At a Glance
About this studio
Create, Inspire, Evolve thru the art of dance and acro
At Shining Starz we offer a variety of dance programs including both competitive and recreational along with birthday parties and private coaching. We aim to focus on the mental wellbeing of the dancer and train them to be mentally strong artists. By focusing on instructing dance in this way, it allows the dancer to establish self-esteem and doubles as a safe space for students to find their voices. Besides mental wellbeing, injury prevention is a core value we add to each class, creating more resilient dancers. Not only do our dancers learn dance and make new friends, but they are also encouraged to find their artistic voice in choreography and music.
Dance styles offered
Special programs
National Awards
Awards verified by the Dance Studio List team
Our Faculty
Shining Starz Acro-Dance Academy is led by Director and Owner Theresa Shine, a certified Acro-Dance Adjudicator and founding member of the Acrobatic Dance Teachers Association whose own performance credits include a Season 11 appearance on So You Think You Can Dance and a 2025 National Choreography Award from Rave Nationals. She holds dual degrees from Southern Connecticut State University and is a graduate of Broadway Dance Center's prestigious Pro-Sem Program.
The teaching team includes Competition Coach Kate Shine, with over 25 years of experience and a strong ballet foundation; Jamie Grenet, an All-American dance team athlete who placed 5th in the world at the 2018 World Dance Championship; and Sarah Caron, a 20-year gymnastics and acrobatics veteran. Shining Starz also brings in guest instructors with genuinely elite credentials, including a former WNBA and NLL professional dancer and current UConn Dance Team Coach, and a registered dietitian who supports the nutritional needs of young dancers and athletes — a level of specialized support rarely found at a studio this size.