Tibetan Master ~ Cheng Yi Ma

a famous Tibetan dance artist, is also renowned as a first-rank dance educator.  Mr . Ma is from the Qing Hai Tibetan area. He has a reputation for being one of the best Chinese minority group dancer. Cheng Ying Ma has been awarded “Outstanding Performing Artist”, “Chinese Outstanding Young Dancer”, and has won numerous competitions as choreographer with non-professional dancers.  His 35 year dance career has become a proud achievement for Mr. Ma and the dancers that follow him. It is exciting and joyous to have his involvement and presence at Shin Dance Academy.

Ballet ~ Frances Wong

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Frances Wong began dancing at the age of five. Her dance foundation started with French / Russian ballet. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with a B.A. in Dance and minors in Digital Arts and Education.

Ms. Wong was also a dance graduate from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Frances has instructed youth in techniques and dance basics throughout the Los Angeles County. She has trained and performed in ballet, modern dance, Chinese dance, tap, jazz, and Spanish dance.

Ballet ~ Patricia Godfrey

Born in San Francisco. She studied at The National Academy of Dancing with Gemze DeLappe and Michael Maule; at The San Francisco Ballet School with Harold Christiensen, Ludmilla Schollar, Anatole Vilzak,Jean Haet and the Royal Academy of Dancing during the Jubilee Summer School. After dancing with San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Ballet of San Francisco, and with several touring companies in Europe she concentrated on her teaching career and has students who have moved on to The School of American Ballet, Joffrey II and other European companies.

Ballet  ~ Preston Li

Preston Li moved from New York after a successful 20-year ballet career, and now resides in Pasadena, CA. At the age of 12 he was chosen as one of 15 boys, nation wide, to be accepted to the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy, in China. After graduation, he danced with the National Ballet of China as a soloist for 4 years.In early 90’s, the Chinese Government sent him to Tokyo, Japan as one of the 4 best dancers to star in the musicals “Cats” and “West Side Story”. After a successful run in Japan he received a full scholarship to The Princeton Ballet in NJ. He accepted principal positions to dance with the Joffrey Ballet 2, Los Angeles Classical Ballet, Ballet Met, as well as many other notable companies. He is still performing as a guest artist with local companies, such as the ballet productions of “Le Corsair” and “Sleeping Beauty” down in Palos Verdes. Mr. Li now teaches master ballet classes here at Shin Dance and in other private ballet schools in the Los Angeles County.

Ballet  ~ James Li

James Li was a Company dancer of the famous Liaoning Ballet Dance Company, one of the most prestigious ballet companies in China. He has an impressive portfolio of stage experience including repertories such as “Swan Lake”, “Nutcracker”, “Giselle”, and also the Company’s original Chinese and modern ballet pieces: “Moonlight over the Erquan Pond”, “The Last Emperor” and “Peony Fairy”. The acclaimed Chinese ballet, “Moonlight Over the Erquan Pond” was awarded many prizes and named one of the top 10 best dramas of the 2005-2006 National Stage Art Work Projects. Mr. Li was invited by the former Artistic Director of the Hong Kong Ballet, Stephen Jefferies and Rashna Homji Jefferies, to join the Suzhou Ballet Theatre in 2007. In 2009, Mr. Li retired as a dancer and opened a school to train dancers interested in becoming professional, and to offer classes to help adult dancers develop a better posture, body shape, and love for the ballet arts.

Ballroom  ~ Jerry More

Mr. Jerry More has had an extraordinary Ballroom dance career. Mr. More began his passion for dance at the age of 24. By the time he had reached his late twenties (and 25 competitions later), Jerry More was nearly always 1st place AND won the 'United States Pro-Am' title… twice - in the American Rhythm and International Latin categories! Winner of the 'Arthur Murray Nine Dance Rising Star' title and 'United States Rising Star' Finalist in 'International Latin' at the 'United States Ballroom Dance Championships', he went on to place in the top 75 out of 350 contestants in 'Blackpool' in his first year competing there in two different levels of dance – 'Rising Star' and 'Open'. A 6 level certified adjudicator for ballroom and latin dance, he has been judging for more than 10 years. Currently Mr. More is studying for World Class and Championship Status qualifications for ballroom dance adjudicating

Contemporary ~ Lisa Medford

Professional hip hop dancer and former dancer for Jay Chou, (Zhou Jie Lun, 周杰伦) has been teaching dance for 7 years. Originally from Seattle, WA, Lisa Medford grew up with intensive classical ballet training along with jazz and modern at the 'Evergreen City Ballet Academy', where she performed various corps, soloist, and principal roles in the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Giselle. In 2004 she began hip-hop training at  'West Lake Dance Center', and became a member of Phyzika Graffi-T, Potion, and BREED a few of Seattle's top hip hop dance crews. After returning in 2010 from traveling and performing in China, Lisa began attending Santa Monica College to further her career in Early Childhood Dance and Education.

Zumba ~ Ruby Patino

Born in Mexico City and started teaching fitness classes since 1985. Since a young age Ms. Patino loved to dance and exercise. She received certification by AFAA with the Primary Certification for instructors, Yoga, Pilates, Kickboxing and Zumba. Also Ruby has continued her education by attending classes of Salsa, Bachata, Mambo and Belly Dance. Her philosophy is to create an environment where exercising is easy and fun. The mixture of different formats help to keep the students moving and attentive. There is always something new to learn.