Sarah-Jane Measor – Ballet Director/Owner

Sarah-Jane was born in England and realized her love for dance at an early age. She was trained in the Royal Academy of Dance and Imperial Society (ISTD) Ballet techniques. In addition, her wide knowledge of dance also encompasses Tap, Jazz and European Folk dance. Sarah-Jane taught and performed professionally in Hong Kong before coming to the United States and joining the faculty of Menlo Park Academy of Dance 15 years ago. She holds the Royal Academy of Dance Teaching Certificate with Distinction, always nurturing her students to achieve their very best. Sarah-Jane serves on the Board of Directors of Dancers Repertory Theatre and is also a member of Dance Masters of America. She is artistic in choreography and has won many accolades and awards of honor with her Ballet Performance Groups. Most of all, Sarah-Jane loves coming to the Studio each day to share her knowledge and love for dance and to watch the students thrive and blossom into beautiful dancers.

Sylvia Duncan – Business Manager/Owner

Sylvia has been a part of the Studio for 40 years. First as a parent of three daughters who danced with MPAOD, one of whom danced professionally and two who became dance teachers. For 12 years she assisted the Dancers Repertory Theatre Company in their productions including ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and served then and now on their Board of Directors. For the last 20 years she has managed the business end of the Studio and is know as the lady who lives in the office.

Leyla Boissonnade

Leyla is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a major in Psychology and a minor in dance and education. She has grown up at the Studio and has passed her RAD major examinations. Leyla is a member of Dance Masters of America and has taught Ballet, Lyrical, Tap and Jazz classes at the Studio for over 8 years. Her choreographic work has received several awards and her students have won numerous titles including Mini Miss Dance of California 2005 and Petite Miss Dance of California 2006. Leyla encourages her students to explore all aspects of dance and performance.

Joyce Aranda

Joyce has taught our Adult Ballet classes for 20 years. She has trained extensively in Ballet and Character dancing. She taught and performed professionally in Chicago.

Dottie Lester-White

Dottie danced professionally on Broadway for 10 years. She grew up in the Studio and is now an independent choreographer and director for both stage and musicals. Dottie’s morning and evening Tap classes are fun and challenging.

Marilyn Trounson

Marilyn Trounson was born and raised in San Francisco.  She danced with Royal Ballet, London for 9 years.  Two years in the school and seven years in the Company.  Roles were created for her by Sir Kenneth MacMillan and Sir Frederick Ashton.

Barry Woodruff

Barry is a Professional Ballroom Dancer and Teacher. He has performed on stage in films and TV. Barry brings great style to his Tap and Ballroom classes.

Grant Spencer

Grant began his training at the Yuma Ballet. He also studied with the Joffrey, San Antonio Ballet, Ballet Met and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Grant has performed professionally with the Sacramento Ballet and Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Currently Grant is performing with Company C Contemporary Ballet.

Janice Miller Fager

Janice grew up dancing at the Studio and has taught Tumbling and Tap for Menlo Park Academy of Dance in the past. Janice is an accomplished acrobatic instructor. MPAOD welcomes her back as a teacher with many talents.

Nicole Banta

Nicole has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop and Theater while growing up in the Bay Area. MPAOD is excited to add her to the faculty teaching morning children's classes. (Nicole has two boys of her own). Her fun and innovated classes for children will be very welcome at the studio.

Jessica Touchet

Jessica was born in New Orleans, where she began her dance training at the Giacobbe Academy.  She continued her studies with the Hartford and Joffrey Ballets until dancing professionally with Delta Festival Ballet and La Jaz Danz.  She began teaching at home and was a faculty member of the Cincinnati Ballet School.  Jessica is currently performing with Smuin Ballet of San Francisco.  Since joining in 2004, she has been featured in "Duetino" and "Zorro!", among others.  She is delighted to be joining us at Menlo Park Academy.

Tara Laidlaw

Tara is a graduate of Stanford University, with a degree in anthropology and dance.  She grew up dancing at MPAD, where she took her RAD exams and performed with the ballet competition team.  At Stanford, she has explored social, modern, post-modern, jazz, Afro-Peruvian, and improvisational dance alongside her ballet classes.

Lee Pazmino

Lee Pazmino is a creative force with 16 years of experience in only 25 years of life. Born in San Francisco, California, Lee made his professional debut at the age of 9. After moving to Los Angeles, Lee worked through small dance and theater companies through age 16. Lee studied jazz, ballet, modern and contemporary dance styles. He studied hip-hop at the Millenium dance complex, and caught the eye of such top choreographers as Marty Kudelka, Shane Sparks and others. He was soon asked to perform in many shows as a backup dancer, and performed with Justin Timberlake on his "Justified" tour.

Melanie Atmadja

Melanie comes from Southern California and trained in Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet and Hip Hop at the West Coast School of the Arts. She won many solo title awards at national competitions: IDC, Showstoppers, KAR and Starpower. Melanie also played the role of Jamie in the movie Bring It On. While studying at Stanford University, she was director and dance teacher for Urban Styles Dance Group. Melanie is currently studying at Stanford Medical School.

Monica Mark

Monica is a dancer and choreographer from London and New York City. Monica began dance at age 3 and has studied Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop and West African dance at Hunter College in New York. She is the Artistic Director of a funky modern dance company called U Dance Electra. Monica continues to perform with her company around the Bay Area.

Lisa Le Lievre

Lisa was trained and taught classical ballet at the Edouard Borovansky Memorial Ballet Academy in Sydney Australia.  She is also a certified Pilate's instructor with a Graduate Certificate in the Pilate's Method from the University of Technology, Sydney.  Lisa has performed as a freelance dancer in Australia, Europe and the USA, and is now active as a Dance and Documentary filmmaker.

Jorge Doctolero

Jorge personifies the joy of dancing! He has over 11 years experience of teaching ballroom dancing at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio.  A multiple first place winner at the 1998 Sapphire Ball Pro-Am Dance Competition, Jorge has  traveled around the world as official dance host and instructor for cruise liners such as Celebrity, Regent, Royal Olympic, Royal Caribbean, Marco Polo and SS Universe.

Kristin Geiser

Kristin was trained and taught classical ballet in Southern California, performing with Ballet Montmartre and Ballet Pacifica (now Festival Ballet Theater). She began teaching young children and adult ballet classes when she was 14 years old. Her love of teaching endured throughout her studies at UCLA, where she earned a BA in Theatre, Film and Television and a PhD in Education. Kristin currently teaches at Stanford University's School of Education and is a mother of three young children (2 of whom are studying dance at MPAOD). She is delighted to be a part of MPAOD's faculty and to return to her first love-teaching ballet.

Faith Bontiz

Faith recently moved from New York where she taught the Balanchine Ballet technique. She danced professionally with the Illinois Ballet. She was trained at an RAD school and completed her major RAD examinations. Faith is also a certified Pilate's instructor.