Our Faculty
Our instructors are talented dancers and gifted teachers, but what makes them really exceptional is the fact that they care about their students.
Shannon Gale received her dance training at the Joplin MO School of Ballet, the School of the Lexington Ballet, Charisse's School of Dance, and Centre College. In addition, she has attended and performed at conferences, master classes, workshops, and other dance experiences throughout the country. Shannon opened the Frankfort School of Ballet in 1997. She was recently featured in an article about bicycle commuting -- read it on the State Journal website. Shannon is also an editor, transcriptionist, and writer for HelpfulEditor.com.
Kathy Gale received her ballet training in Chatsworth, California, studying with Donald P. Journeaux and Sheila Rozann. She began teaching at FSB in 2003 and is the owner of the Boogie Boutique.
EveMarie Bessenbach began her pre-professional training at the Jordan College Academy of Dance in Indianapolis, Indiana. She has also trained with BalletMet-Columbus, where she performed in Hot Nights, Cool Dance, while working with Gerard Charles, Rebecca Rodriguez-Hodory, Hisham Omardien, William Soleau, and Darrell Grand Moultrie. She was also fortunate to dance and train at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia, as well as summer programs at BalletMet-Columbus, Nashville Ballet, and Lexington Ballet. EveMarie graduated from Butler University, Summa Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Pedagogy receiving highest departmental honors in May 2009. She worked with numerous choreographers and repetiteurs, such as Christian Vincent, Elaine Bauer, Susan McGuire, and Tong Wang. EveMarie will be dancing professionally with the Lexington Ballet this season, and she is excited about teaching for the Frankfort School of Ballet!
Melva Smither, a Shelby County native, has been performing professionally for many years, appearing onstage at local and regional theatres including Derby Dinner Playhouse, Music Theatre of Louisville, Center Stage, Little Colonel Playhouse, and Shelby County Community Theatre to name a few. Mel has also been teaching singing, acting, and theatrical production for the past 10 years at her own Studio M and has been sought after by several agencies to teach on their staffs as well. She served as director of the youth program at Little Colonel Playhouse, taught with the Artscope program at MTL in the public and private school systems of two counties and taught summer camps at the Iroquois Amphitheatre. Mel has also taught at the Jewish Community Center summer camp program and has written and directed Coffee House productions at SCCT. Most recently, Mel has become involved with a local production company, We 3 Girls, which is known for performing original work, and locals may know her from Good Shepherd Church where she was a cantor for several years. Although she had a background of dancing onstage and choreographing musicals, Mel began serious dance study here at FSB several years ago. Her love of performance art and her love of young people and teaching made her a natural for our staff.
Kari Zamiar is a recent graduate of Scott County High School. Kari grew up between military bases in Germany. There she participated in many dance classes, including Irish and Modern, and was a part of the Jr. Cultural Dance Troupe on Patch Barracks. She moved to America two years ago and since then has danced and assisted at FSB. Kari currently works at Shooting Star Plant Nursery. She will attend Bluegrass Community and Techincal College this fall and plans to study veterinarian medicine after graduating from BCTC.
Marina Robson joins FSB staff this year as a Substitute Instructor. Marina is a student at Franklin County High School. She has been serving as an assistant for FSB for many years and has participated in programs with the Lexington Ballet Company.
For TADA! staff biographies, go to www.frankfortballet.com/TADA