Elite Performance Academy

ELITE INSTRUCTORS

We are passionate about teaching the performing arts and love working with children. Our instructors have decades of combined training.

MARLO SHAVER WENTZ (Owner / Artistic Director / Instructor) Marlo is a nationally recognized dance instructor, choreographer and competition judge. She has trained students from all over the country including Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, California and now here in our tri-state area (West Virginia, Kentucky & Ohio). Her choreography influences have spread across the country impacting current dance trends. Her students have received numerous top national competition scores & titles. Marlo’s students have performed in the Duke Theatre on Broadway’s own 42^nd Street in New York City, with Debbie Allen at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, for the World Bank in Washington, DC, on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, in China, London, Spain, Italy and from coast to coast in America. Several of her former students are continuing their education, on both Ballet and Jazz scholarships, at Point Park University, in Pittsburgh, PA, one of the top performing arts schools in America. Marlo has received extensive training in many performing arts disciplines including, ballet, lyrical, jazz, acrobatics, tumbling, musical theatre dance, tap, twirling and cheerleading. She has the heart, mind and sole of a dance instructor and loves to develop each individual student’s gifts and talents

MICHELLE SHAVER HEINER (Owner / Administrative Director / Instructor) Michelle has decades of dance training and education in such disciplines as ballet, lyrical, jazz, acrobatics, tumbling, musical theatre dance, tap, twirling and cheerleading. Her training began at Dickinson School of Dance which carried her to train with Dance Educators of America and such greats as Gus Giordano, Al Gilbert, Frank Hatchett and Ronnie Demarco. She trains, on a continuing basis, with New York City Dance Alliance current choreographers such as Joe Lanteri, Andy Blankenbuehler, Rhonda Miller and Suzi Taylor. Michelle has performed in local, community musical theatre. She loves working with the students and especially loves to watch their self-confidence and love for performing blossom.

PATTI SHAVER (Owner / Managing Director / Instructor) Patti’s performing arts influences have spanned decades in our region of the country. Her name is synonymous with “performing arts” and her efforts have been tireless throughout the years. Her involvement in the performing arts community includes co-founding Huntington Outdoor Theatre where she serves as Vice-President and Managing Director, serving as choreographer in many regional Broadway musicals, and training dancers, majorettes, twirlers, flags/rifle corps and cheerleaders for over 50 years. Her instruction has continued for multiple decades and led her to work with such dance legends as Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchett, Al Gilbert and Ronnie Demarco. Patti has instructed and coached three generations of well trained performers.

BRIDGET SNYDER SHEILS (Instructor) Bridget is a founding instructor at Elite Performance Academy. Her dance training began in Illinois at the University of Illinois youth extension program, before she moved to Huntington and continued her dance training with Patti Shaver and Dickenson School of Dance. Bridget has received technical training in a variety of disciplines including ballet, jazz and cheerleading. She is a beautiful and inspiring ballet dancer and is committed to sharing her lovely technique with her students on a weekly basis.

MARY BETH SVINGOS (Instructor) The Svingos family has been actively involved as one of Elite Performance Academy’s founding families. Mary Beth is a talented dancer who has been associated with various forms of performing arts since her early years. She has received technical training in a variety of disciplines including tap, jazz, acrobatics, tumbling, flag corps, ballet and cheerleading. She was a member of the Marshall University Dance Team and performed with Kings Island’s touring company. She is a second generation performing arts instructor. Her father, Tom Castle, was the Huntington High Marching Band Director for many years. Mary Beth looks forward to training her students at Elite.

DEANNA O’NEILL TARTER (Instructor) Deanna is a founding instructor at Elite Performance Academy. Her training began with Patti Shaver and Dickenson School of Dance which carried her to train with Dance Educators of America and with Fred Miller Summer Twirling Clinics. She has received technical training in a variety of disciplines including baton, flag, hoop and ribbon twirling, acrobatics, ballet, jazz, and cheerleading. Deanna was a majorette at Huntington High School and a member of the flag corps at Marshall University. Her love of twirling and field corps performing motivates her to pass these techniques to future generations.