Business Details
20 Years
experience
Your Premier Dance Education Destination in Fresno
Shirley Winters Ballet was founded in 2006 by Shirley Winters, who brought over two decades of teaching experience to create a studio focused on accessible ballet education. Our approach, influenced by Royal Ballet and European styles, accommodates diverse body types and emphasizes technical excellence. We collaborate with Dolce Dance to offer expanded class options, including jazz, lyrical, and hip hop, while maintaining a shared 10,000 sq. ft. facility since 2007. Our faculty includes award-winning choreographers like Terra Williams, a two-time Miguel Terekhov Award winner. We provide performance opportunities through annual events like the Spring Ballet Gala and Central California Ballet's Nutcracker, held at prestigious venues including the William Saroyan Theater.Our students compete nationally at Youth America Grand Prix, earning top awards and Outstanding Studio recognition in 2016-2017. We emphasize structured progression from beginner to advanced levels, with classroom demonstrations serving as milestone achievements. Our curriculum integrates classical ballet with modern techniques, preparing dancers for both recreational and professional paths. With over 15 years of continuous operation, we remain committed to nurturing artistic growth through disciplined instruction and community engagement.
Services
Ballet Classes
Jazz Dance
Lyrical Dance
Hip Hop
Modern Dance
Performance Training
Competition Preparation
Nutcracker Participation
Classroom Demonstrations
Youth America Grand Prix Coaching
Details
- Year established: 2006
Highlights and features
- We offer Royal Ballet-influenced instruction accommodating diverse body types
- Our faculty includes award-winning choreographers with university credentials
- We provide performance opportunities at professional venues like Saroyan Theater
- We maintain a 15+ year track record of Youth America Grand Prix success
- We combine classical ballet with modern techniques for comprehensive training
Services
Ballet Classes
Our ballet program combines Royal Ballet techniques with modern adaptations to accommodate various body types. Students progress through structured levels from beginner to advanced, learning classical repertoire and contemporary variations. Classes emphasize proper alignment, musicality, and artistic expression for dancers aged 5 through adult.
Performance Training
We prepare dancers for professional performance opportunities through annual productions at Fresno Memorial Auditorium and William Saroyan Theater. Training includes stagecraft, ensemble coordination, and role-specific coaching for productions like The Nutcracker and Spring Ballet Gala.
Competition Coaching
Our Youth America Grand Prix program provides seven months of intensive training for solo and ensemble performances. Students receive personalized choreography development and competition strategy instruction, with a proven track record of award-winning results since 2002.
Modern Dance
Modern dance classes focus on expressive movement techniques and improvisation skills. The curriculum integrates classical ballet foundations with contemporary styles, preparing students for diverse performance opportunities and technical versatility.
Classroom Demonstrations
Annual recitals showcase student progress through class-specific performances. These events emphasize technical achievement and stage presence for beginner and intermediate dancers, serving as milestone achievements in our educational curriculum.
People
Shirley Winters
Founder & Artistic Director
Shirley Winters established the studio in 2006 after 15 years teaching at local studios. She directs the Central California Ballet's Nutcracker production and has trained dancers competing internationally since 2002.
Terra Williams
Choreographer & Instructor
A graduate of Oklahoma University School of Dance, Terra Williams brings award-winning choreography expertise. She won the Miguel Terekhov Ballet Choreography Award twice and specializes in modern dance instruction.
Kendra Primavera
Co-Founder, Dolce Dance
Kendra Primavera collaborates with Shirley Winters Ballet through shared studio space and programming. Her Dolce Dance program contributes jazz, lyrical, and hip hop offerings to our combined curriculum.
Kim Ridenour
Operations Manager
Kim Ridenour provided leadership in relocating to our current 10,000 sq. ft. facility. Her management expertise helped establish the Cedar Tree Village location that served students from 2007-2021.
Questions
What dance styles do you offer besides ballet?
We offer jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and modern dance through our collaboration with Dolce Dance instructors at the same facility.
Do you participate in dance competitions?
Yes, we compete annually at Youth America Grand Prix with a seven-month preparation program for solo and ensemble performances.
What performance opportunities exist for students?
Students perform in our Spring Ballet Gala, Central California Ballet's Nutcracker, and annual classroom demonstrations at professional venues.
How are instructors qualified?
Our faculty includes award-winning choreographers with university credentials and professional performance experience in classical and contemporary dance.
What age groups do you teach?
We accept students starting at age 5 through adult, with class levels structured to accommodate all skill levels from beginner to advanced.
Videos
Reviews (4)
Zoiefaith
Jan 15, 2021
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I danced here many years ago, but i still think about it fondly because of Ms. Shirleys kindness and my progress with her as my teacher.
Alyson Coronado
Jul 25, 2020
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Positive:Communication,Professionalism,Quality,Value
I am very grateful to have such a great teacher. Yes, Mrs.Shirley might be a little strict but overall I love her wisdom and how she pushes me to try harder very time. I am very lucky to have a teacher like Mrs.Shirley. 100% would recommend.
I am very grateful to have such a great teacher. Yes, Mrs.Shirley might be a little strict but overall I love her wisdom and how she pushes me to try harder very time. I am very lucky to have a teacher like Mrs.Shirley. 100% would recommend.
Amber Allen
Aug 22, 2019
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Shirley and Terra are amazing!! My daughter has improved and keeps improving every week. We are very grateful for these teachers!
Dr. Sheena'S. Pharmacy
Nov 07, 2018
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Very bad experience. I went to her studio for the first time. Apparently she doesnt have a receptionist to answer questions. I waited for her about 35 min to finish her class. The student left and she was still in the classroom. After another 10min she came out of the class. She didnt greet! She didnt apologize for the wait. I asked her how the schedules were? She responded just come back at 5:30 and dont waste my time!
