At Augustine Studios, Shari offers ballroom, country western, swing, salsa, and wedding dance lessons. Yoga lessons are provided for groups or individuals by appointment. Piano lessons are available for all ages.
Background
Shari Augustine teaches multiple genres of dance, piano, and yoga. She has worked with all ages and capabilities including special needs and senior population. Shari is a DVIDA certified ballroom dance instructor in American Smooth and American Rhythm. She is also a certified yoga instructor.She started studying piano at the age of 5 and has accompanied for musicals, vocal solos, singing dance groups, church services, weddings, and praise and worship bands. She teaches piano lessons in her home.
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Shari's dance background is quite varied starting in her childhood with square dancing. She competed in square dance competitions with her siblings and her 4H group for several years. When she reached high school, she picked up a baton when trying out to be a J-Spinner. She twirled for 3 years and served 2 years as captain. After high school, she was exposed to country dancing and ballroom dancing. She began taking private lessons and decided to compete with her teacher in Pro-Am ballroom and country dancing. She has danced in competitions all over the country, as an amateur and currently as a professional.
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While studying dance at KU, Shari was a member of the University Dance Company performing onstage at The Lied Center. After graduating from KU, she danced and choreographed for The Potter’s Clay Sacred Dance Company, as a founding member, then serving as the director until 2006. She has performed in many short term dance projects including Ordo Virtutum under the direction of Suzanne Ryan, 60X60 Dance, Constellations, Charlotte Street Foundation, KC Fringe Festival, and for National Dance Week. Her choreographic works have been seen at Bonner Springs Library’s summer musical theatre programs, Edwardsville Christian Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Crossroads Christian Church, Kansas City Kansas Community College, and KC Fringe Festival.
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Shari's first ballet class was as an adult at Dance Works Conservatory. She then continued to take adult dance classes at Johnson County Community College and transferred to the University of Kansas where she studied jazz, ballet, and modern dance. She was awarded a Bachelor of Art in Dance in 2003. A few years later she pursued a Master of Liberal Arts with an emphasis in the arts finishing in 2008. In 2016 she finished an Associate of General Studies in Exercise Science.
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Shari has been a judge for 4H Club Days both local and regional, for Byrd’s Dance and Gymnastics, and Nallia’s School of Dance. She has been a guest dancer at The Culture House for Storling’s Artist Development Program and Red Studio Live, and has taught dance classes at Kansas City Kansas Community College in the Theatre Department, Continuing Education Department, Child Care Center, Wellness Center, and for the summer camp program of Kids on Campus. She performs with Nallia School of Dance adult tap dancing class, competes regularly with students in Pro-Am ballroom and country competitions, and performs at studio showcases at Walter’s Dance Center, Camelot Ballroom and Melange Dance + Events. She holds National and World titles in competition line dancing and is a 2 time Gold Standard Award winner with Worldwide Splitters.
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Shari currently offers private lessons in American Smooth and Rhythm, and Country Western Partner and Line Dance, and yoga at Walter's Dance Center, Viva Dance Studio, Camelot Ballroom, and CastKC.
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For questions or bookings,
Shari can be contacted by email at shari@waltersdancecenter.com
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by phone/text at 785-307-2294.
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