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OUR STAFF
 Shannon Lowrie: Owner/Director
Shannon began her dance training in Santa Maria under the instruction of Thelma Cline and Nancy Ann Dance Studio. After numerous years on stage she became eager to explore as many ways possible to perform. As a child she would put on neighborhood musicals and spent most of her school years singing, writing, playing guitar, and choreographing. Shannon was very involved in her high school Advanced Choir and became the lead singer in a rock band her senior year of high school. She got back to her dance roots in college and began auditioning for as many shows as she could. Shannon performed with Pacific Light Opera Theater and Chameleon Productions spending as much time behind the scenes as on the stage. Soon enough she was assistant directing, building sets, costuming, and choreographing. Shannon was the original choreographer for P.L.O.T.’s children’s troupe, The Rising Stars. She went on to work a summer with The Great American Melodrama, Assistant Directed and choreographed for Chameleon Productions, and began teaching at The Studio of Performing Arts then owned by Zellda Markham. She always felt a connection to The Studio and knew that it had special potential. Although she had big dreams of Broadway, she decided to settle down in Arroyo Grande and help others create, enhance, and fulfill their dreams of the stage what ever that might be. Shannon bought The Studio from Zellda in 2000 and has produced many productions such as Cats, A Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar, and many many more. She is the director and choreographer for The Studio’s company dancers as well as several other groups, and has placed first, second, and third in several dance competitions for her choreography.
Shannon is married and has three children. Her entire family is involved in The Studio and she looks forward to watching them all grow up here and dedicates her life to making the most of The Studio of Performing Arts!
 Carrie Yamate
Carrie was raised in Huntington Beach, California before she made the move to Arroyo Grande in 2000. She taught for several different dance studios in the area including Cal Poly before she decided to make SOPA her home.
Having studied dance for more than twenty years, she is versed in ballet, tap, jazz and musical theater. For six years she danced with a regional ballet company in Southern California. As a principle dancer, she was fortunate to perform in ballets such as Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppelia and of course The Nutcracker. She began teaching at the age of sixteen and hasn’t stopped since.
In her spare time she studied voice for fifteen years and performed in and choreographed numerous musical theater productions. When she’s not teaching, she works as the Human Resources manager for San Luis Sports Therapy in SLO.
Carrie believes dance is for everyone to enjoy, from the participant to the spectator. Dance is a great way to stay in shape, create lifelong memories and establish lasting relationships with others that share your passion. A few of her dance teachers were very inspirational role models in her life. She hopes to inspire each of her students in the same way. Carrie is the director of SOPA’s holiday program “A Night Before Christmas” and is honored to work with such a great staff and talented students. Carrie became Shannon Lowrie’s partner at the studio in September of 2007.
 Evelyn Kroeker
Evelyn Kroeker has been dancing since she could walk and before she could count to "...5, 6, 7, 8." Her passion for dance developed into teaching and choreography, and with over twelve years of experience teaching professionally, Evelyn is pleased to join the staff of The Studio of Performing Arts. Accolades include coaching a boy's hip hop group featuring crowd favorites "Lose Yourself," and "Yeah!" as well as award winning ballet/ lyrical pieces "Just For Now" and DCSR's "It Was a Very Good Year."
 Suzy Miller
Suzy Miller has been an internationally acclaimed choreographer and master teacher for three decades. The winner of multiple industry awards, including five regional Emmys, an Iris and a Peabody, Suzy has worked with celebrities including Drew Barrymore, Sandra Bullock, Debby Reynolds, Diana Ross, and the Central Coast's own Zac Efron. Suzy has worked in all areas of the business including television, nightclub acts, music videos, high end fashion shows, commercials, party entertainment, live theater, and cabaret. She has taught at national competitions and conventions as well as studios, high schools, colleges, and dance companies around the world. Suzy relocated from LA to the Central Coast ten years ago and never looked back. Her main muse is her 9 year old daughter Daisy who was whipping out doubles in her Fosse derby at 4.
 Marisol Wilson (student teacher)
Marisol has been dancing at SOPA since she was 8 years old. She has been in competition for several years and was promoted to Company when she was in the seventh grade. She is also a proud member of the Syncopators tap group. Marisol is a straight A student and has a passion and dedication for dance that is unmatched. She hopes to inspire that passion to her students. She has been a demonstrator for 5 years and is really glad to finally have a few of her own classes. Her goal is to attend Stanford when she graduates from AGHS and keep dancing forever!
 Leanne Gosmeyer (student teacher)
Leanne is what is known as a triple threat at SOPA. She dances, acts and sings and partakes in every aspect of what SOPA has to offer and this year is also student teaching a hip hop class. Leanne has been a company member for 2 years and Synopators for three. She shares her passion for the arts with her sister, mother and cousins. Watch for Leanne in all our SOPA productions, from dance to drama and our choir. Leanne hopes to inspire her students to be the best they can be - never stop the hip hop!
 Ben Reyes
Ben has been involved in dance at Allan Hancock College since 1983, first as a student and dancer, and later as a choreographer and currently an instructor on campus. He has participated in AHC Dance Ensemble since its beginnings, performed and choreographed for numerous dance concerts, and taught for the Youth Dance Company in the AHC College for Kids program. He has been a guest choreographer and dancer for Cal Poly's Orchesis dance productions 1995-2001. He has also been an instructor for Class Act Dance studio in Paso Robles, a guest choreographer for high school in and out of the area. He currently teaches tap/hip-hop dance at the Studio of Performing Arts.
 Nikki Pena
Nikki has been dancing for 11 years and loves it more than anything. She studies ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop and her personal favorite, lyrical. She attended Allan Hancock College studying to be dance major. Last year Nikki spent time in LA studying at the Debbie Reynolds Academy and this past summer was in Suzi Miller's Las Vegas show at the SLO Little Theater. She has the biggest love and passion for dance and hopes to do something big with it one day. She loves teaching because she gets the chance to inspiring kids and share her love for dance and there's nothing in the world like seeing your students succeed.
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