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OUR STAFF
 Shannon Lowrie: Owner/Director
Shannon began her dance training in Santa Maria under the instruction of Thelma Cline and Nancy Ann Dance Studio. After numerous years on stage she became eager to explore as many ways possible to perform. As a child she would put on neighborhood musicals and spent most of her school years singing, writing, playing guitar, and choreographing. Shannon was very involved in her high school Advanced Choir and became the lead singer in a rock band her senior year of high school. She got back to her dance roots in college and began auditioning for as many shows as she could. Shannon performed with Pacific Light Opera Theater and Chameleon Productions spending as much time behind the scenes as on the stage. Soon enough she was assistant directing, building sets, costuming, and choreographing. Shannon was the original choreographer for P.L.O.T.’s children’s troupe, The Rising Stars. She went on to work a summer with The Great American Melodrama, Assistant Directed and choreographed for Chameleon Productions, and began teaching at The Studio of Performing Arts then owned by Zellda Markham. She always felt a connection to The Studio and knew that it had special potential. Although she had big dreams of Broadway, she decided to settle down in Arroyo Grande and help others create, enhance, and fulfill their dreams of the stage what ever that might be. Shannon bought The Studio from Zellda in 2000 and has produced many productions such as Cats, A Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar, and many many more. She is the director and choreographer for The Studio’s company dancers as well as several other groups, and has placed first, second, and third in several dance competitions for her choreography.
Shannon is married and has three children. Her entire family is involved in The Studio and she looks forward to watching them all grow up here and dedicates her life to making the most of The Studio of Performing Arts!
 Carrie Yamate
Carrie was raised in Huntington Beach, California before she made the move to Arroyo Grande in 2000. She taught for several different dance studios in the area including Cal Poly before she decided to make SOPA her home.
Having studied dance for more than twenty years, she is versed in ballet, tap, jazz and musical theater. For six years she danced with a regional ballet company in Southern California. As a principle dancer, she was fortunate to perform in ballets such as Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppelia and of course The Nutcracker. She began teaching at the age of sixteen and hasn’t stopped since.
In her spare time she studied voice for fifteen years and performed in and choreographed numerous musical theater productions. When she’s not teaching, she works as the Human Resources manager for San Luis Sports Therapy in SLO.
Carrie believes dance is for everyone to enjoy, from the participant to the spectator. Dance is a great way to stay in shape, create lifelong memories and establish lasting relationships with others that share your passion. A few of her dance teachers were very inspirational role models in her life. She hopes to inspire each of her students in the same way. Carrie is the director of SOPA’s holiday program “A Night Before Christmas” and is honored to work with such a great staff and talented students. Carrie became Shannon Lowrie’s partner at the studio in September of 2007.
 Jake McGuire: Artistic Director for The Studio Players
jmcguire@thestudioofperformingarts.com
Jake was here when the doors opened to The Studio in 1993. He was involved in the drama department for 10 years. He was also involved with The Studio Players for almost all productions. Jake worked as an assistant director to Shannon Lowrie up until 2003 when he moved to New York to pursue his dreams. He was hired on at The Irish Repertory Theater where he worked for three years. He also worked for MTV as a production assistant. We are very pleased to announce that Jake returned to The Studio this October and will be the artistic director for The Studio Players.
 Stephanie Ericcson
Stephanie grew up in the Bay Area dancing at The San Juan School of Dance studying Ballet through the Royal Academy of Dance. She has been dancing for 17 years doing ballet, tap and jazz. While dancing at San Juan she competed on the Dance Team for 5 years attending numerous dance competitions including Nationals in New York, LA, and Las Vegas. In 2000 she began dancing with Keith Banks at Studio 10 in San Jose and continues to enjoy classes there when in town! Stephanie has been in many Musical Theater productions starting at age 8. In 2005 she played her favorite role as Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street at Sunnyvale Community Players.
Within the last 6 years she has become increasingly passionate about modern dance and choreography. Stephanie has been on the Orchesis Dance Company for two
years and is currently working on choreography for that show. She likes to challenge students to rise to their fullest potential through hard work and their love for dance. She loves dancing as a form of self expression and hopes to encourage her students to do the same.
 Danya Nunley
Danya Conn Nunley previously danced with the Roanoke Ballet Theater, the Southwest Virginia Ballet, and later UJIMA Dance Company. She also traveled and performed semi-professionally during college with The New Virginians and the John Howell Singers. She has instructed dance through numerous studios and venues, most notably The Post School of Ballet and the Center of Dance in VA, where she was also commissioned to choreograph for the resident companies.
She completed her B.S. in Family and Child Development from Virginia Tech (with an emphasis on Gerontology), her M.A. in Exercise Physiology from UNC Chapel Hill and her M.A. in teaching from Chapman University. She worked as an Exercise Physiologist and later as an elementary school teacher before she stopped to raise her two daughters, Eliana and Liora. She has instructed dance (since she was 12) and fitness classes from the age of 17 on (including a couple years of Kung Fu) at numerous gyms and other facilities across 3 states and holds certifications in personal training (NSCA), group fitness (ACE), Yogafit, The Pilates Coach, BODY PUMP, BODY COMBAT, BODY FLOW, BODY JAM, BODY VIVE, Precision Cycling, Cycle Reebok, BOSU, and Gravity. In 2007 she became a national trainer for Les Mills International in both BODY JAM and BODY VIVE.
Currently she is teaching dance and group fitness at Pismo Beach Athletic Club and Kennedy Club Fitness. She also started and directed 5th/6th grade performance dance troupes at both Grover Beach and Ocean View Elementary Schools, although she is currently taking a break from it. Danya teaches master and specialty classes at SOPA whenever she can.
 Kendra Pearson
Kendra is a dance major at Alan Hancock College. She has been dancing for many years studying ballet, jazz, modern and now tap. Last year Kendra was accepted to the State Street Ballet Summer Program. Kendra teaches ballet and pre-school classes. This year she is playing the lead roles of an Icicle and Mrs. Claus in “A Night Before Christmas.” She is very passionate about dance plans to continue dancing and performing herself for as long as possible.
 Madi Murphy-Sinclair - (student teacher)
Madi has been dancing and performing at the studio since she was 5 years old. She has been in Company and Syncopators since she was in the 6th grade. She has studied Jazz, Drama, Tap, Hip Hop and more. Madi also studies voice and has several lead roles in various musical theater productions at the studio. She is currently enjoying her first year as a student teacher and the co-director of the Rising Stars.
 Evelyn Kroeker
Evelyn Kroeker has been dancing since she could walk and before she could count to "...5, 6, 7, 8." Her passion for dance developed into teaching and choreography, and with over twelve years of experience teaching professionally, Evelyn is pleased to join the staff of The Studio of Performing Arts. Accolades include coaching a boy's hip hop group featuring crowd favorites "Lose Yourself," and "Yeah!" as well as award winning ballet/ lyrical pieces "Just For Now" and DCSR's "It Was a Very Good Year."
 Suzy Miller
Suzy Miller has been an internationally acclaimed choreographer and master teacher for three decades. The winner of multiple industry awards, including five regional Emmys, an Iris and a Peabody, Suzy has worked with celebrities including Drew Barrymore, Sandra Bullock, Debby Reynolds, Diana Ross, and the Central Coast's own Zac Efron. Suzy has worked in all areas of the business including television, nightclub acts, music videos, high end fashion shows, commercials, party entertainment, live theater, and cabaret. She has taught at national competitions and conventions as well as studios, high schools, colleges, and dance companies around the world. Suzy relocated from LA to the Central Coast ten years ago and never looked back. Her main muse is her 9 year old daughter Daisy who was whipping out doubles in her Fosse derby at 4.
Heather Malcolm
Heather Malcolm has been performing since she was six years old and developed a passion for musical theater right from the start. She has studied voice with Judith Dunlore for six years and hopes to study in England next fall. Heather has performed in numerous musicals including Grease, Oliver, Les Mis, Jekyll & Hyde, Chorus Line and Thoroughly Modern Millie. She then did Little Women in August. Heather will be teaching drama, tumbling and co-directing the Five Cities Performance Choir at SOPA in the fall.
 Jackie Kavanaugh
Jackie Kavanaugh started dancing at the age of 5 and fell in love with it. She started at a professional dance studio and decided jazz was her class of choice. At 6 she danced solo and on a competition dance team until 12, and then in high school she joined her high school dance team and competed in Florida every year in the jazz/hip hop dance category. Jackie went on to San Diego State where she performed for 4 years in their dance company while also getting her degree in psychology. Jackie started work as a school counselor locally at Grover Beach Elementary and assisted Danya Nunley with the Dance Troupe program at that site and then for the last two years has been the instructor. Dancing with pre-teens has brought hip hop back to her life and now she finds it an exciting way to get youth involved in the power of dance!
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