Sheryl Bentz-Sipe
Owner & Professional Dance Instructor
Education:
Master of Arts, University of Oregon, Dance
Bachelor of Science, University of Idaho, Physical Education
Associate of Liberal Arts, North Idaho College
Sheryl is the owner and primary instructor for DanceTales Studio. She is an accomplished dancer, teacher, and choreographer who has performed as a soloist and company dancer in numerous concerts in jazz, modern, and ethnic dance. Sheryl is also a dance instructor for North Idaho College, teaching courses in various ballroom styles, rhythm and movement, and multicultural dance. Sheryl earned a Master of Arts in Dance from the University of Oregon, where she was the Director and Choreographer of the nationally renowned Jazzline and was awarded the Outstanding Dance Graduate Award. Her extensive education and training in dance includes ballroom, jazz, lyrical, modern, ballet, and multicultural. Sheryl also pursues continued education and training in dance by regularly taking classes from numerous internationally ranked latin and ballroom dance champions and judges; most recently in summer 2012: Slawek Sochacki and Marzena Stachura, current Professional American Smooth Ballroom Champions; Artem Plakhotnyi and Inna Berlizyeva, Professional International Standard Ballroom Champions; Tomasz and Izabela Lewandowski, Professional International Latin Champions; Decho Kraev and Bree Watson, Professional American Rhythm Champions; Felipe and Carolina Telona, Professional American Rhythm Champions; Donald Johnson and Kasia Kozak, Professional International Latin and American Smooth Ballroom Champions; Jim and Janell Maranto, Professional American Smooth and International Standard Ballroom Champions. In previous years: Toni Redpath and Michael Mead, four time Professional American Smooth Ballroom Champions; Charlotta Jorgensen, Professional Ballroom Champion and Dancing with the Stars Pro; Heather Smith, Professional Ballroom Champion; and Bill Sparks, Professional International Latin Champion. Sheryl is also a registered DanceSport professional and competitor with the National Dance Council of America. Over the course of her career, Sheryl has been consistently noted, by dance professionals and students alike, for her innovative choreography and musicality, passion filled performances, and outstanding teaching ability. She has over 25 years of teaching experience and was awarded the Coeur d’Alene Mayor’s Award for “Excellence in the Arts.” Her driving force is to promote dance in the community through dance classes and events where students have the opportunity to gain an invaluable skill, an outlet for creative expression, a means to exercise in a fun way, and a positive environment to socialize with others.
