluyah Broadway”, a show which played at the Alte Opera House in Frankfurt as well as the Deutche Theatre in Munich.

Ellen has also worked with Cannon Film Studios and danced in the film production of “Sleeping Beauty”, a Golan and Globus Production.

Ellen currently is a member of Dance Educators of America and travels throughout the country judging dance competitions and teaching at dance conventions nationwide. As director of Shadowridge Dance Center, Ellen enjoys being able to share the art of dance with all of her students.

 

 

 

 

Kate Ridge

Kate is a native of Sydney Australia. She has earned her B.F.A. in dance with a performance emphasis from California State University Long Beach, and has been a head instructor and judge for the Universal Dance Association for 8 years. She has performed and choreographed in nightclubs, entertainment venues, and shows in Hollywood CA, the Disneyland Resort Anaheim, Legoland Park, and Knotts Berry Farm. Kate is currently teaching and choreographing for high schools, colleges, and dance studios in and around San Diego, she is also the Coordinator of Regional Outreach for The San Diego Foundation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casey Dunlap

Casey grew up in San Marcos, CA.  and didn't discover dance until her Freshman year in High School (2002) where she auditioned for the San Marcos High School Dance Team.  She made the school's Junior Varsity Team her freshman year, Varsity Dance Team her sophomore year, and was captain of the Varsity Dance Team at Mission Hills High School both her Junior and Senior years. Once she graduated, she found her true love and passion for dance.  She became the assistant coach for the Mission Hills High School Varsity Dance Team in the summer of 2006.  That same year she also started to take Hip-Hop classes at Formality Dance Academy and joined the studio's junior team "Breakthrough".  She was a member of Choreo Cookies for over three years and had the opportunity to dance with some of the most talented people in the Hip-Hop community. Currently pursuing her career in dance, Casey is optimistic about the future and is always looking forward to growing as a dancer and teacher.

 

 

 

 

 

Amy Knoll-Gentry

Amy began her classical ballet training at New West Ballet School under Eugenia Keefer at the age of 3. She received additional training at various ballet summer intensives beginning  at age 11 including American Academy of Ballet in New York where she earned a Gold Medal Performance Award,  BalletMet, Milwaukee Ballet, the Kaatsbaan in New York, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Ballet Magnificat!, and City Ballet of San Diego where she danced three seasons with the company in 2006-2009. She continued training and performing lead roles with New West Ballet including Giselle (Giselle), Nutcracker (Snow Queen and Dew Drop), Sleeping Beauty (Lilac Fairy), Cinderella (Stepsister), Les Sylphides (Mazurka Solo), Les Patineurs (Pas de Deux), and Peter and the Wolf (Cat). She has also danced at Palomar College under Molly Faulkner were she performed Arabian Coffee variation (Nutcracker), White Swan variation (Swan Lake), and Pas de Trois (Sleeping Beauty). Miss Amy also grew up performing with Christian Youth Theater performing in 13 musicals. Professional musical theater credits include Oklahoma! (Dream Laurey) at the Welk Resorts Theater, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Wife) and the premier of Let Freedom Ring (featured dancer) on the Midway Aircraft Carrier with Christian Community Theater, and The Last Unicorn (the Unicorn) with San Diego City College. Miss Amy is a full-time student at Palomar College majoring in Child Development with an emphasis in Infant/Toddler Teacher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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