Shin Dance Academy

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  ~ 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 ~ 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.

Contemporary ~ Joyleen Laurence

Joyleen Laurence is originally from Seattle, Washington where she studied the art of dance for 18 years.  She is versatile in dance styles such as; hip hop, jazz, lyrical and ballet. Ms. Laurence attended the Cornish College of the Arts, and her accomplishments includes; high school dance team captan, choreographer, and competitive dance member. Joyleen is a passionate teacher at Shin Dance Academy, and has choreographed beautiful pieces for audience to enjoy, and the students to dance. “Dance is passion, art, love and hard work, if you are willing to put forth the effort, you are bound to see the results.”

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.

Belly Dance ~ Sarah Li

Sarah Li is a certified Yoga Instructor with over 200 hours of Instructors training, from the United States Yoga Association,(USYA). Ms. Li has studied and graduated from the Professional Dance Academy in China. Sarah was the senior instructor of the Chinese Association of Belly Dance where she established a rich performance experience. Sarah Li focuses the characteristics of original yoga style; comprehensive Hatha Yoga, Flow Yoga, Ashtanga yoga and spiritual characteristics.

Piano ~ Cindy Liu

Cindy Liu is an experienced music teacher who has been teaching piano to children for almost 20 years, in the United States as well as in Taiwan. Ms. Liu received her music degree from Brigham Young University with concentration in Piano and Music Education. She passed California Subject Examinations for Teachers and obtained a Music Teaching Credential which authorizes her to teach music to students from K-12 in public schools. Besides teaching private piano, she is also teaching instrumental music in the Arcadia United School District. Ms. Liu has studied various music theories and pedagogies throughout the world and has applied her teaching through different approaches such as Kindermusik, Orff, Kolaly and Suzuki. Ms. Liu is an active member of MTAC (Music Teachers’ Association of California), a certified teacher for MYC (Music for Young Children) and Harmony Road (a method related to YAMAHA).

Pilates ~ Noriko Yonami

Noriko Yonami, born in Japan, danced for 10 years in an all women dance company.  She moved to start her career in physical fitness in America in 1987,  She received her certification in Boxercise from Lee Fitness, and her Pilates certification from B.O.S.I. (Body Art Science Institute).While teaching the fundamentals of these styles, Noriko incorporates her own style of stretching, breathing and cardio work to enhance her classes.  She has been with Shin Dance since 2006, and has been a lovely addition to our faculty.