Teacher Feature Ms.Karen Shanley at Reverence Academy of Dance

Karen has danced since she was a little girl. Her passion is dance and sharing her knowledge with others. As a younger dancer she performed with Morelli Ballet in Los Angeles, at the Greek Theatre in Alicia Alonso's production of "Coppelia".

As an adult dancer she was featured in ballet and modern repertoire with Hawaii Dance Theatre, continued her training with Margaret Craske in NYC where she also performed in modern dance companies of Jean Erdman adn Charles Weidman. She also danced with Ballet Hysell (New Orleans Ballet), and Anaheim Ballet.

Before moving to Colorado in the summer of 2007, she was a professor of dance at Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CA, where she directed the dance program and taught ballet for over 24 years. Karen is a certified Pilates and Gyrotonic instructor and has her own studio Jasper Peak Pilates, in Lafayette. She is please to be teaching Adult Ballet and Pilates Mat at Reverence. Karen successfully passed her Intermediate exam from the Royal Academy of Dance, just last year! Now that is an accomplishment!