Susan Cooper - Studio Owner, Director & Teacher
Susan Cooper is the daughter of the late Samuel & Barbara Applegate of Tulare, California. With her fabulous ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics and modern teachers, she became a principal dancer in the dance company Blankenship & Company in California at the age of 15! She then danced professionally for Pepsi Cola at age 17 and was in commercials. She was
the California State Tap Champion, the California State Reserve Jazz Champion and the California State Reserve Ballet Champion at the age of 18. Susan was also selected to attend the New York City Fred Astaire dance showcase that same year. She has trained under inspiring dance teachers such as Susan Pallas, Gus Giordano, David Howard, Kaye Migaki, Evelene Solerie and Deanna Scott, just to name a few. She was a gymnast for 8 years under the instruction of David Demanti, and competed at high levels across California where she placed in the top 3 many times and won the all-around average numerous times. Susan then moved to Wyoming at the age of 18 and attended the University of Wyoming on a full tuition scholarship and majored in the Dance Department. She was instructed by Marsha Faye Knight, Pat Tate and Margaret Stalder. She was honored with the lead of Peter in the ballet Peter and the Wolf at her first ballet audition for the University of Wyoming. Susan has an Associates of Arts Degree in Business Management from CWC and is certified by Dance Educators of America. She holds certification in first aide, as well. She has owned, directed, and taught dance at The Dance Academy for 25 years. Some of her students have gone on to be taken into prestigious professional ballet companies in Colorado, Oregon, and California. Susan is committed to teaching students the correct technique in a safe and fun learning environment! In addition she teaches discipline, dedication and hard work which are life lessons needed to succeed in life. She loves all of her students and wants them to succeed in dance. Dance has been her love ever since she was a child and she wants her passion towards dance to inspire her students. She hopes they will grow to love the beautiful art of dance just as much as she does. Kitri Cooper - Assistant Director & Teacher
Kitri Cooper is the 21 year old daughter of Susan and Eric Cooper of Lander, Wyoming. She was born and raised in Lander. Kitri started dancing at the age of 3 under the dance education and direction of Susan Cooper at the Dance Academy. Ever since her first class she took, she was in love with dance. Kitri has been extensively trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern/contemporary, clogging and hip-hop. Kitri has competed in all dance forms for 15 years and was the Miss Teen Spotlight in 2009. She has received numerous Judge's Choice awards for outstanding lines, emotions, pose and performance qualities. In addition to dance Kitri is trained in classical voice and opera by Luann Bakke, John Walker and Judy Rodaman. Kitri attended the University of Wyoming and majored in dance in their dance and theater department in the Pre-professional program. While at the University, she trained under teachers from San Francisco Ballet, New York City Ballet, Ballet West and Julliard School of Arts. She has been trained in the Vaganova, Cecchetti and American ballet techniques. 2014 marks her 18th year of dance training. In the summer of 2014, Kitri became a certified dance teacher through the courses and exams of Dance Educators of America. Kitri is also a licensed CNA and holds certifications in CPR and First Aide. Kitri has choreographed many pieces for The Dance Academy and the Lander Valley High School Dance Team and several students throughout the region. Kitri is a sought out choreographer throughout the region. Her choreography has won several awards and has won dancers serval awards. Her most recent choreography achievement was a hip-hop routine performed by the Lander Valley Dance Team entitled "Zombie Apocalypse" which received the State Champion title for the 2015 Wyoming State High School Spirit Championship. She is very excited ta teach the children of Fremont County her knowledge, understanding and love for dance.
