Our Director

Theresa Shampine, Artistic Director

Theresa received her initial training in Syracuse, NY. Upon graduation from high school, she received a scholarship to train at The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet in Philadelphia under the direction of Bo and Stephanie Spassoff. Theresa subsequently attended Mercyhurst College, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Dance and a Minor in Philosophy (with an emphasis in Aesthetics and Art Criticism). While at Mercyhurst, Theresa had the opportunity to dance in productions with the Erie Ballet Theatre, most notably performing the Prayer Variation from Coppélia.

After graduation, Ms. Shampine was an apprentice with The Charleston Ballet Theatre in South Carolina, before becoming a company member of The Georgia Ballet under the direction of its founder, the late Ms. Iris Hensley. She continued to dance professionally with The Georgia Ballet for seven seasons under its subsequent artistic director, Gina Hyatt-Mazon of Hamburg Ballet. Theresa is grateful for her ample performing opportunities: Her career highlights include Balanchine’s Serenade, the Coffee Pas de Deux from The Nutcracker, Nicolas Musin’s Going Bach (demi-soloist), Lloyd Whitmore’s Songs without Words (soloist), and Warren Carlyle’s Vettriano’s Beach (soloist).

After sustaining a career ending injury, Theresa transitioned to the role of Ballet Mistress of the Steps of Faith Dance Company – a nonprofit student company in Cartersville, GA. Ms. Shampine is credited with meticulously building an exceptional classical ballet training program from the ground up that emphasized work ethic, etiquette, safety, and creating dancers with informed artistic and technical goals. Countless former students are currently serving artistic communities around the world as dance professionals.

With the abrupt and heart-breaking closing of SOF, Theresa was encouraged by her local dance community to start anew. Determined to build a new home for young artists who wish to study ballet in an accessible and legitimate manner, Theresa has focused all of her efforts over the last two years on filling the gap left in our community: The Theodora Dance Conservatory and the Canton City Ballet have become a haven for ballet students and professionals who lost their beloved home studios and companies due to Covid-19. Many of our students and professionals harken from three different local dance schools that permanently shut their doors after the pandemic. Ms. Shampine walks carefully among their dreams with a sense of welcomed responsibility.

Ms. Shampine’s dedication to our organization is unwavering. She has relinquished her salary, while generously donating personal funds, to ensure the success of the conservatory in its seedling stage. Everything of true importance needs an advocate to drive the dream, and we are eternally grateful that Ms. Shampine is at our helm.

Theresa resides in Canton, GA with her husband, Jack, and their 16 year old daughter. Theresa could not be building the conservatory without their constant love and support; and she wishes to thank them for their sacrifices and unending patience these past two years. Thank you for believing in the power that dance has to move the world.