Search this site

Meet the team: Staff Q - Z

Choose from the list of last names below to view staff bio's.

Jeanne Randall

Jeanne is one of our Premier Teachers at The Dance Studio of Fresno, with over 50 years teaching experience. She initially studied dance in Fresno, but left for Los Angeles immediately after high school to study at the American School under Eugene Loring and many other well known dancers and choreographers. Jeanne pursued a thorough training. In addition to dance classes, she studied dance history, art as it applied to dance, terminology, dance notation, choreography, and more.

At the American School, Jeanne took classes and/or danced with Balanchine, Charles Weidman, Merce Cunningham, Carmen De Lavalad, Cyd Charise, Mitzi Gaynor, Ginger Rogers, Debbie Reynolds, and Juliette Prowse. She was so highly regarded at the School that Mr. Loring provided Jeanne with scholarships without auditions. He acted as her mentor and agent, sending her out on auditions.

Career highlights include:

Lead Dancer for Dorothy Dorbin at Mapes in Reno, NV. U.S.O. Christmas Shows with Bob Hope in the South Pacific. Toured with Eugene Loring's Dance Players. Performed in Los Angeles and San Francisco productions of Broadway Musicals through the Civic Light Opera.

Jeanne's advice to aspiring dancers: Use your brains, but follow your heart.

Grethel Raypon

Grethel’s life centered on the study of Ballet while growing up in the Philippines. She attended Philippine High School for the Arts and the University of the Philippines Dance Department, studying both Classical Ballet and Modern Ballet.

After leaving school, Grethel was a principal dancer for Diablo Ballet, Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley, Cleveland San Jose Ballet, and Ballet Philippines. She was also a Soloist for Ballet Philippines and Manila Metropolis Ballet. Her extensive world travels include touring and competing as a dancer and choreographer throughout Japan, France, China, Philippines, and the United States. Teaching positions include those in Philippines and throughout California.

Grethel now calls The Dance Studio of Fresno her home. She teaches a variety of Ballet and Pointe classes throughout the week. Students interested in Intermediate and Advanced Ballet thoroughly enjoy her skill, technical instruction, and phenomenal creativity.

Kristi Smith

Kristi began training at The Dance Studio of Fresno in 1983, and started teaching at the Studio in 1989. Her performance background includes a variety of roles in Roger Rockas Theatre shows such as West Side Story, Forty-Second Street, the Prime of Miss Joan Brodie, and Pirates of Penzance. Kristi also performed for three years in the California Raisin Bowl. In addition to teaching at The Dance Studio of Fresno, she has been an elementary school teacher since 1996.

Katie Sortini

Katie has studied dance since the age of three, with a focus on Tap, Ballet, Jazz, and HipHop. Tap is her favorite, having studied in Classes and Master Classes with Sue Sampson-Dalena, Ted Levy, and Mark Goodman.

Katie has taught Tap, Ballet, Jazz/Gym, and HipHop for the past four years at The Dance Studio of Fresno. In addition to her busy teaching schedule, Katie is attending California State University Fresno with plans to become a Kindergarden teacher.

Yolanda Stone

Yolanda has taught baton at The Dance Studio of Fresno since Fall 2000; and is the Coordinator and Coach of The Dazzling Diamondettes. She has performed and coached competitive baton twirling for 23 years, and her travels include the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan.

Career highlights include:

Director of National/State Competitive Baton Champions. Member of the San Joaquin Valley Baton Twirling Association judging panel for parades throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Director of the U.S. Novice Parade Corp Champions, "El Conquistador" (1988). Featured Solo Twirler for the C.S.U.F. Bulldog Marching Band (1982-1985). Five-Time U.S. National Champion.

Senior Miss U.S.T.A. International (1982). United States Senior Women's Gold Medal Champion (1982). Senior Women's World Baton Twirling Gold Medal Champion in Tokyo, Japan (1982).

Yolanda is married and has three children, Colton, Alessandra, and Angelina.

Yolanda Stone

Kourtney teaches Pre-Ballet, Jazz, and Childrens Combination classes. She has studied Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Hip Hop at The Dance Studio of Fresno since 1995 and danced with The Elite Dance Teams for 5 years. She graduated from Clovis West High School in 2008 after having served as a Leadership Member for 2 years, was an Assisteens Member for 4 years, and danced with the Pep and Cheer Teams for 4 years. Kourtney attends California State University at Fresno with a focus in Liberal Studies to obtain an Elementary Teaching Credential, and Masters in Administration. Having overcome dyslexia as a child, Kourtney loves working with children and plans to help young children with learning disabilities.

Barry Welch

Barry Welch is a native Californian and has been clogging since October 1983. In addition to his weekly clogging classes at The Dance Studio of Fresno, his professional credits include:
Featured Instructor for the National Clogging Leaders Organization (CLOG) national clogging conventions in Texas, Florida and California (since 1984).

Event Director for the Southern Spectacular Clogging Workshop in Fresno, California (1990-1996). Event Director of the U.S. Open Clogging Classic at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California (1995). Coach and Choreographer for competitive clogging teams in California, Utah, Georgia, Arizona, Massachusetts, and Florida. Honored judge for competitions including the Southern California Clogging Competition, Western United States Clogging Championships, and the Rocky Mountain Clogging Championships (1987 to present).

In addition to his dance activities, Barry is a Senior Electronics Buyer for Pelco, Inc., the international video surveillance manufacturer in Fresno, California. At home, he enjoys raising English Bulldogs.

Shannon

Shannon has been studying dance since 1979, and has taught jazz, tap, pep/cheer, and tap/ballet at The Dance Studio since 1993. During 2003-05 she was our Elite Pep/Cheer Team Director. Teaching highlights include: Throughout 2003-04 she was the Pep/Cheer Program Director at Buchanan High School in Clovis; coached the 2003 and 2005 U.S.A. National All-Star Champions; served on staff and was a head instructor for USA Spirit Association for five years.
Dance highlights include: Touring with the U.S.O. throughout Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, Tokyo (Japan) and Vancouver (Canada); she has performed at the Pensacola, Fl. Air Force Base for all stationed members and families; Captain and Dancer with the San Francisco 49'ers Cheerleaders. Also the 1999 San Francisco 49'er Cheerleader Pro-Bowl Representative. Also, Shannon has performed as a back-up dancer with Tony Bennett and was a featured performer at the San Francisco Black & White Ball. Shannon is a Graduate of California State University Fresno and has earned a Masters Degree in Cross Cultural Education and a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies. She teaches sixth grade in Clovis Unified Schools.

Miquel Wilson

Miquel Wilson has been choreographing and teaching dance since 2002, having worked with a variety of recording artists, dance companies and dance studios. He has been a featured dancer with the Deftones, Somaya Reece and Soul Control Breakdancing Crew. Choreography assignments include The League of Mexican American Women’s Fashion Show and the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Best Enrichment Program, which won the title of 2009 HipHop Division Champions. At the Dance Studio of Fresno, Miguel brings a wealth of experience to his students with proficiencies in Poppin/Lockin, HipHop, Breakdance and Freestyle.

Dana returned to The Dance Studio of Fresno after having spent four year dancing with the State Street Ballet Company in Santa Barbara, where she performed in a variety of ballets including as a soloist or principle dancer in Shed Your Skin, Texas 4TH, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Nutcracker, and Swan Lake. She also performed for several years as a member of Martha Kelly-Fierro’s Altered Modalities. Dana has also taught classes and choreographed numbers for the State Street Ballet Company Evening Program and Young Dancers. She has studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and Lyrical at The Dance Studio of Fresno, Houston Ballet (Houston, TX), Joffrey Ballet (NY), American Ballet Theatre (NY), and with Chebar Williams (LA). Dana currently enjoys teaching Ballet, Turns and Lyrical at The Dance Studio of Fresno.

Rachelle Young

Rachelle has studied dance since 1994, with a focus on Jazz, Ballet and HipHop. In addition to her daily dance classes, she has taken Master Classes from Brian Freedman, Ted Levy, Mia Michaels, Chebar Williams, and Mark Goodman. She has also won honors at various Regional and National Competitions including L.A. Dance Magic, CoDance, and West Coast Dance Explosion.

Rachelle has taught Jazz and Ballet for the last several years. In addition to teaching, she is a member of MKF Altered Modalities and performs throughout the United States. When not on the dance floor, Rachelle is a student at California State University Fresno, with a focus on Physical Therapy in Sports Medicine.

View More staff bios:

A - G | H - P | Q - Z