Conquest Dance Intensives
Meet the Instructors
Shelly Masenoir
Originally from Baltimore, MD, Shelly is a dancer, singer, actress, producer, choreographer and teacher in New York City. Her performing credits include Radio City Music Hall, Warner Brothers Films, New Line Cinema, Disney, Off-Broadway and Regional Theatre, International Arts Festival in Italy, European Tours including "Fame, the Musical", Bye Bye Birdie, Irene, and West Side Story. Shelly was also the dance captain and assistant choreographer for "Falco", a new multi-media show in Vienna, Austria based on the late 80's pop star. She has been on the creative teams of operas such as Candide, Samson and Delilah and Aida, also as associate choreographer and choreographer for Disney's High School Musical. TV appearances include MTV, CBS, ABC, Saturday Night Live, The Today Show, David Letterman, The Learning Channel, as well as Wyclef Jean, Lou Bega's "Mambo #5", Care Wave in Tokyo and "Broadway Bares" with director Jerry Mitchell. She has taught at various studios around the US, Germany, Italy, Austria, Argentina, Japan, Vegas for Cirque Du Solei, Broadway Dance Center in New York and continues to travel around the country for master classes, choreography, and private instruction. She is the director/founder of Uncovered Choreography Workshops in New York.
Tom Richardson
Tom is a highly respected and successful sought after choreographer, coach and performer. He first burst into the international theatrical dance scene when he won coveted roles in several high profile productions at a relatively young age. He has appeared in the US national tour of Broadway's Tony nominated SWING!, TraumNovela in its European Debut as Ecco, Falco Rock Musical (Vienna, Austria), West Side Story (Bernardo), Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Reuben), Gypsy (LA), the national tour of Banana's In Pajamas (Australian tour), and Confessions (off-Broadway-Tim). Tom was a guest solo artist for Ameli Dance Theater and lead dancer for CCL/RCCL (Miami, FL). He has performed in several industrials from Joop Perfume to British airways and appearances in film and television. Tom has been awarded several distinctions for his choreography at many national and international competitions. His choreography credits include DANCE: In It For Life Productions (off-Broadway), Midnight on Broadway, NDA/NCA varsity Collegiate Championships, La Companyia XII International (Spain), The Winged Ones (Australian Premiere-Co-director/choreographer), TraumNovela Spain (Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain) and IIFL Workshops both New York and Los Angeles. Tom has taught master classes all over the United States, Australia, Spain, Austria, and regularly teaches at competition studios in the tri-state area of NY/NJ/CT. He is an adjudicator for dance competitions in the US, Canada, and has guest judged in Australia. Tom brings over 25 years of training to the StarQuest judging panel and is well versed in every aspect of dance - Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tap, Hip hop, Acrobatics, Musical Theater, Swing dance, Partnering Presage for men/women, and voice having also been trained in classical opera and legit musical theater. Tom is excited to be a part of StarQuest and looks forward to everyone's performances and wishes all the contestants' lots of luck and enjoyment! www.tom-richardson.com
Emily Shoemaker
Originally from Long Island, N.Y. and has been studying jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, modern, ballet and musical theater since the age of three. At 15, she began touring with the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble under the direction of Gene Medler. The company performed at Tap festivals in Vienna Austria, Rio De Janeiro, St. Louis, Chicago, Atlanta, and on Broadway at the New York City Tap Festival in 1999 and 2000 hailed as "The Premier Youth Tap Ensemble in the World." She appeared with the company on the 1998 Tap documentary "JUBA!" still shown on various T.V. stations around the country. She was privileged to perform with and study under such Tap masters as Gregory Hines, Jason Samuels Smith, Sam Weber, Michelle Dorrance, Donald O'Connor, Dianne "Lady Di" Walker, Derick Grant, Brenda Buffalino, and Tony Award Winner Savion Glover. She has lived in New York and Los Angeles studying all styles of dance eventually developing her own unique style. Her enthusiastic classes focus on Rhythm and Musicality always making a point to have fun! She is the proud Director of the Tap Company at C.C. & Company Dance Complex in Raleigh, N.C. which exposes her students to the history of the art form and a respect for all styles of Tap dance.
Michael Rafter
Michael is currently Music Co-Supervisor for Jersey Boys on Broadway and worldwide. He recently completed work as the music coordinator and consultant on a motion picture entitled "Music and Lyrics" starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. Prior to the motion picture, Michael did vocal arrangements and editing for Sweet Charity on Broadway. Michael was Music Director and conductor for over 900 performances of Thoroughly Modern Millie on Broadway. He acted as a vocal and instrumental producer for the Silver Burdett Ginn educational series, a 100 CD collection distributed to schools nationwide. Michael conducted the Broadway revival of The Sound of Music and is currently the supervising music director for the national tour and London Company of Thoroughly Modern Millie. He supervised the Broadway production of Swing as well as the national tours of Swing, Sunset Boulevard, The Sound of Music, and Buddy. In addition, Michael served as music director/conductor for The American Songbook series at Alice Tully Hall and for the Broadway revivals of The King and I, Gypsy, the York Theatre's production of Merrily We Roll Along and the Playwrights Horizons? production of Violet. Michael won an Emmy Award for his music direction of the TV movie Gypsy starring Bette Midler, and co-produced its soundtrack on Atlantic Records. He was the music director for Broadway's Best on Bravo where he worked with such artists as Trisha Yearwood, Kevin Bacon, Joan Osborne, Mandy Moore, Cyndi Lauper and Darius Rucker.
Michael was a guest conductor with the Memphis Symphony and the Tulsa Philharmonic for an evening of Jule Styne's music. He was one of the piano duo that accompanied the Broadway revival of The Most Happy Fella and music director for the national tours of The Tap Dance Kid, Big River, and Little Shop of Horrors. Future projects include music directing, co-composing and arranging a Broadway musical based on the film Swing Shift. Michael is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Destination Broadway Summer Workshop Program created for young singers, dancers and actors. Destination Broadway is in its 6th year and has over 700 graduates!
Michael is a graduate of Dartmouth College. He lives in New York City with his wife, composer Jeanine Tesori, and their daughter Siena.
Fabian Sanchez
Fabian Sanchez is a 4 time Fred Astaire National Rhythm Champion, United States Open Rhythm finalist, United States Rising Star Rhythm Champion, United States and World Mambo Champion. He is a professional dancer on the Season Six "Dancing With The Stars" show partnering Marlee Matlin. He has also danced on the Dancing With The Stars 08-09 Winter Tour. Fabian has performed for many different charities and organizations some of them including charities for Marlee Matlin, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Danny Wuerffel (former professional quarterback). He brings a wealth of performing and teaching ballroom experience to ConQuest. Fabian and his wife, Jackie, are co owners of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Birmingham, AL.
