Shely Pack Dancers
Faculty
Shely Pack Manning
Artistic Director/Owner
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Shely Pack-Manning has been a dance educator for over 40 years and has taught on the San Mateo Coast Side for 23. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, she danced professionally with The Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and “Timepiece” a Pittsburgh based modern dance company. She earned her BA in Performing Arts from St. Mary’s College of California. She is certified by Dance Masters of America to teach Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Acrobatics. Shely was awarded the 2012 Arts Educator of the Year by the San Mateo Arts Foundation.
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Shely was inaugurated as President of Dance Masters of America in July 2012, a two-year term. Dance Masters of America has been around in one form or another since 1884, when the American National Association Masters of Dancing was founded in Boston, MA. and in 1894, the International Masters of Dancing held its first convention in St. Louis, MO.
Shely has been recognized by the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts for her teaching and influence in encouraging and supporting students who have been recognized for their exceptional artistic achievements in the 1998-99 Arts Recognition and Talent Search Program.
Shely has had many award winning students throughout the years, including the 2000 Miss Dance of America, 2001 Teen Mr. Dance of America, 2003 Mr. Dance of America, 2006 Teen Mr. Dance of a America, and the 2009 Junior Mr. Dance of America and is the Teacher of Recognition for the 2015 Petite Miss Dance of America. Shely’s students can be seen on Broadway, in National and International Touring Companies, music videos, television shows and commercials, professional ballet and modern dance companies. Shely has served as the Chairman of the Modern Dance Education Committee for Dance Masters of America and was the co-producer, with her late husband Jim Manning, of DMA’s Modern Dance and Classical Ballet training videos.
Grace Pack
Assistant Artistic Director
Competition Director
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Grace Pack began her dance training with the Shely Pack Dancers under director Shely Pack-Manning, Past President of Dance Masters of America. She furthered her ballet training and intensively studied under Alexsey Berdyugin, former principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, and Nina Amato, former principal dancer with the Sacramento Ballet. Grace has over 17 years of teaching experience in many different styles. She is currently certified in Ballet, Jazz, and Acrobatics through Dance Masters of America. She is also a nationally certified jazz examiner as well as a chapter examiner in acrobatics. Grace enjoys teaching, choreographing and adjudicating for both regional and national competitions. Grace’s students have won many awards including Dance Master’s Pacific Coast Petite Miss, Junior Miss, Teen Miss and Miss Dance and the 2015 Petite Miss Dance of America.
She’s been honored to receive many choreography awards throughout her years of teaching, especially the DMA George Lon Memorial Award. Notable Choreography credits include Marya Stark’s music video for her single ‘Stargazer’ and more recently for her single ‘Keep the Light On’ . She was also proud to choreograph for the award-winning short movie ‘Carnival of Wonders’ directed and produced by Christopher Childers. In 2022, Grace received the ‘Tony Spizak Award’ for outstanding service in the arts and contribution to Dance Masters Pacific Coast. She is a former Petite Miss and Miss Dance of Dance Masters of California where she also enjoyed serving on board of directors. She is featured in Dance Master’s of America instructional DVD “The Art of Teaching Ballet”.
She is currently the Competition Director and Assistant Studio Director for The Shely Pack Dancers, National Area Director and Teen Title Director for Dance Masters of America, and the 1st Vice President, Title Director and PAC Director for Dance Masters Pacific Coast.
Tamara Shuttle
Company Teacher and Choreographer
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Tamara Shuttle was born and raised in the bay area and started dancing at the age of four. She was involved in theater and was in musical touring groups, plays and musicals throughout college including Evita, Godspell, The Robber Bridegroom and Jesus Christ Superstar. She graduated from SFSU with a degree in Dance and a credential in teaching elementary school. Tamara went on tour with a five star cruise line, performing on multiple ships around the world. She studied jazz with Berle Davis and the iconic Ann Barrett.
Tamara has taught jazz to both adults and children. She teaches at various locations in the bay area including City Dance, Continuing Education, San Mateo Parks, Shely Pack and BABC . Tamara loves to choreograph to a variety of music infusing a multitude of jazz styles, from classic, to funky, to lyrical. She uses her fitness training to incorporate muscular strength, endurance and flexibility into her classes. She continues to take class and perform locally. Tamara believes in fostering the love of movement for dancers of all levels.
Leigh Ann Koelsch
Company Teacher and Choreographer
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Leigh Ann Koelsch LRAD- Leigh Ann is a coastside native and received her early training from Susan Hayward. She attended School of the Arts (SOTA) High School in San Francisco. She received her Diploma of Classical Ballet teaching from The College of The Royal Academy of Dance in London, and was also awarded the Licentiate (LRAD) In more than 25 years of teaching, Leigh Ann has prepared students for Royal Academy of Dance ballet examinations and also choreographed and coached students for competitions including the Youth America Grand Prix and the Genee International Ballet Competition. She has also choreographed for Nutcracker, mixed repertoire productions, and local musicals at both the High School and Coastal Rep.
Above all, Leigh Ann’s teaching philosophy is that dance should be taught in away that is correct, safe, musical and most of all brings joy and engages the imagination of the dancer. Regardless of what path life takes for her students, she is proud to be a part of the journey and strives to be a caring and positive impact on young lives. Leigh Ann is the mother of two boys. She is an active volunteer in the school community and enjoys many active outdoor pursuits with her family when she is not in the studio.
