INSTRUCTORS

Sharon Blagowsky-Cost, Owner and Director

EDUCATION

Studied master classes with:

Robert Bell, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Formerly of the Ballet Russe, Paris, France
Gus Giordano, Chicago
Heather Shepley, New York
Al Gilbert, Los Angeles
Margorie Tallchief, Lawton, Oklahoma

Ms. Cost has enough college dance credits for an associate degree in dance from Pensacola college.

TEACHING

Teacher of ballet, pointe’, tap and jazz for 35 years. she owned her own dance studios for 30 years in Oklahoma, Florida and Texas. She taught various classes in exercise and worked with physicians in teaching classes for the blind, handicapped, and mentally retarded in Florida and Oklahoma. She worked closely with a physical therapist to help a dancer correct a club foot.

Taught dance for the Department of Recreation in Pensacola, Florida

Ms. Cost has performed with the Pensacola College Performers and served as assistant director and stage manager for the group for three years. She has been tested to teach by Dance Masters of America. She was the Co-Director of the Amarillo Dance Connection, a performing group for younger dancers in Amarillo.

Has been a member of the National Dance Association, Professional Dance Teachers Association, and for the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Her dance school, Dance Arts, is a member of the Better Business Bureau.

She has had dancers participating in the Physical Education Program with the Amarillo Independent School District for the last 12 years. Her classes were approved by the State of Texas as substitutes for physical education classes.

STUDENT’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Some of Ms. Cost’s students have been dancing professionally in the performing fields and teaching in Dallas, New York, New Orleans, San Francisco, Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach, Florida — a Miss America, a Miss Amarillo, a Miss Teen Amarillo, a lead dancer in the Fort Walton Beach Ballet, a Los Angeles Laker Girl, and a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. There are students who have become film actors as well.

Amie Chollet

Amie Chollett, Assistant Director and instructor

Amie completed a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts while majoring in Dance at West Texas A & M University. She has performed with the Lone Star Ballet on many occasions and was a member of the WTA&MU Dance Ensemble. She began her dance training at the age of four under the instruction of Pam Williams. Amie has also trained and perfromed under the instruction of Sharon Cost. Other instructors include Janice Jurgens and Neil Hess.

Amie has taught various classes for the WTA&MU Dance Academy. Amie’s credits include performing in the rededication ceremony at the State Capitol with “The Light Crust Dough Boys,” and the “Jim Cullum Jazz Band.” She also danced The Sorcerer, Dancin’ People, The Neiman Marcus 90th Anniversary Gala Celebration, numerous performances in various capacities of The Nutcracker as well as The Musical Drama TEXAS for four seasons.

Shelby Washburn, Instructor

Shelby graduated from Amarillo High in 2010. While in high school she was in four years of choir and Americorps her senior year. She started at Dance Arts when she was in the sixth grade. She studied under Sharon Cost, Amie Chollett, Amber Henson, Beth Alexander, and Shannon Sanders. Shelby is fluent in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern and contemporary dance. She teaches modern/lyrical classes for middle and high school levels. Shelby attends Amarillo College working on a photography degree hoping to become a professional photographer.

Brooke Sanders, Instructor

Brooke was a graduate of Randall High School Class of 2010. While attending Randall High, she participated in Key Club between the years of 2006-2008. She acquired roughly 520 volunteer hours and was elected to the board as membership secretary for the 2007-2008 school year. Brooke was instructed by Jill Ludington at Randall High after auditioning and making it into productions. While in high school theater, she had a role in a play at West Texas A&M University directed by Perry Crafton, and was in several more by Peggy Lovett and Jill Ludington. Her awards include Best Stage Manager, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Sound Designer. Brooke has taken dance classes at Dance Arts since she was five. Her instructors have been Sharon Cost, Amie Chollett, Amber Henson, Beth Alexander, and Shannon Sanders. She has studied ballet, pointe’, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, theater, and blues. She currently teaches theater jazz, and theater dance. Brooke is presently a student at Amarillo College focusing on general studies, and keeping her options for the future open.

Beth Alexander

Beth Alexander, Instructor

Beth, having had 15 years of experience in Tap, Jazz and Ballet at Catherine’s School of Dance in San Angelo, followed by two seasons in the “Texas Musical Production” in Palo Duro Canyon has more than prepared her to share her love of dance with the students at Dance Arts. Beth’s experience also includes three years of competitive dance team, resulting in a spot in the New York City Macy’s Parade in 2000. She has been previleged to have worked under both Neil Hess and Edward Truitt at West Texas A&M University, as well as attending seminars held by Maria Taranova and Frank Hatchett. Her resume is also filled with numerous dance camps throughout the years.

Jennifer Robertson

Jennifer Robertson, Instructor

Jennifer’s dance background began when she was a cheerleader at Tascosa High School for four years. She received dance team and pom training in summer camps at both Texas Tech University and Souther Methodist University, where her squad won numerous awars for spirit and acheivement. She became head cheerleader her senior year and was involved in the direction, choreography and stunts of a coed squad of 18 cheerleaders. While as head cheerleader, her squad won a talent competition at Amarillo College. The Tascosa cheerleaders also held cheerleading clinics for children. Awards for Jennier include training at both Texas Tech University and Southern Methodist University where her squad won two Spirit Sticks, the Team Award, the Safety Award, the Award of Excellence, and all Blue Ribbons. Jennifer currently teaches hip hop, jazz funk and pom pom classes (pre-kindergarten through 8th grade).

 

Left to right: Amie Chollet, Shelby Washburn, Brooke Sanders

 

 

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